Museum Of Ice Cream

Todd and I heard about this awesome Art Exhibit a few months ago.  We tried to get tickets, but it was sold out everytime we tried.  Some how we managed to get tickets for a Monday afternoon. Since its mine and Todd's only day off together, we decided to make a day out of it.  We sent the kids to school in the morning and then we took them out just before lunch.  I know we should take them out of school, but it is a museum and it's educational, right?

First stop was In & Out for lunch

When we made it into LA, we took the kids to Olivera Street.  I haven't been there since I was a kid.  It was fun to explore all of the different shops and the historical monuments, structures and statues.

 After Olivera Street, we made our way to the Museum of Ice Cream

 It was SO much fun! We were ushered into multiple rooms one by one.  The first room had these awesome pink vintage pay phones.

 Every room had a different art display and the best part: Ice Cream or Candy samples!!!

 Huge, life sized Popsicles!

This room had HUGE Gummy Bears!! can you guess what the sample was? Yes! Gummy's, Trent's most favorite thing in life!

 What would an Ice Cream Museum be without a pool full of SPRINKLES!?!?! I'm still finding sprinkles everywhere!

It was a very much needed day to spend as a family!  We enjoyed every part of it!

September Fun!

Our church had an amazing guest speaker a few weeks ago.  His name is Chris Simning.  I invited my mom, Eddie and most importantly, my brother Richard. They share the "baggage" of living life with Cerebral Palsy.  My brother was so moved by his sermon, he walked up at then end of the service and introduced himself.  It was so wonderful.  We all have our won baggage to claim, how are we going to use it for God's purpose.  So great!!!

Richard with Chris Simning

After the service, we had lunch at Red Robin and then everyone ended up at my house.  My brother Russell and his family joined us and we had a super spontaneous family Sunday.  I loved EVERY SINGLE SECOND of it!! Our family time is so far and few between because of the busyness of life.  I took a moment to soak it all in. 

The kids had Grandparents Day at school and they were ecstatic that they were able to have two out of their three sets of grandparents there!

Apo, Opa, Oma and Taelyn (Grandpa was at the dentist)

Cute Photo Booth

Ava and Taelyn

Eddie had a dentist apt, but made it in time for Trent's lunch

Apo, Grandpa, Trent, Opa and Oma

Taelyn and I had a spontaneous day in LA and met up with one of my favorites!

Me, Shanoan and Taelyn

Our church had its Annual Fall Reunion up in Forest Home.  Since changing shifts in Mid August, I have been able to enjoy Sundays with my family.  It was our first Fall Reunion and I don't think we will ever miss another!  It was such a fun day of Fellowship and Baptisms.  Taelyn and Trent brought up the decision they wanted to be baptized, so that made this mama's heart happy! Look for that in our future! 

DIY DIVA

I am not a DIY kinda person at all.  I'm a, hire someone else to do everything I need, kinda person.  It is not because I am incapable, its more like I have a feeling I could potentially mess it up, so I would rather hire a professional to do it and save me some stress and irritation in the long run.  With this all being said, I have wanted to get new dining room chairs for the longest time. After a conversation with some friends about reupholstering furniture, I felt motivated.

This is Trent's chair.  I tried to keep him in one chair, but this kid is difficult sometimes and likes to move chairs around and honestly, I lost control somewhere and this is the result.  

This is the material I chose.  It is a leather/pleather material.  Something that can easily be wiped down. I love the pattern.  

The project took about two hours for eight chairs.  I actually used a screwdriver and an electric staple gun!

BEFORE

 

I am very happy with the results.  I am most happy about the fact that I did it myself and I didn't need to call/hire anyone to finish it for me.  Not bad for my first DIY. 

AFTER

Belt Promotion

 Trent has been taking Taekwondo since March.  He REALLY is into it! He has had 3 belt promotions since he started.  He went from white, to orange, to orange tiger stripe, to yellow.  I don't know how many belts there are before you get a black belt, but Trent want his black belt for sure!  He works very hard and takes it very seriously. 

This belt promotion was very special in that he was promoted to his yellow belt the same day as the black belt promotion.  

Eddie came to watch him and he was very proud that Grandpa came to support.

 Oma and Opa also came to watch! This is an amazing perk of them moving back to California!

 Todd and I are very proud of our yellow belt guy!

Taelyn's friend Ava came to support

They had a really cool  ceremony that Trent seemed to really be into. 

Master Simpson and Trent

Second Grade and Kindergarten

Taelyn and Trent started school and are super excited for their new adventure!  Taelyn is now in the second grade and Trent, my little baby boy, my last child started kindergarten. *TEARS*

Taelyn's 1st day of 2nd Grade

I am 7 years old.

I am 46 inches tall.

I weigh 47 pounds. 

My best friend is Ava

I want to be a Professional Dancer when I grow up. 

Trent's 1st day of Kinder

I am 5 years old. 

I am 44 inches tall. 

I weigh 44.6 pounds.

My best friend is Matthew. 

I want to be a Firefighter when I grow up.

 

New year, new adventures are to be had! I pray that they foster new friendships learn above and beyond their ability, learn that they can do anything they put their mind to.  Watching them grow up is seriously the hardest thing.  I'm struggling with this new season in life, but I am going with the flow and helping them along the way and I'm trying to document and savor every second! 

Thurman Flats

The kids started school this week.  The last day of summer, My friend and I took our kids to Thurman Flats.  It is a fun little hike that leads to a beautiful rocky creek.  The best part is, this beautiful place is only 10 minutes from my house. 

5 kids 2 moms

The kids found walking sticks

Such a beautiful backdrop

We brought a picnic lunch

These kids had the best time exploring

The water was cool and refreshing

Kids being kids!

 

 

We got there at 11am and didn't leave until about 2:30.  We could have been there much longer, but we both had something else to do for the rest of the day.  The kids had a blast exploring and playing with sticks and rocks and mud.  It was seriously so perfect.  The weather was beautiful, the kids were completely occupied the entire time and my friend and I enjoyed great mom conversation.  This was the BEST way to end our Summer!

Yucaipa Regional Park/Redlands Bowl

The very first time I went to Yucaipa Regional Park, I was so unprepared.  Jess invited me and I went on a whim.  I have gone every single summer since then and my have I come a LONG way!

I have everything I need!

When we would come before, we would get there at when they opened at 10am and stay until about noon, that was about all the kids could handle.  This time, we stayed until nearly 4pm!

They had an absolute blast!  They played in the sand and swam and played in the sand some more. 

These are the mama's that made all of those crazy kids. 

We probably would have stayed at the Regional Park longer, but we needed to get home and showered and ready to head to the Redlands Bowl for their Summer Show of Tarzan.  We met up with our dance family. 

We had an ultimate surprise ready for the girls.  This is their birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and next year's Birthday Presents for the next 5 years.  We payed a small fortune to get the girls a VIP suite to the Katy Perry Witness Concert in November.  (Taelyn has already seen Katy Perry for FREE as an employee appreciation gift from Todd's work)

 

When they opened the bags, they all seemed confused and a little underwhelmed.  I'm sure they will be excited when the time comes, but I didn't get the response I was expecting.  These are some super lucky little girls and they have no clue how lucky they are.