Double Happiness

Gilroy Gardens

Gosh, how we LOVE this place! 

We just found out that GG was open this week (last few days of Spring Break) so we high tailed it down here and enjoyed a beautiful day of fun in the sun!

Can you believe how pretty this park is? 

 

These cars are a big favorite and well worth time short wait in line.  We always have to go through twice because the girls take turns as driver (when they’re not fighting over the steering wheel like they are in the pic above). 

After a quick detour into the playground.  Then some fun and flips and slips and slides and a great big drink of water…

We’re off to our favorite roller coaster:  The Quicksilver Express!

I sat in front of the girls and held my (ridiculously expensive) camera over my head to take these photos behind me on the ride.  I was double lucky to get some super cute pics and not send the camera flying during the steep drops and sharp turns!  I’m not sure I’d do this again but I’m glad I got these photos this time.

Maddy has her fingers in her ears because the last part of ride involves going through a tunnel filled with dynamite.  Yeah, it’s a “blast”. 

(Below)  Isn’t Maddy beautiful?  A princesses perfect profile!

Off to the twirly swirly drum ride.  Gwen is actually too tall for this ride but they didn’t seem to notice.  Then we did the goldfish ride and stopped to admire some pretty yellow flowers before heading to the Dip-N-Dots vendor for a snack.

Gwen has a rainbow of frozen fruity goodness on her tongue!  This dessert is insanely expensive but extraordinarily good so the girls can hardly help but break into a stereo chorus of incessant begging any time they see someone manning the Dip-N-Dot booth.

The kids have so much fun at this place so I always get my best smiles at Gilroy Gardens!

Easter 2011

This year, we spent Easter with my brother, Kevin, at his home near Los Angeles.  The girls were worried about the Easter Bunny knowing where to deliver their baskets and since I forgot to bring the baskets (doh!), I had to tell them the truth about Ol’ Mr. EB.  Luckily, the disappointment was mitigated by Aunt Cindy who hid eggs all over her backyard!

Maddy loves the thrill of the hunt and quickly scored big bowl of candy-filled eggs.

  

With the help afforded her after donning her pink super-hero cape, Gwen did pretty well for herself too!

Three dogs and one slimy green tennis ball sure can be fun!

Kevin, Cindy and Moi

My neice, Kaelee, with her sweet pup, Sophie.

This is Kay.  I’ve called her Mom since she and my dad married (when I was somewhere around Gwen and Maddy’s age).   She and Dad divorced when I was in my early 30’s and our relationship took a detour sometime around that time too.  This weekend was the first time I’ve seen her in more than 15 years but I really hope it’s not the last.  Oh, and the pretty dog is Lady.   She barked her head off but her wildly wagging tail betrayed her intentions.   She’s as harmless as she is photogenic!

Tonight, we’ll take Daddy to the airport so he can go back to work tomorrow and Gwen and Maddy and I will head down closer to Disneyland for the rest of our Spring Break.