Santa Barbara, California

Darrick qualified for a trip to Santa Barbara for his work. It was a quick trip for us (2 nights) but totally worth it. Neither one of us had been to Santa Barbara before so we were looking forward to it. We flew my friend and her 2 girls up from California to stay with our girls. They all had a blast and the girls didn't even know we were gone. They were too busy playing with their old friends that they don't get to see enough of anymore.

So there are no direct flights into Santa Barbara. We had a layover in San Fransisco which we found out on the way back home, is not a good airport to connect in. A lot of late or cancelled flights due to fog. Ours was delayed on the way home about 2 hours so we didn't get home until after 1:00am and our driver thought our flight was cancelled so we had no ride when we landed. We took a taxi and it all worked out...just part of the memories. So anyways to fly into Santa Barbara you have to take one of these little planes.

Now Darrick and I hate to fly to begin with. When we saw these you should've seen our faces...we weren't happy. There were only 10 rows and they hand out ear plugs because it is so loud.
Not our favorite part of the trip...



But then we arrive at the Four Seasons Biltmore. Now we are happy. The hotel is beautiful and so quiet. We can't decide if it's the hotel that's so quiet or the fact that we have no kids with us.

Slippers by the bed, just waiting for us to slip our feet into and relax. The pillows were feather pillows and after the first night my neck was killing me. I thought, "I'm at the Four Seasons they have to have other pillows for people who like a little firmer pillow." So I called housekeeping and asked and they said they have a posterpedic pillow. Those are the flat ones with a lump on the end for your neck. They sent one to our room and I had the best nights sleep. I want one of those pillows. I can't stop talking about that pillow.


Our fireplace was the upgrade to our room since Darrick was the only Sales Executive to qualify for the trip. The region he runs in Portland hasn't made a trip in forever. Since the 8 months he has taken it over, he had 9 people out of his office qualify for this trip. Can you tell I'm proud of my hubby? Without his hard work I wouldn't get to go on awesome trips like this! Thanks Babe!

The garden view from our room

The front of our room

Our quiet get away

We drove up with some people Darrick used to work with in California to Solvang for the day. It's a little Dutch town with lots of candy shops.

That's Leslie in the blue dress doing the beer stein holding contest. She is one of Darrick's reps in Portland. She's from Alabama and I love to hear her talk. Whoever holds the beer with a straight arm out the longest wins.

This is Nicole and Lindsey from Darrick's office also. They are so much fun. We had a blast together. If Darrick wasn't their boss, I'd love to hang out with them! Darrick ran the Kareoke Contest. At first only 4 people were signed up to sing, Darrick said I needed to help him out and find more singers. Well I went to work and found so many singers we didn't have enough time for everyone. The girls that planned the whole trip sent us a card when we got back that said they saw how I helped Darrick and that he did such a good job getting everyone involved. So they gave us a $100 Visa gift card. How nice huh? And we just had fun doing it.

Christie and Leslie from Portland also.

Darrick and some of his Portland reps!

Me, Darrick, Nicole and Lindsey

We went on a jeep wine tour the next day to 4 different wineries. It was way different than the usual limo wine tour. We were off roading and very winding in the back of the jeep. But so fun.

Darrick and I

Me, Nicole, Lelsie, and Lindsey

Leslie got crunked! Which I learned was crazy drunk, it helps to hang out with some younger people to stay up to date on all the new lingo.

The end of our jeep tour and our trip. We headed to the airport to catch our flight home.

Twins

Jordyn gave Ashlyn a make-over and made her look just like her. Ashlyn was so excited to have "No Bangs". I really don't know how mothers of twins do it because I kept getting them confused. Just a quick glance or out of the corner of my eye, I would think Ashlyn was Jordyn or the other way around. I get asked at least once a day if they are twins and I never really thought they looked "that" much alike. Now I can see it!!

Jordyn's Soccer Game

Jordyn is on the purple team in the pink shorts. Towards the end of the video you can see her get a left footed kick in.

This video shows Jordyn getting tripped by a team mate and getting back up. Another great thing about indoor soccer...you don't get dirty when you fall!!

I love this video...Jordyn having fun playing soccer, but not too busy to say hi for the camera!

She is loving soocer! She has quite the appetite after her game. We can't seem to get her tummy full. She pretty much just chases after the ball at this point, but she never gets tired and she doesn't give up. She loves the team snack after the game...I guess she gets that from me!!

