Visitors from Ohio!! (Puckwaa & Family)

I LOVE having visitors! Always have!  It didn't matter if we were in a one bedroom apartment, with our guests sleeping in the living room on an air mattress, it's exciting when out-of-towners shake up the "usual day to day."

We have been waiting YEARS for the return of my brothers family.  The last time they visited was when Marcelo was a baby.

They arrived in the dark, but better late than never!  

We had a FUN week together!  It was supposed to be turned into a movie (sooooo many pictures taken!) and I was so excited after receiving this trailer from my brother just a few days after they arrived back home in Ohio. 

I thought..."he is ON it."  Im not even going to need to write a blog post for this.  Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like he is in any rush to finish the WHOLE movie, which means you are stuck with a long blog post of pictures and long winded commentary. 

*UPDATE:   still waiting for this video from my brother. 

Aunt Barbie is SuperMom and thinks of everything!  She brought matching dinosaur jammies for all the kids, which they were excited to put on and wear all week. 

Whenever visitors come, my first thought is "let's hit the Beltline."  My brother has an active family of five (like us!) and I think being on the Beltline with a ton of other people really let's you experience the vibe of a bigger city. 

We started at Krog Street Market and made the usual stops.  Skate park, King of Pops and Ponce City Market!

Had to show the cousins the Tiny Doors around the belt line. 

 Hazel is gaining on little Paloma and she will probably pass her up soon.  kissy kiss....

I just love hanging with my bro.  Our humor is the same, but we are very different. LOL 

Apparently we both like wearing gray.

These kids were tuckered and SWEATING!!! 

WAKE UP PUCKWAA!!

 Everyone was tired, but we did have one official sleeper...Hazel!

Something on the Ohio kids' list of "must do's" was Lego Land.  We have been there a bunch of times.  It's SMALL, but keeps the kids happy for a couple of hours. (#goals)

They played their little hearts out.  Somehow Marcelo ended up on a ride with a stranger as a chaperone???

Oh that sneaky Celi-cell.
But you KNOW the most fun thing about Legoland is that you have to exit THROUGH a LEGO store. Grrrrrrr.

Always a challenge getting them out without a meltdown whining. 

We hit Piedmont Park pool one day.  #1 because it's hot as hell in June and #2 because it is awesome 

The kids explored the back woods trail.....

Made time for slime......

They took a [what may be their last] bath together...haha

AND THEY SLEPT like champs!! 

(Yeah...those bunk beds aren't painted yet.  It's only been 8 months, don't judge!)

Uncle Bill did story time for the little girls. 

We left the guys at home with all the kiddos (they were fine!!) 
....while I whisked Barbie away for an afternoon surprise.

The Wednesday special at Jiao Reflexology -1 hour foot massage for 2 people- only $50!

HEA-VEN!!!

We planned to venture to the beach while they were down south and Savannah is so easy!  Plus, using points at the Westin on the river is FREEEEEEEEE!

The excitement that brewed in these kids was a joy to watch! Vacation with cousins = the best!!

 

The Westin is on the river and crossing into downtown Savannah could not be easier with the 5 minute ferry ride leaving every 20 minutes. 

Tybee Island is about 25 minutes across the bridge and worth it for the warm water and kids friendly waves. 

Walking the ramp to the beach was pretty exciting because this was the first beach the three Arnold cousins had ever been to!!!!

....and they were HUGE FANS!!! This is a totally perfect kids beach....and everyone must know it because this beach was PACKED!

We carved out our spot and set up camp....literally. Sun tents are awesome!

Im so glad Barbie brought her good camera for some shots at the beach.

Wait....how did my parents get there you ask?  Well....they couldn't stand that we were having fun without them, so they crashed the beach party!! 

Kids were totally dumbfounded when grandma and grandpa were all of a sudden right beside them on the beach.  They were silent for a few seconds, and then super excited.  I have a video somewhere ....

When Barbie is there, pictures are taken.  Period.  Im glad...look how cute these shots are!!

Even though everyone was soooooo worn out from the beach, we had to make a stop at The Crab Shak.

Sitting outdoors with a platter like this was definitely a treat!

The kids fed the little crocodiles and managed to tackle this one for a picture.

Dinner was pizza poolside and couldn't have been easier/better. 

SOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!

Smores at the poolside fire pit were a hit with the littles.

We hopped on the ferry for MORE SWEETS!!!

What is Summer without ice cream?!?!

