Here we are at the airport, waiting for our flight and so excited to be getting away. Even the flights were fun, cause' we were able to talk and were not distracted by the kiddo's. Our flight was delayed several times in Atlanta, so we were pretty tired by the time we got to San Diego. We also ran into one of Jason's old Lt. Col.'s in Atlanta, he was on our flight. It is a small Corps.
SATURDAY - Jason getting cash from our old ATM :)
Saturday afternoon we headed to our old friends Pam and Tom's house for a dinner with their family and Russ, Mona and their kids. I worked with Pam and Mona while we lived in CA, and they became really good friends of mine. They even came to PA to see me right after Aiden was born. They became our home away from home while we lived in CA. Oh, and we grilled pizza and it was really good!
Enjoying the day - I don't know what I thought was so funny..... I am standing next to Pam's son, Woody, who just joined the Navy last year, next to him is a friend of his.
Some of the gang. Enjoying the wonderful San Clemente weather.
Mona, Me and Pam. Love these people!!
SUNDAY - They were having a street fair in our old town. So we walked up and down our old main street. They had bands playing and lots of vendors.
The view down Del Mar St. We used to drive down this street and then turn left and our apartment was one block over.
From the street fair we walked to Fatburger - which used to be Biggie Burger, still same burgers they just changed the name. I have been waiting 6 years to eat these again. They are SO good.
Heaven on a bun! It is worth all the 1 million calories! lol
Enjoying my burger and looking out at the ocean. When I was pregnant with the boys I craved these burgers so bad! Nothing compares to them. I know I sound crazy about these things, I am. lol
Sunday afternoon at the hotel, Jason getting ready for his big graduation.
Jason all ready to go in front our rental car and hotel.
This is where the graduation was held.
Putting on his gown.
Before he graduated.
Yeah!! Graduated! They wouldn't let us take pictures during the ceremony.
The guy he is standing next to is a Marine, and he knew a lot of the guys that Jason works with.
Jason, walking away with is Masters! :) I am so proud of him. No one knows how much this man worked to get where he is today. He has more discipline than any person I know. Yet, he still made time for us. I don't know how he did it all.
After the graduation.
The party after grad.
After the graduation we went to Irvine Spectrum, which is where we used to go the movies once in awhile. It is a huge place with shops, restaurants and a theater.
MONDAY - We got up and headed down to the pier for breakfast. This is street that we used to walk down the beach to, our apartment was right behind us.
When you turned the corner from the street above, this is what you see.
At Fisherman's for breakfast.
My favorite thing from Fisherman's, their french toast. :)
This is the pier, where the restaurant is located. It is also a fishing pier.
The views from on the pier. We have walked this pier so many times......
Jason used to surf right where he is looking. :)
Then we headed to Camp Pendleton to see where Jason used to work.
Jason's old office building.
I dropped Jason off at this spot many mornings, before dawn, to go on hikes, up all those mountains.
Jason, relaxing. Something he does not get much time to do!
Monday night we met up with Pam and Tom again and went out to dinner. They have three boys, their youngest is 19, and they are really sweet boys. So we really picked their brains on raising boys! :)
TUESDAY - Time to go home. We stopped at a view point on the way to the airport.
Goodbye San Clemente. We both feel like we want to move back now, much to our families dismay. :( We will see though, things change daily around here.....
I also discovered today how she is getting into all the child proof cabinets. I stood and watched her as she worked her magic. She holds on to the cabinet door handle and shakes it back and forth, back and forth until it it works loose. Don't let those baby blues fool ya, she is full of mischief.
Yesterday she was sitting on the sofa and I caught these cute pictures of her.
Today is a day I have been dreading since Aiden was born. The day when I have to start the letting go process. I think if I could, I would keep them all five and under for several more years. We debated long and hard about Aiden's schooling. Should we home school, send him to public or private, or try cyber school? It is a question that has consumed my thoughts and kept me up many nights. Jason and I both believe strongly in being involved in Aiden's schooling so it was never just assumed that he would go to public school. But, Aiden has a strong desire for learning and has been asking for a year when he can go to school. We fianlly decided to send him to the public school just minutes (like 4 minutes!) from our house. All the kids on our street go to this school and we have only heard good things about every teacher. So, this morning at 8AM we took our little firstborn to his first day of class. He proudly wore his backpack on his shoulders and had a grin from ear to ear. He started packing his lunch on Friday (on his own, I came in the kitchen and found him filling little baggies with snacks), so I think he should have plenty to eat today. :) He walked into the classroom with confidence and greeted his teacher. He was excited that his cubby sticker had a panda bear on it, and you could see his thrill as he put his backpack and lunchbox in their own little spots. He found his name at the table and went and sat right down. I was falling apart inside, but I was happy to see him so happy. Here are a few pictures from this morning.
He got it on his first try! :)
Ryleigh did not like the boys moving her to put her in the picture.
We have all (yes, Daddy and Mommy too) been in the tent, reading stories and playing with action figures. The little pockets are a great place to keep all the toys that they like to take to bed with them. The pocket though is not big enough for the dump truck that Kyle takes to bed with him on most nights. He even brings it (the dump truck) into our room in the middle of the night if he wakes up. Along with his big blanket, a few stuffed animals and maybe an action figure or two. Add a few more kids, some more toys and our queen size bed suddenly feels like a toddler bed.We had to take the tent off the bed this morning because someone called and wanted to see the house. I told the boys we were going to have to take it off and explained why. Aiden thought it was a good idea because he thought for sure when the people who were looking at the house saw his bed tent, they would want to buy that too. :)
