Refuse

She will be 13 months old tomorrow......

and still refuses to say Momma.

5

 5 years ago today I married Joey on a beach in Santa Barbara. Still one of the best days of my life.

All week Joey and I have been looking at each other and saying "Can you believe it's been 5 years?" Because we can't. It really seems like yesterday when we were here on that day. Starting our lives, making our family legit. Too legit to quit.

I think it feels impossible that 5 years have past because I am still crazy about him. Just as crazy for him as I was when we were dating, when we became parents for the first time, when we got married. The love I have for this man has not faded one bit, but instead as just grown and soared.

And just look what 5 years has created. A beautiful family, with 2 beautiful and happy girls.

And for 5 years I say that's not too bad.

Happy 5th Anniversary Babe.

I love you and am SO looking forward to our weekend get-away!

-Elissa

PS I love you forever and today

American Girl Madness!!

While at The Grove we stopped in at the American Girl Place. Now the only experience I have had with these doll is that my niece has one. The Phi has never ever expressed any interest in one of these dolls.

Remember that fact. It will be important later in explaining the power of American Girl.

So first off this place is 2 stories. We entered into the first floor to find a book store area and another section filled with dolls all wearing the exact same purple outfit but with every combination of hair color, texture, skin color and eye color. After looking around The Phi found that doll #34 was her exact match. Light skin, brown eyes, auburn hair with bangs.

We had been in the store a total of 10 minutes. Had only seen 2 sections of the place and already The Phi HAD TO HAVE ONE.

As we made our way to the back section of the place there was a beauty salon where for $20 you can pick and the hair style you want. There is a salon chair, stylists, and cloth drapes FOR THE DOLLS. I can't stress this enough. There was a salon where people paid money for their kids dolls to get their hair done. Also on the first floor, a doll hospital. Where if your doll gets broken you can bring her to the hospital where she will get a special hospital gown and for what I am sure is a high price tag will be returned to you good as new.

With our jaws on the floor we made our way up to the second floor. There we saw the "personal shopper" room. Filled with private rooms where American Girl staff will help you pick the perfect doll and clothes. Then we moved into the itty-bitty baby section. Not only where there dolls, there were also baby dolls. And to justify the $100+ price tag they came as twins. And if that wasn't enough you can also purchase a double stroller for your twin babies.

We turned a corner to find another room filled with the exact dolls from downstairs but with more clothes options everywhere. From what I could tell an outfit will run you about $30 and they had everything from a horse riding outfit to a hula skirt. After another corner there was a hall of historical dolls. Here were small rooms and each room had a doll from an historical period of time from the Great Depression to the 1970's. Each doll had a book series and many many accessories from bicycles to a toboggan.

The Phi in the Josefina room. A young girl from New Mexico. Hey at least they had a Mexican one!

Also on the second floor was the American Girl Cafe. Yes a full on fancy schmancy cafe where there are special seats for your doll to sit at the table with you. 

As we walked around The Phi kept asking us, "Can I get the doll Mom?" after I told her no repeatedly she went to her yes man, Dad. He explained to her that, no we were not going to get a doll that day. That they were expensive and we did not plan on buying anything that expensive that day. We could take home a brochure. In an instant her whole body changed. The disappointment in her was so big her whole body drooped. I really thought we were going to leave there with The Phi in tears. Which never happens but I have never seen such disappointment in that kid.

Now here is where I remind you that not 30 minutes earlier she had never heard of or showed any interest in these dolls. A short stroll through the American Girl Place and now there was nothing else in the world that she wanted more.

Now that people is good marketing.

We Love LA...... we love it!

Last Friday we headed out to LA. Much to Schmonkeys joy because according to The Phi Schmonkey has been wanting to go to LA for a long time. This is the same monkey that can take a trip to Mexico or New Orleans in half a day, but apparently has never been to LA. Weird monkey.

Anyways, our trip was out to LACMA to see the Tim Burton exhibit. The drive went well. Both girls are good travelers. Thanks goodness. When we got there we purchased our tickets for the exhibit and headed right over. Photos were not allowed inside the exhibit so all I got was a picture of the entrance. Which was of course very cool.

Once inside we got to ohh and ahh over sketches and painting and metal robots from Tim Burton. Did you know he was from Burbank? I had no idea. I thought he was European. They had everything from pages from his childhood notebooks, the hands from Edward scissor hands to figurines from his upcoming movies. The best part for me that they had on display the Large Marge's eyeballs from Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Yes that  scary scene where here eyeballs get huge. It was done in stop animation and each of the eyes they used were there. I loved that movie as a kid and seeing those were so awesome!!

LACMA is favorite spot of mine. I love the area and the surroundings. And it brings back memories, I had my first kiss there in 7th grade! (Hi Matthew!). And I love how The Phi just soaks it all up.

When we got there, there were a bunch of lunch trucks lined up. But after we got out of the Burton exhibit most of them were gone. We managed to check out the remaining few.

And after being inspired with the art around her The Phi hit the kids section for some art of her own. After she finished Joey asked her "what's it called?". After she thought about it she said "Rainbow Hearts" and Joey says "Rainbow farts". That went on all day.

