Summer Bucket List (#13 & #8)

So before we left San Diego, I did manage to get two more items checked... well, one of them (#13 collect seashells) we had been working on little by little each time we went to the beach.  We ended up with quite a few shells this trip.  The day before we left I finally got around to dumping them all out and washing them off so we could take them back to Texas with us.  I love having shells in the house... especially legit real ones from the beach in SD (not the pack you can buy at your local craft store)... reminds me of home each time I see them.  

Talk about going down to the wire... the day before we left Savannah finally got to mini golf with Uncle Ry Ry (#8).  This was one of the items on our summer bucket list that Savannah was most looking forward to.  Savannah loves her some Uncle Ry Ry time.

Good things we have a few more weeks of summer left.  Hopefully we can get a few more checked off before summer disappears.

Summer Bucket List (#20)

I almost waited until we got back to Texas to cross go hiking (#20) off our summer bucket list.  Thank goodness I changed my mind and decided to squeeze it in here.  Not only would it have been nasty miserable hot in Texas, but I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have had a view like we had hiking here in SD.  Beautiful.  A friend of ours recommended we hike Torrey Pines... she even said she was free and would meet us and go with us.  Awesome!  The beginning of the hike was a little steep (an no view)... Savannah was not digging it at this point.  Complaint after complaint about the hill and how all she saw were dead trees.  Then we made it to the top and she saw the ocean and the cliffs... the complaining immediately stopped.  She was all about getting to look for dolphins and other ocean life while we walked along the trails.  The best part about the hike was that once we were done we were able to hike down the cliffs so we could play on the beach.  I didn't know that was going to be an option, so neither one of us had a bathing suit on.  That didn't stop Savannah, she ran and jumped in the ocean fully clothed.  I was a little bit jealous, a dip in the ocean would have been so nice after a long hike.

Our friend Whitney leading the way with miss priss

The easiest way to get Savannah to understand that she needed to stay on the trail at all times... show her this sign.  Little girl is not a fan of snakes.

Whitney and I did not partake in the fully clothed ocean swimming.  Savannah had fun enough for all of us.

Summer Bucket List (#17)

I am a festival loving fool.  Any gathering outside that combines food, music, vendors, and giveaways... I am so there!  So of course I added go to a festival (#17) to our summer bucket list.  During the summer months, finding a festival is a cinch.  There is pretty much one every weekend.  There were a couple in SD that I wanted to go to, but several ended up interfering with plans we had.  Luckily, the LGBT Pride Fest was happening on a weekend that we had totally open.  I have always wanted to go, and from the things I have heard, it was supposed to be insanely family friendly.  I'm so happy that this ended up being the festival we went to... it was so much fun!!  The music and dance scene was unreal... Savannah loved watching (and at times joining in with) all the crazy dressed dancers.  The food selection... awesome!  The shopping... as expected, some fun and interesting items to browse.  The giveaways... score, I have some pretty sweet rainbow gear for the whole family.  The big hit of the day (seriously impressed and blew me away) was the children's garden.  Get it, instead of a beer garden... a children's garden.  Genius!  Everything kids of all ages could ever ask for... karaoke, crafts, games, prizes, food, sno cones, toddler toys, photo booths, costumes... the list really goes on and on.  The best part, it was all FREE!!!  I'm talking legit nice prizes and crafts all for free.  Savannah was in heaven.  Ryder loved the toddler area.  I got to sit and eat a hot dog in shade and peace.  I have never been to a festival that so accurately anticipated every single need and want of both a kid and the parent. If you are in SD, I highly recommend checking out the LGBT Pride Fest next year... you won't be sorry.  

Rolling through the festival with pride... one of the many sweet giveaways we got.

I wish I had more pictures of the craft area... it was unreal.  

Sumer Bucket List (#9 & #5)

We have been busy working on our summer bucket list.  I have been trying to squeeze in one or two little things a week.  Last week we were able to cross off watch fireworks (#9) and climb a tree (#5).  While at Disneyland we finally got to see some fireworks.  Remember, we tried to see them on the 4th of July, but were left very disappointed when the show was cancelled after a huge user glitch.  Thankfully the show at Disneyland more than made up for the 4th.  Fireworks shot over Sleeping Beauty's castle, set to Disney songs, and an actual real life flying Tinkerbell and Dumbo thrown in the mix... heck yeah!  The show was amazing!  Both of the children were pretty impressed with the fireworks.  Ryder pointed and clapped, and Savannah sat on Karen's shoulders totally into it.  

