Wednesday, July 22, 2009

an evening at the lake

My mom and dad joined us at Pine Flat Lake last week and we had a great time. Mom was able to get off and hour early, so when she got to our house we loaded up and took the short drive. We cooled off by swimming when we got there and then blew up the "torpedo blaster" tube. We all took turns riding it- even Sammy!! He loves that thing. Little John was being a big sissy at first because he didn't want to go too fast, but after some coaxing by Mema, he was going as fast as the boat would pull him and he ended up loving the speed. We have used the boat quite a few times this year and it just gets easier each time. The first time we went out this season was a nightmare but this last time was great because Max is getting used to being on a boat. He was actually quite pleasant!!





Hey mom, have dad send me the pictures of everyone on the torpedo via e-mail because I didn't get any with my camera.

The car ride home wasn't much fun though. Sam cried the entire way back:



And, Little John almost puked in Mema & Papa D's car. Guess that's the price you pay for a fun day!!

Pool Party

So John brought a pool home last week and set it up for us. I was really weary of him setting it up this year because I was scared of the danger that it would bring. But, to my suprise it has been fine, if not really fun. The kids have been following my long list of rules. It couldn't have gotten here at a more perfect time because it has been blazing outside. Here are some pictures:




chubby butt

My most recent nickname for Max is "chubby butt". This is why:



Don't you want to just pinch it?? I do!!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

technology sucks!

Why is it that I cannot keep a cell phone working for longer than 6 months?? My phone is broken yet again and I don't want to have to pay another 50 bucks to get a new one. Unfortunately I just need to suck it up and pay the money cause I hate being with out it! UGH!!!!!!!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

4th of July weekend

We had a fabulous but busy weekend. On Friday, big John was able to score some free tickets to Wild Water Adventures for our whole family, but I decided I didn't want to chase after two little kids (especially with one who doesn't listen at all and throws many fits) so I stayed home and big John took little John for some one on one time. They rode a few rides, then watched the firework show. They had a great time and big John said he was glad the little ones didn't go- too much work and a really loud band.

On Saturday we went to my mom's early to enjoy some swimmimg, BBQ and a neighborhood firework show. The kids had a blast and the food was so yummy!!


what is up with this weird smile John does??








This picture was taken right before Sam punched my poor dad in the neck for no apparent reason. Guess he thought it was a good idea!





Everytime I see Carson he has some sort of vehicle in his hand. Today it was his train!





I have not posted a picture of Alyssa yet on my blog. This is my cousin Deren's baby. She is so beautiful and such a sweet baby.

Funny story- I have never seen l. John so excited in my life. When we were doing the fireworks, he was throwing these pop-it things into the fireworks that were going. As the firework would pop and sparkle he kept throwing the pop-its in and he thought that he was making the fireworks sparkle. It was so cute that everyone was laughing at him and we were all cheering him on. He has never been so excited in his life!!



here are some dark pictures of him in action

We didn't get home until 11:00 that night and boy were we tired!!

The next day we headed to Visalia for a family reunion/swim party at my Aunt Debi's house. I have cousins from all over the country and my aunt is nice enough to host a party every time they all come into town. It is so good to visit and catch up with everyone and to see how all their kids have grown.





When ever we go swimming Max always stays in the spa part of the pool if they have one. It's just his size.



This is a picture of my cousin Kristi's baby Parker. He is such a little squishy guy. He has some of the most beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes that you would just die for. I love this guy!






