What an eventful weekend! (revised)

Oh boy, what a weekend!

On Saturday morning, we did our usual: the Santa Monica Farmer's Market and playground, and I made some arts and crafts for mommy for her birthday. Then we had a lovely brunch at a little French bistro in Brentwood. We hung out for a few hours with Amma and Baba, which was tons of fun. Amma and Baba took me to McDonald's and got me a Happy Meal! My first fast food experience!

Sunday was mommy's actual birthday. She normally has a big party, but opted to spend the day with me instead. So naturally, for her birthday, I get a gift: my first ice skating lesson! We went to a local ice skating rink (Amma and Baba joined us for this "first"), where I shredded on the ice like a champ. I was skating circles around 10 year olds in no time! After my skating lesson, we went out for brunch, then warmed our bones in the sun for a few hours, including on a carousel -- I have a knack for finding them! -- before returning for free skate in the afternoon. Mommy said it was good and bad to break for a few hours inbetween ice skating sessions because, while it was inconvenient to go, leave, then come back a few hours later, at least her back got a break from leaning over to hold my little hands as I skated.

Best of all was Monday. Not only because it was a three-day weekend so I got an extra day with mommy and daddy (weekends always seem to go by so fast!), but also because we went to Giggles n Hugs. I got to play for almost three hours! Since it was a holiday and we didn't have anything else planned, mommy and daddy figured, why not?! Then we stopped at The Body Shop to pick up some necessities for my foot bath. Unfortunately, they didn't have effervescent foot soak. That's my favorite. I love the way it bubbles and fizzes in the water next to my feet! Then we went home for a few hours to get some minor things done around the house before heading to dinner at Benihana! What a treat that was! We watched as the master chef chopped, churned and made things fizzle! He even used a green laser light to create green steam! Whoa. I asked for an encore of that performance. He happily obliged. In the meantime, I chowed down on rice and shrimpies and showed off my mastery of chopsticks. After all that activity, you can bet I slept well last night!

Don't worry - I'll post pictures soon. Check back throughout the day!

What am I doing on this Memorial Day holiday?

Lounging around, reading a magazine.

Happy birthday, Mommy!

To celebrate mommy's birthday, we're going to go to Pacific Park -- it's the amusement park area on the Santa Monica Pier. I have it on good authority that the rides are every bit as fun as Disneyland. I'm not sure if it's more of a gift for her or for me, but either way, I'll take it!

I decorated my room!

Disney has these wonderful adhesives of Tinkerbell and her friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa. I put on my Tinker fairy tutu and flew up the wall to smooth the adhesives on. I'm magic!

Bubbles!

I blew them all by myself!

I spy with my little eye...

Miss Piggy and Amma!

We met Mary Sue Milliken!

We are big fans of Top Chef Masters. When we got word that Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger would be on the Border Grill Truck, we took advantage of the timing to meet them and enjoy some delicious ceviche and tacos. And for those who are curious, yes -- they are both exactly as friendly and gracious as you see on television. I love it when good people succeed. I love it even more when they feed me delicious ceviche.

Mommy said no more rubber flip flops!

I have a new pair of Tinkerbell flip flops. They have a really pretty pattern on them, but they're made of rubber. They chafed against my skin and I got two booms on my feet! Mommy put bandaids on them to help them feel better, but they still hurt. Stupid rubber flip flops. No more!

Now you know why mommy calls me her TinkerBaby!

Yep, I have it all: wings, tutu, magic wand and a big flower in my hair. Mommy chalks it up to more of that Disney marketing magic.

Feet!

Specifically, mine and mommy's.

Mommy thinks I have a little crush on Coach Kiffin

A couple of weekends ago, I was at Amma and Baba's house for the weekend. We were heading to the bookstore so mommy could buy me a book she wanted to read to me when we saw a USC bus, the Song Girls and a whole bunch of USC balloons. Never one to pass up an opportunity to looky-loo, we decided to see what it was all about. Imagine our surprise when Coach Kiffin was there for pictures and autographs! I eagerly sat in Coach Kiffin's lap for a picture. I even flashed the Victory sign and sang Fight On!

Later that night, I asked mommy to show me some pictures on the internet of him. As she scrolled through a number of them, I saw one of him and his (very beautiful) wife. I turned to mommy and said, "I don't like that one." Now mommy thinks I have a crush on Coach Kiffin! At least we're keeping it in the Trojan family.