What a trip!  Please make this an annual tradition Arnolds!  We loved hanging with you all week!

BONUS CLIPS:

 

 

San Diego: Part II

It hasn't been all beach this trip.  (part 1 here)

We also went to Mexico a couple times. DUH!!  Even after all these years of visiting San Diego every year, I just can't get over the fact that you can drive to there for lunch...yes we did. 

We made it to a great restaurant recommended by Ernesto's cousin and it was AWE.SOME.

Besides having cute little props for the kids, the food did. not. suck.

This little mexican-a knows how to dress for any occasion.  Mexico?  How about an embroidered dress [from Mexico]?

Ernesto's brother Tavo planned a family day out.  It was a sooooooo fun!  He actually did some research on kid friendly restaurants and he did gooood! Right behind our 2 "family style" tables was a fenced in kids area equip with toys.  

We were able to relax, enjoy a few beers and indulge in adult conversations.  We didn't stop there.  The party continued at a beer garden close by (but I forget the name?!?) where the kids continued to have fun running around. 

On the walk there we passed this wall o' succulents that was magnificent.  #dreamgarden

Baby girl had no problem keeping up with her older primos. She was up and down up and down.

Usually Im not a fan of the fish eye lens on people, but this came out really cool!

We love being in San Diego for 4th of July.  Im not sure how many times we have seen the parade on Coronado, but it never gets old.  In fact, since we had kids, it is even better.  (although biking there -as we used to do before kids-was way cooler)

Yep, we were there early!

Definitely not usual for us, but we were meeting friends:)

Although the first time hanging out, our kids acted like old friends.  Isn't that funny how kids can just jump into playing right after meeting??

Beaches are just conducive to playing!

....and let's not forget napping in the sun!

Thanks to these three long-time buddies, we enjoyed a nice family beach party!

It's all about "fun" and finding something to explore when we are out here.  (although sitting at home with family also happens quite a bit, and that is pretty great as well!)

These guys have never missed an ice cream truck passing. 

For the first time in....EVER...we organized a "girls night out!"  I can't believe we had never done this before!  SO FUN!!!

We started at a cute place called The Goldfinch in Mission Hills.  Drinks, many delicious apps and photos.

We made our way to Little Italy, but ultimately only took a picture [with a GORGEOUS succulent wall]

and ended up at Mr. J's.  Drinks and a beautiful sunset on a rooftop?  Yesssssssssss.

We had so much fun!  A lot of laughs and NO INTERRUPTIONS.  Moms out there know this is GOLD!

The day before leaving Ernesto was golfing.  I realized we had not yet gone to Torrey Pines and that made me sad.  I packed up 3 kids myself and we started on the trail.  Man it was beautiful.....

BUT I should have parked waaaaaaay closer without a stroller.   We never made it down to the water. Everyone was tired and whiny = not fun. So I pulled the plug.  I tried. Wha-whaaaaaa.

After 5 weeks in San Diego, you KNOW I racked up quite a succulent collection.  

How did I transport all of them.  Well, in a diaper box, of course. 

Also could not leave without taking this piece of history.

Ernesto's parents are going to be starting some construction in a few months and you never know what plants may not make it through.  Ernesto and I planted this cactus probably 12-15 years ago??
It was just a couple feet high (if that!) and now its huge! I cut that bad boy with a kitchen knife and it was  the cherry on top of my carry-on bag of plants.

My three little bronzed Summer blondies patiently waiting to get on the plane.  (yeah right!) 

TWENTY ONE MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

Oh my baby girl ..eres tan BONITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Your hair is getting so long.  Up, down or straight out of bed, I am loving your blondie locks!  It is fine and seems to tangle easily in the back, just like mama's.  I'm sorry.  Luckily, your skin soaks in the Summer like a true mexi-CAN-a, like your papi.  (#bronzedbeauty)

You are so outgoing.  That smile, your laugh.  Im so in love. You make friends with everyone.  Kissing on command and out of the blue too.

You are napping like a champ and still breastfeeding a few times a day.  I really don't think you neeeeed it anymore, but by golly you love that leche, and I have to admit I still enjoy our quiet time together....so why not?  In my head, there is a hard cut off of chi-chi at two years old, but I never like to set things in stone.

You are talking up a storm.  Your vocabulary amazes me!  Talking in sentences even.
I want to eat you up you are so cute...and I do everyday, those cheeks are sooooooo kissable.
Te quiero mucho mi bonita, chiquita, muñeca, mamacita.
tu mami