California, part 3

We went to the aquarium one day. The kids loved it.

trying to touch a sting ray

touching sea urchins and starfish

HUGE crabs

the clown fish exhibit. The kids loved this one and kept saying it was Dory and Nemo.

At the seal and sea lion show

Keagan, Shelley, and Kasen

I thought it was funny how one of the sea lions was named Parker and one of the seals was named Troy (one of Parker's best friends). I had to get a picture to document it for Parker.

Strike a pose.

And here is Parker, the sea lion. He was a show-off and the star of the show. Sounds familiar. :)

California, part 2

My mom had gotten my dad a golf round in California for his birthday, so the 2nd day we were there, they went golfing in the afternoon. Shelley, the kids, and I played in the backyard and did sidewalk chalk.

Keagan loved Remy and Kasen. She was a big helper.

Keagan and I were happily surprised that Remy has red hair. We hope it stays red. Power in numbers.

Kasen was a little more shy towards us, but a sweetheart when you got him to smile.

Easton trying to whistle through a blade of grass.

We did the beach one day. We walked from the condo we rented. It was a good little walk, but a pain to get two double strollers and a wagon full of beach chairs down the sand. I was sweating by the time we got there.

Shelley took my kids down to the waves while I played with the babies.

We built a 4 tower sandcastle and buried Easton's and Keagan's legs in the sand. Keagan was in heaven, saying she was Ariel.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's day to my amazing husband! We love you to pieces.

and you do awesome funny faces.

California, part 1

We left for California on a Monday, stopped for a night in Las Vegas (because of the cheap prices for hotels) and got to California on Tuesday. The kids were a bit demanding on the car ride and I am so thankful I had my mom with me.

My dad actually flew in on Tuesday night and we were kind of jealous that he didn't have to drive 10 hours with two kids.

On Wednesday we went to a local city park that my sister found one day. It has been named the turtle park--can you find out why? It was an awesome city park.

There was a little rock wall that my dad helped Easton with.

the stone turtles--hence the turtle park

Cove Fort

2 weeks ago the kids, my mom, and I took a trip down to California to visit the beach bum sister.

The ride down was long, but the ride back was LONGER.

On the way down, we stopped at Cove Fort to have lunch and take a tour.

It was so windy--65 mph winds. At one point the wind was coming from both directions and my hair was blowing straight into the air. So sad I didn't get a picture of that one.

looking at the garden

smile!

The sister missionary that was showing us around was really sweet and didn't mind that my kids were obsessed with the pots that the pioneers used the bathroom for. "Pee-pots." Every room we would go in, Easton would look around and then whisper to me, "There's the pee-pot."

It was a good little break for a long drive.

happy birthday, cha-cha-cha!

Yesterday was my birthday. It started awesome, with the kids letting me sleep in til 10. Then I got up and there was a message on the answering machine--from the pedicure place I like saying I had a gift certificate from my mother-in-law to come pick up. Score!

My mom called and said my sisters were going to her house for lunch, so I packed up the kids and we went over for the afternoon.

Parker took me to dinner at a nice French restaurant. So yummy, and it was one of those places where the food is so pretty, you aren't sure if you want to eat it and ruin it. We started with mussels for an appetizer and the hostess brought out a mushroom tarte for us to try for free. Awesome! Then Parker ordered the chef's famous meatloaf while I got the pork tenderloin. So good. The evening finished off with a birthday chocolate raspberry creme brulee (holy cow, good!) and we ordered the fanciest carrot cake I have ever seen. Parker always has to have milk when he is eating desserts, so he ordered a glass and the waitress laughed and said he was the first person she has ever heard of that ordered milk.

my pork tenderloin
Parker's fancy meatloaf on top of mashed potatoes

This isn't a very good picture of the carrot cake, but it was gorgeous! It was wrapped in a white and milk chocolate shell.

To finish off an awesome night, Parker got me a new camera and the kids were asleep when we got home.

(to come, pictures from my and the kids trip to California!)

Keagan's preschool graduation....her first, at least

Keagan had her neighborhood preschool graduation this week. She was so excited.

They got hats and leis made from fruit loops---why don't they make all leis out of fruit loops? Much more fun.

The 4 graduates

Doing an art project--seriously, this face all the time.

so much better

at home showing her hat--minus the fruit loops.

switching the tassel to the other side

graduated--at least from the first year. She has two more years of preschool. sigh, the joys of having an October birthday.
The video below is from the graduation--they were telling what their favorite day of preschool was.

summer camp/school

Well, summer is here and the kids had their first day of summer camp/preschool.

Keagan was so excited to go with Easton.

My two kid-free hours included going to Costco and coming home to a super quiet house. So nice.

"I'm a big boy now..."

Easton had his last preschool graduation last week. sniff. Kindergarten, here we come!

Easton and Grandma
Easton, me, Keagan---why is she screaming in so many pictures?

my big boy

Easton and Mrs. Stephanie

Easton, Katelyn, Keagan

Keagan, Daddy, Easton, me

Easton, we love you and are so proud of you!!

dancing time

at least once a day Keagan begs Easton to dance with her. he conceded on this day. she was in heaven.

happy mother's day!

happy Mother's day to my mom and mom-in-law.

I am lucky to have such wonderful examples in motherhood and womanhood.

I love you both so much.

being a mother....

being a mother is:
your heart swelling with pride during the kid's Primary number at church today;
diffusing the situation when your three year old opens your present when no one is paying attention and your husband getting upset with her;
kissing boo-boos;
always worrying;
always loving;
sometimes impatient;
staying up at night with a sick child;
holding a scared, little hand;
taking huge joys in little accomplishments;
being a mother is.....love.

during the yummy dinner that Parker and the kids made for me, Easton says, "Mom, there is a secret ingredient. Can you guess what it is?" I say, "Um, is it love?" He looks at me like I am crazy and says, "No, Mom. If you ate your heart, that would be gross." Good point.