Thanksgiving Break

It's time to start the show... I took the boys to see the new Muppet movie. We went opening day so I thought the theater was going to be packed. The songs were great.

I am bummed that tomorrow is Monday and it's back to the grind. It was SO nice to have a whole week off from all our busy commitments.

Thanksgiving...

D's pre school had a Thanksgiving feast last week.

I love that the owls because they kind of look like Angry Birds.

HAHA Happy Thanksgiving!

San Diego Botanic Gardens

We went to the Botanical Gardens or as D likes to say "The Mechanical Gardens". This was our 1st time going and its a neat little escape from the city. All the plants are clearly marked with names and facts.

Using the map to find the ABC Garden
Can you see the waterfall in the background?

Awesome tree house

These over sized chairs were so comfortable. I could have taken a nap.

The play area is so cool. My boys did not want to leave. Kids can climb in and around a big tree house. They also have big building blocks so you can work with other kids to make whatever you want. I liked it because you can see the kids using their imagination and having fun in the dirt.

For more details you can check it out www.sdbgarden.org

Fall Nail Colors

So many great nail colors this season! Here is what I've been wearing lately...

This is OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window

My sister & I affectionately call this color poopy diaper

OPI French Quarter for Your Thoughts. Hands down my favorite! I think this grey color goes with everything.

I feel there is a fine line between fun color lady nails and fun color teenage nails. I want to be age appropriate. The 1 color I just can't bring myself to wear is blue. Blue nails fell so grunge to me. Takes me back to Jr. High...my nails match my braces& scrunchy EEK!

Special thanks to my middle sister for being a wonderful hand model. She also shares my love of nail lacquer. "I'm a hand model, Mama. A finger jockey. We think differently than the face and body boys...we're a different breed."- Zoolander

Queen Bee Market

You can get ahead on your Holiday shopping this weekend in Del Mar.
Lots of fun crafty things from local vendors.

Fall walk & Blue Nights

D&I went on a walk to find the color maroon...

I read Blue Nights By Joan Didion. I have never read her books before but she is one of the authors you keep hearing about. She loves California as much as I do. I felt like I should read something by her. Blue Nights is Didion's newest book. It is a follow up memoir to A Year of Magical Thinking (I love that title). In A Year of Magical Thinking she writes about her husband's death. Blue Nights is about her daughter's illness and eventual death. Although this book is sad she writes candidly about motherhood, aging & loss that will never heal.

The memoir flows along like it's a long conversation & she is talking to herself in the car. "When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children." I like how she name drops about Hollywood in the 60s,70s&80s. It's a somber memoir but I really liked it.

Children Books for Thanksgiving...

It shouldn't surprise me that stores are already playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. Seems like it happens earlier and earlier every year. Not to be a Ba Hum Bug but it really BUGS me! It makes me feel rushed. Like I can't even enjoy Fall or Thanksgiving! So to ward off the Christmas chaos. I am embracing Autumn!! Here are some Thanksgiving and Fall theme books that you and your young readers might enjoy. Maybe one of these books will become part of your Thanksgiving traditions.

In November By Cynthia Rylant has beautiful pictures. Good for ages 3-7
Leaf Jumpers By Carole Gerber ages 3-6 Great for your budding naturalist or scientist. This is a great book to read before a walk. Then you can look for the leaves mentioned in the book.

Thanksgiving Day By Anne Rockwell ages 3-7 This book gives a light history on the Pilgrims coming to America and meeting the Wampanoag people.

Thanksgiving Mice! By Bethany Roberts 2-6 Good for pre schoolers but older kids may enjoy the mice putting on a play about Thanksgiving.

Turkey Bowl age 4-?Great pictures! Even big kids like being read to. A good book about growing up and traditions. Football theme.

What books do you and your family like to read during this time of year??

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...

This Halloween both the boys wanted to dress up as something I couldn't buy at Party City. So the Hubby and I went head to head in a costume building composition. The challenge was for him to help FW be a shower. His inspiration: the original Karate Kid. I had to help D become Leonardo aka the blue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I think both the costumes turned out great! Happy Halloween
D was a very lucky turtle. He got to go trick or treating with both his Grandmas, an Aunt and Mom&Dad!

I found this backpack at Sea World. It really pulls the whole ensemble together!

Pre Halloween prep...

That's a lot of guts
What friendly Jack O' Lanterns.