And then I changed my clothes, had some breakfast, grab my baby and went back to bounce

This is a good day.

First you wake up, then you brush your teeth, then you bounce bounce bounce!

And then mommy begs you to please, please, please have breakfast so you have energy to bounce bounce bounce!

California Science Center coolness

Mommy and daddy are nerds. Their idea of a good time is heading to the California Science Center to encourage my interest in science and technology. There were several cool things there, including this infrared viewer. I got to meet Infrared-oline!

Do you want to see the face of an angel?

Here I am!

And then I decided to spread the love

...to the cabinets and the refrigerator. Then I moved on to the stainless steel. For those who might be interested, it turns out that shaving cream is quite the excellent stainless steel cleaner. Mommy was pleased to find that out, at least. Took the sting out of having to clean the entire kitchen. She kept muttering, "Thanks a lot, AMMA!"

Amma brought shaving cream for me to play with!

And then she put some on my NOSE!

And this is my impression of Uncle Kyle

Ketchup!

This is my impression of a turtle when it falls on its back

Help me! Help me!

Princess Cake + Caroline = holes in the marzipan and a slightly green Caroline tongue

Observe:

Another birthday, another bounce house!

I love birthday parties. They so often invovle bounce houses! Of course, I also love to see my little friends and to make new ones. But I REALLY love bounce houses.

CAR WASH!!

I love going to the car wash. It has become our Sunday ritual. Daddy goes to play basketball with some friends on Sundays, and mommy and I go to Costco, then to the car wash. They let us stay in the car and we squeal with delight as they splash soap and water on the car and hand wash it all until it is spotless! Mommy says that the only problem is that I want to go through again as soon as we're done.

Happy Mother's Day!

For mothers day, I'm going to spend all day with my mommy. No time to blog!

I can swaddle a baby

First, you put a blanket down.

Then you gently place the baby on top of the blanket.

And then you wrap her up like a burrito!

And we went on the teacups -- 3 times in a row, then later 4 times in a row!

Mommy said to hold on tight, so I did. Then we started going fast. Really fast!

I wanted to spin even faster, so I helped her turn the wheel!

And then I just gave in, held on and squealed with delight! This is so much fun!! In fact, it was so much fun that -- much like with the Carousel -- I didn't want to leave. Thankfully, the Disneyland employees were very understanding of my insistence that I not stand in line again. The nice boy let me ride three times in a row without standing in line a second time. While this didn't do much for mommy in terms of teaching me patience, it certainly helped keep me happy and prevent a meltdown. I was very seriously threatening one when mommy initially told me we'd have to exit the ride. Think again, lady. I always get my way! Anyway, mommy finally tore me away from the teacups with the promise of flying elephants. Then we returned to the teacups for another four rides in a row. Without the necessity of standing in that pesky line again. It's good to be 2.5 with a BIG personality. We were very happy (and very dizzy) at the end.

We flew with elephants!

I was busy trying to make sure they didn't have an accident. Mommy said they were baby elephants, but they weren't wearing any diapers!

Horsie o'clock!

I like ponies. I especially like these, because they don't smell.

We had a little problem with lines, though. Specifically, with me not wanting to stand in lines to wait my turn. We went on the carousel once, and I pitched a big fit when the ride was over and it was other kids' turn. I'd waited in line to begin with, so I didn't see why I was being forced out and other kids got to ride MY ponies. Mommy explained that we could go stand in line and wait our turn again, but this was not a very satisfactory answer to me. The line is not fun. The ride, on the other hand, is. Why would I leave my pony to go stand in some stinking line?!

Mommy said that clearly we were going to have to work on our patience skills. I wonder who in my family is going to try to teach me that! Ha!

First up on our Disneyland day was Small World!

Okay, now sing it with me... "Iiiiiiit's a small world aaaaaaafter all..."

...because WHAT ELSE would you wear to Disneyland?

Clearly a fairy costume and sparkly sunglasses were the only acceptable attire. With sensible shoes, of course.

DISNEYLAND!

That's where I'm going again today. I CAN'T WAIT.

If the world actually WERE a little smaller, I could be at Disneyland EVEN FASTER. If only.