Pretend Doctor Dr. Seibert

I call him that because as a medical student he is kind of pretending to be a doctor. They let him do things like cut sutures and hand the surgeon tools (oh and wake up at 3 am to pre-round on the patients all in the name of education!) But he has earned the title Dr. Seibert with that well deserved PhD.

Even so, I still can't help but giggle when I see him all dressed up like this.

Also, as a side note, sometimes this is all we get to see of him in a given week. Awesome.

Impromptu

I'm a planner. I like to have things planned out. I don't even have to be the one doing the planning. I just need things to be planned. BUT... I am learning to kind of go with it more. At least I think I am. Tyler and I decided that since he had a Saturday off we had better try to take advantage of it so we had ourselves a little impromptu date (thanks to our last minute babysitter for coming to the rescue!! Cameron, you are the BEST).

We tried out a new Mexican place that opened up in downtown La Jolla. And it was AMAZING. Seriously, if you haven't tried Puesto, do it now. Tonight. In fact, that might be where we'll be eating! Their food is authentic, healthy (not greasy AT ALL), fresh and unique. I'm serious. GO eat there. And try the Huitlacoche tacos. They are completely unique and unreal.

 

One of the owners (I think she was an owner) thought Tyler's choice of toppings on his tacos was awesome and insisted on snapping a few pictures. I think the jicama on top threw them off. In a good way. His choice was DELICIOUS.

Anyway... after a fabulous dinner (did I mention they have an awesome selection of sodas, too? Cream soda is heaven) we headed out to a movie. Yes, my friends, we saw "The Vow". And quite honestly I was a little creeped out by the story. I think if it had been an actual Nicholas Sparks novel instead of a true story I would have been okay with it's cheesy nature and slightly disturbing story line, but because it was a true story, I just kind of watched uncomfortably the whole time. Plus, I know I'm going against most women and teenage girls when I say this, but I'm not sure what everyone freaks out about when looking at Channing Tatum.

Despite the movie, it was nice to sit next to Tyler for over an hour just holding his hand. It had been way too long.

My Valentines

I think I have 3 of the best Valentines there are. I'm pretty lucky. I used to not take Valentine's Day that seriously. But the kids have so much fun with it that I like to play it up for them. And, it was Max's first time getting to hand out real Valentine's at school (he did it in preschool but it wasn't quite the same).

This is what we ended up with. They were SUPER easy and surprisingly I didn't see any others like them (the idea had been floating around Pinterest for awhile so I was worried we'd see a lot of the same).

Max signed every one -- 30 of them. Lia mostly just watched and looked cute.

That night I had planned a special "red" dinner but Max requested pork chops with rice and when he requests a dinner outside of his usual rotation I jump on it. So pork chops, rice, corn and a few treats to go with it. The kids were pretty bummed that Tyler had to work late. I was, too. He did make up for it the next day by bringing Lia and I flowers and Max some Mentos (one of his favorites).

 

 

Max claimed it was his best Valentine's Day ever. I win!

Not So Much a Baby Anymore

Our little firecracker started preschool last week. She's actually been going to the home of a friend of mine who has been teaching Lia and 2 other little girls (one is her own daughter) all the same age once a week for a few months now. And that was so successful that it was pretty clear that Lia needed more structure and stimulation than I could actually give her at home. She is totally 100% ready.

She's been SO excited, too, waiting for the day she would get to go to the school that Max went to. The first week was a "try out" week to get her used to being there. Within in the first 10 minutes on the first day she asked me to wait out in the hall.

While it's been great to have three mornings a week (she goes to the MCDC 2 days and her original little preschool one day) I have to admit that it was bittersweet. Something about seeing her with that backpack on and waving goodbye to me in her own little "I'm okay mom, I don't really need you that much anymore" way I felt a bit sad. I'm excited for her and how excited she is, and I pride myself on the independence of my kids -- how they have no separation anxiety at all and walk right into situations with confidence and excitement -- but she's my baby. I might not have another baby again. Is there a way to stretch out her babyhood while at the same time letting her grow into her own?? Don't say no. Just, I don't know, change the subject.

 

Afternoon In The Sand

Continuing our Sunday afternoon tradition of tide pooling in Wind N' Sea. This particular Sunday Max climbed up a very tall pile of rocks all by himself, followed by Lia who definitely refuses to be outdone, outrun, outclimbed or out anything by her other brother.

 

 

 

Life Lately

These don't have a lot of explanation attached to them. Just photos of our life one afternoon, full of laundry and legos and art.