Since my grandparents have a HUGE tree in their front yard, I honestly thought that climb a tree would have been crossed off a lot sooner than it was.  Savannah has spent a lot of time outside with my grandfather the past several weeks, playing all over the place.  She talks my grandpa into some crazy outdoor schemes.  They have constructed a kite (from scratch), hammered nails into a board, watered plants, moved trash cans... the list goes on and on.  No tree climbing until just the other day though.  Savannah was a little afraid and not quite sure how to actually get up in the tree.  So my grandpa gave her a boost up.  Once she was in the tree he coached her from the ground.  I was impressed that my scaredy cat little girl didn't chicken out.  Maybe she's getting a little bit braver in her old age.

Summer Bucket List (#1 & #12) in Balboa Park

I'm pretty sure if you ask Savannah which items on our bucket list are her favorites she would for sure be saying picnic in the park (#1) and go to a museum (#12).  These were two of the activities that she added herself, and in my opinion, two that she seemed to really really enjoy.  She made our sandwiches and packed our lunch for the picnic.  The only thing that could have made the picnic better (according to Savannah) was if we had used a real picnic basket instead of a plastic grocery bag.  Sorry kid, that's all I had.  Maybe next time.  I think the fact that we were at one of the most beautiful parks ever (Balboa Park) took her mind right off the basket situation.  She talked nonstop about the old mission buildings and all the beautiful trees and flowers.  Our picnic location was beautiful and shaded.  Both kids sat still and ate all their lunch (typically unheard of). 

Once we were done eating lunch we packed up and headed over to the big fountain to throw coins and take some pictures.  They had absolutely no interest in sitting still for the camera, though.  Ryder was pulling at his sister, Savannah was begging me to giver her pennies to throw... not one happy smiling picture was taken.  It keeps getting harder and harder to get a good picture of the two of them together.

I eventually gave up on fountain pictures and let Savannah throw her change and make her wishes.  When she was done with that we walked over to the Natural History Museum.  This was my favorite part of the day.  Ryder sat in his stroller just chilling and pointing at everything... he didn't fuss one time.  I was able to enjoy everything with Savannah without having to stop to take care of Ryder.  So nice.  Savannah is at such a great age for museums.  She wants to learn about everything she sees and isn't afraid to ask questions or make guesses about things.  It really was fun talking about dinosaurs and earthquakes and all that stuff with her.  There is nothing better than seeing your kid get so excited about learning something new.

Two more Xed out... two more weeks in SD to go.  I'm thinking some of these might end up being done once we get back to Texas.  How fun would it be to have a huge water balloon fight with all her cousins.  Hmm, maybe that can be arranged.

Beach Days & Summer Bucket List (#2)

The absolute best thing about San Diego (besides my family) is that at any moment you can just say "hey, let's go to the beach for a couple of hours", throw on your suit, load up in the car, and head to the beach... all within 30 minutes.  Talk about the good life.  Over the last several days we have done just that.  I have figured out that between Ryder's morning and afternoon nap seems to be the best time to go.  We usually get a good 2-3 hours of beach time (which is more than enough for mister mister) and then head back to the house to get cleaned up and hang out with the grandparents.  With each visit it gets easier and easier to get in and out quickly with all our stuff and two kids.  Plus Ryder now gets excited when I dump the toys out on the sand.  The first few trips to the beach were not as smooth... it took him some time to warm up to the sand being everywhere.  He now loves the sand, eats the sand, throws the sand everywhere... him and sand, best buds.  Savannah does her own thing... boogie boards, makes friends with whatever kid is closest to us, collects rocks and shells... typical kid stuff.  We have three weeks left here which means that we better get all the beach time we can while we can.

And another item on our summer bucket list bites the dust!  We finally got around to building a sandcastle (#2).  We are so close to being halfway done with our list.  Time is slowly ticking... so we better get crackin'!