bridge run

Our 2nd family fun run!

The 1st family run was on Father Joe's Thanksgiving 5K Run/Walk in 2009.

Almost three years later, here we are doing another fun run together:

Coronado Bridge Run

 

Both runs are definitely San Diego must-do events and both are worth the sights walking through it.

But that's the thing...walking is the operative word. We had no choice but to walk, not run. :(

Reason #1...being that we had to start in the back since we had a stroller

Reason #2...because it was jammed packed. So packed that it was nearly impossible to weave through the crowds. Even the most remote chance of finding a hole and running past the walkers would only bring us among another hoard of people.

It kind of took the fun out of the run, pun intended.

Especially when you just want to finish the run and get on your way.
But nonetheless, I shouldn't be bitchin' about this because like I said...it's a SD must-do event and I need to appreciate the things I wouldn't normally do in this amazing city.
 

This 4 miler started at the new San Diego Hilton hotel, took us through Chicano Park, over the Coronado Bridge, then under the Bridge and ending at Tidelands Park.

 

See the crowd funnelling onto the bridge? Ugh!

 

 

I saw this during the walk. It's all in good fun, but I just don't get the tutu thing when running a race.

Just run.

 

Walking across the bridge! Camille was asleep the whole time.

 How often can you walk across the Coronado Bridge and take in the beautiful SD skyline?

 

And here is our family shot after the race.

best. day. ever.

Treating a Satuday or Sunday as a "normal workday"- as in getting up at 5am and out the door by 6:30- is such a tall task and we are always off by a half hour or so. That's usually our routine when we make plans to go to Disneyland, which was where we were heading Mother's Day morning.

As always, driving into the Downtown Disney's parking lot gives me anxiety.

Seeing the lot filling up, families getting out of their cars and packing up to head off to the same destination as us makes me feel like I'm going to miss out on something.

But who am I kidding, Disneyland is always crowded and its not going anywhere.

And yes, we park at downtown Disney because spending $20 to park in the main Disneyland lots for a few hours isn't worth it. I hate taking the tram/shuttle to the front gate anyway; it takes way too long and walking through Downtown Disney isn't too bad either (other than people-dodging).

Feeling a bit lazy, as well as anxious to just get to the park already, we took the monorail in.

And what a great decision that was! It took us straight into Tomorrow Land and passing through the park only heightened Camille's excitement. So cute, I love it!

First stop: Alice in Wonderland

For the past few days, she kept talking about how she wanted to ride it, and she has never watched the movie, so how she even knew about Alice is beyond me.

Second attraction: Autotopia

Again, Camille's choice.

Inhaling deisel fumes is not fun. We didn't have a long wait, but imagine a hot day in those long lines. ugh!

Next stop: Buzz Light Year

We seem to breeze through that line every time we are at Disneyland.

And Camille loves it. Afterall, Toy Story 3 is her first love.

Next up: Disneyland Railroad

Glen waitied in line at the Princess Fantasy Faire (lol) thinking it would take forever, as it normally does. So at an attempt to kill time and to get on any ride with out waiting in line, I pulled Camille rather abruptly from the Princess Fantasy Faire and that was not a good idea. She didn't throw a fit, but it was the very first time she acted out and voiced her anger with me. I felt a little lonely on the train ride, as she ignored me, scooted away from me and even pushed me to move further away from her.

Kind of funny and hurtful at the same time, but I got over it.

A good ride to get from one end of the park to another, I'll definitely keep that in mind for next time I'm feeling lazy.

Last attraction of the day: Princess Fantasy Faire

Turns out, the train took longer than Glen waiting in line and he was at the front of the line for 20 minutes, waiting for us. So imagine her excitement as we got off the train and went straight to the front of the line for PFF. She got to meet Ariel (again), Mulan (yaaay!) and Jasmine (again). Mulan was definitely the highlight and even though she met the other two she was still over the moon. So darn priceless!

We've never packed in so many attractions in a small amount of time, but it was impeccable timing.

Lunch was at the Refreshment Corner and we headed home shortly after that.

Everyone was more than happy with this Disneyland visit and Camille was knocked out in her stroller as soon as we started walking through Downtown Disney.

Our day was not yet over.

We got home at a reasonable time and still made it to my mom's house for a Mother's Day bbq with everyone. Mama can bbq like no other, or at least marinade like no other, and it was a perfect meal to end the day. Not to mention the the delectable cake from Extraordinary Deserts that my mom, my sisters and I were treated to.

 This was the best Mother's Day yet, and I hope you enjoyed it just as much.

