Texas Trip!

A few weeks ago we headed out to Texas for pretty much our first ever family vacation! We had a blast visiting with good friends, making lots of memories and having non-stop fun! Here are some pics from our trip...

Ryder, Masyn and Zain. Friends for life and so cute together!

Proud Nick after a fishing trip with the guys! He was in heaven.

Taking the kids out for a little fishing in Bayside, Texas (near Corpus Christy).

The kids waiting so patiently to catch a fish. Zain was the only one to catch one....and it was actually the biggest one of the day! He was sooooo proud!

Dad teaching Zain the ropes!

Our friends bay-house, or what I like to call a little slice of heaven!

Pool day! Masyn went down this water slide endlessly!!

The aquarium in Houston!

A visit to the Houston Zoo!

The butterfly museum in Houston. One of my favorites! It was a huge, gorgeous butterfly habitat and butterflies could just land on you!

Thanks Hoeffner's for such a wonderful trip! You are amazing friends with hearts of gold. The kids are still talking about all the fun they had in Texas daily. We can't wait to see you all out here in Laguna again.

Soccer Season

School, soccer, singing lessons and chaos is officially among us! Masyn decided to forgo soccer this year (and probably from here on out) as she really enjoys the artsy types of things. She has been in singing lessons for the past few months and is really progressing. I just LOVE to hear sing around the house, shower, car and everywhere else. Zain on the other hand is loving soccer. Not to boast or anything, but he is honestly a natural with any sport that involves a ball! He truly gives it his all and it definitely pays off! 

Zain...our little goal scorer!!

Masyn and I at a professional soccer game about 2 weeks ago. The Galaxy versus Chivas...what a fun time! I spent most of my time educating her on who David Beckham is and how to get a good picture of him:-)

Dad and Zain at the soccer game. What handsome boys I am lucky to have in my life! They got nothin' on Beckham!

Jonas Brothers

Last weekend Nick took the kids to their first concert ever, and it was a big one....the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato at Irvine Meadows!! Masyn was especially excited (like a little teenage girl) and Zain didn't really know what to think. Considering he is petrified of the dark, loud noises and fireworks I was a little worried! Nick went with another dad (our neighbor) and his kids; the beer stand seemed to be a lifesaver for them as a million teenage girls screamed continuously for 4 hours (hehe)! Zain slept most of the concert and Masyn just giggled and screamed with her girlfriends! Even dad had a blast. All in all, everyone had an awesome time and I can't wait for the next concert so I can be a part of the fun (although my "me" time was pretty nice)!

              Zain, Mandy, Masyn, Cami and Jordi ready for fun!

 Masyn and Jordi....neighbors, great friends and partners in crime! Although, they will NEVER go to a concert without a chaperon!

 Zain before he passed out for the evening! Poor guy woke up with pneumonia the next day. I think he'll be a wee bit older before his next concert. But he was a trooper!

First Day of School!

Today marked the first day of school...Masyn is now in 2nd grade and my little Zain is a Kindergartner!! Nick woke up this morning and said to me, "Wow, we did it...we have two elementary school kids!" It really is amazing, crazy, fun, shocking, sad and exciting all at the same time to see them grow up so quickly. We count our blessings daily for two healthy, happy, fun-loving, silly kids. 

Take a peek at Masyn on her first day. She is suddenly into fashion and either wants to pick her own clothes out or she must approve what I pick out. She was wearing some cute leopard slip on shoes in this pick, but apparently we missed em! And the hair....she insisted on it being curly:)

Zain...my little heart breaker and trouble maker all in one! He had a great first day. He was a little nervous at first, but I'm sure he'll find his fit by the end of the week (and hopefully it won't be in the principals office...hehe)! He just can't help the fact that he loves to make people laugh!

We love you Masyn and Zain and wish you much luck in 2nd grade and Kindergarten. We know you'll do great!

Summer Happenings!!

