Narventures

We haven't accompanied Mike to Atlanta since Dayvia was 6 months old! This was the perfect time to go with him too. He has an apartment there with a full kitchen and a swimming pool, and the weather in Atlanta was perfect for spending the days by the pool.

The first week our friends from Jacksonville came to visit. We spent a few days just hanging out, swimming, having tea parties, playing dress up. And when the kids went to sleep- Emily and I had tea and ice cream and laughed like the old days! Emily and Seth's three kids were so so so sweet to Dayvia. The girls, Zoe and Teagan, brought all of their dress up clothes and their tea set to share with Day. They are the kind of big girls that like taking care of a smaller kid. They shared and held her hand and took good care of her. And little Richmond, just one month younger than Day, fell in love. He isn't much of a talker, and he usually takes a long time to befriend other kids-- but at the end of the day he was hugging Day and telling her, "I love you Dayvia". It was so cute!!!!
We were so glad to have a few days with The Carpenters, we hope to make it an annual visit!

Mimi and Emily having tea and treats after the kids went to sleep!

Over the weekend we traveled to D.C. to see the Narduccis and meet our newest addition, baby Cece!
DayDay and CeCe were fast friends. Day loved holding her new cousin and wanted to help feed her.
Cece is so delicious and beautiful! It was a short visit but so glad to have the time with family.

Omg we had a big moment on the plane coming back from DC this weekend. so she's flown 14 times (7 trips). wait no, 16 times, (8 trips), so she's pretty used to the plane.

BUT--she's used to sitting on my lap. just since March she's had to have her own seat. When we went to Vegas she still sat on my lap, and on the way to Atlanta she sat on my lap, and on the way to DC she sat on my lap. even though we had bought her a seat, she just didn't want to. On the way to DC the attendant told me as long as she's under 35lbs she could sit on my lap, but on the way back- they were stricter and said it's not weight, it's age. and if she's 2- she has to be in her seat and belted for take off and landing. Shit!

And we were in the first row in first class- so i explained to her what was happening and she started to FREAK. and the flight attendant is telling me they can't take off until she's in her seat, and everyone is staring at us. so Mike and I had to hold her down physically to belt her and she's screaming "i don't like it! i don't like it!".

So i pulled all her dolls out and I did the show of my life! I put everything I had in this performance! I did the voices and just said, "oh Dayvia. i see you are sad! why are you sad? are you scared? are you frustrated? i hear you saying you don't like this seat."

and then i went on with the doll about how she also- didn't want to sit in her own seat once and how she felt and yada yada… just related and empathized. and in 30 seconds she stopped crying. and she sat in her chair THE ENTIRE flight. so- MAJOR breakthrough.
Holy moly that was exhausting.
But the good news is-- since then-- she has sat in her own seat! So we just needed that one time to make it happen.

When we got back to Atlanta we spent a few days just hanging around, visiting Daddy at work, some trips to Target…
My favorite thing about this trip (besides seeing family and friends)- was the change of pace. It was nice to go slowly- not have a schedule. People in Atlanta are SO nice. So so so nice. They are slow- really slow- but they are just taking their time and saying hello to everyone. I couldn't live there- but it is nice to visit.

Her blow up mattress bed with new princess pillow, made by Emily!

We found the one place in Conyers, GA that makes green smoothies!

Grocery shopping was one of our "outings". Their carts are way better than ours in Studio City!

"working" in Daddy's office

Lunch with Daddy at work

Touring the set of The Originals

On Wednesday, our Karsh cousins came over to the apartment for a visit. Oh how I wish we lived closer! David and MZ are such great parents- they are so good together, so loving. Those boys melt my heart, and little Rachel Ruth is so beautiful! We spent the day making puppets, eating popsicles, and just hanging around.
I love our family so much!

**It's been three months since we got home from Atlanta and Dayvia still asks about once a week, "how about we go to Ay-yenta today? Where did Ay-yenta go?"
We had the best time. :)

Every year Mike gets about three weeks for hiatus. He is still writing a script for The Originals and taking meetings and writing his own pilot… but he doesn't have to physically go into the office, so… it's kind of a vacation. :)
A few months before hiatus we always discuss how we should spend our time during the break. We debated going to Italy for a few weeks- but that would be the whole hiatus and neither of us had the energy to plan a European vacation with a toddler. So we decided to stay home and do a few mini vacations. Palm Springs, Hermosa Beach, Las Vegas, and a lot of time at home!

We spent 24hrs in Palm Desert with Mike's best buds from his Idyllwild days. Love these people.
We also got to see Rhonda and Stanley for dinner one night but we didn't get a picture!

Joe, Mike, Kath, Mimi, Day, Linda, Shambo

Pool time in Palm Desert

Shambo shows Davy how to play the guitar

Impromptu hat dance

We love Hermosa Beach. It's been 4 years since we lived there and it's still our favorite place in L.A..
We booked a room at The Beach House right on the strand. Each morning we woke up and enjoyed breakfast on our beachfront patio while people watching. Laura was able to come down both days too so Mike and I could have some alone time. (Oh how we love Laura).

The only bummer to the trip was DayDay still had Croup. So the first night was spent with Mommy holding her while she slept and going back and forth between the steam in the bathroom and the cool ocean air. The next morning we had to leave the beach for three hours and drive back to the valley for a doctor appointment. A dose of steroids helped her and she (we) slept beautifully the second night. See you soon Beautiful beach! We are going to make this a yearly tradition- and maybe even a few times a year!

We got to meet Liz & Craig for lunch! They live in Manhattan beach.
(They set us up!)

Happy at the pedi with Goofy and Pluto

Mike went for a run, Laura was with Day, and Mommy got a nap on the beach!

Las Vegas!!! Always a great time here. My parents are so helpful, watching Davy, driving us around, feeding us. We stayed with them for two nights and had some good quality time at their house. We celebrated their 42nd anniversary at Dee & Fred's house with Maddie and Grandma Shirley on Wednesday. We had some yummy meals at Grandma's house on Thurs and Fri and played with poker chips and danced to disco music. Friday afternoon we checked into the Red Rock Hotel so Day could play in the pool, and boy did she PLAY! Friday night Bubba watched her in our hotel room and Mike and I had a fun night in the casino. Gambled a little- but mostly sat and had some cocktails and talked and people watched. Saturday we swam a little in the morning and then spent the day at The Berkleys playing in their toy store- I mean, family room. Maddie's toy room is Dayvia's dream come true.

The flight home to Burbank airport on a Saturday night was a breeze and we were reminded how easy it is to travel to Vegas. We need to go more often and travel on a Saturday!