G is growing up too fast!  She wants to walk everywhere and gets mad if we don't give her the opportunity!  Yesterday we hung out at the park.  G insisted on walking the doggy everywhere!

I love this website!  The clothes are so cute and pretty affordable.

www.modcloth.com

Grace is finally walking!  What a shock.  A couple of days ago she decided it was time to walk.  The last few weeks she would never let go of my hand while we were walking.  She was too scared I think.  Well, now she's unstoppable!  Haha.

We headed to the beach last weekend with some church friends to worship and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Trying to learn how to photoshop.  Here is my first attempt! 

The hubs and I celebrated our sixth year wedding anniversary last week.    We were able to spend the day in Huntington Beach and had lunch at the hotel we got married.  Then we spent a night at Laguna Beach.  We had to bring the little brat along.  Haha.  It was a lovely weekend nonetheless. 

Being married just gets better and better each year.  I feel so blessed to be married to a great guy.  He's truly shown me so much and taught me so much over the years.  I'm so grateful for his love.

Lunch at the HB Hyatt:

Papa walking Gracie down the aisle.  I got a little sappy thinking into the future when one day this will eventually happen and she will leave us and be with her own husband.

My two favorite people in the world!

I am a fan of Dr. Laura.  Yes, I admit it.  Some hate her, some love her.  There's no in-between.  I recently read an email that was written to her on her website.  It had to do with preschool.   As an educator I have so much to say about this topic but won't go into it.  Rather I'll let the email speak for itself!

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Dear Dr. Laura,

There was a piece on the morning edition of NPR today that touted the French "pre-school" system and its "benefits" to children. This in an attempt, I believe, to drum up support for President Obama's effort to introduce universal preschool legislation. The exact content of the piece can be downloaded on the following website:

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128328858

The following is my response:

I cannot tell you the level of my dismay at hearing the piece entitled "French preschool aims to please toddlers, moms." I wish that one of your interviewee had been a 3 year-old child in the first month of her abandonment for let us call early-childhood education for what it is: an abandonment and repudiation of parental responsibility in the name of female emancipation and the gratification of selfish parental pursuit. Apparently a month's worth of crying for Mommy is justified when a child is able to parrot a few rhymes and obligingly trotted out at a Christmas program to demonstrate what he has learned, like a trained puppy trying to please its master.

If, as one mom commented, she finds herself unable to compete with an overworked instructor herding 12 children through a normal day of play dates, lunch, and nap if she finds it hard to find the time, the inclination, or the patience to teach her child a few nursery rhymes, take him to a museum, or listen to some Christmas songs, then maybe she should not have put motherhood on her checklist of "things-to-do-when-I'm-a-grown-up." All of the so-called arguments of "early education," "enrichment," "socialization", and "introduction to culture," are really poor excuses for a system that is designed to make parents feel less guilty for their lifestyle choices and denies the immense emotional harm that comes from feeling abandoned by one's parent. Three-year-olds may learn to adjust, but if asked, I am sure that they would say : "I want my Mommy."

I am horrified that 100% of French children are put through this trauma and I hope that American families will refuse to support the President's call for universal preschool. I would hazard a guess that the kids who really do succeed in school are not the ones who have had an "enriched early learning experience," but rather those who grow up in families committed to their children's psychological well-being.

F.

A must-see in Southern California!  What a beautiful garden in Palos Verdes!  On July 5th we spent a few hours exploring the garden.   Grace enjoyed her time and so did I!  Our Creator is very creative indeed.  Over 2,500 species of plants growing in this botanic garden.

It's been awhile hasn't it?  I feel that I've neglected xanga.  Well, summer is here...my favorite time of the year!  I just love the summer time.  Despite the heat (it gets well into the 100s here), summer always brings with it lots of fun activities.  There's camping, graduations, hubby's birthday, Independence Day, our wedding anniversary, beach bonfires, cool evening walks around our neighborhood, swimming in the pool...

Needless to say, I plan to enjoy this summer with my baby girl!  Last week we visited Big Bear.  Gracie is already getting really tanned.  I gotta bring out the sunblock and cover her up.  LOL.

So here's to a wonderful summer!  Lots to look forward to! 

This past weekend a bunch of us went up to the mountains to do some hiking.  We hiked/drove up to Keller Peak which was about 8,000 ft elevation.  It was a beautiful clear day.

Here I am with my sweet friend Rose.  Rose is an amazing artist.  She wants to paint a picture for us.  I asked her if she could paint a picture for Grace's room!  I'm so excited to see what she'll paint for her.  I asked for a beach theme with some seashells and orchids. 

And here's Gracie.  She found a hiking stick during the hike. Love that grin, she looks like such an experienced hiker!  Haha.

Yesterday night at my sister's graduation party Grace got ahold of some crushed chili peppers.  While she was on dad's lap at the dinner table she saw a bowl with a spoon in it.  She took hold of the spoon and put some crushed chili in her mouth.  She cried and cried for almost 20 minutes!! I tried nursing at first but she wouldn't attach.  Then sugar and then oil (I was told that would help).  Finally she calmed down and nursed and I think that did the trick.  Poor thing.  That was a night to remember!