Prendergasts Take San Diego

When James booked to travel San Diego for a conference I knew we HAD to tag along and make a vacation out of it. I had spent some time in SD pre you kids and pre meeting Daddy. I fell in love with the area instantly and have always longed to go back. Even better that I got to go with my favorite people.

I'd like to start by saying you kids are the most awesome travelers I know! You don't let delayed flights, boarding and deplaning our plan multiple times phase you in the least. You don't get grumpy when you are awake at 2:30am due to said disastrous flight. You just roll with it. Along for all the adventures, and I love you all for it. We stayed on Coronado Island for the week and it was perfect. You three loved the courtyard that our hotel had and we ate breakfast out there every morning. I'll never forget you all walking into the breakfast room, in pjs and with bedhead grabbing gogurts and chocolate milk and whatever else your hands could carry.

Our first day there we took it easy seeing we were tired from traveling. We did spend some time walking around the Seaport Village in downtown SD and ended the day by visiting Coronado Beach near sunset. You boys spent every minute jumping the waves, having the best time. Hayley you were fascinated with all the tiny shells. It was a beautiful evening. My favorite place to be is the beach with you, but there is something extra special about a California beach during sunset.

Unfortunately Daddy did have to head to his conference Monday through Thursday and while we missed him A LOT we still managed to have some fun. Okay, TONS of fun!! We spent a day down on the bay front playing in the water and digging in the sand. We took a picnic with us and enjoyed the views. We quickly came to realize that military boats, plans and helicopters travel the bay constantly and you loved when the passed by. Asher you would yell 'MILITARY!' we got treated to yummy ice cream by Mom Mom and dinner waterfront near the ferry landing. After dinner we walked out onto the pier and watched a guy reel in a huge fish. It was very cool and he let you kids look at the fish close up. MomMom even took a photo of the guy with the fish. We don't know his name, just his buddy that was named George.

Tuesday we spent the day exploring Balboa Park, an area full of museums. We went to ride the historic carousel and miniature train. Sadly, both were closed. Chase you had been begging to go to the Miniature Railroad Museum and so we did that. Such a great idea buddy! We spent quite a few hours there and everyone loved it. We had a nice surprise that night by getting to eat dinner with Daddy. We got to eat at the restaurant where the famous bar scene in Top Gun was filmed!!

Wednesday I had planned on being a go with whatever comes our way day and it ended up being my favorite day in San Diego. Since we visited the lighthouse in CT, I've been wanting us to go visit another one. Well Point Loma is home to the old lighthouse. I thought it would be a quick trip to see the lighthouse and then maybe hit the beach. Turns out there was a whole area of tidepools we could explore and you boys were ready to get in tune with the Wild Kratts and see what creatures you could find. We found a lot of crabs! The light house was beautiful and now that you boys are a little older you really enjoyed seeing how a lighthouse actually works and the reason for one. The scenery up there was amazing! Again we got to have dinner with Daddy to end our day! Like most days you all rode the historic carousel at the Saeaport Village.

Thursday was our last day without Daddy, yay!! We spent the day at the Birch Aquarium up in LaJolla. Such a fun place with so many different sea creatures that we don't get to see back on the east coast. There were more tidepools to explore, a dive show to watch and many many tanks to see. We rounded out the day with a yummy dinner at Coronado Brewing Co.

Friday, our family vacation began. We couldn't come to San Diego without visiting the San Diego zoo. It's only America's best zoo! We spent all day there and only saw half of the zoo. We got to see some awesome animals though, elephants and polar bears and koalas. Kangaroos and camels. I guess we will have to make another trip out there to see the other half of the zoo, and visit the rhino that Asher wanted to see but wasn't there. Friday was our last day in San Diego before we headed north. We were sad our time there was over but very excited for our next couple of days at Disney.

Saturday morning we got up and out of the hotel early so that we could drive some of the beautiful California coastline and stop in La Jolla on our way to the Disneyland area. La Jolla is one of my favorite places on earth. The rugged coastline, the seals and sea lions, just so so pretty. We went down onto the Cove Beach and you guessed it, explored more tidepools. We also got to stand right now to real seals. Boys, it made your hearts so happy and it was awesome to see nature so up close and personal. Later that afternoon we arrived at our new hotel ready to take on Disneyland the next day!

Schools Out!!

How the school year has come to an end blows my mind! As much as I'm excited for summer break; to not have to follow schedules and to get to spend all day with you boys, I am really sad Pre-K and Kindergarten is over. You have both had such fantastic school years and I'm so proud of all you accomplished.


Asher, you were so timid when you started the school year and your confidence tripled by the time school ended. You made your first friends outside of Chase, you became more outgoing in class discussions and always came home and told us a ton of stories about your day. Mrs.Stead or Miss Michelle as you call her, was made to be your teacher. She knew when to push you to come out of your shell and when to let you be. She also knew how to work your stubborness and get you involved. I am so excited that you have one more year at Pre-K and that Miss Michelle gets to be your teacher again. Hands down my favorite thing about your school year is that without fail, every day when I came to pick you up, you would burst out the door and run full speed to me (with your backpack bouncing all around) and jump into my arms!

Chase, Kindergaten was the absolute best school year you have had yet. You got to experience so many big kid things; like computers in your classroom, book fairs that you got to take money into school with you and spend and riding the bus. You got to do so so many cool things and hearing about your day was one of the best parts of mine. Academically you were off the charts, which doesn't surprise me, and your love for learning just increased. The beginning of the school year you really had a hard time with some anxiety but with the help of Mrs Novia and the school counselor you overcame it and made sooo many friends and really became an integral part of the class. Watch out first grade here comes Chase!

