Apple Picking

Couple of weeks ago I took Payton up to Oak Glen for some apple picking. We needed a relaxing day. It's been crazy around here. Still trying to get settled and situated and I decided to go off and join CrossFit for some crazy reason. (Ok actually, I kinda like it, most days :) I still haven't sorted our road trip pics or anything :( Anyhoo. It was nice to soak up some sunshine with Miss P.

I'm still not sure when she skipped toddler and turned into my amazing little girl.

And she's done. I love our little adventures together.

Happy Halloween 2012

Last Friday we took Payton to Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. She really understands the holiday's this year so it was a ton of fun. She couldn't decide what she wanted to be so Gram made her a pirate costume. Payton loved it.

Disneyland was a ton of fun as usual. Payton danced with Chip and Dale and rode her first real roller coaster. Big Thunder Mountain. She saw the Choo Choo train and wanted to go. I figured she clears the height requirement by a good couple inches so what the hey? She'll love it or it will be the last Choo Choo she rides for a while. Well, she LOVED it. We also hit a couple kiddy rides and Star Tours. She really enjoyed all the rides. I think she might just be my best Disneyland buddy yet. Lets not forget about Rapunzel!!! 

The entire drive to Disneyland, while parking, tram ride and into the park. 'Mommy lets go see Rapunzel, Mommy lets go see Rapunzel' it was on constant repeat. So, that was the first stop so we were good the rest of the night.

Payton talked my dad into going and dressing up like Indiana Jones :) I think he had fun. Hey, free candy and not just for the kids! 

More princesses. I really tried hard not to really encourage the princess stage but I guess it's the whole rebelling thing. But she loves her fair share of Peter Pan and the pirates too so... It's manageable. I'm just embracing it now. :) 

We were looking forward to the Halloween fireworks but the Santa Ana winds decided to join us and we missed out :(

But the parade carried on and was fun too. We had a great time and think we might have a new Halloween tradition. And it may include group costumes next year because wow, these people go way out and have amazing costumes. 

On The Move

Monday marked the beginning of a new adventure for Payton and I. I'm officially a civilian now, and we're moving back to California. It's very bittersweet for me. The past six years in the Coast Guard and (almost) three years have been an interesting ride and looking back on it all amazes me. How much Payton and I went through, good and bad. How much she's grown into a little girl, how much I've even grown as a mom and every other role I have. As excited I am to move on with our life and move to California, I am extremely sad. All our memories we made in Virginia with our military family. They were so much more than just friends to us. You were there for us and let us be there for you. I am eternally grateful for you and can't wait to see you all again. (I may be secretly praying you guys all get stationed back on the west coast :)

Monday the movers came and our stuff is now on its way west. Payton worked very hard. Her job: make sure they don't pack the iPad.

We're driving cross country with my mom. I'm excited. My mom drove with me to Virginia to check me into my first real unit and she gets to come on this journey again. Only with a mini me too :) We're taking our time visiting family and seeing random places we probably wouldn't otherwise.

Thank goodness for ipad mounts and Tangled.

Monday night we didn't get too far but Tuesday made it to Georgia.

As of Wednesday, still in GA but we did some sightseeing to break up the monotony of constant driving.

Gloucester...

The last day in Boston, we took a little trip up to Gloucester. There's just something that I love about that small fishing town. I got to spend a couple weeks there and in Rockport back in 2001. There is a little bit of family history there from my dad's side and with it being a small town, kinda feel like I'm around family even though I didn't know many of them. I know, weird. Anyways, I just like the feel of the town. I'm sure if I was there and it was snowing, I would be singing another tune. We didn't go too far into the town, mostly walked on the waterfront and had a yummy lunch at a local brewery.

We did adventure down to the beachy area. (Not like a California beach) Payton was really excited to get out of the stroller and go to the water. Until her toes got about four feet from the sand. Then she did this:

Made a 180 and booked it over those rocks. Those aren't dancing arms folks. Those are her power walking arms (she couldn't run at the time) I'm thinking her my dream for her of being a beach volleyball player might need to be altered a smidge if this keeps up. I'll give her another year, or five :)

Jen & Cheryl

Oh look, more pouting. Shocking lol.

Payton kept going back and forth to all the monuments and read all the fishermen's names. Oh and going to the railing in between and trying to look into the water at the fish. Needless to say she kept all three of us adults on our toes. Thank you Cheryl and Jen for a wonderful trip! 

Old Ironsides

As I said yesterday, I have a few posts to catch up on. I still have two from our Boston trip to go. Today I'm sharing about the day we went to the USS Constitution. 

Payton kept looking for Capt Hook and Mr Smee... and when we couldn't find them...

Yep, the pouting again. 

She eventually cheered up :)

She may have been taught to puff her cheeks and push on them to blow on you :)

Boston Public Garden

So today we decided to take the train into the Boston Common/Public Garden area. It was Payton's first time on a subway and could hardly contain herself. She just kept shouting 'choo choo train'.

Although she doesn't look terribly enthused here, she did her fair share of arm and leg flapping from excitement.

She insisted on actually sitting in the big chair and held on the whole time :)

The Public Garden is a beautiful area. I love all the gorgeous buildings hiding just behind the tress.

Payton enjoyed watching the ducks and the duck boat go around the lake.

Another fun and relaxing afternoon in the city. 

Common Play

So Payton and I are visiting one of my very best friends and her wife in Boston this week. Today Payton, Cheryl and I ventured towards the Harvard area. After some fun window shopping and lunch we let Payton lose in the Cambridge Commons.

Her 'thinking' look. You know, for when she goes to 'Hahvahd' :)

My favorite picture! She was running to tickle Cheryl.

Payton enjoyed some swinging...

and ring around the rosie....

Ashes, ashes, we all fall down... It's her new favorite game.

And when we told her it was time to leave...

She practiced her protesting abilities. All in all it was a fun afternoon.

Girls Day Out

Payton and I got to spend the afternoon with some of our favorite ladies, Lindsey and Kylie. It was nice to get out and have some girlie time.

Can you tell what Payton ate? I should have said easy on the jelly...

I love their Sweet Potato Chips, which Payton decided needed to be dumped on the table.

Then off for the girls' hair cuts. 

Payton refused to sit in any of the chairs, she preferred the waiting area with some animal crackers. Stubborn little thing.

And ending with some fabric shopping. Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.