fiesta.

It's been a few years since we went to fiesta in Santa Barbara (past years here and here). It's always the first week of August, starting on Wednesday and continuing through the weekend. We saw the Spanish Days parade on State Street and chased each other with cascarones in hand. Clarke took a while to understand what was going on, but once he noticed the dozens of horses trotting down the street, he didn't stop pointing and opening his eyes wide with awe. It was more fun watching him watch the parade than watching the parade itself! Being Clarke's mama is the best.

After the parade and some lunch, Franco and I caught the new Wolverine movie at the Arlington theater sans baby while Tia Marta babysat. We only had a day to spend in SB, but it was a good one.

p.s. I finally got some saltwater sandals and now my feet are happy. That is all.

Baby, You're A Firework!

All of those dark, blurry dots on the bottom are people on the pier right under the fireworks. They're crazy.

Franco's so lucky. He'll never, ever have to work on his birthday {unless he's out of the country on the 4th of July for some reason}, he usually has a ton of family surrounding him because they all have the day off, and he gets a fireworks show just for him at the end of the day! Talk about spoiled, haha! 

This year was no different. It started with a 4th of July breakfast at our church, where we hung out with all my side of the family and a lot of friends. Then we drove up to Santa Barbara in time for the big parade on State Street. We ate some ice cream while we watched and sat on the curb. After that, Franco got his brothers, uncle, and dad together for a game of basketball while my sil Mayra, niece Aaliyah, and I cheered them on. Aaliyah joined in a couple of times, though we had to pull her out quick before she got whacked by the ball!  

After shooting some hoops we had cake at his parent's house with all of his family {I took pictures, but it seems I've misplaced them at the moment} and then we were off to the beach to watch the fireworks. 

Something really funny happened. My uncle {he's the one in the red in the first picture above} and his family were staying in SB that night so we planned to meet at the beach somewhere. If you've ever been to Santa Barbara on the 4th of July you'll know there are an insane amount of people there! Seriously, tons. Cell phone coverage usually goes out because there are too many people in one place using phones. Well, my uncle, aunt, and cousins were already there and the only clue they'd given us was that they were about 100 yards to the left of the pier. Franco and I parked and walked towards the beach, which was already covered with people, and literally not a minute passed after we stepped onto the sand that I suddenly spotted my uncle's red shirt and black cap a dozen yards away. I said, "There they are!" When we walked up to them they were as astonished as we were that we found them so fast. It was hilarious! And fortunate.

We enjoyed a really cool fireworks show {with music, and yes, they played Katy Perry} and we ended another wonderful day celebrating my honey bunches, I mean, Franco. He had a big, happy smile on his face on the drive home that night, so I think it's safe to say he had a perfect day. It was for me, too.

Santa Barbara Panoramas

{click to see details}

Weekend In Santa Barbara

*More pictures & description on facebook {you have to login}.
It was a beautiful day! =)

Dessert At Pacific Crêpes

Saturday was a relaxing "free" day.

We didn't plan anything, we just did whatever we wanted.

It started out cloudy but not rainy and we helped a family in our neighborhood move.

Then we headed out to our favorite staycation place: Santa Barbara.
It did rain buckets there, but it was so pretty.
We ended up at Pacific Crêpes for some strawberries-and-creme crêpes and real chocolat.
I love the decor of the place!
And the fact that right behind our table there were four old French men sipping coffee and chatting.
So français!