My sister in law is amazing and has a super cool job working for ILM. She gave us the superstar tour, she even arranged for stormtroopers & Boba Fet to geet us. Ok, so maybe we just lucked into arriving when they were shooting a promo. 
We saw all sorts of cool film props... 
These are the real deal, people. Star Wars obsessed Mr. Boy was in heaven.
Can you believe this is the view from someone's office? 
My brother... I adore him. We have a lot in common other than our looks. When I was sixteen and in the midst of teen angst, he took me under his wing and was my "soft place to fall". And for that I'm incredibly grateful. He spoils me rotten, always has. For most of my life he has introduced me as "My Baby Sister", I don't even think he knows that he says it. 
Mr. Boy loved going over the Golden Gate. We had learned the history of the bridge a few months back, and it's something we always associate with where Mr. Boy's cousin lives. 
Seriously, again... Can you imagine you are playing at the local kids museum and *THIS* is the view from the playground? I love it... and I love this little nephew of mine. 
No, really, I love this little guy. He is the life of the party and has this GIANT vocabulary. I wanted to take him and his older brother home with me.
My brother is an all star BBQ chef and an outstanding host. He made us the most amazing meals, and I came home well fed and rejuvenated. 
Mr. Boy tried all sorts of adventurous foods, like crawfish. 
My brother is a crazy talented musician. Mr. Boy wants to be a rock star just like him. 
Fine by me! I hope you grow up to be just like my big brother. Rock on little one!
We also took in a $1 movie, Star Wars The Clone Wars, which was worth every penny! 
There's also info on holiday traditions and fun stuff to do at home, for you non OC residents Such as a hunting for Leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day. Or coming up with your own family holiday. Our's is
I pulled over, gave it a quick inspection, and drove right home to pick up Mr. Man's Muscles. This thing is solid wood, and it weighs as much as an elephant. When I pulled up next to it, he said, "Really? I mean.. really? This?" I proclaimed, "Trust Me!!" We got it into the garage and I said, "It's going to be awesome, we can store 2 billion legos in here." He just politely said, "I dont' really have the vision yet, but I trust you." I showed my neighbor who just smiled thru gritted teeth and said, "Wow. I think it will be handy." Truthfully, it looks like something you'd find in the Regal Beagle, with Jack, Chrissy, and Janet. Maybe that zany Mr. & Mrs. Roper might have one in their place. 
However, people... I knew this had potential, I had a vision that it would be gorgeous and glam. It cost about $15 for new hardware, and I already had the paint. (Mr. Man claims I paint everything black. We all know once you go black.... ) Mr. Man's jaw dropped when he saw it and claimed I pulled a switcharoo on him. The neighbor gushed, and it really does hold 2 billion legos. I'm pretty proud of myself... hence the bragging post.
There is something about milestones that makes me reflect over the passing years. Last year, things were very different than they are now. I feel like I was in Coma last year at this time. Going through the motions, but not really living. Definitely not enjoying or embracing the life I wanted to live. I felt like I had way too much on my plate. When in reality, I was trying to control and plan everything more than neccessary, thinking that would make it easier, if I could just manage it all. Last year at this point, I was seriously contemplating some drastic options, wondering what would make me happier. 
I felt like I had been sinking in quicksand for a long time, and it was about to cover my head. I was suffocating. In the end, I got to the point where I was so tired. So tired of trying to control everything. Keeping everything neatly organized and tidy in my head. Tired of being "in charge". I decided to relinquish my deeply rooted control issues, and let go.
No really.. I let it go. I took a very zen-like approach to everything. I stopped fretting over details, image, perceptions, and how things should be. It is.... what it is. Accept, embrace, move on. It's been a conscience effort. I have to take a deep breath and think for a second how to react to a situation. I stopped saying "No" right off the bat when the kids asked for something. I was saying No all the time for silly reasons to the kids. I was so desperate to feel in control, meanwhile I was making everyone feel stifled.
Magical things started happening in my life. My kids were happier, there were less tantrums, less fighting... we did more fun things. I was "present" not fretting about how things should be done or the mess that was being made... just living in the moment. I started to act silly, and made my children laugh often. No more to do list a mile long. The weird thing is, things still got done. There just wasn't the same pressure to get it done NOW, and so much of my to do list was pointless. It was about trying to upkeep an image more than anything. It didn't have to be done. Random people noticed changes, I got comments "You are so much more.. playful." "I had no idea you were funny." "You are much mellower than I rememberl" I learned that people had been referring to me as "Wenchy" instead of Wendy behind my back. OUCH. 
Mr. Man, who I had pushed away so much over the last year while I slipped into my, "I'm trying to control it all, but failing" coma, started to notice the change. He had been on edge for so long, not sure what would stress me out more. We started to laugh more together. Instead of fretting, I flirted. Instead of critique, I complimented. If he took the kids out to the zoo, and they came home muddy, I high fived them all while giving them shampoo mohawks. At the end of the day, I laid down on the couch next to him and watched a movie with him. We started talking more, fighting less. I listened more than I talked for the first time in my life. And we fell in love all over again. 
