Lobsters, Cubans, and Pizza

The Nadsadys had a jam-packed weekend! We started with the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival (first time for Maria and I - second time for Greg) on Friday, followed the next day by the Pedro Pan Reunion at the Gavina Ranch (horseback riding, yummy pork, pastelitos, and of course unlimited iced coffee - I restrained myself and just had 2 - but I could've had so many more!), and Camryn's pizza making b-day party on Sunday. Goes without saying that Maria slept very well on all three nights!

The lobster festival and Camryn's b-day pics aren't yet downloaded yet so those will come later...Here are some pics from the Gavina Ranch...

Our little Cuban cowgirl prepared herself in style for the Gavina Ranch and horse rides, with cowboy boots, hat, and pink guayabera. She loved riding the horses and did so about 4 different times. I think this girl has her eyes on horseback riding lessons when she grows up!

Our tough looking cowgirl...
Cousin Aidan also enjoyed the rides, but Isabella is thinking she might give it a few more years before she saddles up.


Here are the three kiddies with their "I love my Cuban Grandpa/Grandparents" shirts. A must-have for a Cuban jamboree.

Keeping cool in the hot desert heat - Aidan had a lot of fun spraying everyone with the spray fan and Maria laughed everytime he sprayed her.

Here are various pics of everyone enjoying the festivities...

Uncle Billy keeping the kids entertained with Peek-a-boo

I love this shot - what can be more Cuban than a guayabera, cigar, and playing Dominos that have the Cuban flag on them? Love it.

Winding down after a long day. Thanks to all the Pedro Pans that planned the event and for Gavina for letting us enjoy their beautiful property (and yummy coffee!).

As Brad said, when they release the hounds, it's time to go home!

Summer Vacation Memories

Summer is over, but what a fun summer we had! Last month we spent a week in Catalina. It was very relaxing basically spending all day at the beach and then reading and playing cards at night. I got to catch up on all my magazines and actually read a book! Greg and I were able to go out by ourselves on one night when Nana babysat Maria, so we got to enjoy some Avalon night life - although it was VERY empty. Checked out the somewhat improved mini-golf (yes, we get a night to ourselves and we start it out with mini golf!), followed by karaoke at the Galleon and closing it out at the chichi club. Just to show you how dead it was, we were two of 8 patrons in the club and spent the evening playing frogger on the tabletop arcade game that was broken so we didn't have to pay a thing. How times have changed, huh?!

Cousins Bella and Aidan, Aunties Yaya and Elisa and Uncle Billy also came by for a few days. Poor Aidan had a rough arrival and departure on his first boat rides - on the upside we now know he gets seasick?! He is the little trooper who still loves boats, so I don't think he was too traumatized. Billy also showed us a new card game (Nuts!), that we are now addicted to and has become a weekly addiction for Greg and I. Just watch out when you play with Greg - he's a sore loser and will wreck the game before you can count your cards if you are winning (a la Monopoly - you who've seen this know what I mean!).

OK enough writing, here are some pictures!

Lots of sand pictures. Greg built a different sand castle/tunnel every day which was a lot of fun for Maria and the rest of the kids on the beach (who would beg me all day to wreck Greg's creations). Maria is definitively a little beach bum, covered in sand from head to toe at the end of each and every day and fearless of the waves and water.

Running from the waves with Daddy.

Copying the way Nana sits in her beach chair.

and posing in her wagon with Nana. Thanks to Nana's friend Ellen who provided us with the wagon all week and to Georgina for the kid books and sand toys. Brown Bear, Brown Bear is now one of Maria's favorite books :)

The cousins visiting made the trip even more fun with Maria. Here she greets cousin Isabella at the boat and begins to lead her on a tour of Avalon.
First stop: Daddy's sand castle on the beach.Second stop, Mi Casita for dinner and some beverages for the mommys and daddys.

The next day, we're joined by Aidan and Elisa. Despite Aidan's seasickness on the VERY early 6:15 a.m. boat ride over (or maybe because of it?!), his appetite was up for a yummy breakfast with the gang at Jack's. So good.

Our submarine ride could've been better planned. We did the 11:00 a.m sub hoping the kids would nap after it. After breakfast we had two hours to kill so we let them run around the main part of town, which pooped them out so much that Aidan and Bella fell asleep in the middle of the sub ride and Maria who won't fall asleep when there's something going on, stayed up and provided us with a lovely toddler meltdown. I'm sure the other submarine riders appreciated a screaming kid. On the upside, we saw a bunch of fish!

Aidan and Elisa enjoying the waves, followed by a well deserved 4 hour nap!

The week ended with some more Nadsady family bonding time.

Here's Maria's first dance with a boy (other than her Daddy!). The food at the Buffalo Nickel took forever (as it did on our last trip!), so kids from different families at the restaurant were running around this little courtyard. This adorable kid named Mitchell asked if he could dance with Maria. She was cute with him and I love how she got shy as soon as she realized I was watching/filming her.

After a week of the beach, Maria was getting pretty goofy. Here's a video (yes you have to tilt your head) of her walking around aimlessly around the beach at the end of one of our last days there, like Linus carrying his blanky and finally just plopping down.

By the end of our trip, she was walking around town like she owned the place! Move over Greg, here comes Maria!