Concert in the Park

On Saturday the Bundschuh Clan spent the day at the pool. The kids get more comfortable in the pool every time we go. Lauren is now going under water. So after spending 2 hrs in the pool we decided to take the kids to the restaurant right down the street, Piknic. It was only marginal and we thought it was a little over priced, but we can walk there so it is very convenient. Aaron and I thought the only way we would ever go back was if we had a bad day and needed a few drinks because we could just walk home. This morning we went to Aidan's favorite restaurant IHOP and then we just relaxed around the house. Tonight was the start of the "Concert in the Park" series at Playa Vista with the Spazmatics. They had a dance floor set up and they played 80's music. Lauren danced quite a bit with Mommie. I can't resist when they play Bon Jovi. Aidan even got up at the end. We all had a lot of fun. New pictures in set Concert in the Park and new video clips in set Video.

Jokes By Aidan

Aidan is into telling jokes so I thought I would share them with everyone. These might seem cute and funny ONCE, but imagine those jokes being told to you over and over again. Not so cute and funny. For more jokes look under my Video set.

Ballerina and Soccer Star

This week Aidan started his 10 week sports class. He goes from 3 to 4 pm and does some drills to hone his sports skills for soccer, T-ball, and basketball. He thinks the drills are games with a teacher so he loves it so far. Lauren also informed me this week she wants to take "ballerinia" classes so that is next week's chore. I finally figured out which school Aidan will attend in the fall, and picked up his paperwork today for Loyola Village Elementary. It's a magnate school which is exciting. It's scores aren't as good as the school that he would have attended in Texas, but it's OK and it is only kindergarten, But the most important thing that happened this week is that I found some women through Aidan's sports camp that seem very nice and might actually be worthy of my friendship. Who am I kidding - I practically jumped on these women with 30 questions about schools, pre-schools, and activities around the area. I'm sure I reeked of desperation for adult contact, but they were all very nice and didn't pretend to talk on their phones in order to get away from me. One of the women has been followed around for a year for a PBS documentary. I was going to ask her about it, but I thought I would back off and have something to talk about for next week. There are a few new pictures in June_2008 and I put some more video clips in the set Video.

Dodger's Game

Today the Bundschuh Clan headed out for a Dodger Game. We were driving to the stadium and couldn't believe that our kids very first major league baseball game was going to be in Dodger Stadium. Who would have guessed?! The Dodgers were playing the Indians, every major league baseball game I've ever attended post Aaron has been when the Indians were playing. Coincidence? I think not. Of course the Indians have yet to win when we go, so the most fun I have is the walk back to the car where I unmercifully harass Aaron about his choice of teams. The game was hot, but luckily we decided to buy seats that were in the shade so it was definitely bearable. I think the kids most enjoyed the eating aspect of it, but we made it to the top of the 8th so we beat the crowds out. I let the kids take some pictures today with the camera - can you guess which pictures are theirs? All the pictures are on set Dodger's Game.

Santa Monica Pier

Today the Bundschuh Clan headed out for the Santa Monica Pier. Today was one of the hotter days here in California that we have had so I knew by the end of the day our Fun Meter was going to be pegged, but I am getting ahead of myself. We arrive at the pier around 12 pm with two children who are so excited to ride the famous ferris wheel. All week we have been talking about it and we even looked it up online, so when we pull up to the pier the shouting of "there it is, there it is" is loud and intense. We park and head directly for the wheel, but of course getting on the ferris wheel can't be easy so we walk up and not only is the ferris wheel not open but ALL the rides have been rented out for a private party and won't be open to the public until 3 pm. Luckily the carousel is open, but it is at the opposite end of the pier, but it gets the crying to subside so that's where we head. We now have about 2 1/2 hours to kill before the ferris wheel opens because after talking about it all week we have to get on that thing so we decide to start with eating lunch. There is a restaurant right on the pier called Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. which is from the movie Forrest Gump so of course that is the theme for the restaurant. It's very touristy, but close and it serves pizza so the kids automatically love it. It was really good, and we got a primo booth overlooking the beach and pier, and here's the best part - they served tasty cocktails! I thought with 2 pina colada's I might be able to survive the next 2 hours. After lunch we still had over an hour before the wheel opened so we decided to change into or suits early and swim before we went on. The beach was packed but the kids had a great time. Lauren earlier this week got her feet in the ocean so today she had a great time holding Mommie's or Daddie's hand and "jumping" over the waves. The water can't go any higher then her knees or she freaks out and runs up the beach, but hey, baby steps. It is finally 3 pm and after standing in line for about 10 minutes to shower off our feet we head for the ferris wheel, and this is where the Fun Meter begins to get pegged. We then stand in line for about 20 minutes with the kids both asking every two minutes "are we going to get on?" We all sit down and go around about three times and the kids then begin to ask "when are we going to get off?" This is when I realize the walk back to the car is going to be long and riddled with crying. The kids on the way back to the car tell Daddie they had a great day so he buys everyone cotton candy and we all head home. It was a really fun day and you can see all the pictures on set Santa Monica Pier.

