Splash Park (Alga Norte)

I've been looking for a safe, clean, and fun place to take Jo swimming. He loves the water and as much as I would love to hop in the pool and swim with him, Addie would never last. So if I do go to the pool or the beach I have to bring the hubby with to make sure he can swim with Jo while I splash with Addie on the sidelines. After looking around a bit, I found a few pools or parks that offer kiddie water areas, but this one is by far my favorite. It's called Alga Norte Aquatic Center in Carlsbad. 

It boasts four water areas, a recreational pool for all ages, a lap pool, a hot tub for adults, and the splash park. We go for the splash park and it occupies and wears Jo out easily. I, on the other hand, can sit nearby in a shaded area with Addie and watch him run and play. There is a lot of room to set up for the day or just for a few hours and you can bring your own lunch and even chairs, but the center offers pool loungers, lunch tables, and plenty of shaded areas. They even have a concession stand if you don't feel like packing your lunch. Life vest are offered but if your child is

more comfortable in their own floatation device, it will be permitted as long as it is USCG approved. There is an admission fee, (for most accurate pricing click here), but it is no more than $5 for an adult. They also have spectator prices for adults who aren't swimming. I usually get in for the spectator price at $2 and Jo gets in for $3, Addie is of course, free. So for our family, we can go to a mini water park for about $10! It's an awesome way to get out of the house, get some sun, wear the kids out, and not break the bank- that's got my name written all over it! When the day is done and you're ready to get out of your wet clothes, they have a locker room for each sex where you can shower off and change. It's a great amenity. If  you are in the SoCal area or just looking for something fun to do for the day but don't feel like spending and arm and a leg, I would definitely suggest coming here. It is so much fun and its hassle free. 

The Aquatic Center is a part of the Alga Norte Community Park which boasts 32 Acres of sports fields, skate parks, picnic areas, dog park, and so much more. These parts of the park are free and are just as clean and safe. For more info on the park, click here. 

If I had known about this place sooner, I probably would have planned Jo's birthday here. It's about 30mins from my home in Oceanside, and a lot of our friends are coming from the area we used to live in, San Clemente/Dana Point, and it would be about an hour and half from them, so we opted for something closer. We did look into the birthday party packages and they are incredible! They have party packages for all ages and reasonable rates. All the packages include a covered/ shaded area with tables, chairs, and your choice of color coordinated table cloths and balloons. Each party also gets a personal POC for the day so you have someone at your beck and call. It's pretty awesome. I can't remember all of the different packages but some include inflatable bounce "houses" and slides, pool of balls, and then the splash park. We were looking into the splash park package and it was the cheapest package starting at $100 for 75mins of play and the aforemetioned details. 

Overall, it's an awesome place! We took our friend's kids there when were babysitting and they loved it as well! My favorite part? Every time I leave, the kids fall asleep as soon as I pull out of the parking lot. Summer and Motherhood just got a ton easier because of this place. Woo-Hoo!!! 

Biggest tip when coming here... bring your camera. The kids faces lighting up when playing in the water is priceless. Hope you enjoy the pics! Let me know if you're headed over there, we will meet ya! 

The water in all the pools and water features is heated. It's not super warm, but its not freezing cold.

Because there are so many places to swim and play here, it's never really too crowded. Plus, when you are at the splash park, the kids don't usually last more than two hours, so there is always people coming and going. 

The first day I came I packed my own lunch, but when we brought my friend's kids we bought from the concession stand and it was 'bleh.'  The food isn't anything grand, it's kid/ amusement park food- nachos, hotdogs, pizza, etc. I did pack my own healthy snacks and drinks though, so our food bill that day was only $25 for hotdogs and fries. The kids obviously loved it, but I cringe at the thought of feeding them junk. From now on, I think I'll just pack my own food to save money and our arteries.

 

Ok you get it, we had fun. So get off the computer and GO HERE! I'll say it again... clean, fun, and CHEAP! 

Bikini Business

So I got a few questions about the bikinis I wore from my last post. So here's the scoop:

 

This one is a Juicy Couture suit and I love it because the bottoms actually cover! As much as I would love to fit into an itsy bitsy bikini, I don't think I could, nor would it be appropriate, especially on base at the beach. I found this suit to give me the most coverage on the bottom without looking grandma-ish. They are made to fit like a booty/ boy short, and the rope lacing on the back gives it some fun detail. They are so comfortable! The top is just a typical triangle top but the laces are also the rope detail and an anchor hangs in the front to top off the nautical look. I got this suit at Marshall's and it was definitely a rare find. If you are bottom heavy or just want a little more coverage on the tush, I suggest going with a boy short look. 

  

Like the last bikini, I got this one from Marshall's. (I love me a deal!) This on is Kenneth Cole Reaction and I love this one for the top. This halter top offers some more coverage with the  ruffles and tie front. Again I need the coverage but don't want to look like an old lady. The bottoms are just a regular bikini bottom but the waist is fold down so it offers a thicker band for some extra coverage too. I like this one better than the Juicy Couture one because of the top coverage. I'm always afraid of falling out of my top and this one seemed to give me the most support out of the two. Plus the color makes me look tanner than the other one! :) 

All in all, they are both great bikinis, because I bought them at Marshall's I don't have product information but I'll do at little more digging and see if I can find it. Until then I would suggest browsing like stores, for bathing suits. They have some great finds for a fraction of the price! 

