Our Journey to our Angel, Sakura

Last weekend for Columbus Day we headed to California to spend time with Dean's parents and snuck in a day with friends while we were there. I have wanted to go to Apple Hill since I saw Nancy's pictures last year, so Saturday we headed out early and made the drive to Apple Hill. I have to say it was worth it - we had a great time. Sakura LOVED her first pony ride, had her face painted, ate great food and especially spending time with the kids. After our day at the pumpkin patch, we headed to the DeMetris house for an early dinner and more time for the kids to play. Kira took at nice nap, Sakura enjoyed the toys too much to lay down so she played!
Sakura LOVED Kira so much - it was so sweet watching them together and when we left Kira gave Sakura a kiss goodbye (unprompted), it was adorable!

Unfortunately I didn't get many other pictures from our weekend - but took lots at Apple Hill.

The sole purpose of our trip was to take blue prints of our house renovations to Dean's parents so they could approve/decide on what we're going to be adding on to accomodate them. They will be moving here and living with us in the near future. So we had lots of things to do at their house to get it ready to list for sale, they'll move here, rent a house until their house sells and then we'll build on another master suite for them. We are very excited that they'll be so close and can watch Sakura grow up.

On to the pictures.....

Sakura and Daddy

Visiting the petting zoo

Auntie Nancy and Sakura

All of the kids at the petting zoo.

Beautiful Kira

Sakura feeding the goats herself....she wasn't afraid at all - must be because she loves giving Yancha Bozu and Wrigley treats!

Mommy and Sakura feeding the lamb

That's a pretty big one Sakura.....

That's more your size :)

Even smaller, we loved the pumpkin patch...

I wanted to bring home a pumpkin but Daddy said no :(

Can I have this one?

Tripp has his pumpkin!

How about two? Check out Sakura's expression - that must be one HEAVY baby pumpkin!

Perfect pumpkins!

Two for me please....

Two perfect pumpkins - Kira and her pumpkin

Playing with Auntie Nancy while we had our lunch

Always take time to smell the flowers Sakura!

Then it was on to pony rides for the kids!

Tripp went first and took a big horse for a ride....he almost had a little tumble on the back stretch, but he stayed on and rode! Way to go Trippster!

Keeks got a ride on the pony!

Then it was Sakura's turn....

I wasn't too sure she would go through with it, but she wanted to go and we wanted her to try. She has been known to be a little intimidated at things, but not this time!

Ready to Ride~

There she goes...so proud of our big girl!

Sakura on her 1st pony ride~go Sakura chan!

And after......she threw a big fit when it was over!

Crying and kicking, arching her back - she was one unhappy little girl!

The girls playing in Auntie Nancy's legs...shaking hands (so sweet!)

And then the hugs began....melt my ♥!

BFFs

Playing in Daddy's legs now, while we waited for face painting!

Tripp having his face painted - he wanted Mickey!

Kira got Minnie

And a pumpkin for Sakura

Daddy felt like Sakura loved that pony ride so much that she should get another ride, so off we went to the ponies for another ride. Sakura loved it again and we replayed the earlier scene with a smaller fit, because we told her we were going to see Kiki....as I said earlier Sakura LOVED Kira so she stopped crying and we walked up the hill and met everyone.

Sakura was happy again after she saw Kira.

Sakura's 2nd pony ride!

Riding the pony

Go Sakura!

Playing on the hay bails

Enjoying a snack with Tripp - he was SO sweet, Sakura finished her snack and Tripp kept giving Sakura more of his....what a sweet little host he is! Thank You Tripp!

Typical role playing, the lady in the kitchen while the gentleman sits and watches TV - Huh?

My they learn so young!!

Sakura will be asking Santa Claus for a kitchen set for Christmas - she loved Kira's!

Sakura riding on Kira's Roady.

Swinging....

Tripp and Kira - first Tripp pushed Kira, then he got on and gave her a ride,

what a sweet brother

The only other pictures I took was this one - Sunday I painted the bathroom to get it ready for the move...while I was doing another one of my 'chores' programming the bedroom telephone, Sakura got into the paint (brush) - looks like she thought it looked tasty? Ugh.

Paint mouth

This was the other picture I snapped, we were getting ready to leave, stopped for lunch and as you can tell nobody was in a very good mood - Jichan knew we were leaving, and Sakura was TIRED (understatement~)....but it's better than nothing. Jichan will be SO happy when they get moved down here and he can see Sakura on a regular basis - they share a special love that I hope lasts forever!

Bachan, Sakura chan, and Jichan

Playing in the terminal while we waited for our plane

Since the weather has been nice in the morning for the last week, I decided to brave the park with Sakura. She LOVES (if there was a stronger word I'd use it) to swing and she was super excited when we got out of the car and headed toward the picnic table for a bite before we played. She spotted the playground and said "Weeeee Weeeee Weeeee". Yes, it melted my heart. So we sat at the picnic table enjoying our pumpkin muffin tops that we picked up on our way, then it was off to swing and play. Sakura would love nothing more than to swing the day away - maybe she'll get a swingset for her birthday? We'll see.

Pumpkin muffin tops are delicious!

Let's Go Mom!

Exploring....

Almost running to the swings (note she's got her sunglasses in her hand).

Swinging - Weee, Weee, Weee - Sakura said it over and over.

As you can tell by that smile, Sakura truly loves to swing!

Now with my sunglasses!

This picture cracked me up!

This time Sakura walked in herself - bittersweet! It's amazing to see how much she has grown and changed in just a couple months - the last time we went, she was barely toddling - now she just about runs in...she walked up and down the different areas as you'll see below.