Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Enjoying Nature

On Monday, Landon and I visited the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach. This was our third year in a row to visit, and I have decided this will become a summer tradition. I'm not sure which one of us likes this place more!? Landon kept saying, "I really like this place, Mommy!" and "This place is beautiful!" He has become such a little man since we visited last summer. Landon is able to carry on a conversation, he is potty trained and we could stay a lot longer since he no longer takes naps. 
Sample conversation on the way to the center...
Landon: (Just getting off the freeway) Mommy, where are we at?
Me: We are in the city of Newport Beach. We live in the city of Ladera Ranch, but the Butterfly House is in Newport Beach.
Landon: We live in Ladera Ranch? But Mommy, we live in the planet Earth.
Me: Long explanation to follow...
Haha...love my little man!
 Landon checking out the snakes, lizard and toads.
 Hi little snakey!
 Super excited to see the butterflies!
 Blowing one of the butterflies a kiss.
 This year, we got to see three stages of the butterfly life cycle. The caterpillar,
 the chrysalis, and
 the butterfly. They mainly have monarch butterflies, but they also have a few other species of butterflies.
 After the Butterfly House, we walked down some of the nature trails.
 We relaxed and...
 ate lunch right next to the stream.
 Mmmm!
 After lunch, we ran into a nice family and hung out with them for a bit.
 The boys had sticks and were looking for tadpoles and crawdads.
 It was so fun and peaceful being out in nature.
What a great day!
And, here is my random pic (No, I did not take this pic). In just a couple of weeks, we are off to Maui. Woohoo!!! Aloha, from the Newmans!

Monday, July 8, 2013

M.I.A.

Looking at the last time I updated the blog, I guess I have been Missing In Action for the last few months...sorry. Well, I have some pictures that are just too cute not to post, so enjoy!
 We hope you had a fun-filled and safe 4th of July.
 We continued with our 4th of July tradition of joining in the Ladera Ranch parade, hangin' with our neighbors at the block party and watching fireworks from our balcony.
 Me and my adorable little love bug.
The cool dudes in their shades.
All ready to walk down to the parade 
(Well, someone didn't walk...the cute little guy got a free ride).
Hip, hip, hooray...the beginning of the parade.
Some musical entertainment while we watched the parade for a bit.
Gaga and her friend Carl walked down to the parade with us, but watched the parade in the shade when we joined. (Smart people!)
Can't get enough of my little guy!
Hey, look at the crowd cheering for us. ;-)
"Faster Daddy, faster!"
My friend Teri, her hubby and her doggy joined us in the parade while we were in front of their house. 
Yummy cupcakes that I made for our block party.
"Mommy, is it time for my cupcake yet?"
All ready to watch fireworks!
Landon loved the "colorful" and "amazing" fireworks and was all tuckered out at the end of the day.
 And, of course, my post would not be complete without a few random pics.
So, here are a few pics from Landon's (Mommy & Me preschool) field trip to visit the strawberry fields at Tanaka Farms.
 The strawberries were delicious!!
Last week, I signed Landon up for "real" preschool in the fall. Yikes...how time flies!
Much love,
The Newmans