Spring

Easter

Well after a stressful and not so peaceful Mass, we came home to a fun Easter Egg hunt and played wtih some new toys from the kids easter baskets!  Francine LOVES bubbles!  So we played and played.  Now my 3 kids are sleeping.  I just took a 3 mile walk, and we are just enjoying such a beauty of a day.  Thankful for this time together.

Francine and her shoes

This is one of the best pictures Francine has taken!  She is so proud of those shoes!  She completely takes after her Nanny! 

Franny and her animals

We have been meaning to take a video of Franny saying her animal sounds for awhile. This weekend we finally did it.  The best part is that you also get to see her newly found ability with her spoon!  Enjoy!  We love it.  Bob's favorite thing that she says is "Bibbit" for Ribbit!

LA day 3

Today Jess and Troy had to work.  So, Mom, Francine, and I took Troy to work so we could hang out at the beach today.  It was another picture perfect day in Santa Monica.  God I love that city.  We parked at the beach and then walked to not one but TWO coffee shops.  (we were looking for some breakfast protein for Francine).  Then we headed to the playground next to the beach, to play.  Francine loves the sand.  She just played and played and played in the sand.  It was very fun for my mom and I to watch.  After an hour or so at the playground, we walked down to the ocean.  Set up our beach blanket and spent as long as Franny let us just enjoying the day and the sound of the ocean.  Even sitting here typing, I can take myself back to that moment and I just love it!  After our beach time, we headed to lunch at the Omelet Parlor on Main.  They have a great outdoor patio and amazing food.  My mom and I both had fun omelets!  Then it was back to the beach for a few more minutes before Francine's nap.  I went on some walks while my mom and Francine napped.  Then it was off to get Troy and Jessica.  We went to dinner at a Favorite Mexican restaurant in Venice- La Canasta.  Francine was a favorite of the wait staff and got some compliments from other diners about her amazing behavior!  That made us feel good.  She loved dipping the chips into the enchilada sauce!

LA day 2

OUr 2nd full day in LA was Monday. Troy sadly had to go back to work.  Jessica had taken the day off.  We went on a morning walk it was a beautiful day.  Our first stop...the coffee shop!  THose of you who really know me, know that I love coffee, I don't even drink caffinne but I LOVE to have it every morning.  Francine loves that we usually get a treat with the coffee.  Then we continued our walk to this great Culver City Park and playground.  Francine had a bunch of fun, I think that she truly enjoyed the entire trip because she got so much adult attention... all the time.  After the playground we continued up this big hill, where we could see the ocean as well as Beverly Hills and others communities of LA.  After our walk we had lunch and Francine took a nap.  After the nap, we headed out to the mall to shop.  And it was a successful trip, Mom found her mother of the bride dress and Francine found her flower girl dress.  We had a little time before we picked up Troy from work so we headed to this new(ish) open air shopping center in Santa MOnica.  We went to a wine bar for happy hour.  I mean Francine loves her some good happy hour specials!  We had some wine and food.  Franine LOVED the green olives that they brought us.  After getting Troy we headed home and our hosts made a delicious dinner for us!  An awesome day!