the mansfield family: 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.