Tripping at the zoo & 4th of July sweet treats

Since we don't live in California and own a set of year-round passes to Disneyland, we settle for the zoo and botanical garden passes...just as good right? :/
Honestly though I dig what Albuquerque offers.  I like our zoo it always turns out to be a fun trip for us and the family. This being our second time with Robby I think he is pretty keen on it too.

 Photo opp to start of our zoo adventure. Oh and just in case you'r´ wondering Greg has signed a contract stating all photos of him will be ones with out him smiling. It makes sense this is the internet and there are quite a lot of photos of his beautiful kids...I guess he wants you to know who's boss.

A nice bird show to break up or trip. Owls are cool but geez do they have to be so deathly spooky? Look it's like he knows he's freaking me out. 

Robs loved the show. He really liked when the birds flew over head to the stage. And was overjoyed that not one of them crapped on him. 

Robby didn't trust that bird. Don't think Greg did either. 

This one obviously knows how cute he is so why ruin that with making you mad by pooing on you. Smart bird.

This kid is so happy he smiles at Giraffes eating leaves with those crazy long black tongues or Gorillas picking there nose ( I do too) or like in this photo wind blowing in his hair.

Snakes and Robby? Not quit sure of yet but he seemed more interested in the 80yr old Grandma sporting a piercing on her upper lip!!!

Interesting fact learned that day to keep a very mobile Robby still on a open blanket in a open park....Put food in his hands so he A: cant crawl away (because his mitts are to full with food). B: won't want to leave for the simple fact of missing the new food mom keeps pulling out of her magical food basket.

                                                     Robby and Mina kicking it after lunch.


              And a quick pic of proof that I can be patriotic. Simple 4th of july treat bags woohoo!

Happy summer, friends!
~Lisa

Summer lovin' and Meatless Mondays!

I'm fitting in two posts in one today so bear with me. Memorial Day was a blast with a surprise visit from Mom & Dad (my parents). With a quick trip to Trader Joe's we had ourselves a all American BBQ (meatless Mondays was also on holiday). On Tuesday we took the grandparents to the aquarium and Robby's first visit! It was the perfect trip....quiet, calm and fast.  Robby and Grandpa are on the same schedule: quick trips and not much sun! I would like to say that Robby LOVED seeing all the sharks swimming and was so intrigued by the brightly colored fish passing by, but honestly he just likes being out and about with the family and smiles at everything and everyone. Mom & Dads visit was short and sweet and Greg had only went into work once that week (ahhh teachers summer schedules). Over all the first week of summer was a hit!
~Lisa

Here is a super easy "Meatless Monday"meal idea. I know its the summer but I still love my soup. Trader Joe's has the best tomato soup its so easy to make. That along side a great grilled cheese and you have your self a quick comforting meal. Enjoy!
~Lisa

Don't judge me and my butter usage. 

Fontina cheese is such a great pick for grilled cheese. 

Just in case you were wondering if a 9 month and a 10yr old can both fit into a pack -and- play....they can!

If you come to my house and see teeth marks on all my furniture you know why.

Schools out!

 A little outing to Santa Fe is a great way to kick off your summer. Mina had just finished her last day of classes & Greg (who works in Santa Fe) had middle school graduations to attended. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show off the new 9 month old son to Greg's co-workers, so we headed out to SF!

When we arrived we had a slight mistake of misplaced fingers (Mina's) and a trunk door slam. Don't worry, not broken just bruised. (Man you'd be surprised how many parents shut car doors on their children's fingers, cause everyone had a story or two). :( Mina survived and got a cool ice pack and a school tee shirt out of it! After the graduation we had a quick lunch and some frozen yogurt.... yummmm! Robby LOVES yogurt and is CRAZY about it soft served cold! Santa Fe was fun and everyone loved meeting and seeing the family. I love seeing Greg with his students. You can tell they consider him an awesome teacher....I keep hearing the same thing from the students and their parents "he makes learning about geometry, zombie survival, and Elvis conspiracies fun!