It was truly a wonderful day spent with those near and dear to me.

every day is Mother's Day

Today I celebrated my 3rd Mother's Day and it couldn't have worked out any better.
In fact, all weekend was full of love and quality time with my husband, daughter & pooch.
Why can't all weekends be like that?

More on my very lovely Mother's Day tomorrow.
But for today, I wanted to wish a beautiful Mother's Day to my Mom, my sisters & my friends.
Whether you have 1 child or 7 children, being a mom is such a blessing and I am so thankful that I can be one to Camille.

It is also very humbling to experience this and appreciate my own mother.
Though very low key and soft spoken, my Mom is the strongest woman I know.
Her strength to raise her children 40+ years ago isn't any different from raising her grandchildren today.
I can only hope to be half the mom to Camille as my mom was to me and my 6 bros & sisses.

My husband told me in my card, "everyday is Mother's Day", but on this special day for us I like to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!

la jolla fun run

At the last minute, H & I decided to do the La Jolla 5K.

The course is the last 3.1 miles of the La Jolla Half Marathon, but more importantly it dodges that killer hill after Torrey Pines State Beach. I've thought about doing that race many a times, but the stories I've heard about that hill makes me chicken out.

It probably isn't any worse than other races that have hills. We've all reached that dreadful uphill.

My take: if worse comes to worse, walk up the son-of-a-biaaatch.

One of these days I'll sign up for that race, but since I don't have a steady running schedule the 5K is what I'll stick to.

We were a bit rushed and I was worried that we wouldn't make the shuttle that took us to the start of the 5K race, so it was a good thing we picked up our bib and schwag the day before.
I hate being rushed, so picking up the goods the day before a race is a must.

The beginning of the race was all downhill, in fact it was a pretty big downhill too.
H & I crossed the finish line together and became spectators as the half marathon runners came trickling in. Those people are beasts! And I definitely commend them.

Miss iRene was running the race as well and we ran side by side for a mile or two.

The race was so much fun, I loved it!

Running down the hill is obviously very different from driving down it, but it was amazing to take in the beauty of the coastal shore of the jewel city and Scripps Pier.
There was a time in my life when we drove down that very hill every single day to spend the entire day at the beach- Glen would paddle out and I would worship the sun.
Ahhh, the good ole days...
This place is very near and dear to me, including this run next year is on my bucket list!

princess belle

I tell ya, Camille put some good miles on this Belle gown that Auntie Ang gave for her birthday.

Halloween, Disneyland, numerous dress ups and finally a dress up PARTY!

 

This was Camille's first Princess Party, which meant to come dressed as your favorite Princess.

We celebrated Madison's (ballet buddy) birthday with all the other princesses.

It was a fun time, the girls all play so well together.

 

I mean really, how can you go wrong with 3 year olds, dressed in gowns in a jump house?

In a few months, this gown will come up to her knees and that will be a major faux pas.

Soon enough it will be time to replace this gown with a new one.

Who will be the next lucky princess to have Camille wear their gown? :)

easter fun

Our week long Easter celebration sadly came to an end.

Other than locking ourselves in our own home on Easter Sunday, keeping us from attending mass- 

the rest of the week was full of pretty colors, bunny ears, candy and precious time spent with special people. Yes, we were locked in. The garage springs broke on us- no service on Sundays.

Story of our life.

But we didn't let that stop us from enjoying the season...

These bunny ears came with the movie "Hop" that we got Camille.

We decorated pretty eggs.

Spent time with our friends and had an Easter egg hunt and dinner.

Had another egg hunt with cousins.

Found a lot of plastic eggs filled with all kinds of goods.

Easter Brunch at Karl Strauss with the L fam.

And shopped for discounted Easter stuff to use for next year!

naps

Of late, Camille has been fighting naps like crazy.
Reasoning naps with a 3 year old is useless and ultimately draining.

Question: what's worse than a toddler who skips the afternoon nap?

 

Wait, let's take this a little further: what's worse than a toddler who skips the afternoon nap, ends up falling asleep, at 4pm, on the way home from Grandma's, in the car seat...
(by the way, she will ONLY nap in a car seat now!!!)

These late naps make for a late and difficult bedtime, making for an unproductive evening for me,

making for a grumpy mommy. :(

 

Okay, it doesn't happen that often, but when it does we now know what to expect.
When we pick up the girls from Grandma's, we bring home a delirious, resistant toddler.
Grandma says that she does try to put her down for a nap, but she won't.
I wonder how Grandma is able to take care of her all day without napping and without playing outside. Oh I know, it's called TV!
I would personally go nuts!

Gosh, when did my baby girl grow up and have a mind of her own?