Best Buddy Birthday Party

Jayden has been Vinny's best buddy at preschool, but now that Jayden is in Kindergarten (yes, Vinny measures as big as a kindergartener), Vinny is a bit lost at the preschool.  So we did not want to miss Jayden birthday party when we got the invitation.  This party did not disappoint.  Remember that party we threw for Vinny's 2nd Birthday?  Thought that was over the top?  Umm, nope, not so much.  Turns out, Jayden's mom is a wedding planner.  So it was big.  Really big.

So here he is with his best buddy, Jayden.  Vinny 3.  Jayden 5.  Oh boy.

Culture shock.  Welcome to California.  This was taken early on, by the end of the day you couldn't even see the porch.

So we had the train.  Jayden had race cars, his favorite.  In fact he want to be a race car driver when he grows up.  I should know, I interviewed him for preschool graduation  :)  Anyway, Vinny started out hesitant to ride, but after one trip around the block, we couldn't get him off!

Race cars, bounce house, and those umbrellas back there?  Hot dog and cotton candy vendors. Inside there were cupcakes with Jibits (for you fans of Crocs), water bottles with checker flag bands, details details details.  

Let's Bowl!

One of the benefits of my Moms Club is having opportunities to participate in organized playdates with friends.  This was Vinny's first time bowing, and it was hilarious.  Hopefully I will figure out how to properly load the videos, since that's was I mainly filmed that afternoon.  Notice the hands...he held them still behind his back just like his until the ball struck the pins.  He then turned with an enthusiastic YES!

Buddy Time

Whale Watching

This time of year, so we were told, blue whales can be spotted off the Pacific coast.  So off to Long Beach we headed for our first west coast whale watch. 

A few sights in the harbor on the way out to sea.  Here's the Queen Mary.

The shipping docks.

A seagull keeping up with us.

We are STILL talking about the oil platforms, like in Cars 2.  We can see them from the beach, but now we had a close up view.

And our FIRST BLUE WHALE SIGHTING!  We tell we were close when the captain and the crew started high fiving each other in the bridge.  In all, we saw 9 huge blue whales surface.  It was amazing.  they are so big, you don't actually see their tails, just the long arch of their backs.

They are called blue whales because of that bright blue glow you see (below) just under the surface of the water.  That was one of the signals we were told to look for when spotting them in the ocean.

And the spray of course!

Farmers' Market Fun

One of the best things about living in California is shopping at the local farmers' markets.  The produce is amazing and so fresh.  I suppose it does take time to ship food all over the country, but to think how long these veggies last in our fridge compared to those from the grocery store.  Makes you think, just how old is the produce in the stores?  Vinny samples everything we offer him when we go, just wish he'd eat it with as much enthusiasm once we get it all home.  But hey, at least it's something!

Milestone Alert

We are not above bribery.  Haircuts are a nightmare, so in order to entice him, we promised Vinny a trip to Chuck E Cheese.  He's become more and more intrigued with the place since they advertise on the Disney Channel all day long.  Anyway, he obliged when asked to go to the haircut shop and off we went to celebrate the haircut with no tears.  And thus his very first trip to the grossest restaurant on the planet.  Ick,  I'm not a germ-a-phobe by any means, but even this place gave me the heeby jeebies.

Anyway, Vinny didn't care.  He loved it.  So what's a trip to Chuck E Cheese without a little Whack-A-Mole?

All those tickets and all he got were these two dinky toys.  But that smile?  All worth it!

Random Cuteness

It's not a trip to Trader Joe's without sticking your head in the holes for a "cheese."

Celebrating the Summer Olympics at Preschool.