Over the last year, I have laughed more than I have in the last few years combined. I'm doing a lot less, overall. I am shocked, completely and utterly shocked, at how much the little details don't matter. No ONE cares about the details of my life, and whether the dishes are done right after the meal or at the end of the day or even the next day. Emails can be answered later on, they don't have to be addressed the minute they arrive. Saturdays are a day we love to hang out as a family, they aren't a day that I try to cram accomplish a million tasks because Mr. Man is home and can watch the kids.
Which reminds me, your school wants all the kids, girls included to play and play hard. We bought darling jeans and tops, all of which you refused to wear. Every morning for several months you and I would disagree on clothing. You would insist on a dress, while I waved several pants and shirts in front of you. We were fighting every morning, until after a few months I relented. You have worn a dress almost every day, since then I can count on one hand the times you wore pants. Don't get me wrong AK, you know I love a good dress just as much as you. I cannot resist buying you cute dresses, and currently there are 52 dresses crammed in your teeny tiny closet. Which seems like a lot, but you change your clothes and shoes at least three times a day. I just hope that you don't let "looking pretty" get in the way of having fun and seizing opportunities. However, the mud & paint stains on your clothes let me know that I have nothing to worry about. Your current favorite pasttime is looking for bugs and digging.
Your language has come a long way. You went from a few words to speaking long monologues. Your favorite is to tell me a story that always starts with, "Once upon a time there was an old lady who lived in a castle." This year in school you were eager to share all things you were learning about. All year you were always dissappointed on the days that were not school days, and in the Spring we put you in school every day. You loved it! You are so social and want to be with your friends all the time. 
When people ask you what you want to be when you grow up, you say, "Bigger". Our favorite phrase that you say is, "Oh he's so doot!" when you see something cute and little. We love that on your school report that you had to do, your one wish if you could wish for anything was to have, "Pink Hair". You love Pink more than anything. Your favorite books are Posey Prefers Pink and Pinkalicious. You are smitten with the Disney Princesses and thanks to your Auntie Laura, you might just have every Princess product available. However, all that girlyness is balanced by your brothers influence. You sing the Star Wars theme song all the time and your princesses often engage in space travel and fights with the dark side. We love the balance!
We have big hopes and dreams for you this year. You enter pre-K this year, and we hope you will learn and grow academically. We love that you know a handful of sight words because of your brother. You learn a lot from observing him, just last week you taught yourself to dive in the pool after watching him. 
AK, I want you to know that you can do anything you want to if you're willing to learn. We live in the most amazing place, and even though many days it appears to grown ups that the world is falling apart, you still have every opportunity to be whatever you want, to do whatever you want, and know that Mom & Dad are right here ready to support you. We'll even help you dye your hair pink, if that is your greatest wish.
On this day, your dad and I can't help but reflect on your beginnings. For two weeks, we woke up each day to get the report on your amazing birthmom who has in the hospital helping you get ready to be born. You came early, anxious to get this party started. We had breakfast with your birthparents one morning, and told them, "Yep, we are all ready for the baby." Daddy bought a new safe car for you to ride in, and I showed them pictures of your crib and a closet ful of onesies. You heard that and decided to come that night. However, your spirit might have been ready, but your body wasn't. So a whole medical team held you off for 16 more days. Long enough for your body to get ready. I remember on the day you were born, the nurse told me, "Baby Girl is coming today! She's ready!" We couldn't stop dancing around the house. 
Oh that glorious moment when your birthmom placed you in my arms. Our whole life together flashed before my eyes. The next day on our 10th wedding anniversary we got to take you home. Worlds Best Gift. When the nurse came to check you out to us, I broke down into tears of gratitude. You were going home, to our home.... I was so grateful. We spent a lot of time keeping you healthy over the next year, a team of people oversaw your growth and cheered every milestone. We do not take your health for granted, we are so grateful for your healthy toddler years, may that continue a lifetime. 
And Stef's kids are in touch with their sci fi side, which means they aren't afraid to pick up a lightsaber and show that the powers of the force reside within them. 
We pulled out the waterslide.... 
which meant that the three of us... got to hang out and chat while we threw snacks at the kids. I love the Ya Ya's (Booboo & Nettie were absent and were dearly dearly dealy missed) There is something about being with people that know you, and you can be 100% open with that is just as refreshing as a vacation. I know I could tell them anything, and they would love me just the same. Also, I love the Petit Ya Ya's, I love hearing about their successes and talking to them. I love spoiling them when their mom isn't looking. I genuinely want to hang out with the kids and talk to them. Bottom line: whatever time I spend with any or all of them... it's always too brief.