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

Monterey

Look out Monterey, here we come!!!!

sweet

So I have a sweet story about my wild man/very loving Sam. On father's day John was laying in bed with all of the kids so we decided to give him his gifts. After opening Little John's and making quiet the big deal over just how much he loved it, I guess Sam felt left out so he decided to give him a gift of his own. He ran into the play room and picked out his very favorite tractor (for all of you who know Sam you know that he is obsessed with them) and came into the bedroom to give it to his daddy. It was such a touching moment and it really surprised me on just how perceptive this little guy is. He was so proud of himself and he kept making reference to it all day. This is one of those moments that makes you proud to be his mother!!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST Daddy!!

I really do think that our three boys are the luckiest little boys because they have the best daddy ever! John is such a wonderful example of what they should strive to be when they grow up and are fathers themselves. Here are some of the things that I love about John as a father:

- he changes diapers and never complains
- he gives baths to Sam and Max at least 3 times a week
- he wrestles with all of them at the same time and there are usually no injuries
- he can calm Sam down when he starts to throw a fit
- he is extremely patient and loving
- he always makes time to play with them when he gets home from work
- he has been able to rearrange his work schedule to come to some of John's awards
assemblies
- he helped coach John's little league team
- he loves Jesus and is teaching his children about God's love
- when he is getting Max dressed he can rub his hand over Max's belly and put him
into a trance ( I have tried but he just squirms )
- he makes up silly songs and phrases that make us all laugh
- but most of all he is such a wonderful example of what a man should be. He is
loving, fun, hardworking and on and on....

We love you John- You are the best!!!

Nicknames

Big John is always making up crazy nicknames for our kids, and it seems that Little John is following in his footsteps. I want to remember these so I am writing them down. Don't ask me how he came up with these cause they are STRANGE:

Little John only had one nickname for Sam when he was a baby and it was: Soft Puffy.

He has had many for Max. Here are some of them:
1. Fuzzy King
2. Shiny petals on the way
3. Twice-a-keen-a-high (not sure how you'd spell that one)
4. single polex of the solitary means (what does that even mean???)

Yep they are weird, just like his father.

Girls weekend!!

I got to get away this weekend with the girls of our family (minus Jo, Alyssa and Melissa but included was my sweet friend Melissa). Of course my camera was not working so I didn't get any pictures. We had such a good weekend. We ate a lot (or at least I did) shopped till we dropped and walked the fabulous wood walking trail of moonstone beach. Baby Parker was wonderful and didn't cry even once. Maddie was so cute and happy the entire weekend. It was nice to get away and come home to a perfectly clean home with three happy boys (plus my hubby) eagerly waiting to see their refreshed and very relaxed mommy. I don't think I yelled even once that night :)

hair

Sam was laying in our bed last night and John and I were having a conversation with him. This is how it went:

John- "Sam, God made you really special because He made you with curly hair"
Sam- "Yeah, did God make you with a haircut dad?"

This was so funny because he was totally serious. Sometimes that kid is so funny it kills us!

Summer is Here!!

You can't officially start summer without a swim in a pool, right?? So, on Sunday we headed over to John's Uncle Greg's house for a swim party- let summer begin. Here are some cute pictures of my little fish.


Max's first real swim


Sam shocked us all by being timid around the pool. We thought he'd be jumping off the diving board- not so!! Here is Sam and Max being terrorized by their father.


John was afraid to jump off the diving board. I couldn't convince him to jump. He was most comfortable sitting on the diving board


...Thinking about jumping


Finally!!!




Look at my handsome husband


John has done this fancy trick with all of the boys and they can't get enough of it. We call this move "Sitting Buddha"


Max loved the feeling of being thrown in the air


look at that chubby little belly


Look out girls cause John is gonna be a heart breaker when he grows up!! so handsome


Him too!!


Max ended the evening with begging for cake from everyone. He was like a little puppy dog. He would just wait with his mouth open until someone would give him a bite. The evidence is all over his face!


Here he is scamming chips from his Gigi!

Sammy's party

We partied down on Saturday night at our house to celebrate my big guy's 3rd birthday. We had a great time with our friends and family. I must say our family has grown and I LOVE it. It is so much fun to have all of these little babies around to squish since mine are getting so big! We ordered a spider man bounce house and the guy dropped it off on friday night so our kids had it all to themselves that night.





look at how hot sam looks



We B.B.Q. hot dogs and hamburgers, had pasta salad, a jello salad and beans, watched the kids play, opened gifts and had cake and icecream. Sam is really into Scooby Doo right now so i made him this Scooby cake.



While Sam was opening his gifts he was suprised with the tractor of his dreams- it was from steph, scott, kristi, matthew, deren and jo. He LOVES this thing- he had been telling me that he wants a "tractor thing" for his birthday and we were kind of worried because we got him a helicoptor from costco for the backyard. Wow was he a happy little guy when he saw that.





Max thinks it is a gift for him also so there has been big issues when Sam is on it.



what are you doing in there preggo??



Alyssa and Parker are so cute together!!



Such a cute picture of Carson



Madison has arrived!!



I love this picture of my mom's and nonna. We were so glad that Karen was able to come.



My Max

Happy birthday Sam- We love you!!!