Pretend City Fun

We headed down to Irvine to meet our dear friends Julie, Addie and Lucas at Pretend City!  Let me say that I was just as excited, or possible more excited than the kids (given they didn't know where we were going!) and literally couldn't sleep the night before!  I think the insomnia may have been unrelated, but still, I was VERY excited!  We had a rough start, with me having a horrible sense of direction and getting "turned around" (not lost!) three times, and then when we were nearly there, Sophia had to go pee-pee.  We finally made it and it was totaly worth it!

It is such an amazing little children's museum where the kids get to experience so many things and all is just the right size for them.  There was a grocery store, post office, doctor's office, restaurant, farm, stage with lights and dress up outfits and even a house with a cultural theme, which changes periodically, this time it was a traditional Brazilian home.  The big girls had a blast running around and trying everything out.  Sophia was a bit overwhelmed when we first arrived, bc there was a large group of school children and she was feeling unsure.  But once we got away from them and had our own space, she really had fun.  Even Lucas and Ellie seemed to have fun.  I think their favorite part was the beach!  They all loved playing in the sand with the buckets and toys...until all the school kids moved in on us again!!

Lucas& Ellie "playing in the street!!"

Sleeping in the Brazilian home, in the parents' bed!

Putting the baby to bed!

Serving up food in the Italian Restaurant

It was such a nice time and I would love to go back with James, that way we can each explore a bit more with the girls, since I feel like Julie and I spent a lot of time going, "Where's Addie? - I see her. - O.K. where did Ellie go?"  There is definitely more to be explored and I think the dads would enjoy it too.

There were actually live baby chicks in here!
I was too busy to realize it until later!!
Luckily Julie was smart and showed them to the little ones!

Afterward we went to one of my fav places for lunch, Nordstrom Cafe!!  It was very yummy and always fun spending time with Julie and her adorable kids.  I just love having a friend whose kids are almost exactly the same age as mine!  It's so rare I think and it makes things easy and fun and we totally understand each other's trials and mishaps!!  Can't wait to go back and explore more!