Wow, summer is officially here and in full swing...or should I say non-stop chaos (the good kind though)!! We have had an eventful summer so far and we still have another month and a half to go (yippee)! The kids are enjoying summer camp going to Knott's, Wild Rivers, CA Adventure, the Zoo and much more. In fact the first week of camp was a little exhausting for poor little Zain. He went from taking daily naps to non-stop activity 5 days a week. He was so grumpy that first week of camp and would often fall asleep on the 2 block drive home. He is now adjusted and enjoying every minute of being an official "big-kid"!

Aside from summer camp, the kids have also had a week of "Grammy Camp" that has included Sea World, Legoland, movies, the beach and much more (she spoils them)! Although I think the real spoiled ones are my husband and I as we had 3 days/2 nights with no kids when Grammy had them...it was pure heaven! We got to enjoy time with good friends, with each other and just relax.

Here are some pics of some other summer happenings...

The kids and Grammy at the Tustin Concert in the Park (80's band). Grammy and I knew all the songs:-)

Rainwater family dinner! What a great time with the family.

Bluebird (Laguna) Concert in the Park with some friends....best concerts ever (highly recommend)! (No, that is not Nick's new family...hehe)

Catalina! We went on a day trip with the family. Rode golf carts, drank, ate lunch, drank, sat on the beach, drank (hmmmm, there seems to be a pattern)!

Boat ride home from Catalina....little did I know that my whole family, except me, gets sea-sick:( These 'cool' wrist bands did the trick for the ride home. They were honestly a miracle! Poor Masyn and Zain were turning shades of green I had never seen before on the way there! My troopers!!

4th, Family & Friends!

We had an awesome 4th of July with family and good friends! We celebrated this year down at Grammy's new place in Laguna Beach. We managed to have some decent weather, despite all the gloom we have had for what seems like forever now! (I am soooo ready for summer and 80 degrees at 8 am!) We were so fortunate to spend this past holiday with not only Grammy and the Castinetti's, but also with my half-sister, Kendra, who is visiting from Hawaii and our dear friends, the Hoeffner's, who are visiting from Texas. After one too many drinks on the beach and yummy food at the house, we got see an amazing firework show from only about 50 yards away. Even Zain managed to watch the firework show tear free this year (he is petrified of loud noises...even though he screams every time he talks). All in all, it was an amazing, fun-filled 4th!

Father's Day & Baseball!!

Two of Nick's favorites....Father's Day and Baseball! Although he had to work quite a long day on Father's Day, it was still enjoyable opening up all of the countless handmade gifts from the kids and taking a walk together with just the two of us at sunset! It's the little things that make being a daddy all so worth it...and a yummy "Tie Cake"! Nick you truly are an amazing dad and we love you!

Last night we had the privilege of going to the Yankee's/Dodger's game and sitting in the 3rd row of the Dugout Club thanks to some dear friends! They know what a die hard fan Nick is of the Yankee's and treated us to a game we will never forget. Aside from an amazing game (Yankee's came back to win it in the final 2 innings) we saw countless stars! Usually I don't consider myself very star-struck....but it is much different when you are face to face speaking with them and your heart is about to jump out of your chest. We saw Jack Nicholson (he was sitting in our row about 10 seats over), Zac Efron, Tom Cruise, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.

Nick and I...the Yankee's dugout is on the right and our seats where on the left just feet from the field!

Me and Zac Efron....holey moley! I think I stumbled over my words as I asked him if I could get a picture with him for my 7 year old daughter. He grabbed my phone and was about to hand it to his friend to take the pic, when I told him my husband was standing near by with the "big" camera! The small strip of the navy sweater on the right side of the pic is Ashton Kutcher's arm. I asked Nick if he would take a group picture of us all....but he said that would not be appropriate! I'm such a dork!!

Tom Cruise walked by me right before I took the pic with Zac. We brushed arms! He was VERY nice and