Summer Vacations: Disneyland and Wine Country

We have had quite a busy but incredibly fun Summer.  We promised Riley that if she was completely potty trained we would take her to Disneyland.  So it came time to follow through on this promise.  Our first trip to Disneyland was August 14-15th and we went BIG.  We stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel on the resort so we could walk to both Disneyland and California adventure.  We started off at Disneyland and wow, Riley was in heaven.  It was pretty crowded but nothing too crazy; we always felt like we could move around easily and the lines for the rides we wanted to go on wasn't too crazy.  Riley loved the tea cups and dumbo.  She wasn't a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean; she got a bit scared of the skeletons shooting fire at us (oops!).  Luckily her Nanny, Joanna and her boyfriend Johnny came with us to help out (and believe me it would have been a rough trip without them!).  Riley met Mickey, Goofy and Winne the Pooh.  It's so cute watching a toddler meet characters.  She was in complete awe.  So instead of writing about it, here are a bunch of pics that show our Disneyland Adventure...

Our first pic once we got in the park

Goofy!

Mickey!

Olaf Marshmellow on a stick...took her forever to eat!

Mickey Waffle!

It's a Small World..walked right on!

Checkers at Tom Sawyers Island

Tired...very tired.

Winnie the Pooh!

On the Swings...they went very high and she loved it!

It's a Small World after all....over and over again!

Tea Cups...loved it!

Lovin' on some Johnny

WEEEEE!

Joanna and I on the Tower of Terror.

 

 

Her pick...a wand and hat!

View from our Hotel Room...insane!

So then the next week it was time for me and Matt to have a little getaway.  My parents came out (thanks!) so we could head to Sonoma/Napa for four days.  We had an amazing time.  I planned it to where we would do Beer on our first day, Napa the second and then Sonoma on the third day. So our first place we went was Russian River Brewing which is absolutely incredible.  They are known for Pliny the Elder and Younger which are rated at the top of any beer lists and this place did not disappoint.  Then we headed to Lagunita's and that was pretty awesome.  It's always great going to breweries; they have stuff you can't get anywhere else.  We loved it!

Russian River Tap List

Our Tasting of Russian River Beer

A VERY happy Matt

Lagunita's

Lagunita's Brewing!

Then we headed to Napa the second day.  We went big this day and hit up like four wineries.  We first stopped in at Stags Leap which was great.  Then we had lunch at Morimoto's in downtown Napa...then off to Quintessa for our tour and tasting. And wow, this place was so beautiful and the tour was awesome.  Next we headed to Opus One for our tasting of their one very pretentious wine for $40....but it was a very wonderful cab and the views were incredible.  Then we ended at Elizabeth Spencer which was more our style.  We ended at eating dinner at Bottega which was pretty cool.

Quintessa

Quintessa

Yeah...We were Ballers

Opus One View

Opus One

Opus One

Opus One

Opus One

Elizabeth Spencer

Elizabeth Spencer drinking area...so relaxing

Morimoto's Toro!!!!

Quintessa

For our last day we hit up the spa at our hotel then drove a very long way up to Francis Ford Coppola for lunch and some tastings.  It was an amazing place I have to say.  Then we drove down to Kurtz Family Cellars who were awesome.  Since I knew someone that knows them they actually let us taste for free which was super nice!  The wine is great too.  So at this point, we were wined out.  It doesn't take much.  I was pooped.  Dinner was at The Girl and the Fig and it was awesome. 

Francis Ford Coppola

It was like a museum!

So all was great; the trip was awesome and we were heading home on Sunday morning.  Then...at 3:30AM we found ourselves literally frozen in complete fear by a 6.0 earthquake that lasted over 10 seconds.  Now, I know I can exaggerate but let me just say the room literally swayed, the walls were alive.  In that moment you think...should I be under a table, in the tub, in a doorway???? I have no idea.  I'm a hurricane girl....not an earthquake chick.  I have no idea what I'm supposed to do!  So we just stayed in bed completely frozen.  Then the electricity was off and the place was pitch black.  So our phones weren't so great and getting news so we had no idea what was going on.  We left early for the airport...got out of dodge asap!  And back home we were...ahhhh safe!  It was a very eventful trip with a frightful ending, but it was memorable that's for sure!

So back home we were and back to the real world.  Riley started her second year of preschool at Gillispie.  She is doing so great.  I am so proud of her! I think the next post will be of Harper crawling...she is so close and she's only 8 months!!! 

My Babes...<3

First Family Trip!

For our first trip as a family we decided to go BIG.  Why not take an almost 6 month old and a three year old on a plane across the country during a major holiday weekend?  Why. Not.  Actually everything turned out great...

Well, I spent days planning what I was going to bring and what luggage everything was going to be in.  I knew that I planned on working at the Navy Yard one day so I would be bringing some work stuff and I knew that with two kids, I needed two carry on bags, etc.  I had this thing down!  But while packing I realized I forgot the one thing I needed to get on to the Navy Yard, my CAC.  Boo.  So we had to make a pit stop at my office (which is pretty close to the airport) before the airport so that meant leaving a little bit earlier for our 6:45am flight...yippee.  So we get to the airport with PLENTY of time with a great parking spot and start unloading the bags and when I look around, I see no diaper bag.  NO DIAPER BAG!  UGH.  So off we go back to our house like speed racer to get our bag of pure necessities that I meticulously packed the night before and back to the airport we go.  Luckily we got pre-check and made it to our gate in time to board.  But it was a bit closer than we typically like to make things but all went fine.  Then...Riley starts asking for the ipad.  So out it comes and then the third Oh $hit moment of the day happened.  Literally the ipad was at 0%.  It was a 100% power when we went to bed.  So between two external chargers we were able to give her some juice to play subway surfer for a bit.  Whew...that was a close one!!! And then we get to DC.  Ahhhhh.

Let the fun begin! July 4th started with a great Fairfax parade.  Even though she had the cutest outfits, she wanted her Sofia shirt...oh toddler strikes again!

The stars magically aligned and we were able to get Harper baptized on July 5th at St. Ambrose Church.  We really didn't think it was all going to come together.  Harper and Riley's Godparents, the Sakraida's, were vacationing at Ocean City and with the weather not being that great, were able to leave early and make their way over to Fairfax to stay with us for two nights.  The baptism was pretty low key and was about 15 minutes long. Since it was basically the Sakraida's, us, and one set of grandparents, there wasn't really anyone to watch the two toddlers so they basically ran around the whole time playing while the ceremony was going on.  Even at one point they were on the floor making snow angels saying they were doing yoga.  Toddlers. 

The closest we could get to a family photo

Sweet Baby Harper

But after the little ceremony we had some friends over for a little get together which was so fun!  It was great to see all the kiddos play together and to catch up with everyone.  We also brought the good weather with us for the party.  It was great!  I miss everyone so much!  

Thanks again for everyone coming out and celebrating with us!