Mall Rats

You would have thought we went to some exotic location the way the kids were acting, but we just went to the mall..... 

While we do have two malls in Santa Barbara, they are outdoors and well, they really don't have that "mall" feel, if that makes any sense???  

We made the 25 minute drive down south to Ventura and voila, instant entertainment for the whole family at the Pacific View Mall!  Check out their store directory, they have some awesome stores, including a Target!  Um, hello Santa Barbara?!?!?

We looked like total idiots taking a picture in front of the Disney Store.  I felt like telling the people staring at us that, "Yes, I HAVE taken my kids to Disneyland before!"

My beautiful Rapunzel

 Mickey Mouse Attack!

As you can imagine, it was pretty difficult getting Samantha to leave this store.

Lunch at Red Robin where the free balloon was a huge draw

I also don't think I have been to a restaurant where they print the calorie count on the menus.  SO NOT FUN, but it worked for me.  I was wanting a cheeseburger and then ended up scanning the menu to find something that was not in the quadruple digits for calories.  And let me tell you, it wasn't easy finding something to eat.

Todd has the opposite problem and went for a bacon cheeseburger

AND bottomless fries. Yes, at Red Robin you get fry refills.....

Speaking of calories......

They have a place where you can pay to let your kids play while you go shop! 

(Sam is at the very top)  We just paid for 15 minutes to let her work off some energy.

Thatcher played in the little kids area

Sam got a makeover

And Thatcher had more mall entertainment than he could handle.

So did someone else ;)

15 Month Appointment

The above picture shows you that we didn't have a very good start to Thatchie's 15 month appointment.  In the last month, Thatcher has all of a sudden started to get a little stranger/separation anxiety.  Prior to that, we would joke that if we didn't keep our eye on Thatcher, he would happily stroll over to any other family and go home with them.  I hope this phase is short because I remember Samantha going through this for a long time and it makes things pretty difficult when you are trying to go somewhere without them. 

Thatcher's stats:

Height 31 inches (50%)

Weight 22 lbs 13 oz (25%)

Samantha's stats at 15 months:

Height 32 inches (90%)

Weight 21 lbs (35%)

Sam was just a teeny bit taller and thinner

After the nurse left, Samantha and Thatcher began to get really comfortable with the doctor's office:

Angels, right? 

And so much for the stranger anxiety, as soon as Dr. Abbott came in Thatcher practically gave him a hug.  He did great during his exam and was only a little bit mad when our nurse came back in to give him 3 shots.

By the way, I should probably explain the headband.  He took it off Samantha's head and brought it to me to put on his head.  When I tried to take it off, he was hysterical, so, it stayed......

Watch Our Garden Grow

One Month Ago

Today

Looking forward to some tomatoes, hopefully soon!!

And last but not least, our best producing crop, our lemon tree!!

Laughter

Chatterbox

Thatcher all of a sudden became a genius! ;)  At 15 months he has gone from not saying that much, at least compared to his sister at this age, to understanding and saying so many new words. 

Ma Ma

Da Da

Uh -Oh

Bye Bye

Wa Wa (Water)

Baby

Sissy

La La (Lollipop or Auntie La La, depending on who you ask ;) )

Doggie

More

Tank Too (Thank you)

Hat

Belly

Bubbles

Hug

Juice

Birdie

Cheese

No

Book

Bath

Tweet Tweet (when he sees a birdie)

Cup

Shhhhhhh! (holds his fingers to his lips to be quiet)

Roarrrrr!

Dino

Shake! Shake! Shake! (while shaking a maraca)

* He will sit down, when you say, "sit down" or will lay down on his back when you say, "Time to change your diaper."

*He will bring you a book or a ball if asked for one

*He can point to his head, nose, ears, mouth, eyes and belly. (He doesn't always get this one right.  I am guessing that is because he doesn't want to show off too much).

*He knows how to do sign language for the word "more".  We are not teaching him sign language but we have taught him "more" as a joke because Samantha still signs "more" and it makes us laugh.

*He gives hugs and kisses when you ask for them.  He even knows FRENCH!  He will kiss you when you ask for a "bisou". Smart, right? 

*He loves the show, "Little Einsteins" and will say "pat, pat, pat" and tap on his legs to the music

*He likes to watch "Yo Gabba Gabba" and when they do the "funny faces" segment, he sticks his tongue out at the TV and makes funny faces back.

See, he IS a genius!  ;)

And to celebrate all these new milestones he received a strawberry shake from In and Out.

P.S. He has gotten some serious wear out of these snowman p.j.'s. 

Random Pictures/Video

Serious Model Look

Showing off Connor's PJ's she is wearing

Thatchie's token "Ooooohhh" face (sporting Mommy's shoes)

It is a good thing we cut that hair......

Happy Girl at Summerland Beach Cafe

Lollipops for the good eaters.

Low Rider

All 3 kids bundled up in the rain

Making cookies!

Sliding

 

Gymnastics Week 5,6,7