My life lately

Lately I've been busy party planning. Damian turns ONE next Wednesday. I still don't understand how that is possible! I feel like I just had him and was just cuddling up with my newborn baby and then I blinked and he's almost a toddler. It's a conspiracy, I'm convinced. It's turned into a tradition that on Gabriel's birthday for the past two years I will bake him a cake and we will have the Grandparents and his Aunts come over. Then he has a big birthday party where we invite all the family and friends. Since Gabriel and Damian's birthday is a little over a month apart and we can't have two big birthday parties (because we're Mexican and if you have a party you better be inviting EVERYONE) we decided to have a joint party for them and then I will make each of them a cake and have a little celebration on their actual birthdays. A few months ago we settled on a Toy Story theme for them, Gabe was excited since he loves the movies and loves Buzz. So I've been busy planning the Toy Story bash and also planning a small Winnie Pooh birthday dinner/cake for Damian next Wednesday when he turns one. The plan is to make him a Hunny pot smash cake, beehive cupcakes, and a bunch of other delicious noms. I know, I'm a little nuts. So I've been scouring Pinterest for ideas on both occasions while trying to keep up with sleep, dinners, work and what not but I finally managed to finish the invitation for the Toy Story birthday party.

Damian also got his first ever haircut on Tuesday. I was really not ready for it because even though it's just hair I knew that the little fuzzy mane he had was his baby hair and wasn't ready to give it up. The whole family kept asking when we were going to cut his hair and every time we went out somewhere people would stop us to tell us how cute our little GIRL was. I finally bit the bullet and figured that it just had to happen.

Little grumpy kid

"Hey Lady! What the heck do you think you're doing?"

"Why me?"

"I'm going to get you back for this Mommy!"

"Alright..I'm not too happy with this new 'do so I'm not going to smile"

I am not going to lie, as soon as the lady took the scissors out I was about to snatch my baby out of the chair and run...but my ankle was still pretty messed up so I had to suck it up and cry. I just had to accept that the little butterball is growing up. Speaking of growing up, guess who started talking steps all on his own?

Seriously, I don't understand why this kid is growing up so quickly. On the verge of his first birthday, first haircut, first steps. It's too much for a Mommy to handle!

Family Adventures in Golden Gate Park

On Monday we had a family date since both of us were off. We wanted to do something outdoorsy and thought about going to Alum Rock in San Jose but apparently it's closed on Mondays. Jesus suggested we go to Golden Gate park and see the bison. He was very insistent on seeing the bison for some reason. We stopped packed a lunch for the boys and stopped by a yummy deli for some sandwiches for us and headed off into San Fransisco. Although we live relatively close to the city, we had never taken the boys to Golden Gate park and the last time that I went I had gone to the Academy of Science at least 7 years ago but I honestly don't know my way around the park. We found a parking structure and decided to park there. Lo and behold the structure was right next to the Academy of Science and when we passed by the entrance Gabriel saw the big dinosaur skeleton and said he wanted to go inside. So we told him that first we would go have lunch and then go back to the museum. We headed off along the trail trying to find a nice place to sit, maybe a playground  or a bench.

We got a little lost.

Eventually we just found a bench somewhere after getting lost and ate our delicious lunch and froze half to death in the windy SF weather. 

Happy kid munching on a rare treat- Doritos!

Little explorer

We found our way back to the California Academy of Science and figured that we could go in there and later go look for the bison. I'm telling you, Jesus was really insisting on the bison! I thought the admission fee wouldn't be too bad, well I was wrong! $34.95 for adults and something like $24.95 for Gabriel. I was expecting it to be pricey but holy moly! However we had already promised Gabe that we would go inside and I was sure he'd have a great time so I bought the tickets and headed inside. They had remodeled the place since I last went, adding in a big rain forest exhibit and an aquarium along with a bunch of other things so it was like I was seeing everything for the first time again which was really cool. 

Gabe & the dinosaur

There were stingrays and sharks swimming under us.

Dory! And more Dory! And more!

Inside the rain forest exhibit

Check out this little dude!

There were butterflies flying all over the place

Poisonous frogs native to Costa Rica rain forests

Gabe thought they were cute and tiny

Check out this fish! I forgot the exact name but it was "monkey faced " something- No joke!

He was in awe with the aquarium

"Nemooooo!"

This little guy loved the fishies!

Albino alligator

 

Orca skeleton

 We had a really great time and saw lots of neat things. I feel like we needed lots more time since we were in there only for around two and a half hours so it did feel a little rushed. There was also a planetarium, living roof and a few other things that we didn't get to experience but who knows, we might go back another day, maybe not so soon but eventually. I totally encourage anyone to take their kids or even go with some friends sans kids.

We ended up leaving the place at 4:50, ten minutes before closing time and decided to head home. And saw no bison. Which means that some other day we shall trek back to Golden Gate Park to look for the bison. Honestly, I'd rather eat a bison burger from The Counter than see some bison roaming in the park but eh, it's something my husband wants to do so we will probably do it.