SLO Family Vacation

We decided to travel 3 hours south for our first family trip to San Luis Obispo. What a nice little getaway SLO is! The people are much, much nicer than the snoobs living up in the Bay Area and the food is delicious and much, much cheaper! No wonder SLO is the happiest city in America.

The kids are definitely not SLO natives (don't look too happy right now).

In the span of 2.5 days, we were able to go to Pismo Beach, eat at Firestone's, Splash Cafe, visit Madonna Inn, and pick fruits at Avila Valley Farm. All these are MUST DO places to visit/eat at when one visits SLO.


Pismo Beach (water was cold!)

Firestones (tri tip sandwich)


Madonna Inn (pink champagne cake = $$$)


Picking peaches @ Avila Farms

SLO, you are already a family favorite. We will definitely be back!


Kids came here sad, left happy!

FIVE.

 That's right! Baby girl is five months old! My how time flies with two... Ever since Char was 17 weeks old, she's been able to sleep for 12 hours at night with an occasional 4 am waking where she just needs a paci to be placed in her mouth. We have come a long way to get to this stage. Mother thanks you for sleeping through the night! 

Baby girl should be able to sit on her own next month (wow!).

This was the first time the Shinn kids sat in a double stroller together. (We went on 7/11 to get a free Slurpee.)

Little sis adores her big bro.

 Whatever he's in to is cool in her eyes...

 She can't wait to grow up and play with puzzles like her brother.

 However, there are times when big bro regresses and plays with baby toys too.

Shinn Kids

I may be biased when I say this, but I truly believe my Shinn kids are the cutest kids around!  I know there is (at least!) one other person out there who agrees with me.

Aren't they the cutest little humans you've ever seen?!

 Princess Charlotte. Starting at 17 weeks, we already knew who her favorite person in the whole wide world was... mother! As flattered as mother is, she needs homegirl to be okay with other people as well. We're still struggling with Stranger Anxiety with this girl, hopefully it goes away soon and never comes back. Mother has a theory that it's not 100% Stranger Anxiety, but will have to continue testing this out. Oh children, they're living science experiments.

Lucas. He normally does not look so sad. He normally does not stand still for a long period of time. And that is why it's always so hard to get a decent picture of him nowadays. Look at this precious face, isn't this the cutest face you've ever seen?! Why is he so sad, you ask? Every day after his nap, he always asks to use the iPad. 99.97% of the time, the answer is always no. This time around, he decided to do the tears and pout face routine to see if I would change my mind. Sorry son, as hard as it is to say no to you, Mommy still said no. Nice try though!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lucas!

I can't believe it's already been two years since I became a Mom. As I look at how this boy has changed over the course of two years, I no longer see a baby... his baby chubs is all gone, he has a full set of teeth, and he's starting to talk in a manner where (only) I can understand him. 

 Makeshift birthday bao for breakfast!

 

"Big car" from Mommy & Daddy

The older he gets, the more hardcore he gets!

Reading books with bebe before she takes a nap.

 Bebe is happy because she has such a loving big bro.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUD!

Lucas's 2nd Bday Party

Unfortunately, Mommy & Daddy did not get a chance to chat with most of the guests because homegirl was a hot mess for a good 30 minutes (before she eventually passed out). Yes, we're dealing with an early start to extreme separation anxiety. She refuses to let anyone hold her but Mommy and Daddy. Hopefully she grows out of that stage soon... anyway, enough talking - here's some highlights from the Superhero party!

First birthday family picture while homegirl was still happy.

 Always the daredevil/rule breaker...

 He finally wanted to go in the jump house.

 Circle time.

 Didn't realize we invited so many kids till I saw this picture.

 Parachute time!

 Happy Birthday, Lucas! blow blow blow

Safeway cake - $19.99, 1/4 sheet, not bad at all!

Next year, we (mainly Mommy) decided that we're going to have a much smaller birthday party so Mommy & Daddy have more time to socialize with friends and enjoy the party. (Mommy also has a feeling that Lucas will have a voice as to what kind of party he wants - will probably be Star Wars, cars, or sports). Anyway, happy birthday little buddy!

Happy Father's Day!

This is our first Father's Day celebrating as a family of four. Since Char is still kind of young, Mommy couldn't do anything too special (ie - pick up breakfast while Daddy was still in bed), maybe next year... 

The kids and I gave Daddy an early present(s) Saturday morning since Sundays are pretty crazy.

What was inside? A Batman shirt (to wear to Lu's party) and Vader's Little Princess (from Daddy's little princess).

Forgot to take a Father's Day pic, so here's a Mother's Day daddy and kids pic.

 Because of these two cuties, Daddy gets to celebrate Father's Day!

Girlfriend is 4 Months Old!

How did this even happen?! I swear it was just yesterday where we practically lived in our room and I was getting up every 2-3 hours in the wee hours of the night to feed her! Now she's sitting up on her own in a Bumbo and is only a month shy of eating solids!!! *aiiiiii*

 These three bibs describe homegirl perfectly!

 As time goes by, these two continue to love each other's company.

 Happy little girl at the doctor's office.

 After doctor's office, after FOUR SHOTS... still a champ!

Happy 4 months, baby girl!