Easter Fun at Bressi

Last week was a pretty tough one with all of us coming down with the stomach flu, but luckily we were all better by the weekend and able to attend our communities Easter celebration.  Madden went down for a nap right before the party started so Skylar and I headed over first.   I wanted to get a picture with Skylar and the Easter Bunny right away because I wasn't too sure if she would be to distracted to take a picture later when Madden got there.  

Our social committee did a great job setting up a bunch of different games for the kids to play and win little prizes.  Skylar's favorite prize was her bunny whistle.  She ran around half the party with that whistle in her mouth.

Jake and Madden showed not too long after.  Poor Madden wasn't in the best mood, he still wasn't feeling 100% and then Mom throws him into the arms of the Easter Bunny.  As you can see he didn't really appreciate that.  Skylar went for more the serious look this time around.  

Skylar's bestie Sophie showed up and she was in heaven.  She had been asking for her right when we arrived.  Skylar took Sophie to all the games and showed her how to play them.  By that time, Skylar had played them all three times so she was a pro.  The two of them were all over the place running around together having a blast.  They have so much fun together at our community events.  

It was another successful party and I was very thankful we were all healthy and able to attend.  

It's Official....We have a WALKER!

I thought Skylar walked early at 11 months, but Madden crushed that by starting to walk at 10 months.  He cruises around the house so proud of himself with the biggest smile on his face.  He will pull himself up on anything and everything and start walking to wherever he wants to go.  I even lost him the other day because he decided his new favorite place is to walk behind the couch and hid.  Skylar is loving have her little brother walk as well, as she loves to hold his hand and "help" (or what she thinks is helping him) walk with her.  I couldn't be more proud of our little guy and he continues to amaze me every day with his new accomplishments.

Skylar's 1st Trip to Disneyland

Well we finally made it!  I always see and hear about my girlfriends taking there kids to Disneyland and I was starting to feel a little guilty that Skylar hadn't experience it yet.  I wanted to make sure Jake could go and we wanted to go during the week so we picked what I thought wouldn't be a busy day and went on Valentines Day.  You could tell that I hadn't been there in a while myself  because I was way wrong and it ended up being a fairly busy day.  Luckily it wasn't too bad and the lines weren't too long.  I hadn't been to Disneyland in 13 years so I didn't know what to expect, especially with the new California Adventure park.

When we first arrived we decided to go into Disneyland and everything was pretty much just as I remember.  I knew that some of the park was probably a bit too old of Skylar so we went straight to where it wouldn't be a problem...the Castle and into Fantasyland.  I wasn't sure how Skylar would handle some of the rides as they can a dark and a bit scary, but she didn't seemed to mind.  We rode Pinocchio and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and she loved them both.

Next she saw the carousel and wanted to ride.  She made sure to ask us to name our horses to which Jake named his Blackjack, my horse was Madden and Skylar named her's Cho-Cho.  As I did miss Madden, it was such a relief not to have him there so both Jake and I could ride with Skylar.

Not being the biggest fan of the Teacups I let Jake take Skylar on them.  She looked so cute trying to spin her teacup around while having a big smile on her face.  When she got off the ride she asked "Why are you scared of the teacups Mama?"

Being a big Disney Junior cartoon watcher we knew that Skylar would love Toontown.  It was packed and the line to meet Minnie read 45 minutes so I was bummed because I knew she couldn't wait that long.  We decided to ride the roller coaster that she just made the height requirement for.  From watching it, it was a pretty fast roller coaster and we weren't too sure how she would take it, but she showed no fear.  We definitely have a little daredevil.

The wait for Minnie was a lot less after our roller coaster ride so we headed straight into Minnie's house in anticipation to meet her.  Skylar was in awe admiring everything that Minnie's house had to offer.  When it was our turn to meet Minnie, Skylar went right up to her full of excitement and gave her a great big hug.

After seeing how excited Skylar was to meet Minnie we went right next door to Mickey's house.  Dad wanted to meet Mickey as well!

We had lunch in Toontown and then hopped on the train to the other side of the park where I was hoping to ride Pirates of the Caribbean.  Right when we got to the entrance of the ride, they were stopping people from going on because the ride had malfunctioned.  I was pretty bummed!!

We went on Winnie the Pooh where we saw our first signs that Skylar may need a nap as she fought getting on the ride.  Once she was on she stopped whining and said she was happy to see Winnie.  We thought we should cruise Skylar around a bit in the stroller and see if she would fall asleep.

Well no napping was happening so we powered on into California Adventure.  Jackie told me that we had to go on Littler Mermaid so we went on that ride first.  I really liked it and it made me wish that Skylar had seen the movie so she could really understand the ride.  After meeting Mickey and Minnie, Skylar kept asking to see Daisy Duck, who we hadn't seen yet.  While walking around we found Donald Duck.  Skylar said that she wanted to ask Donald where Daisy was, so when it was her turn to meet Donald, she gave him a hug and asked where Daisy was.  Donald told Skylar that Daisy was out shopping, so for the rest of the day Skylar kept letting us know that Daisy was out shopping.

