Pool Party! Isla loves playing around in the water while she's at swim class, so, we thought it would be fun for us to have a pool party with all our family to celebrate Isla's birthday on Saturday. Some of our family couldn't make it to Disneyland, so, we thought it was a nice, relaxing way to include everyone. Plus, since we spent a whole day at Disneyland the day before and when we were making the plans for our time in California, we thought it would be nice to just hang out at our vacation house enjoying the sun, the pool, some food (BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and dip, potato salad, fruit and veggies), and our family. The weather turned out to be gorgeous, so, it was a beautiful day and we all had so much fun playing and swimming in the water together. Isla got to see her Aunt T and her cousins B, I, and L again. She hadn't seen them all since she turned 1 (that's the last time we were all in So Cal together) so it was sweet to see them loving on her and playing with her in the water. It was just so nice to see everyone all together, enjoying each others company, laughing, eating, and celebrating our baby girl. On these days, I feel like I can and will be happy again one day. Although I miss Jeslyn and I am still very much grieving losing her, I will one day have more days like this day and less tough days.
April 6th, 2014 (Isla's actual birthday!)
The San Diego Zoo! Alberto and I decided we wanted to spend Isla's birthday just the three of us at the zoo. We've taken Isla to the zoo many times at home in Portland. But, this is THE San Diego Zoo...this zoo is renown and people come from all over the world to see it. I can remember coming to this zoo when I was 4 with my parents and my sisters. So, it was only natural that I wanted to bring my child to this famous zoo...the same zoo I'd visited with my family almost 25 years ago (holy sh*t I'm getting old)! The drive from Anaheim to San Diego was so nice. Isla is a great car kid and she sat quietly, looking out the window at the beautiful California coast. I forgot just how beautiful it is down there. Like a postcard for sure.
We spent the better part of our day at the zoo (from about 11am to 5pm). We got to see ALL the animals! Our favorites? Isla loved the giraffes, Alberto loved the koalas, and I loved the pandas. We actually had to wait in line to see the pandas...apparently, it's a pretty popular attraction. We did a lot of walking that day (Isla walked and strolled in our borrowed umbrella stroller), but, at the end of the day we decided to see the animals one last time via the zoo's bus guided tour. It was a different perspective to see the animals from and we enjoyed it...except for Isla having to pee while we were on the bus. It doesn't stop for toddlers to go potty...so we had to improvise. I brought a pull-up just in case and thank goodness I did. I opened it up and let Isla pee in it. I didn't have time to get it on before she started though, so, I just kind of held it on her and it leaked, of course. I'm pretty prepared though, so, I had baby wipes and antibacterial wipes as well. I had her wiped, dried, and dressed in new clothes in no time. I even wiped the seat down to clean it too. On our way out we bought Isla a pair of binoculars that she loved...oh, and did I mention earlier that we got pooped on within 20 minutes of our arrival to the zoo? Those damn aviaries...I really dislike birds.
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| Sunglasses and a book and shes good <3 |
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| Alberto was super into taking photos of the animals...we have TONS |
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| I've always liked the polar bears, too |
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| Polar Bear Isla |
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| Busy with her Disney Jr Appisodes on the tour bus |
After the zoo, we made our way to Aliso Viejo to one of our favorite OC places to eat: Grill Hut. It's amazingly free Persian food...kebobs, delicious basmati rice, a salad, and the most yummy hummus ever. Isla really enjoyed the salad, heh.
We ended our night with a trip to Yogurtland...such a sweet, sinful treat. The day was great, and, I am so thankful that we got to celebrate our baby girl for the third time on her 3rd birthday, just the three of us.
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| Our happy, BIRTHDAY GIRL, enjoying her fro-yo treat <3 |
April 7th, 2014
The Beach! Isla loves the beach...playing in sand is one of her favorite things to do. Since she was born in Newport Beach, I thought we'd go there for our beach excursion. Before that though, we took her to a park in Long Beach just down the street from my alma mater California State University, Long Beach...GO BEACH! We needed to kill time before checking into our hotel for the day, so, we let her play for a while.
We ended our last full day in California with a dinner at another one of our favorites...Angora Churrascaria. It's a Brazilian steakhouse and it is incredible. The salad bar is packed full of delicious goodies like beans and rice, mussels, clams, cocktail shrimp, romaine salad, breads, different salad sides (like potato salad, beet salad, etc.), gourmet meats, collard greens...I mean, this salad bar is stacked. Then there is the meats. All types of skewered meats - my favorite is the Brazilian sausage. I can't get enough of it! Isla ate well (none of the meat, really...but she ate tons of vegetables and beans and rice) and so did we. It was a decadent, fancy dinner and a nice way to end our trip.
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| My Brazilian hunney, enjoying his Brazilian fare |
This trip really couldn't have come at a better time. With all we've been through lately and all we'll continue to go through, it was nice to get away for a while and do things we don't get to do every day. Jeslyn was never far from my mind, but, being around family and doing new (and some familiar) things gave me a nice distraction. Thank you to all of my family and Alberto's family for coming down to experience Disneyland with us and for spending time with us at the vacation house for Isla's pool party. We LOVE you all and can't wait to see you again <3
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