Tuesday, December 18, 2012

California - ROAD TRIP


Well we did it. We drove to California again. I feel pretty lucky to have such great little travelers. I think of it as quality time, all of us combined in a car for two whole days with nothing but ourselves to keep us entertained. It's amazing how putting random things in easter eggs, or just one small cracker in one, over and over again can keeps kids extremely fascinated. We also catch up on needed sleep, learn new words, eat good snacks, and see fun places along the way.  One random place we came upon was a petting zoo... out in the middle of no where! Jack actually spotted the place. "Look! That sign says ZOO!" It was neat to see that Jack was reading words on signs now :)

It was a small petting zoo. No one was there actually. But it had a random chicken that would follow you everywhere, a zebra, a yak, an emu, an ostrich, and much more. We kinda chuckled and said it was even better than the Hogle Zoo because we got to go right up to the animals. 
Random chicken.. couldn't get the picture to orient right :P






I was nervous at first taking such a long trip with a 2 year old that just got potty trained a few months ago, but he did fantastic! No accidents or anything. What a trooper. And Tyler did great too (which the boys have now nicknamed him 'Tookie', -don't ask me why. haha ). He didn't like seeing us come to the back though, because as soon as he'd see us he wanted right out of the car seat! 

Once we were in California we got to go feed the seals, which has become something we can't pass up. It's so much fun! There are three seals and their personalities really shine through. It's a little place you wouldn't know about unless you knew it was there. And you can buy some fish to feed them for 50 cents a bag. We were all laughing and having such a great time. 







We also got to go to the beach, which was beautiful on the over-casty day. It looked as though you were walking on the clouds! Blake would get so nervous when the waves rolled in close to him, and Jack had a ball picking up sea shells and finding a sand dollar! Once we went out on the pier it was hard not to laugh.. Blake kept giggling to himself yelling down at the water, "You not going to get me NOW!"

It was pretty fun to watch all the surfers swim out, or jump off the pier waiting to catch the biggest waves. And Trent had fun taking cool pictures with our camera. He sure has an eye for photography! And cute little (BIG) Tye would get heavy as can be (all 24lbs of him) so the cute little guy got passed around and around! What a fun day.
































Unfortunately our plans to go zip lining got cancelled due to a lot of rain, but we had fun playing at the local kids museum, going to see Santa, and just hanging out with my cute parents.


























On the drive home we stayed overnight in Las Vegas at Circus Circus. That was a ton of fun. We played games, watched cool performers including a foot juggler and a net aerialist, we got smoothies, and the boys even both won stuffed animals from popping balloons with darts.


We were all definitely tired when we got home, but we all had a great time. Only downfall was that poor Tye was teething the whole time. That little poos has gotten 6 teeth in 1 1/2 months! Wow, what an overachiever! :)

Now on to our next adventure...


Monday, December 3, 2012

Ginger Bread Man


Have you ever felt like your heart is swelling to 5 times it's size? It's amazing being a parent. I love the affects it has on you.. what these little people can do with just a little smile, or look, or hug is truly unimaginable. I swear sometimes I feel as if my heart is just going to burst because it fills up so incredibly huge. 

I am so ever grateful to have these little people in my life. I am so ever grateful to also have a companion, my best friend, to experience all of this with. As one of my co'workers expressed about her life today.. " I am living the dream." I realized there is no better way to state it.
 
I find myself being thankful for everything I have ever dreamed of my life being. I smile sitting with my heart full. My children are perfect in their own little hilarious/loving ways. I find myself trying to even think of one little thing I may need as Christmas comes closer... and I find myself not being able to come up with one simple thing. Sure, my phone is being held together with tape - my shoes are worn - my shoulder bag is 7 years old and tattered - and my car won't start unless you turn the key a very particular way... but I wouldn't want it any other way.



For Jack's preschool we headed to the Treehouse Museum for a day of fun! They got to dress up and play for quite some time. Blake was excited he got to come to! The funnest part of the whole day, was the production that the kids got to be involved in. And guess who was the main character of the play?? - JACK! He was the Ginger Bread Man :)

Ahh.. yeah, they probably didn't know how shy Jack gets when they selected him to play the Ginger Bread Man. Poor little guy keep standing in the corner looking scared when they other kids came up and said they were going to, "Gobble you up!"

But either way, it was so fun for Tyler, Blake and I to watch him up there. And at the end where the Ginger Bread Man is suppose to gain trust in the fox before she gobbles him up.. Jack caught on to what was going to happen. This is what followed:

Narrator: "And then.. the Ginger Bread Man grabbed onto the fox's tail..."
Jack: "I don't want to grab onto the fox's tail."
Narrator: "Ahhh what a smart cookie! He figured out what's going to happen. Maybe we need a 'stunt cookie' to step in for the Ginger Bread Man."

Haha! It was so funny. What a good little guy.



You can't catch me I'm the Ginger Bread Man... :)