TGFF and S!!!

My version of "Thank God for Fridays and Saturdays"
But I bet you all agree with me, right??

I love Fridays. They are my most favorite days of the week...especially when M doesn't have school and we get to go out and have fun. So, on Friday we decided to become mall rats since it was raining outside...I just didn't think about the fact that there would be a thousand other mall rats since it was a school holiday. Whoops. Finding ramp-accessible handicap parking on these days is tres mal. 

But it was totally made up by the other fact that we ran into M's old Nurse from the CVICU, Nicole, and her cutie patootie son, Owen! Next to loving Fridays, I also love running into wonderful, special people like Nicole =) Look at my own cutie pie drool monkey at the bottom of the picture. He is such a good baby, tagging along wherever we go. I guess he doesn't have a choice in the matter, but he makes it so easy on us being a go-with-flow kinda guy. Love you J boy.

And to top of the mall rat adventures, M got to ride her first coin-operated kiddie machine. I really wanted her to go on the carousel, but it wasn't feasible with the vent/wheelchair. Instead, we settled on...

(wait. before moving on, let's talk about how cute this picture is with Shannon and her seven-month-pregnant belly and Moriah and her piggie tails. ok good. discussion ended.)

So, we settled on the rollercoaster! 

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As if Friday wasn't enough fun, on Saturday Auntie Kaela came to visit from Colorado (can't get this to center properly)

And we all went to Gilroy Gardens Family Fun Park!!!! (better)

You bet your booty we went on the only wheelchair-accessible ride they had...the train ride! Don't get Justin started on the lack of wheelchair-accessible rides for kids. Apparently he is going to open his own theme park filled with them. I would so go, babe =)

Best seat in the house train

Here is a video of M on the train. Justin is admittedly the worst at filming, and I even felt like throwing up after watching this. Brace yourselves =)

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I beat Justin and Kaela in the water-gun racing game. Yeah! In your face, Justin. So kidding. =) I'm not that competitive. Anyway, I won a pirate duck for Moriah, and Kaela and I are displaying it while doing our old lady face. I know I explained this way back when, but when we were in college we loved the part from Wedding Singer when the little old lady puts meatballs in Adam Sandler's hands. We are doing this in about 99% of our college pictures.

And again, while wearing crazy hats

M was psyched about the waterfall. Jadon was napping this whole time. I know it looks like we are ignoring him, but we aren't. He was just sleeping soundly to the sounds of flowing water.

Stopping for another photo op in the butterfly exhibit. Everything was just so beautiful here, I couldn't stop taking pictures...or asking Kaela to take pictures of us, hoping just one would turn out okay. Those of you with small people know how this goes. You have to take a million in order to get a good one. 

Man, what a fun weekend! Now I can fall asleep and not wake up until next Friday, and then do it all over again.

Maybe these rides we've been going on this past weekend will prepare us for our 6 hour ride to LA for Thanksgiving. Ha...or not =)

Every Girl Loves...

Target!

At least, I love Target. A shopping trip here and a coffee from Starbucks, and I'm a happy woman.

Well, I was finally able to take my daughter on her first Target shopping trip a couple weeks ago, and it was absolutely fabulous.

Here I am making Nurse Shannon pose with Moriah in front...I bet our Nurses are sick of me and all my picture-taking =)

Since the weather was starting to warm up at the time, we needed a new hat for M. So she gave us a little hat fashion show before we could choose which ones to buy...

The last two were the winners

Before leaving, we stopped by the tv section

My little tv addict was in awe. I can just see the "woah. coooool" written all over her face

It's confirmed. M likes Target.

Just like her Mommy.

Win. Win.

My Mother's Day Weekend

Since last year, all I have wanted was to go to the beach with Moriah (I was hoping to add it to my ghetto bucket list). Even though I knew we couldn't go on the sand or near the water, I wanted to get away and enjoy the fresh air and sun with my daughter and husband. However, due to bad weather, Moriah not feeling well, being totally exhausted, or transportation difficulties, we have not been able to do this...except until now, Mother's Day weekend.

Justin and I got the chance to take Moriah to Santa Cruz. Hooray!

Yes, we were nervous to make the drive with her, unsure of how she was going to do...Justin and I said a prayer when we got in the car, and we were on our way...

If we had the choice, I think Justin and I would live in Santa Cruz...except that I wouldn't feel comfortable being so far away from LPCH...and because this falls under tsunami territory -those who know me well know what I am talking about =)

And although M slept for the majority of our time at the beach, this chickadee finally woke up when Mommy and Daddy bought a slush puppy

Needless to say, the majority went to her =)

The trip couldn't have gone any smoother.

On Sunday morning, we were finally able to go to church...which we also haven't been in a long time due to the aforementioned reasons. It was just what I needed to top off my Mother's Day.

I just can't believe how far this girl has come

Now standing

Enjoying Life

Looking so cute

Feisty girl who knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to get it

And is so full of love

I am blessed to be her Mom.

Rainy Day

First Rainy Day Outing.

First orange tasting.

First lunch outing with Nano and Maji in over two years.

I guess lots of firsts make for a happy girl...who has an icky runny nose ;-)

A Date at Starbucks

I love me a cup of coffee.

But it's definitely better in the company of this little girl


And this wonderful guy...

Just enjoying these moments.

Still preparing to go home on the 28th. Lack of blog posts are due to a broken laptop. Getting it repaired is on my giant "to do" list =)

Thanks for checking in on us.

Love,

Victoria

Giddyup

Little did she know that she was going to ride a pony today...


Son Rise Equestrian came out to CRC and brought their pony, Blackie, for all the children to ride


This little munchkin was a bit unsure about the whole thing


There were a few tears shed


But she kept at it, and the staff at Son Rise handled her beautifully


And before I knew it, I had a little cowgirl on my hands!


But one thing is for sure, and that is that all little cowgirls need to take their naps or they turn into very grumpy cowgirls =)

Thank you Son Rise for helping us add to our list...ride a pony. CHECK!


Now off to bed I go before I turn into a grumpy Mama. Night night =)

Birthday BBQ Bonfire

Yesterday evening, we celebrated Laura's Birthday party at Pastor John and Lucy's beautiful home (Jason's parents). Even though it was typically Moriah's bedtime routine, we decided to break it, and take her with us - this is what we're going to start doin when she comes home anyway (she had a hard time adjusting to the different environment in the beginning, but she slowly settled in).

Jason's mom, Lucy, is on the very left, along with the rest of the gang

Pastor John, Jason's dad, and Chris

Taking Moriah to the bonfire - another first and another thing to add to the list!

Mommy and Moriah cuddling by the fire. We had to make sure we were at a distance because M's oxygen tank is flammable- notice it far behind us? =)

Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Laura!

The cake that her wonderful hubby put together for her

And last, but not least, the extra long roasting stick that they made for Moriah - can you see why we love this family? Because we couldn't be too close to the fire, they made sure to come up with something for Moriah to roast her first marshmallow! Check.

Lucy said she is putting Moriah's name on it, and it will be ready for her to use the next time we come over.

And there is the most awesome roasted toasted marshmallow I've ever seen

From the looks of it, Daddy enjoyed it too

As soon as we got in the car to take M back to CRC, she immediately started telling her friend in the mirror about the really fun night she had, and how she is getting to be such a big girl, experiencing so many new things =)


Thank you Helveston Family for making it such a special night for us! We love you guys!