Last month I was chosen as a host for a Keurig House Party.  I’ve done other House Parties before, but D was particularly excited about this one.  We’ve had the same coffee maker that we received as a wedding present 9+ years ago.  It still works perfectly fine, but now we are on the Keurig bandwagon.

This is the new Keurig V500 (there is also a V700 model) that we received.  D has dubbed this the “nicest appliance” we own.  It uses V cups, not K cups, (though I’m not quite sure of the difference), has controls for size, strength, and temperature and can do hot or iced beverages.

We were also provided with a nice assortment of varieties to try.  (I also purchased some using a nice discount).  We now have enough coffee to last us a year.  We had a tasting party with our small group.

Last Friday was busy, but fun.  After dropping off k at school, n and I went to Tanaka Farms with my moms’ group. 

We haven’t been in a couple of years, so I think it was still “all new” to n. 

Not too sure about the sugar snap pea…

Happier with the strawberries!  I think the Tanaka Farm tours have become increasingly popular, as the strawberry fields look much more “picked over”.  We did manage to get our fill, though.

After picking up k from school I helped chaperone at a Teddy Bear Carnival for her Daisy Troop.

After picking n up from my parents’ house we went home and hosted our small group. 

The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot holds a free workshop for kids.  (Lowe’s holds something similar, but you are supposed to register online, and it is always full when I try.)  This past Saturday the kids made a planter. 

Even though I like to do crafty things, I don’t like the mess.  I have a hard enough time cleaning without major crafting going on.  Being able to make a mess and have someone else clean up is a major bonus.  (Tip: bring a cardboard box to transport crafts home that still have wet paint!) 

k has an adult tooth coming in and I wanted to memorialize it by taking a picture.  Sorry if this grosses you out, but I can’t believe how far in back her adult tooth is compared to her baby tooth.  k’s baby tooth came in really crooked, but I think her grinding her teeth at night actually straightened them out.  Hopefully the same happens with her adult teeth!

n did not want to be left out of the picture-taking:

Yesterday, after picking up k from school, I decided to take the kids to KBF.  It was a bit overcast, which was nice (no whining about the heat is always a good thing).  This was our first trip without D, but now that the kids are getting older, it is more manageable. 

It is so nice when the lines are short.  We never had to wait more than one “rotation” for any of the rides.  At this skateboard ride, the ride attendant was just waiting for people because no one was in line!

We were also able to ride the ferris wheel in Camp Snoopy for the first time.  It was not operating all of the other times we have visited.  The kids said it was their favorite ride of the day.  It fits three people, so it worked out. 

This ride also worked because k is tall enough to go by herself and n and I went in the next car.

We also watched the Calico Saloon show for the first time.  Tip: if you don’t like audience participation, I suggest you not sit at the table directly front and center of the stage.

Couldn’t resist this photo op.  I guess we’ll have to get one of the whole family someday.   

On Saturday I went to the baby shower for my friend at her cousin’s beautiful home in Claremont.  It was one of those homes that I associate with Pasadena—large front porches with stairs, lots of woodwork, etc.

The happy expectant parents.  I thought it was so cute that the husband is SO excited for their baby boy.

A lovely spread of food and cute diaper cake.  I didn’t take a picture of the sandwiches from Cheese Cave—Yum!

I sewed part of my gift—a diaper/wipe “clutch” with velcro closure.  Good for organizing within the diaper bag, or when the baby turns into a toddler, and you really only need a couple of diapers and wipes.  Pattern found here.

Cute cookie favor! 

It was fun to chat with old friends and meet new people.  Best of wishes on the arrival of baby Wong!  Thank you to D, who took k on a six mile bike ride (he ran) and went swimming with the kids in the afternoon. 

While D was out eating his fancy filet mignon at the VooDoo Lounge I was enjoying a chipotle chicken sandwich and cobb salad from Earl of Sandwich (Planet Hollywood).  I had the sandwich for lunch and saved the salad for dinner back in our room.  We still haven’t visited the EoS in Downtown Disney, but it was as good as I remembered. 

I brought a lot of stuff to work on/read.  It felt so good to have so much time to myself!  I also ended up watching a lot of the Boston Marathon coverage since there wasn’t anything else good to watch on t.v.  I was even able to start and complete our family portrait in cross-stitch!  I used patterns from Martha Stewart.

The last night we celebrated our nine year anniversary at Lotus of Siam. 

Kind of dive-y outside, but pretty nice inside.

We had spicy chicken wings, pad thai and red curry with beef.  Not the most authentic dishes to order, but we really liked the chicken and pad thai.  (Thai Nakorn has better beef curry).

Afterward we had dessert at Luv-It Frozen Custard. 

We shared a Western Sundae.  Again, kind of dive-y, but at least there was still daylight!

I think I wanted to order something with nuts just because we didn’t have to worry about kid-allergies.  Ha!