We continued to walk around and Skylar asked to ride the huge Ferris wheel.  Jake and I weren't feeling the long wait for it, so we went on the Zipper instead.

We tried to go into Cars Land, but it was so packed, and with Skylar never seeing Cars we decided not to hassle with it and went next door to Bug's Life where no one was.  We got onto four rides without having to wait.

 

 

After getting our fill of California Adventure we headed back into Disneyland and back into Fantasyland in hopes of riding a few more rides.  We went on Snow White and Dumbo, which ended being the longest wait of the day.  It was a good thing we waited because Skylar said that Dumbo was her favorite ride of the whole day.  By that time it was starting to get late and we needed to get home since my parents were watching Madden and they both were working the next day.

Skylar keep telling us she wanted to go on another ride and not go home.  We didn't want her to have a meltdown which could of been highly likely since we were going on no nap.  So we got her a sucker and she didn't seem to care we were exiting the park.  There was still so much more of the parks that we didn't get to see, so I hope I'm able to go back soon to hit the places we missed.

It was a great day with just the three of us.  It had been a long time since Jake and I were able to give Skylar just one and one time and it was nice we were able to spend Valentines Day with just her at the happiest place on earth.

The first 5 minutes into the ride home....then 5 minutes later!

It's not goodbye....It's see you later

I believe Skylar was eight months old when our nanny moved away and she started going to an in home day care.  Michelle was recommended to us by some good friends who's son had been going to Michelle's day care for a few months before Skylar started.  From the beginning I felt very comfortable with Michelle and I could see how much she loved the kids she cared for.  On Skylar's first day there was a little boy who was a month younger than she who was crawling all over the place while Skylar still hadn't showed one sign on wanting to move.  Well after two weeks there and watching that little boy Skylar was crawling all over the place.  I know that Alexander was the one who taught Skylar how to crawl.

Being so close in age, Skylar and Alexander became the best of friends.  When I think about it, Alexander is the one toddler her age that she spends the most time with.  He was definitely Skylar's first real friend.  They went from little babies to independent (well somewhat) toddlers together!  They both learned how to walk together, learned how to talk together, learned how use the potty together, and even became older siblings together.

Sadly, last week was Alexander's last week at Michelle's as he is starting preschool.  My heart broke for Skylar when Michelle told me a few weeks ago that Alexander would be leaving.  I just felt like Skylar was losing her partner in crime and things at Michelle's wouldn't be the same for her.  I tried to explain to her that Alexander would be leaving Michelle's because he is starting school and told her new friends would be coming soon.  I like to think she understands, but it may take a few days there before she really realizes her buddy isn't coming back to play.

For Alexander's last week his mom gave Michelle her camera and asked her to take a bunch of pictures of the kids as a memento to Alexander's time there.  I was very grateful that she sent me the pictures as well because I will be able to show to Skylar when she gets older what her day care was like and who her first friends were.  Also, I like it because it gave us a small glimpse into what goes on there during the day.

Skylar and Alexander 

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Skylar, Alexander, and Jaka (Michelle's 2nd hand)

Playing with new toys for the sandbox

From Left to Right

Butol, Skylar, Alexander, Shuti, Zachary (Alexander little brother), and Madden

Michelle with her loves.  She has practically raised all these kids since they were infants.

I love Madden in this picture

Butol is also leaving Michelle's in the upcoming weeks, as well as Zachary so there are going to be some changes at Michelle's for both Skylar and Madden.  New friends will be coming and I know Skylar will be able to show them the ropes, but I know they wouldn't be able to replace Alexander and Zachary in her heart.  She likes to say "Alexander is my friend and Zachary is Madden's friend."  Side Note: Madden and Alexander are only about 7 days apart in age.  So I guess you can say Zachary is Madden's first friend as well.

Skylar and Alexander had a great two years together on a weekly basis, and hopefully we will be able to see him again.  I'm sure they won't remember each other as the years go on, but I will make sure to always tell her who her first friend was.

Princess Pals

Right around Halloween the home next door to us which had been on the market for what felt like forever finally sold and a new family moved in.  Our old neighbors were nice, very quiet, but their kids were in high school, so we were really hoping for a young family with young kids to move in.  Well, lucky for us we got our wish when Eric, Jess and Sophie moved it.  Random side note was that Jess and Sophie used to do Stroller Strides with Skylar and I, but stop going not to long after we started so we recognized each other immediately.

Skylar and Sophie have wasted no time and have become the best of friends.  The girls just loving playing together.  Whether its in the alley behind our houses, taking turns riding each others scooters or bikes, walking their babies in their strollers around the neighborhood and now Skylar new favorite thing; playing dress up at Sophie's house.

I honestly can't get enough of these two girls and just love when they get together.  We have so much to look forward to with them growing up right next door to each other.