This was such a fun way to start of the summer. Excited to see what other shenanigans the Mays family can get into this summer!

~Lisa

Mina still a little sad about her fingers :(

This just goes to show you the bottom lockers are only good for 9month old babies. 

Pappa & Robbs

Nom nom!

Sultry yogurt baby face!....such a heart breaker. 

Times of relaxing and Celebrating!

This is bad but I can't really say we spend crazy amounts of time outside. Of course I don't keep the kids locked up all day (unless the desert decides to spew disgusting amounts of hot sand all over every inch of your body).
For the most part spending time out side as a family is rarer then I would like it to be. So when the opportunity arrives I relish it. Greg decided to put some chicken on the grill and have ourselves a BBQ. While Greg wrestled with the grill and that tin-can-thing-coal-heating-majig. The kids and I kicked it on the grass with our bare feet and a soft Mexican blanket. It didn't take long to get Robby to realize momma just wasn't gonna let him crawl over to the rose bush and play with the bright red wood chips, so after a while he gave in and enjoyed just being outside; long enough for me to even take a couple of pics.
The evening was fabulous and Robby went down for his evening nap just in time for Greg, Mina and I to sit down on the porch and enjoy our BBQ.....even if the BBQ sauce we purchased at whole foods tasted like dirty burnt tomato paste, we still greatly enjoyed the night.

Mina & Robby

Someone asked us recently when meeting Robby "Does he always smile like that"?... Yes he does!!

Mina- "Take this picture mom....I'm being eaten by the bush"!!

Later in the week I made some cupcakes for my dear friend who was earlier in the month (and not saying this lightly at all) battling for her own life in the ICU. With an AMAZING recovery she was released from the hospital put in a rehabilitation hospital and released from there with "flying colors & stunned doctors!" In honor of her health and healing we made her a celebration fiesta with margaritas, tacos and lemon cupcakes! 

<<Side note: I'm loving all things yellow right now and took the presentation of the yellow lemon cupcakes very seriously.>>

 That night was so great getting to hear her laugh and seeing her in great spirits again.  I'll never forget that night. 

Birthday pedestal came in handy!

What a coincidence my nails match the dessert! haha

~Lisa

"Why you leave me"??.......

Mina is camping right now with her school. This will be her second camping trip with her classmates and you think I would be better prepared for it.  After I dropped her off at school I sat in the car and asked my self with a heavy heart.........

WHEN DID I TURN INTO SUCH AN OVERPROTECTIVE MOM? 

When did I start forcing those long drawn out hugs from a little girl eager to go be with her friends? When did those car rides to school turn into...."And don't forget to always stay close to a teacher"? and "Please don't forget to eat and drink lots of water" And My favorite: "I know you would LOVE to sleep on the top bunk but "I"would be SO HAPPY if you didn't....Mmmk"? By the way I slept on the top bunk when I was 4 and Mina is going to be 11 in October.  I try real hard to not  fit into my demography and give into those awful sayings and actions all Moms fall prey too. But really you have no control over it. You think you do but...you don't.....YOU DON'T. 

Just like you had no control giving into that purple dinosaur that makes your child sit still for a good 10-15min (while you do house work of course). Or that red fuzzy monster who (in my husband's opinion) teaches children to speak with a speech impediment.  Or trying to tell them that McDonald's chicken nuggets aren't made with just chicken, so you shouldn't like them.  We have no control. I have no control. And thats ok. 

I will see her Friday evening and she will have so much to tell me. And I will be happy and laugh thinking "Ehh that wasn't so hard" right? So until then sleep tight Mina have fun...........and please sleep on the bottom bunk Mmmmk?                                                                                                                     

~Lisa                      

MUMS DAY!!

Mina Exene Mays "my perfect  little girl" 

Mins and her cute hat with her even cuter ear sticking out.

Mina & Greg 

Robert (Robby) Marcel Mays My perfect little son. 

Robs in a basket....chillin.

Mina & Robby thanks for letting me celebrate today!! 

Happy Mothers day! Celebrate, Thank and love your Moms. XOXOX
~Lisa