Loving Our SoCal Summer

Since I've been off of work for the summer, we have been keeping super busy. Here's what we've been up to! Many of these pics are from Instagram(@hollievon), but I added in a few others too.

Jose had a birthday June 13th, and Ella loved celebrating her Dada. They are just so sweet together. 

 Here's Ella helping her Da open his presents. He's wearing one of his new shirts and she was so excited about his new soap. Of course she had to cheers with Da. It was a great day celebrating a very special man.

We spend many days at the pool, and Ella is becoming fearless. I am so proud of her in the pool. I can only imagine how great she'll be by the end.

Here she is with one of her besties Brielle. I think she overwhelms her most of the time. Any chance she gets she'll go in for a hug. I just love her sweet heart.

I've mentioned it before, but Ella loves the iPad. A little too much I think. 

 I just love this sweet face!

We have also spent some of our days at Safari Park. Ella loves it there, and is getting so much better at recognizing the animals. It's so cute and sweet. And of course she finds the water wherever we go. This child loves to splash around any chance she gets!

My Mom and the boys came with us one day. Ella loved having her Gigi and cousins with her.

I try and sneak a pic with my girl whenever I can. 

Most mornings you will find us at the park! Ell absolutely loves the park, any park, and could spend hours there. It's even better when one of her buddies can join her.

And of course, what's a SoCal summer without the beach. We love the beach and she really loves the sand. Thankfully this year it's not going directly into her mouth.  I would go every day if I could.

Well, there you have it. I think we'll be spending most of our days just like this. I don't think it can get any better. Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are!

Happy Girl

Last week, Jose and I started talking about all the new and cute things Ella has been doing lately. I don't know if it's because I've been home, but she has all of a sudden started talking and saying SO many new words. It's pretty amazing how quickly it happened. So as you know, with talking, comes the cuteness. Here are a few things I NEVER want to forget. Thanks Be(Jose) for helping me add to the list!

She is OBSESSED with Minnie and Mickey. Whenever MMPH comes on, she introduces all the animals in the introduction and gets so excited to do the dance at the end. She pulls both Jose and I up so we can all dance. We love it!

She just recently started saying "READY, SET, GO", anytime she is running, sliding, swinging, etc. You can't really make out the READY, but she says SET..... GO...... so clearly. It's super cute!

Her Tia Lulu taught her to say cheers when she drinks, so now she wants to cheers with you for food or even when we're playing with toys. We can't get enough of this one!

I've mentioned before that my Mom takes Ella to Safari Park every Tuesday when she watches her. Well, because of this, she has become addicted to animals. She has many stuffed jirafas, and my Mom buys her new little animals each time they go. Every time she sees a large animal, she mays Moo Moo! Well, a few weeks ago, we noticed that instead of calling my Mom Gigi, she started calling her Moo Moo. It's so funny and cute. We FaceTimed with my Mom last week, and as soon as she saw her she said Moo Moo and ran to get her animals! My Mom probably doesn't think it is very funny, but it is so cute. She loves this time with her Gigi. 

When we ask her, "How old are you?" She says, "Two". This I LOVE!!

She is always saying Thank You or Gracias when we give her something. I love that she is learning her manners. Mom and Dad are very happy!

She loves telling Jose and I what is ours. She will point to our shoes, clothes, vehicles, etc. and tell us who it belongs to. She also always says, 'Mama, Dada, I(Ella)". I  LOVE that she calls herself I! She has said Ella many times, but she mostly says I. We think it's adorable.

When she's cold, she totally exaggerates and makes her entire body shake. I have to get it on video. It's so funny. We all crack up(I think that's why she does it!)

She is obsessed with the iDad(iPad!) For one she calls it the iDad, which is so hysterical. Secondly, she absolutely loves to play all her Spanish and English learning games, and she especially loves the Disneyland App. It's her go to, and she stays on it forever. I try to limit her time of course, but she does learn so much,and I find it so fascinating to watch her navigate through everything. She certainly knows her way around. Kinda scary, but also so amazing!

The thing we love the most about our girl is how incredibly happy she is all the time. Of course she has her moments, don't get me wrong, but she has such a big personality and is always laughing. I mean ALWAYS. I laugh a lot, so does Jose, so that may be where she gets it. It just brings so much joy in to our home. She truly is our whole world and we love her more than we could ever imagine. This picture says it all! Happy, happy girl.

I know there are about a million other things we love and I could go on forever. But I won't. We love you Ella Catherine and we love your BIG personality. 

Doheny

Every year around Easter time, my family (Thomsen side) gets together for a huge camping trip to Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. My dad camped here as a young boy, My Mom and Dad brought Brooklyn and I here as babies, and my hope is to continue this wonderful family tradition with Ella for years to come.

This is me and my Gramps! Don't laugh at the RAD hair!

This year had a very different tone from years past. On Saturday, March 24th, my beautiful cousin Maria passed away. It was completly unexpected, and our entire family is mourning the loss of our beautiful Maria. Her presence was deeply missed, and I continue to pray for her husband Brian and my entire family as they deal with the loss and sorrow of losing Maria so unexpectedly.

Brian, Maria, Grams, and Gramps 2010

Chris, Frankie, Grams, Uncle Frank, Aunt Sue (Dad's Sis), Teresa, Ang, Maria, Gramps, and Renee 2010

I love and miss you so much cousin. God has gained a beautiful angel.

Jose, Ella, and I decided not to camp this year and to go down to the beach on Saturday and Sunday for the entire day. We were able to spend some time with my dad on Saturday before he headed up to San Luis to visit his sister. I always love seeing my dad, and I know Ella does too! We had a wonderful day catching up and enjoying my Dad's company. Our visits are NEVER long enough!

A morning stroll around the campsite.

Dad, Ella, and Jose

Gray, Ella, and Grandpa enjoying the waves!

Ella was such a good girl the entire weekend, although I think all the people trying to give her love and attention was a bit overwhelming. Not to mention she has started to have a little separation anxiety, and didn't really want to be separated from Mama or Dada. 

She loved the sand, and after putting an entire handful in her mouth, learned her lesson and didn't really attempt that again (although I tried to keep a Nuk in her mouth if we were IN or NEAR the sand!)

Jose, Ella, and I took a beautiful walk to the Dana Point Marina on Sunday and had some yummy fish and chips and shrimp tacos at the Marina. Ella was such a trooper the entire way and even enjoyed a few yummy french fries during lunch. (Don't worry, she had pears, apples, cheese, and some crackers too!)

After our walk, Ella had a chance to play with her cousins. They sure do love their cousin Ella!

Sunday is always the annual Thomsen Family Horseshoe Tournment and this year my cousins added a 5k run/walk for everone to participate in dedicated to Maria and her husband Brian. The kids even had a fun run! I know Maria would've loved to see this! Jose, Ella, and I couldn't get down as early as it started, but it sounded like a blast. I hope it continues to be part of our yearly tradition. It  now holds a very special meaning for our entire family.

The classy tournment trophy!

Gray and Garin after their run. Too cute! I love these two so much.

Well, I think that about sums up our weekend! I loved seeing all of my family, and spending some much needed time with my Dad, Sis, J, and the boys.

Until next year . . . . . . . . . . . .