Aaron had his first softball game today and although his team lost he looked good! The pictures from the game are under set June_2008.

Happy Father's Day

Today was not unlike most Sundays. Aidan and I walked to the The Coffee Bean and got coffees, a chocolate chunk muffin for Aidan, and one donut for Lauren. This morning Aidan decided that Daddie needed a chocolate muffin since it was Father's Day and I agreed. After breakfast Aaron and I got ready to go to Uncle Rob's, Aunt Robyn's and Baby Tyler's house for brunch. The food and family where both fabulous, and the Bundschuh Clan had a great time, but on the way home we experienced the "traffic" that everyone kept talking about. The drive should have been around 30 min but instead it took us over and hour. The kids slept and I played with the camera so the only one who really got the shaft was Aaron. Happy Father's Day to you! Don't feel too bad for him just yet, after returning home he sat down to watch the US Open and hasn't left the living room. See not unlike most Sunday's. :) All kidding aside he is a GREAT Dad, and we are very lucky to have him! We Love You Daddie. Happy Father's Day to Pop pop and Grandpa B as well. You can check out all the pictures in set Father's Day_2008.

Lauren's Singing Debut

Wow, two posts in one day. You would think that I have no life, but this was just too cute not to share. Here's a little back story. We watched the Sound of Music one night at the Gazebo and I taped it so the kids could watch it over and over again. What was I thinking. Any way Lauren was fascinated that I knew this song and we started singing it over and over and over. I guess since we sang it together she associated it as the Girl Song, and that is what we now call it. When ever she is out and about, like the grocery store, and she gets bored she says "Let's sing the Girl Song Mama" and as all you parents know you do some pretty ridicules things in public to keep that time bomb from going off. Here is Lauren singing semi-solo.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT ROBYN!

Morning Outing

Aaron signed up for softball, and this morning was the intro. He had to meet at the park so we all went. I added some pictures to Ca Park_2008. There aren't very many of Aaron he didn't want his wife standing around taking pictures like he was a child on the playground, but I told him next game it's on, so get over it. This afternoon we are all going to see Kung Fu Panda. I'm not expecting much, so it should be at least entertaining.

UPDATE: Kung Fu Panda was pretty good. Aaron gave it a B+ and I gave it an A. It was also the first movie we took Lauren to that she didn't fall asleep half way through. The Panda, Po, was actually really funny, but I think you have to appreciate and think Jack Black is funny. The bad guy, or cat as the case may be, is kind of scary and dark, but Aidan was fine and he's kind of a wimp when it comes to bad guys. All in all it was a very good outing.

Full Circle

Aaron has been out late the last few nights for business so the computer hasn't gotten home until way past my bed time and left early so this has been my first chance to update everyone. This last weekend we all went to Griffith Park, which is the largest park in America, and road not one but two trains. Aidan was in train heaven. We then went to dinner at our favorite restaurant, C & O Trattoria. It's very kid friendly and right on the pier so it seems very California. The kids also love the garlic bread knots so they sit quietly before dinner comes. It's a win win for everyone. New pictures are up in set June_2008.

This week the kids and I went to the LA Zoo, and we had a great time. The LA Zoo is one of the better zoos and the kids touched a snake, walked though a dark cave and road a tram that takes you around the whole park. The next day as I was trying hopelessly to scrub off the LA tram stamp from my hand, I had a mild case of "the more things change the more things stay the same." Let me explain...

Then (BC - Before Children):
I start out around 10 pm heading for a place that is going to be overcrowded, hot and loud - my favorite bar. This place will make me drink heavily to ensure I have a good time. After 5 hours of "having fun" last call will be shouted and I will then drag myself and most likely some friend out of the bar. My friend is probably tired, whining and/or crying about something, and drunk, and I'm thinking "I hope she throws up before she reaches my car." If I'm lucky she will pass out in the car on the way home so the whining and crying will stop. She does, and I think over the loud blaring music, in order to keep me awake, that by the time I get into bed I will get a few hours of sleep until sunrise.

