Legoland

Dada, Tio, and Fafa did their annual diabetes fundraiser bike ride in San Diego at the end of April so we decided to make it a long weekend and hit up Legoland too! We left Thursday afternoon and I nearly killed Emmett when he refused to go potty in LA. I even resorted to trying to get him to pee on a plant! The kids had their first milkshakes and they proved to be a powerful incentive to eat dinner!

The kids were super excited about Legoland and woke up early (especially Emmett). After a quick breakfast (Clara was so excited about her oatmeal smorgasbord!), we met Grandma Donna, los Tios and Bailey at Legoland and the adventure began!

I had heard that Legoland was good for small kids, and it was excellent! Clara could go on all the rides, Bailey could go on most of them, and Emmett could also go on quite a few. There was plenty for Emmett to do while Clara and Bailey were going on the bigger rides and all the kids had an absolute blast! Clara went on a legitimate roller coaster and although she liked it, I think she was definitely scared. At one point she told me that she felt sick and needed to get off. When I told her we couldn't get off she suggested that I find a worker and have them get her off! There was a smaller roller coaster that she and Bailey rode a million times and Clara even lifted her hands up during the entire ride!

We went on a pirate ship and the kids all loved it! We also went on a water roller coaster which involved all of us getting completely soaked! Luckily Tia was smart and we took shoes off first. Clarita absolutely hated getting wet purely because she did not have her swimsuit on. She ended the ride sobbing. Bailey and Emmett didn't seem to mind!

Making new friends

The kids had a ton of fun on the rides, but the Lego structures were super impressive to the adults! It is seriously amazing what they were able to build with Legos and how many Legos were involved! After Tios left the kids got to play in the splash pad (one of their favorite activities even though it was chilly) and we went on a few more rides. After one roller coaster, Emmett said, "I almost fall off!" It was a long day, but so much fun!

Poor Elise didn't get to have any fin!

We headed to the Crutchfields' after Legoland and Emmett immediately fell asleep. Clara was full of energy and ready to play with the girls! Nicolette and Jeremy made a delicious dinner and we had a great time catching up while the kids played. Clara and Bennett are about nine months apart and got along so well! Emmett and Perrin are about six months apart and also had fun. It was our first time meeting Evan and she was sweet as can be! We had a great night!

Saturday morning Fafa and Dada headed out early for their bike ride and Emmett also woke up bright and early. I took him to the store to get food for breakfast and lunch while Abuela Sheri stayed with sleeping Clara. We then headed to the beach to meet the Crutchfields. The kids had such a fun time playing in the sand, the waves, and just hanging out. Clarita and Bennett were adorable holding hands and running through the waves! Clara found a ladybug that stayed on her for a long time while we ate and she was convinced that she was going to take it home. She reluctantly agreed to set it free. We had so much fun with the Crutchfields! It's too bad we don't live closer because the girls would probably be great friends!

The guys finished their 63 mile ride in one piece and made it home during nap time. They raised $6,115 for diabetes research and we are so proud of them! Mikaela and Dylan stopped by to hang out while Emmett was napping. Clara got to stay up and hang out with us and play with a very tired Dylan (unfortunately I did not take pictures). After nap we headed to downtown Leucadia to eat dinner. Clara fell asleep on the 10 minute drive and actually stayed asleep while Fafa carried her to the restaurant! We also hit up an amazing ice cream place with a line out the door! It was a great night!

Sunday Emmett again woke up super early and derailed Dada and my plans to go on a run together. Instead I took Emmett on a run while Dada ran hills (there was no way I was pushing that stroller up giant hills!). Emmett enjoyed the run along the ocean and kept exclaiming about all the things he saw. I got a good workout pushing the stroller into wind and up inclines! We went to breakfast with Tio Josue and Rachael. The next time we see them they will be parents and it was fun to watch them with the kids! Tio Josue gave Emmett airplane rides and he was in heaven! After that we headed out for our long trip home. It was a great weekend and we were so happy to have been able to see so many friends that we don't get to see nearly enough!

Showering Tia Erika

Tia and I threw a baby shower for Tia Erika in April and it was a real shower! It had been nice weather until that day. I thought it would be ok and we set everything outside and then it started really raining. We scrounged up Easy Ups and (barely) managed to fit all the tables under them. It was cozy but (mostly) dry. Tia made super cute succulent favors and flower centerpieces. We enjoyed ourselves eating, painting letters, and of course playing games! Apparently I didn't take many pictures (except of the kids). I must have been too busy taking care of small children and trying to keep things dry! We are so excited to meet Baby Eleanora and can't wait for her to join the family!

Staying dry in the garage

Pants off dance off

Five Years

I'm having a hard time believing Clara is five...five just sounds so old! She's such a big girl now and can be so self sufficient (when she wants to). She's developed such a big personality! She's bossy but also so empathic and caring. She is very concerned about others and always wants to make sure they are ok. She loves music, ballet, crafts, and riding her bike. Clarita is such a little mama and takes care of her babies including nursing them and pumping milk for bottles! She's insightful beyond her years and often surprises me with observations she makes.

She organized and hung her costume

Clarita constantly tells us she loves us and that we're the best family in the world. She constantly talks about how cute Emmett is and how he's the best little brother. Clara loves Bailey and Elise and always says that Elise is the cutest baby in the world. She still refers to them as her sisters and if Clara and Bailey go a day without seeing each other their reunion makes it seem like they've been a part for months! Clara literally cried when she found out kindergarten was the whole day because she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Bailey.

