Thank you Thank you Thank you

With this crazy year, there are lots of simple basics we are so Thankful for.
Thanksgiving was nice and low key this year. The highlight was Great Grandpa Hafen/Hersch coming with Aunt Kinny and Karen.
Mark made some delish rolls:
And at Great Grandpa's request, Mark made homemade noodles:

Jens was loving hanging out, but of course by the time I thought to get the camera, she was on her way out.

Mac loved pumkin pie

Very nice and very yummy

Maissie turns 6!

We celebrated MJ's bday on her real bday too! She got the great crown from her teacher and super cupcakes from Grandpa and A'mooh. She was great to share the cupcakes.

Mark made heart sandwiches and octupus hotdogs for lunch (and her BF Makenna was there too)

My what a difference 5 years make.

Party Party MJ is 6!

Maissie and Mark wanted to do a Party for her Birthday. So they planned an Ariel one together, and it was a great success.

There was the ginormous pinata and a Ariel cake:
The girls colored and had princess hats and wands:

Played toss the bean bag into the shark or Ursula:

And pin the flower on Ariel:

It was freezing outside, so we did the pinata in the garage. I had no idea that 5/6 year olds could be so brutal on a pinata. At the end they were all screaming "Die!"

Dolphins!!!

Ever since forever I have wanted to hang out with Dolphins. So no matter what I was going to feed them at Sea World. My parents had the girls, Mark had Mac, and Clark came with me. We waited in line for over 30 min (and I was soaking wet from the ride we went on). But it was totally worth it. We were each given three fish to feed our dolphin, and I even got it to talk to us. But really, all it cared about was the fish. Next time, I want to do the dolphin experience.

Life is a Beach

When we were in San Diego we ate at a Fish place that Mark and I had seen on Food Network (And I can not for the life of me remember the name). This was the place next door- we liked the Indian head.

Then we went to the beach. It must a have been national go to teh beach day because we could not find parking- so we never hooked up again with my parents or Clark. But we hung out for a while.

Sea World!!

The day after my Dad's birthday we went to Sea World! And it was so much fun. The last time I went to Sea World was when my Grandma Kathryn took my brothers and me when I was 12. The place has changed a lot!

These are the new rides:

This was right before the roller coaster that traumatized MJ. She was pretty excited, then after the first drop she freaked out. Was screaming! And it carried on for a good 30 min after. I am not sure how Mark calmed her down, but he did. She still blames him for the ride though.

Grandpa bought her ice cream to calm her down, and that helped too.

IT was

Happy Birthday Dad!

My Dad decided for his birthday he wanted to go to San Diego! And, it worked out excellent for the rest of us, because we got to tag along.
This is his Birthday dinner at a sea food restaruant.

This was the best part of the dinner for me. They had live lobsters. One of the waiters got one out for us to pet. I thought it was awesome. This is Maissie getting one to hold a fork.

We finished off the day with cupcakery cupcakes and presants.

The Magnificent Malmgrens

There are some people who you know you will be friends with for life! The Malmgrens came to visit, and the picked a perfect weekend to come. We played outside- Mark made a small stream

We played at the pool. I thought the water was too cold, but the kids and Mark and Mike did not seem to mind. Lis and I stayed in the warm spa.

We had lots of good food! And watched a few movies.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yep, had another Birthday. Mark made it super of course. I woke up to the house deocorated. We all loved it, but Mac was the best to watch-- look at that face!! I swear we went though the streamers a hundred times, and it was funny every time.

Notice the TWO suckers in the mouth

I got some of my favorite things- gum, chapstick, food, shoes and spent the day with Mark :)