Are we having fun yet?: Fun in the sun

I decided to finally visit my friend Stefanie after years of talking about it. The sunny and warm place she lives also really sealed the deal. When everyone elseis still having winter, they have summer. They call it spring, but I call it summer. Close enough. When I rolled into town, it was about 50 degrees hotter than the weather I left. Perfect.

I think the best part about being there is that it is a total kid resort. My friend has 6 years worth of toys for birthdays and holidays, and has three kids in those ages. When Tucker and Whitney got bored with one toy or friend, on to the next. They never got bored.

The great thing for me is having a mom around on the same page. We talked when it was time and did kid stuff when it was time. It's been about 6 years since I saw her last, so we had lots to catch up on. Not to mention she totally spoiled me by cooking and cleaning all week for us. Warm weather, new things to do and explore, a place to stay, food to eat, no chores. Sounds like a cruise, don't you think?

Here are some of the things we did. We saw the air show, ate lots of authentic Mexican food, ate shaved ice and slurpees, went to synagogue, went to a swap meet, went to a St. Patrick's day picnic, had a cleaning meeting with her friends, and went to parks almost every day.

As soon as we walked in the door, Whitney and Tucker beelined it to the kitchen/grill/ice cream shop and didn't really leave it for quite some time. Tucker couldn't get over pushing the ignite button on the grill to cook cupcakes and oranges. Whitney found a papa ice cream cone ( chocolate), a mommy one ( large strawberry) and a small Whitney one (small strawberry cone). The next morning the first thing Tucker did was turn on the grill.

They have spent a lot of time climbing in the "dollhouse", climbing ont the dome to play birdies eating frozen veggies ( worms are green beans, bugs are the rest of the veggies). They are proud of the fact they learned to climb up to the top to sit. They also figured out the slide, both climbing up it and sliding down it. It is really steep and slippery. Tucker talks about how he gets bigger and bigger every day as well as practicing and practicing to figure it out all by himself.

Xavier taught tucker how to shoot hoops. Tucker likes to watch Xavier practice with the hoop at the highest notch. The hoop says different things each time you make a basket. Tucker knows how to turn that feature on and off. Whitney and tucker both think the "swisher-roo baby" phrase is hysterical. They repeat it often.

They also love how the kids here are Dora and Diego fans. Their favorite book of choice is a Dora book of some sort. They've started using some of the Spanish vocabulary since hanging out with their new friends. Some other favorite toys around here are the wall tracks using the cars, the remote control cars, the outside "sink"' and the car tracks. And last but not least, the dirt pile. Who doesn't love the dirt pile???? Whitney makes cakes and cupcakes. Tucker digs and operates the trucks.

Whitney has been collecting rocks at almost every stop. There are some from various playgrounds, some from the air show, some from some parking lots. She has enjoyed all the new food. Tacos, tortas, ices, shaved ice, muffins, etc. She also has been the biggest fan of looking at the stars and moon each night before bedtime. Another way for our night owl to stay up just a bit longer.

Some amazing feats that have occurred are getting here on the plane and the air show. I came prepared with activities that don't require a plug, plus food, in addition to the kindle and laptop. We were supposed to be traveling 6.5 hours total in confined spaces. And they only used the kindle and laptop for the car trip from the airport, about 2 hours. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I couldn't believe it. I kept saving my big guns for melt downs and boredom, but it didn't happen. Tucker really liked doing play by plays of take offs and landings. Whitney had fun sitting next to me and just talking.

The air show was also amazing. I don't know how far we walked, but it seemed a really long way in a lot of heat and dust. Stefanie's oldest, 6 years old, pushed Whitney or his sister in the stroller the whole way. Lots of the dirt was soft. Amazing. I can't believe we went with 5 kids under the age of 6, 4 under the age of 4. Go us.

This is the first thing they played with when they walked in the door. Tucker immediately started grilling cupcakes

Whitney started sharing ice cream with me and with herself. Tucker wanted to grill it first

more fun with ice cream store and grill

Whitney would fill up the tank with gas so Tucker could go to work.

Our first attempt at playing at the park. This was after about one hour in direct sunlight. Clutching water bottles, flushed and generally not moving too much while staring into space. Isabelle looking them like they are weird.

This toy was the bomb. They played with this every day once Stefanie got it out for at least an hour, or until they muddied the water. The sink pumps the water through the faucet. How cool is that. Literally.

Taco trucks are the bomb

Playing at the park at the end of the week. A bit more adjusted. The whole crowd.

The words half way up this tower say "sea level" I was so amused with being below sea level. I don't think I've ever been without having a wet suit on.