My beautiful sis. A.K.A "Aunt Mo" My kids just adore her. They get so excited when they get to see her because she plays with them and always gives them extra special attention





It was such a fun weekend that Max slept in until 9:00 and John and Sam until 10:30 on Monday morning. Maybe we should do that every weekend! Just kidding

Monday, June 29, 2009

I hate this heat

Especially when we have just been chillin in 62 degree weather for the weekend!! I love Monterey. We have such a great time every time we go. It was extra-special this time because Max was displaying his extra-special behavior (if that's what you call it!)I think he fussed the entire way up and the entire way home (except for the time he slept). And he would ask for me to get him his "bank", which is short for blanket, about 100 times which he would then throw down, with force might I add, and tell me "NO" with such attitude. So that was Max. Little John was great the whole time. He even held my hand while we were walking on the fabulous walking trail. It was so sweet because he is not very cuddly, so this was a big deal for him. I really did treasure that time! I got the chance to spend some one on one time with him while Big John stayed at our Hotel while the babies napped. We walked down to the beach and he played in the water. The next day the waves clobbered him and he was able to body surf back to shore. He thought that was the greatest!! We also found a magic shop and he got a disappearing box. That was the highlight of his trip. Next time you see him ask him to show you his trick. Sammy was very cute most of the time. He really loved the aquarium, especially the kelp forest but was very scared of the shark. I kind of had to drag him when we got to that part. He also loved running in the ocean and letting the waves chase him back to the shore. He would run past me and tell me what a "brave boy" he was. A few times the water knocked him down and he had this hillarious/suprised look on his face. I thought he was going to cry but he would just get up and run back to me. He also thought we were staying at the "Hotel for Dogs" (like the movie). I was shocked that all of the kids did so well during meal times. With the lack of sleep I thought that we would be in for some screaming but all was good there. It was a great trip!!




These pictures were taken at the Dennis The Mennis Park in Monterey. It is the greatest park that comes complete with a train you can climb on, tunnels to climb through, swings, rock walls, a maze, a ferris wheel looking thingy, and lots of different play grounds. We always stop here first when we visit this area to let the kids burn off some of the crazy energy they have from the car ride. We always take a picture in this tree!! Max looks like he was laughing but was really throwing a fit because we took him off the slide (see picture below)


Max was obsessed with this slide. He climbed up this ginormous hill to get to the top so he could slide down about 100 times and threw a huge fit when it was time to leave. I hate these rolling slides cause they hurt your butt. Max does have ample padding in that area though, so it ovbiously didn't affect him :)


Here is that cool ferris wheel


Max and Daddy running across the bridge


Mommy and Sam made it through the maze and climbed to the top of the equipment



We had to hook Max up to the monkey leash. We bought this leash for Sam 2 years ago in Monterey. We have got much use from this leash


I love this picture. They were watching the sea lions who were sun bathing on this platform. One of the sea lions kept pushing one of his friends off into the water and everytime he tried to get back up, the mean one would shreek at him. The boys got a kick out of this


When we were walking back to Cannery Row little John spotted a treasure chest among the rocks so we went to check it out. It was only some red bricks that were clustered together


This is for you Aunt Stephie. Sam made him self comfortable when we got back to the Hotel (for dogs.) Stephanie always says my boys are only in their underwear everytime she sees them and this is why. They love to strip down when we are in- doors. Seriously, it was like 30 seconds after we got to the Hotel that Sam got naked


While the kids were napping Little John and I snuck down to the beach




Did you notice that green thing hanging out of Little John's mouth. Your eyes arn't fooling you- that is his gum. While reviewing the pictures from that night almost all of them had his gum hanging out of his mouth like that.








They were ready to party the next morning. Our room was a wreck when we left!!



This is at the aquarium. They had this great little play area for toddlers. This was the squishy trampoline that we couldn't get Max off of. Little John liked it too!


In the clam


looking at the kelp forest and all of the fish that live there. This was my favorite part of the aquarium.


I think that this picture turned out pretty decent considering that the little ones had not napped the whole day


Sam running in the waves being a "brave boy"


Love this picture.


Max wasn't so sure about the sand at first. It was funny because there was a couple with a baby around the same age as Max next to us. You could tell it was their first child because they would freak out if the sand got on the kid's face or his sippy cup. Here we are sitting next to them with Max dipping his thumb, that he sucks, on in the sand and then putting the thumb in his mouth and eating it.


I told Sam to put his arm around Max and this is the picture I got. They really do love each other

Friday, June 26, 2009

Monterey

Look out Monterey, here we come!!!!