Asher James: 4.5 Years Old

Sleep: You do like your sleep, but you have had some issues falling asleep the past few months. You've needed us to lay with you, leave the door open etc. You've also had a lot of bad dreams, which wake you up screaming. You do love to sleep in though. 

Social: As long as you can remember you have had Chase and his friends automatically became your friends. However this year you have made your very first friend on your own. Anthony, is your friend from school. You are beyond excited for your first playdate with him, it was the sweetest thing ever. You still gravitate towards Chase and his friends but I see you becoming your own person, out of Chase's shadow, and its wonderful. You like to observe until your feel 100% comfortable and then dive right on it. 

 Sports: This is where we see you shine. You have become completely immersed with sports. If you don't have a ball in your hand, something is wrong. At the beginning of the year you started karate and while you are good at it and enjoy it, its not your favorite. You prefer something that is faster and louder. You also started baseball this Spring and you found your calling. Since we bought you a glove and bat you have not stopped practicing. Your determination has been amazing to watch and it has paid off little boy. You are incredible on that field! You hit every time you are up to bat and you do not loose focus while out in the field for a second. You have told us multiple times that when you grow up you want to play for the Phillies. You found Pop Berry's softball glove and it comes everywhere with us. I know you miss him so much and he would be so proud and excited for your love of one of his favorite sports. 

School: I think we were both a little unsure of your new preschool at the beginning of the year as we had grown accustomed to Good Shepherd. However, I know we both absolutely love your school more than we ever thought we though. We adore Mrs Stead, she is perfect for you and is hands down responsible for your becoming more sure of yourself at school without Chase by your side. You made friends on your own for the first time this year! Academically you are way ahead and I'm so proud of you!! Your writing is very impressive, you are solving math problems and have some sight words under your belt. We are going to work on your reading this summer. 

Favorites: Mummy, Daddy, Chase, Cisco, country music and your most favorite is Cole Swindell, superheros (specifically Captain America), sports, playing dress up

Spring 2019

Spring/Easter photos 2019. We took them in Valley Forge Park. At first Asher was afraid of the army huts but then became beyond interested in them and wanted to know everything about the huts and the men that lived in them.

Chase Patrick: 6.5 Years Old

Sleep: I think you are always going to love your sleep. You sleep a solid 12+ hours every night. You like to take your time waking up by hanging out in our bed for a little bit playing on your leap pad. You also do not like being woken up before you are ready to get up. I'm a little nervous for first grade in the fall when you have to be up and out of the house. 
Social: I am so proud of how more out going you have become these past 6 months since being in Kindergarten. Don't get me wrong you are still shy but you are more willing to walk into a room, or be part of a team and strike up a conversation with kids that you just met. You come home telling us stories of your friends at school and all the things that have happened during your day, and I just love hearing all of it! You have a really great group of friends; Sawyer and Silas, Lucas and Gabe, the Hulmes girls, Jackson and Oliver. You have dealt with a little anxiety at the beginning of the school year, understandably so as there were a lot of changes in your life; moving house, MomMom moving in, loosing Pop Berry, new school, riding the bus. It was a lot, but with the help of your teacher and school counselor you have overcome all of that!
 Sports: In the fall you did soccer again and since the New year you have been taking karate. You seem to be really enjoying it and you have really learnt a lot in a short amount of time. You seem very comfortable there and have the best time. We are about to start up baseball for the first time, even though I don't know the sport very well, with it being America and all, I can't wait to watch you take on something new. 
Diet: Well, this has been a tricky area over the past year or so. You will try pretty much anything, and the variety of food you eat is amazing for a 6 year old. You are a little strange in that you don't like chocolate (just kidding) but we will let that slide. You have been on a high calorie diet for almost a year now and have really gained some weight and strength. I was really concerned about you this time last year, however you try your best and increased how much you eat and it shows. We are still trying to figure out your reflux issues, and we will get there. Your favorite foods are chocolate chip pancakes, mac n cheese, tacos, McDonalds, Buffalo Wild Wings and chinese. 

School: You are rocking the socks of Kindergarten! You were a little unsure at first but now you love it and call it your second home. You have the best teacher, Mrs Novia and assistant teacher Mrs Winston. Both of them adore you and have taught you so much. You have made a few friends which is awesome. Your reading is off the charts, well at a second grade level to be more exact. Even though I miss our afternoons together I am so happy seeing your excel.

Favorites: Mummy, Daddy, Chase, Asher, Cisco, country music and your most favorite is Luke Bryan, superheros, legos, Lightning McQueen, reading, movie nights, crafts. 

Love, love, love

While we don't go overboard for Valentines Day in our house, it's still fun to do a little celebrating and to take the time to show those we love, just how much we love them; you three included!

I can never put into words just how much we love you, Chase, Asher and Hayley. The love for your child just can't be described, you will only realize the depths of mine and Daddy's love for you, when you have your own children. You are the center of our lives and the reason for which we do everything. We love every inch of you; from your little piggy toe to the top of your head!

The way you love and care for each other is just as important. If I could freeze any point in time, it would be this. Chase you at age 6, Asher age 4 (even though you so badly want to get to 5) and Hayley at 2, because you all get along SO well. You have little squabbles every now and then over somebody not sharing, or somebody getting poked when they didn't want to be. Overall you can see the connection the 3 of you have and I pray that it always remains that way. That you always have each others backs, that you think of your two siblings before yourself and that you always laugh together as much as you do now. You are each other's God given best friends.