Downtime

Our week with Pepe and Laura was fun filled but it's always nice to have some rest before our next adventure. Pop-pop and Noni will be in town next week for a few days and then we are all driving up to Santa Barbara and then onto San Francisco to see uncle "Rog" (mike's friend Rob who Elise used to call Rog).  We went to Venice Beach the other day and there were lots of cool sailboats on the water.  It's very hard to tell in the picture but this was a red and brown striped one that resembled a small pirate ship.  Elise was delighted as she loves pirates and has decided she will be one for Halloween, if not for her future occupation.  When asked what she will be when she grows up her response is, "a pirate! definitely a pirate!" So there you have it. 

Who ordered the boy?

Yesterday while we were at Disneyland it became abundantly clear to us that we are raising a tomboy.  Although Elise loves many girlish things, she has never taken to dolls, tea parties or ballerinas.  She loves race cars, spaceships and pirates.  While mom was waiting in line (for an hour) for E to meet the princess, Mike took her to the princess gift shop.  One can imagine what overpriced items they sell at such an establishment. Of all the colorful assortment of crowns, dresses, wands, tea sets they have, Elise chose a huge sword.  Mike was able to convince her to get, yet another, toy cell phone.  For all the time I spent waiting in line, Elise met Belle, Ariel and a few other lesser known "princesses".  She seemed disappointed that Cinderella wasn't there and asked the other gals to call her on the cell phone.  They didn't seem too upset that they received silver medal status and happily obliged.  Elise's favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm not sure if it was the drunken pirates toting swords, the explosions or the scary darkness of it all but she was entranced.  She also managed to squeeze a few more toys out of Pepe including a Lightening McQueen race car to add to her "collection" and a Buzz Light year.  We were exhausted by the end of our journey but Elise was a trooper and ended the day riding the go-carts with daddy (of course).  

In other news, our dinner at Katsuya was very remarkable-the food was sublime. Cucumber sake martinis and salmon sashimi with caviar-yum yum yum:-)

Family in town

"Pepe" from Massachusetts and great auntie Laura from New Hampshire are in town visiting for the week and Elise couldn't be MORE excited. She has two new victims that will answer to her 24/7. It frees up some time for mom and dad to do things such as go out to a nice restaurant (second time this week!) without paying for a babysitter. Mostly though, it's so nice to have family in town and show them around the neighborhood. Yesterday we went to the Santa Monica Pier and Elise went on her favorite ride, the ferris wheel. She also went on the carousel and tried out every "race car" ride there was. For those of you who don't know, Elise is really into race cars, racing, going fast on the freeway and we can thank her dad for that;-)

Today was a beautiful beach day in Malibu and tomorrow Elise gets to meet Cinderella at the poor man's Disney world-Disneyland, of course.

Where should mommy and daddy go to dinner?

This thing better go fast

Brentwood Arts Festival-less than 24 hours after landing in LA, Elise already has them wrapped around her finger

How can I cut this?

So Elise has never had her hair cut before. But it's getting to the point where it's so tangled that I can only believe that a cut would make it healthier. I'm tempted to have her get a "bob" because I always thought little blondes with bobs were cute. Now I'm not so sure I want to go that extreme...I don't feel like dealing with haircut remorse.  I still remember the look on Mike's face when I got that short cut back circa 1999-2000. You would have thought I dyed it bright blue. Personally, I thought it suited me, but never again have I had short hair and probably never will so long as we are married.  All that being said I think I'll go the safe route and just give Elise a trim:-) 

So sorry...

OK. I started off strong with the blog but it's so hard to keep up with it and a 2 year old when Mike is working his behind off. Anyway, he is finished being on service for 2 weeks, Yay!! I'm in a terrific mood today. Maybe it's because we are going on a date tomorrow night? Maybe it's because I'm going out with the girls Thursday night? Maybe it's because we're getting visitors over the next few weeks? Maybe it's because it's gorgeous here everyday? So many possibilities. Right now I'm listening to She and Him's Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? It's such a fantastic, upbeat song you should download it. Well, that's all I got for now. I hope everyone has a dynamite day:-)