Thankfully the tantrums have drastically subsided. Don't get me wrong, she still has her days, but they don't usually involve 20 minute long poltergeist tantrums anymore. Clarita can reason now and generally talk about her feelings rather than screaming. She's a great helper and often gets Emmett out of bed and brings him downstairs at my request on the weekend when they wake up early and I'm tired. She will entertain Elise in the mornings while I am getting Bailey and Emmett ready too which is nice because otherwise Elise screams. I'm liking this new stage!

Clara is still stubborn as can be and not at all swayed by what other kids are doing. She's a social butterfly but definitely marches to the beat of her own drum! She is super girly and only wants to wear dresses and look "cute." Yet she also loves playing in the dirt, smashing snails, and playing with worms. Bailey and Emmett are afraid of bugs and worms but Clara carries them around exclaiming about how cute they are!

Trying on her dance costume

My little Snuggle loves to learn and is constantly asking how to spell things. She is getting pretty good at sounding words out and figuring how to spell them and wants Aba to teach her how to read this summer. One day she randomly started doing addition and telling me what 1+1, 2+2, and so on was. I asked her to add other numbers and she did so without using her fingers...not sure where she learned it, but it definitely wasn't from me since I hate math!

My girl is a planner and of course planned her birthday party. She has also planned the next several, one of which is "Jesus and God" themed! For her birthday I always try to make the day super special. This year I had to go to a conference and leave the afternoon of her birthday. I felt bad that I wouldn't be with her at night to celebrate, but we made the most of our morning opening a present from Emmett, getting donuts, and she got to choose where to eat lunch with Mama and Dada. Unfortunately she chose Kady's Kitchen which apparently is closed Mondays. She was pretty upset, but agreed to get a burrito at Robertitos. The rest of her day involved ballet, McDonald's, and Yum Yum Yogurt with Dada and Emmett and she didn't even care that I was gone. Her celebration continued through the week with dinner and cake at los Tios and lots of ice cream!

She insisted on bringing candles and pretending to blow them out

Birthday VIP is the best!

Clarita continues to keep us on our toes and also bring us so much joy. She can nearly always bring a smile to my face and I love watching her with Emmett. She teaches him things, "reads" to him, and is the best big sister. I can't wait to watch her grow and see who she becomes!

Pictures

Stats

Weight: 35.5 pounds

Height: 42.5 inches 

Wearing

Clarita continues to be tiny with long legs like her mama. The only pants she can wear are leggings, everything else literally falls off! She moved up to 5T purely because her pants and sleeves got too short. Now her clothes are swimming on her again. She could probably fit into 3T clothes tightness wise. She wears a size 10/11 shoe.

Likes

Mama and Dada and Emmett, playing outside and going to the park, helping us cook, reading, riding her scooter/bike, playing with her cousins (especially Bailey who she claims is her sister), playing with the cats (especially Baza who she decided is her cat), singing, dancing, taking baths, anything craft related, bubbles, bounce houses, playing with her friends, dressing up (especially like a princess), Barbies, dolls, movies, ballet and tap, Shopkins, Num Noms, watching movies.

Dislikes

Not getting her way, being told no, waiting, having to go potty if she doesn't want to, not getting to eat dessert.

Sleeping

Clarita has been napping less and less. She still almost always naps for me, hasn't napped at los Abuelos in ages, and doesn't even nap for Aba most days. When she does nap she goes down between 2:00 and 3:00 and sleeps 1.5 to 2 hours. She goes to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 and generally gets up between 6:30 and 7:00. She now makes her bed and gets dressed before she comes downstairs and often gets Emmett up if I ask her to. She sleeps in a twin bunk bed, alternating between top and bottom, with a million animals and a bottle of water. 

Nicknames

Clarita, Snugglepuff, Snuggle, Wiggle, Munchkin, Birthday Twin, Loqs, Puff, Wewah 

Talking

Clarita still talks up a storm and seems to have a good understanding of grammar. Sometimes she uses words and phrases that I have no idea where she learned and probably speaks more correctly than many adults. She says more quickly instead of faster, delectable, and so many other things that blow my mind! She  continues to speak more and more Spanish and now says some complete sentences in Spanish. She's still pretty into learning other languages and often invents words and speaks to Emmett in gibberish claiming it's Japanese or French.

Eating

Clara is picky, but will at least nearly always try everything (except meat which I don't force since I don't eat it). She loves fruit, and a lot of vegetables, especially salad. She also loves yogurt and cereal (Grape Nuts and plain oatmeal are two of her favorites). Everything else is hit or miss. She will generally try anything if it means she can have dessert. She continues to love dessert and says that pizza, burritos, and sugar are her favorite foods!

Favorite Colors

Pink, purple, red, and now blue. 

Best Friends

She almost always says Bailey and Grace (from preschool) are her best friends. Sometimes Teagan and other of our friends' kids are thrown in. Sophia is always her "bester" friend and Drew (aka Lyla's dad) is always her best friend too.

Future Career
Princess, Superhero, Artist, Teacher.

Exciting Events

October 28, 2017: First face painting

January 3, 2018: First nail polish