And of course what's a trip to LACMA without a stroll around the tar pits.

The view......

To my surprise in the Latin American Art section this was hanging there....

A Frida Kahlo. No joke people I feel her paintings. Like deep in my soul. The moment I set eyes on this up close I felt that lump in my throat just like when I went to the Frida Kahlo exhibit in San Fran.

After the museum we made a quick stop at The Fast Life, and the off to The Grove and Farmer's Market. I had never been there before and had always wanted to see what all the hub-bub was all about.

The mall was a whole lot smaller than I expected. But the Farmer's Market did not disappoint. So much great food and it was tough to decide on dinner. We ended up at Charlie's deli and it was yummy.

All in all it was a fantastic day with my beautiful family.

Affection

Father's Day

For Father's Day I found this super cute questionnaire for The Phi fill out all about her Dad. We had a good time answering these questions.

The letter at the bottom says "Happy Fathers Day. You're a great Dad" 

The picture below is of her hugging her Dad. He is so small because according to The Phi he is only 30 pounds. 

I really liked this so I made up another one for The Phi to fill out for her Tata. 

This one was even better!

Joey was able to come home from work early and we were able to enjoy the day doing what we love. Walking around malls. Before we left the girls gave him his Father's Day card.

It was stuffed with a lot of pictures drawn by The Phi and even Lou's first ever picture!

I know she is an artistic genius.

It was nice to spend a day forcing Joey to make decisions about what to eat, and where to go. It was also nice to have a day to recognize what an amazing Dad Joey is. The Phi and Lou are super lucky girls to have a Daddy who loves them so much and is so involved in everything they do.

Good Light

We let my niece pick the place for lunch. She choose Palazzio's. Good choice. Since it was a Monday afternoon the place was practically empty. They seated us in the middle of the restaurant right under the sky light. This lead to some absolutely gorgeous light. So I spent a good portion of our meal capturing photos.

All the following photos are straight from the camera. No editing here.

Happy Birthday Cari!

The day after Lou's birthday party we headed out into the gloomy weather to State Street for a birthday dinner celebration for my middle sister Cari. She is now officially 30-something. She claimed she was turning 21 but she was being a big ol' liar.

The dinner out was a lot of fun for everyone. Well except Lili, she was a bit terrified of the teppen cooking. In the end though even she had a good time.

Lili still smiling. This was before the cooking started.

Lou and The Phi after they decided on their entrees. Chicken for The Phi and whatever Mom decides to feed her for Lou.

The Phi and Felix mugging it for the camera.

Chone and The Phi giving Schmonkey funny ears with the chopsticks.

The cooking started and Lili snuggled in close to her Momma for the entire time.

It was as good as it looks.

The highlight of the show is always the big fire. The kids were a bit apprehensive about it, but because of it I got the best reaction picture...

Haha The Phi and Felix's faces are priceless in this photo. After the show we all ate like kings. The floor tells us that the kids ate like very messy kings.

But I guess that's what happens when you let kids eat with chopsticks. This always happens when we let Lou eat anything.

Next up gifts. The smile says it all. She liked the gift we got her!

A big ol' hat for BASS LAKE! It covers half her face. Perfect. (haha I can't resist I still am her sister after all!)

Happy Not 21st Birthday Cari. We love you and are glad you enjoyed your spa day.

Blue party for Lou Blu

It had everything a birthday party should have........

While everyone else wore blue in honor of Louella Blu.

The birthday girl was too adorable in head to toe pink. This one knows how to stand out! 

The tutu was made especially for Lou by Twice Upon a Bow

There was yummy food. So the story behind this next photo. My sister always makes chili beans for parties. They stay on the stove to keep warm. People always forget they are there and at the end of the party there is a full pot of chili beans. So I made this........

Problem solved!!

Everyone was decked in blue! Check out the twinsies!!!!

 All the crew was there. Here are the 4 amigos!! 

 And Lou had not just my Nana and Tata there, but Joey's grandparents were there as well. That's right, 2 sets of great-grandparents. Radical.

There was cake, with a blue dinosaur of course!

Lou had to taste test her cake and gave it a big only cheesy grin. That means she likes it!

And as with all our cakes, Big Tata had to "sign" it.

The rain forced our games inside but they were still super fun. 

Here are the girls playing "Hot Schmonkey"

Even the music for the games was "Louella themed" 

For this game we played "Louella" by Pat Boone

We had a little pictionary game. 

We had the adults draw and the kids guess. 

All the answers were blue cartoon characters. Here Cassie is drawing Cookie Monster!

We had an awesome round of freeze dance to the song "Blue" by Eiffel 65.

With this game came the best part of the party. 

My nephew Felix is usually very shy and has to even be talked into even playing games. But on this day he not only played, but DANCED, IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!!!

And his dance moves are now the stuff of legends. 

There were a big pile of gifts, that of course Lou thought were all edible. 

Even The Phi scored some belated birthday gifts. This messenger bag from Aunt Crissy, Uncle Phill and Eli is perfect for school next year! 

And there was a lot of love for the birthday girl!

And the most important of all...

there was a very happy birthday girl!

Thanks to everyone who braved the rain and drove long distances to be with us and celebrate our baby girl!