Now:
I start out around 10 am heading for a place that is going to be overcrowded and hot, the LA Zoo. This place will make we want to drink heavily when I get home - I'm sure of it. After 5 hours of "having fun" the kids will have had enough and the shouting will begin. At 2 pm we start to head for the gate, they are tired and the whining is unbearable. They have consumed junk food all day so I'm hoping that if they are going to throw up they do it before reaching the car. If I'm lucky they will both take naps in the car on the way home so the whining and crying will stop. They do fall alseep, and in a quiet air conditioned car I think by the time I get home there are only a few more hours until sunset and I can go to sleep.

Zoo Pictures can be found in set LA Zoo_2008.

On another cute side note last night we had a power surge at the house. I know a power problem in California who would have guessed. The lights went on and off twice right after I tucked the kids in for bed and one of the kids freaked out!! Anyone want to guess which one? That's right - Aidan. He is now crying and scared and wants to sleep with someone so I quickly ask Lauren if it would be OK if Aidan slept with her and she said patting her bed "Sure Ainan, I have room right here. Come on." Aidan loved this idea. He even thanked Lauren for sharing her bed. To see the results of the sleep over check out set Kids_2008.

When Daddy's Gone

You will all be happy to know that the family survived Aaron's first trip away. Aaron has been on vacation (business trip) for the last three days and since he had our only computer there was no blog. While he was gone we went to the park, and the beach by ourselves and took bathes in the huge jacuzzi tub that the new house has. Good times, Good times!! I've added pics to Beach_SoCa, Ca Park_2008, and The Kids_2008.

Breakfast and Couch Jumping Part 2

Aidan has been bugging me for the last few days to cook me something, so this morning I told him he could cook me breakfast. He says "Anything I want?" and feeling brave I say "Sure", and away he goes. He started out with tomatoes, bananas and potatoes, but with some gentle redirection he settled on bananas, bread, honey and raisins. He cut and spread everything - I just watched. I was thinking as he was making my breakfast that if it tasted too bad I could just sneak it into the trash when he wasn't looking, but Aidan insisted on sitting down with me and watching me eat EVERY bite. Luckily it wasn't too bad. He told me that he wanted to cook dinner for Daddie on Father's Day. I see my Mother's Day revenge in sight! :)

Then later in the afternoon Lauren reinvented Couch Jumping. Since our fire we haven't replaced every piece of furniture so we have no coffee tables. This does not effect Lauren from partaking in her favorite pasttime. We might not have any coffee tables, but what we do have is bubble wrap and Lauren figured out (on her own) that if you jump off the couch onto the wrap, not only does it pop, but it feels better then landing on the tile. Once again - am I a bad parent because I let her jump off the couch onto the hard tile floor or because I make her do it until I get a decent picture? I did feel a tad bit guiltier about making her do it on the hard tile as opposed to a soft couch, so I only made her do it about 10 times instead of 50. You can see more of Aidan constructing his breakfast masterpiece and Lauren jumping in my set Kids_2008.

Poem

Aidan: "Hey Mom, Roses are red,
Violets are (pause) violet...
That's it.
Written by Aidan Bundschuh"

Yes Aidan even had to speak the words "Written by Aidan Bundschuh" to let us know it was an original work.

The Weekend

This weekend was all about family fun. The kids are getting to the age where we have more freedom to go and do things and not feel like we are carrying around a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. Friday night Aaron took us to an Italian restaurant right on the pier and it was fabulous. We were all going to walk out on the pier afterwards but I am still in a Texas mind set that it's June so the weather should be I nice sweltering 100 degrees! Not here in California on the water at night it gets down right cold so walking to the car after dinner Aaron asked where our jackets were? JACKETS?! It's June. So we had to abort the pier walk, but we'll be back. On Saturday we all went back to the beach this time we dressed the kids in their suits. Good parents learn from their mistakes. Once again Aidan wouldn't leave the water and is getting very brave with the waves, and Lauren wouldn't leave the sand the waves are "too big". Lauren did a first. Growing up in the north Aaron and I are very familiar with making the beloved Snow Angel, but Lauren has incorporated that joy with the sun and sand and was making Sand Angels which are considerably more gritty but non the less still the same fun! More Pictures of the beach are on my set Beach_SoCa. Enjoy!