Summer 2014

Ok I finally have a minute to actually sit down and post pictures from Grammy's visit and some thing we've been up to. Summer is officially in full swing here in California and we've kicked it off with lots of time in the sand and sun. 

  

My friend introduced me to this sling called the Sakura Bloom and I am infatuated! It's a simple idea and its so comfortable. I have been through every sling and baby carrier out there, and so far, this one is my favorite for everyday use. It is made out of linen, so it is sturdy yet breathable. Addie loves that she can sit close to mommy but can still move her head to look around at what's going on. You can get the Sakura Bloom here. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an easy, lightweight baby carrier. 

One of my favorite things about Summer are the warm nights. Bonfires surrounded by great friends and family are the perfect way to end a Socal Summer night. Addie was mesmerized by the blazes. 

During the day it was all about fun in the sun. Jo loves digging and I love soaking up the rays. So happy Shannon was able to snag up a beach cottage on base for his mom again. Although he was working during the days, he was still able to come home at a decent hour to have dinner and enjoy the sunset over the water. 

  

Jo loved following Uncle Jared around. We are sure going to miss his company when he leaves. 

 

I really hope the whole Summer last like this. This is definitely a great way to kick it off. I can't wait to make more memories with my littles at the beach. We are so fortunate to be able to live so close to the ocean and I don't take them enough. 

  

I'm Back & Where I've Been

It's been six months since my last post. I decided to take a short break, not knowing that break would turn into a complete withdrawal from blogging completely. At the time, I felt a lot of my time could be better spent with my kids, my husband, friends and family, rather than trying to design, update and keep tabs on this blog. But lately I've had an urgency to write and share our stories with you. In the past six months God has done amazing things in our life, and being able to share it with you is not a chore, but a blessing. I intended this blog to be about our family and so it will continue. My posts may not be as frequent because what the Lord has brought before us will require more of my attention, so I appreciate your understanding. Thanks for coming back to visit and I hope you enjoy watching our family grow in Christ, each other, and life. Here's what's been going on in our neck of the woods...

JUNE: We found out we are having another little Shantine baby! Our due date was calculated to be January 27, 2014. This will give us an 18month spread between JoJo and Baby #3. Having two kids under 2 will be quite the challenge, but with Him, it will be possible. 

JULY: The Summer seemed to start and come so quickly! We spent 3 weeks in Shannon's home town of Chicago and we celebrated Jojo's 1st Birthday Bash there. My mom and sister were able to fly in for the party, while Shannon's parent's hosted. It was a hot and humid but perfect for swimming. We loved seeing our family and knowing that it will be hard for us to travel with 3 kids, we made the most of our trip seeing and relatives at the party. 

AUGUST: Tatum had her first day of school! Well, her second first day of school. She started Kindergarten and was so excited! She kept asking me if I notice how big she was. As she grows she becomes more independent and sassy. Since school started she has spend most her weekdays at her dad's house, and weekends with us, but she is just growing like a weed! As a mom I want to teach my kids everything, but it is them who have taught me some of life's greatest lessons. I wish I could stop time to really relish these moments of innocence in my children, but watching them blossom, learn, and grow is an immeasurable privilege. 

SEPTEMBER: We found out the sex of Baby#3! As most men do, Shannon was rooting for another boy, but God had different plans for us and so in January he will welcome a baby girl of his own. I have a feeling Shannon will be cleaning his guns a lot more meticulously and frequent as she gets older. I, on the other hand, will be busy making bows and buying all things pink! 

OCTOBER: At the height of Shannon's on-cycle training (13 hour work days), our October was fairly quiet. We started some nesting with buying a new crib, but we really just laid low as the reality of having 3 children sank in. When we found out we were expecting another baby, we were excited, but once we found she was going to be a girl, I feel like the actuality of it really started to present itself. We only had Jojo for Halloween and Shannon was able to come home for trick-or-treating, so we decided to take him to a friend's neighborhood to get some loot. He was a lion this year and surprisingly did very well in the snowsuit of a costume. Jo really enjoyed seeing the kids running around in the costumes, and although he didn't understand what was going on, he did enjoy his first piece of candy.   

NOVEMBER: That brings us almost up to date! As you can see we've had an eventful past 6 months, but man was it fun! God is oh so good and this is proof. How appropriate is it that, during the most popular time of year for retrospection, I decide to come back to blog? Perhaps the urgency to come back and blog was not for blogging itself, but the Lord's way of saying, you need to take a deep breath and just look at all you have to be thankful for. All praise to Him! As our family approaches the holiday season, I can say that I will have plenty to be thankful for, not only for the past 6 months, but for so much more.

 

Almost Summer...Almost

After Fall, my favorite season is Summer. Thankfully living in Souther California makes it easy to be close between both seasons all year long. Last week was so HOT and now this week is rainy. Regardless, these smiles always warm my heart. Here's a sneak peak of what my Summer will look like...