G's Big Day!

At the tea room, enjoying a pb&j, petit four, fruit, and hot cocoa in a tea pot. Princess crown included in the service.

Selected a princess piggy bank to paint at the studio.

Choosing colors to make the princess magnificent. G. chose colors that made princess look a lot like her.

Being a great painter takes lots of concentration and focus.

The finished project. It will be glazed and fired at the studio. Pick up is next Saturday.

G. has a a very long, extended birthday. It all started with San Diego, then a small shin-dig at the house with three small cakes, followed by the movie HOP and a visit with the Easter bunny and now....Camelia Tea House in Benicia, Ca. followed by painting pottery at Artcentric across the street.

April 10th - G's 5th birthday!

Getting ready to make a wish!

The three princess cakes (fed about 3 people each)

5 years ago today, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl! Happy birthday, G! Last Friday, I invited grandma and auntie (with cousins) to share in a piece of cake at night. No big shin-dig this year since San Diego costed us a lot...and we told her that was her birthday present. G. wasn't happy with that because we never had cake!

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail!

After watching thte movie, Hop, we headed for the park. A mom with two kids told us E.B. was at the grocery store next door to the park. Fortunately, we got the last pic with the giant bunny before the opportunity ended at 3:00. N. was so excited to see E.B. and rushed him to give him a hug!

Sunny San Diego!

At the entrance of SeaWorld, San Diego

Our girls being introduced to a two-toed sloth at SeaWorld

My girls meeting Elmo and Abby Cadabby.

Last week, Rob and I took the kids to sunny San Diego for Spring Break. While it was storming here in the North bay, San Diego had great weather. In fact, I got a little sunburned.

We visited Legoland, SeaWorld, San Diego Animal Park, and the San Diego Zoo. By the end of the trip, my legs were sore. Maybe we should have planned for a vacation after the vacation.

We took over 500 pictures; however, here are just a few from our wonderful trip to SeaWorld.

The Nealon Girls and Kristi Yamaguchi

Recently, the girls and I had a great opportunity to meet 1992 Gold medal olympian and Dancing with the Star Mirror Ball winner, Kristi Yamaguchi during her school tour promoting her new children's book, Dream Big Little Pig. The illustrations in this book really caught my 4 year olds eye possibly because of all the pink and sparkles.

Kristi is a cute, very petite woman. She enjoyed her visit to our elementary school. Our students got to ask her questions and she read her entire book to a room full of pre-k to 3rd grade students.

Site Name Change!

Yes; you saw it correctly. The Nealon girls + one! We are bringing a new little Nealon on board in June! I've been either tired, busy, or unmotivated to write the blog, but here I am this morning, with barely enough sleep.

My girls are doing well. We are slowly introducing the concept of bunk beds as they prepare to move into a new room to make way for baby. N. is still enjoying a "poop" or "pee" joke from time to time. This all came to be when she learned how to use the potty....but we are still working on the former. G. is preparing for kindergarten. Wow. How time flies when your having fun.

misc. pics of my girls.

Some of Natalia's usual looks to get me to get her a treat from the fridge.

Gaby posing with a rose.

Goofing off before the party.

Posing after she just got her hair done for the party.

Posing in front of her house.

Misc. photos from my iphone!

Gaby's Fourth Birthday

Gaby's first shot at the pinata. Got a room with Mexican family and no one knows all the words to the pinata song. We ended listening to it on-line while the kids hit it.

Gaby making a wish.

Gaby opening up her gifts!

Gaby's turn at pin the tail on the donkey.

Today my baby girl, Gaby, turned four years old. Gaby enjoyed her birthday with family and friends. It was just the kind of birthday I always wanted....pinata, pin-the-tail on the burro, and a custom cake to boast. Gaby is still out playing with her friends even though the party ended a few hours ago. I love watching my little girl enjoy her day.

Cooking with Mommy

Natalia is my biggest fan. She eats almost everything I cook. On this night, I made Potato Leek soup. She ate every bite saying, "mmmmm" then asked for a second bowl. Now Gaby on the other hand is my biggest fan when it comes to anything sweet. She can often be over heard asking, "Mom, let's make cookies. Can we make cookies?" On this night, I gave in and we made shortbread cookies. We ate plenty and gave the rest to daddy to take to work.

Snow Day

It is my third furlough day of the school year and we decided to take a family day to the snow. Unfortunately, I'm suffering though the stomach flu as well, but managed to keep a smiley face.

Family portrait next to our first snowman.

Climbing up the snow hill.

Gaby tubing down the hill.

Gaby tasting snow.

Updating

After receiving Ariel's vanity from Uncle Fred. The girls haven't quite learned how to share and have to be divided when playing with this set.

A typical lazy day at the Nealons. It is both girls responsibility to clean up right before bedtime. I don't see why they continue to make a mess if they know they have to clean up.

Here is Tali after returning from preschool the day of her birthday.

Updating while caring for two girls is tough. They are napping now so I thought I would take advantage of the peace and quiet and update both of my blogs.

Well since my last post, Natalia has had a birthday. She is now two years old. I can't believe how time flies. She is developing quite the personality. She is very strong willed and a bit athletic. Her past times include coloring our furniture, playing with cars, and loading all the books on her book shelves onto her bed before falling asleep in the area where her pillow should be.

Gaby is doing well also. She is learning how to read predictable books (I see a ___.) and doing quite well writing her letters and spelling her name. I have been teaching her to cut with scissors and she is only allowed to use those scissors in the presence of an adult. If I remember I will post a pic of our nightly homework sessions.

All in all, all is calm in the Nealon household.

Disneyworld 2009

The girls and I riding a taxi in Anandapu, Animal Kingdom. I love how Disney has the special gift of making you feel like you are really in a foreign county.
Both my girls love the carousal and it's always hard to get them off.
This is the Nemo adventure ride that drops you off in an aquarium.
The family in London, England (Disney Epcot Center)
Our first day in Disney Epcot in front of the big, ball.

Sleepy baby

I get the biggest kick out of finding Tali asleep. Everytime I catch her taking a snooze, she is always in some strange position or place. Anyway, here are a few of the various pics I've taken. I can't seem to find the one when she was half on/ half off the couch with feet almost touching the floor.

In the toy room during grandparents visit.

At 5:oo a.m. when she snuck out of her room and fell asleep on the couch.

Here she is wrapped in her blanket and hanging upside down. After I got the pic, she woke up and almost fell. I was quick enough to catch her. Not a far drop but what a rude awakening, huh?

First Pumpkin Patch visit of 2009

The Bumble Bee costume came in the mail today.

So we put the costume on and drove to the pumpkin patch.

Natalia didn't want to wear her costume.

...But Gaby enjoyed buzzzing around the pumpkin patch with her new wings.

It has been awhile

Learning from the state park ranger at the State Fair.

Filling the water for the dogs.

Resting our dogs at the state fair.

Mommy has been very busy with her full-time job and academy.  My babies are doing well.  Natalia is transitioning to her big girl bed tonight.  It took Gaby a long time but we are hoping she will help Natalia with the change.  Pics to come as soon as Rob dismantles the crib.

Natalia's First Day of School

Natalia looking at the pet mice.
Running to school with her big sister, Gaby.
Before we left home, we took some shots out on the porch.
My big girl and her lunch box.

We got an early start today and headed off to Children's Corner for Natalia's first trial day of school (daycare). She was very excited and repeated, "school. school" over and over again. We took several pictures before we left the house. Natalia picked out her own lunch box at Target yesterday. We entered directly behind her sister but warmed up quickly to see the class pets and class play kitchen with her teacher, Miss Tracy.