maracas

I recently saw a blog where some girl made maracas out of paper miche (sp?) and since i had everything on hand I thought it would be fun to try. I was so excited to try and couldnt wait till the morn, So at BEDTIME one night, i gathered my kids an had a little fun. pics are a little out of order.......


First we blew up some balloons, and then made the paste. it was only a mixture of water and corn syrup. so it was really easy and affordable.


I didnt have any newspaper on hand so i used some scrap computer paper. they turned out fine with this. They actually took longer then i expected to dry though. I finally took them outside to dry for a day since a day in the house didnt to anything. we then took some paint, filled them and glued on some handles. They didnt turn out as pretty as the one that was on the girls blog. but that was mostly my fault. It took forever to dry them and the kids were getting really impatient. I finally just let them paint like crazy. i think they came out pretty cute though. they are sure noisy!!!!!!!

This week in pictures.

This week was a fun filled week, just like i like it. Sunday of course we went to church. here are some pics of us playing while waiting for queen antoine to get ready, lol
Tuesday we went to school and wednesday we went to music makers and had a playdate with some of our favorite friends, aaron and eli. (and their mommy!!!) We had lots of fun shopping at the mall and eating lunch together. Aftereating lunch we went to the play area and the disneystore. Always a favorite.
Thursday we had a playdate with one of ashleys friends but they had to cancel. I took this opportunity to take the kids, along with gramma, to Disneyland!!!!! with our passes, we are coming closer to the summer blackout days and I thought it would be fun to get all the disney in that we can. The kids had lots of fun. We started off by going to treasure island. We had lots of fun going through the caves and finding all the treasure. There were lots of cute chicks and goslings playing near the water. They were so cute to look at.
After, we went to ashleys FAVORITE ride, Thunder Mountain. Then haunted house and to the storybook ride. This was the only ride (besides indiana jones, which we are still too short) that we have never been on. It was really cute to see all the houses that are in all our favorite movies. My only gripe would be that it was a little too fast. We didnt get a chance to really see the houses because as the girl was pointing one out, the next one was coming up. Was cute tho and im sure it will be one they ask to go on again.

Here are some pics that we took as we went to laguna beach with daddy on monday. it was so pretty and im sure it will be one of our new favorite beaches to explore. It ended up being really cold that day, so we didnt stay long, but we did walk along the shore looking for cool shells. at one point. i thought i found a big round shell that was kind flat and kinda red. I called everyone over to pick it up to our surprise, the shell moved. YUCKYYYYYY. at that time we realized that the "shell" that i was kicking over with my foot, had legs and claws and was moving!!!!!!!! First we all screamed and ran, but after the shock, we went back for a closer look. Was kinda cool, but i kept cringing at the thought of my touching a crab. So after playing with the crab, we went on to the tide pools. We were all kinda scared of from the crab situation, and ashley and avery wouldnt even get close to anything on the tide pools so we continued on our walk.
We walked up and overlooked the ocean. there was a cool binoculars that we looked through to see a better picture of the bird rock. Bird rock is a rock in the ocean that had TONS of pelicans. The pelicans were really pretty as they took off in groups of about 20 and followed eachother in a perfect line. we were so high up we were able to see them really close. They were really Pretty.


On Friday after school we had out friend Addison over. She is one of Ashleys BESTEST friends. Her mom is currently getting married and was really busy that night so she offered us their Angels tickets. This is the second time Ive been able to take the kids. And they Absolutely LOVE it. Avery talks nonstop about being a baseball player when he comes home and talks about going back all the time. This time that we went i took my Friend of 25 years!!!! Sheri!!! Antoine couldnt go since he had to work that night, so asked if she wanted to go. IT was really fun. I always love my adventures with sheri. Never a dull moment!! !

Angels won tonight and their was fireworks after. Our seats were seats that would have blocked out the fireworks, so we went tot he parking lots and had a front row seat. Actually they were VERY close and the kids though they were going to fall on them. But it was really fun.
kids with aunty sheri

Happy 5th Birthday to my baby Girl.

It ashleys 5th birthday today. She is go excited and has been waiting for this forever. She is excited to be able to go to school now, but doesnt quite understand that she has to wait until after summer. Ashley can be a very strong willed little girl at times, but i would have it any other way. I love her so much and she is getting so big so fast. I cant wait to see all the thing she accomplishes in the years to come. Lets just hope they slow down a little. (i know they wont, they will only go faster ) :( This year we did not have a party. She was bummed, and thought she was going to still have one. But she still had alot of fun, and will get one next year (we are doing parties, every other year)

The night before her birthday, we opened her presents. Since daddy has to work 2 jobs on friday( her birthday) he wanted to see her open her presents, so we let her go at it thursday night. On the morning of her birthday, she woke up and we headed to her favorite place for her favorite breakfast. Guess what it is, yes, it was donuts. yumm. we then headed so school and we got to bring cupcakes for all her classmates, they even sung to her. (she considered this a party, so she was happy)
Ashleys favorite movie right now is barbie fairy secret. So I found a couple barbies from that movie. She loved them.
She got lots of strawberry shortcake toys, and daddy and avery loved playing with them as much as her.


She also got some skechers!!!! this is something she really wanted, and i splurged. They light up and she loves them.


The big present was a pogo stick. She has been asking for one for probly almost a year. and she finally got it!!!! its harder than she thought. but keeps on practicing. Mostly with mommy and daddy's help/


On sat, (since daddy was at work on friday) gramma and grampa came over for cake!!!!! me and ashley made the cake ourselves. I think it turned out pretty cute. She was so happy to have a pink and purple cake. She said her cake was the best ever. aww thanks ash.


Then we opened presents. (well actually we did this before cake) She got a scooter!!! she wanted this so bad since all her friends have one and she didnt. She had to share with avery all the time but wanted her own. She was so excited and said she got everything she wanted for her birthday. Im glad ash. I love you and love to spoil you on your special day. Happy Birthday!!!!!

Nature walk

Last week, I was looking for something free and fun to do, and i found a trail near our house. What is cool about this trail is that there is a cave you can go to. and the cave was said to have been a cave that old stagecoach robbers would hide out in so that they can rob stagecoaches. This trail leads, or at least used to lead from la to san diego. so this was a route that people would always be on. There is supposedly still black on the top of the cave from the fires that kept the robbers warm. I say supposedly, becasue we never got there. We got about half way there and because no one would walk anymore. It was a Really hot day, but also antoines allergies were flaring up from all the plants, and kids were getting blisters. So next time, We take our meds and wear some good shoes. Someday well get to the caves.
It was fun to see all of nature. We saw squirrels, eating trash. LAdy bugs, butterflys, pretty flowers, and lizards. These lizards were a little crazy. they would let ashley and avery get right up to them. They pretty much let them touch their backs, but just barely, and then ran away. Even though it was a long hard walk for them. I think they really had some fun. They even to ask to go back. Even as i sit here and type. Ashley is asking to go back to get some ladybugs. so we will be back, trail, we'll be back!!!!
Notice the gap between me and them. It was ok though, i didnt have to hear all the whining, lol

This was at the beginning. We were all happy here. Next time ill have to go with a friend, antoines not into the hiking thing.....its ok dear, i still love you.