Jordyn's 1st Soccer Game

Jordyn had her first soccer game on Sunday. She is playing indoor soccer on the purple team. Yay that is her favorite color! This picture was before she got her team shirt.
Here's her and Daddy warming up before the game.


Ashlyn didn't move the entire game. I was shocked at how much she enjoyed watching them play.

Coach Scott on the left and Jordyn to the right of him.

Sorry about the poor quality pictures. They are taken from behind glass, so they didn't turn out that good.

The huddle after the game.

Good game...good game

She's an official soccer player now!

Oaks Park

We went to a place called Oaks Park on Saturday. Its just like a fair, but it stays up all year. The girls loved it there. Our little Ashlyn is growing up because she wasn't afraid to ride any of the rides. Well she was afraid, but she felt protected by her big sister, Jordyn. She usually never rides the rides because she's too afraid, but this time she said Jordy will help her. I'm so proud of both of my girls!!

Ashlyn had her hands up ready for the bar to go down.

This is right before they're ready to go. As soon as it took off Ashlyn grabbed for Jordyn's hand. She looked terrified! Jordy put her arm around Ash to try and comfort her. She thought she would help her by covering her eyes so she wasn't scared. As you can imagine, that didn't help. As they came back through they stopped the ride and asked Ash if she wanted to get off. She looked at them confused. So I asked her and she said, "No I'm fine, Jordy is helping me." So cute! They ended up going on it about 4 times!!

They held hands all day there. Too cute! Sisters and Best Friends!

Driving the cars together. Notice Jordyn's arm around Ash. I love to see them love eachother.

Ashlyn never goes on this. See always just watches Jordyn. I was surprised when she wanted to do it. So here she is ready for the bar to come down.

So excited to be big and ride it. I'm afraid they will have to stop it because she'll hate it.

She loved it as much as Jordy does!! Yay!!!

On the motorcycles. I told them they could ride their own, but nope...they insisted on riding together!

Partners in Crime

They both love the carousel. How can kids ride these things? Darrick and I take turns on who has to ride with them, we get so dizzy and sick.

Again, Ashlyn would never do this before. Now look at her go, all by herslef too!

On the train ride.

On the way back Jordy had her arm around Ash again and Ash had her head on Jordy's shoulder. They were just the cutest sisters that day!

Daddy and his girls on the ferris wheel. This is one I will never go on. I call it a Daddy ride. (I wonder where Ashlyn got her fear from?)

We had an awesome day, we will definitely be going back there again soon!

Children's Museum

We went to the Children's Museum. There are so many things for the girls to do, they love it!

Here are some video's of the girls playing on the stage in the Theater room. There are dress-up clothes and instruments. You can do lighting and music. I was in charge of lighting and music. Ashlyn was the curtain girl and Jordyn had the lead role. This was Ashlyn's first time on the stage because no one else was in there. Towards the end of the video Jordyn realizes she can see herself on the tv monitor, so you can watch her watching herself. I love my little performers!!

Favorite Outfits

Ok so I wasn't going to post this because I didn't want to embarrass Jordyn, but after explaining these outfits to Uncle Philly and Auntie Jessi, they said they had to see them. These are the outfits that my girls put on EVERYDAY. Darrick wants to burn them, he's so sick of seeing them. I choose to fight different battles with them. If they want to wear this everyday it's fine, but we never leave the house like this. I said I didn't want to embarrass Jordyn, but she doesn't see anything wrong with this outfit so I guess I'm embarrassed for her.

The outfit Jordyn is wearing was bought for Ash. Its a 3T (Jordyn wears a size 6). The boots have become an added bonus to the outfit since we went to the snow, since those are her Hannah Montana snow boots. The size 3T shirt helps to show her belly which is the #1 reason this is her favorite outfit. Its always the same headband, shirt, skirt, and boots. Necklace and purse are optional. You know you have an outfit that you just feel good in and think its so cute? Well this is hers!!
Now here's my little Ash. She's a little more conservative and doesn't get to wear the outfit I got for her because her sister is always wearing it. But she doesn't care because her outfit of choice is this darn black leotard with white tights. The boots were also a late addition, since the snow trip(remind me not to buy snow boots next year). Her hair HAS to be back in a ponytail as soon as this outfit is on because in dance they have to have their hair pulled back.

So here's my rockstar diva's!! They think they're pretty cute, but so do I. As much as I hate when these outfits go on (especially after they were dressed & had hair done so cute for the day) these are the days I'm sure I will miss and look back and think...I wish they still wore those outfits everyday!!