Dress-up Fun

Pooh, Chicken & Tigger

Chicken Callie
Sara trying on Mickey

Deciding what to have the kids be for Halloween has been difficult this year. Last year after Halloween, I bought the Tigger & Pooh costumes at Costco for $4. I thought they would be good for dress-up. Well, for months, Travis & Sara have been saying that they were going to be Tigger & Pooh for Halloween. I really did not want that. First of all, I thought that Travis should be something a little more "tough". Second, I really wanted Sara to be something beautiful and girly. On Friday my mom & Becky came up and we were looking through costumes for Callie (and I personally think that the chicken is the cutest...Sara wore it last year). Travis and Sara wanted to try on costumes. They are not "tough" or girly and beautiful, but really, the kids don't care. That is what they want to be, so, I guess that I have decided to let them be Tigger & Pooh. One less thing to stress out about.

A Full Day

Travis the dog boy
Sara the Star Princess

Today, I took the kids to story time at Hush Baby. They had a great time. Travis got his face painted as a dog and Sara as a Star Princess. After the story, Sara would not leave Little Bunny Foo Foo alone (yes, a really bunny). I think that she malled it, but it never bit her, so it must not have minded too much.

Chuck-E-Cheese

"More money mommy...more money mommy"

Dallin, Travis, Kyla, & Garret

After story time, I met Sabrina and her kids at Chuck-E-Cheese. The kids had a wonderful time. They ran around the whole time. Sara got so worn out that she fell asleep on my lap. Hopefully the kids will sleep well tonight. It was good seeing Sabrina. I have not seen her for a while. It is so hard to get together these days (and in a few weeks, I don't see it getting any easier). Thanks for coming down Sabrina! We really need to do this more often...a couple hours hanging out is better than none.

A Little Break

Jay had a convention in San Diego Tuesday through Thursday. He was staying at the Hotel Del Coronado and I figured that I might as well join him. Wednesday after preschool I headed down and dropped the kids off at my parents house and continued down to Coronado by myself. I had a wonderful time!! I just walked around until Jay got back and then we went to dinner with his dad at 1500 Ocean at the hotel. Today I just hung out by myself. It was really nice!! I slept in, read the book Eclipse, then got a wonderful massage and finished the day off at the outlets in Carlsbad. Not a bad way to spend the day! I loved the hotel. Our room was just steps from the sand. The Hotel Del is a great little weekend (or mid-week) get-away. We are really looking forward to going back.

Finally...

My parents putting the sandbox together

The finished product

In the spring, Jay and I bought Travis and Sara a boat sandbox. Until last night, it sat in the box on our back porch. It was a wonderful stage for Travis to perform his Wiggles songs. Jay thought that it would be easier to return it than to put it together (which would have been the case). Last night when my dad came over to pick up my mom, I mentioned to him that someday when he had time, he could put it together for his grand kids. Before I knew it, he had the box opened and got started. Thanks Dad & Mom for doing that for the kids! Travis and Sara were so excited when they woke up this morning and saw it put together. It does not even need sand (good thing because I am not up to lifting 600 pounds of sand!). Hopefully this will give the kids something fun to do in the back yard.

4 More Miles

Jay got up this morning at 4:00 and ran 22 miles! He shaved 18 minutes off his 20 mile time (he was getting over a cold on his 20 mile run). After his run, he walked in the house, huge smile on his face and arm in the air. He was really pumped. He is totally going to be able to do the marathon...what is 4 more miles (easy for me to say!!)? Good for you Jay. I am so proud of you!!

Disneyland

Travis & Sara so excited to see Woody

Callie eating her PB & J sandwich

The kids have been begging to go to Disneyland since June. I kept telling them that they had to wait until the end of the summer and then we would go. Well, Travis knows that it is the end of the summer and everyday he asked me. My sister in law, Becky, was going so I reluctantly decided to go with her. I really did not want to go. I have not been very comfortable and the thought of walking around, pushing a big double stroller in the heat just has not appealed to me. I am so glad that I went! Thanks Becky. I was uncomfortable at the beginning, but after 30 minutes or so I felt fine. The kids had a great time. Travis wanted to go with Becky and Callie on every ride. He also would not stop asking to go on the new Nemo ride. He probably asked every 5 minutes. We did not go because the line was too long. Hopefully, I will have a couple more Disneyland trips in me before the baby.

Little Trouble-Maker

This little girl gets into everything! I swear, she spends most of her day getting into something she shouldn't be. I guess that is what 2 year olds do, but I think that she does it a little bit more than most. Yesterday, I found her in my bathroom on the counter with a lipstick in her hand opened, my eye moisturizer next to her (opened and squirted out) and some perfume in her lap. She had put the lip stick on her lips, chin, arms and legs. Two days ago I caught her on my white bed doing the same thing, but she also painted her toe nails with it. S0, you might be saying that I should put my stuff away...I do. She somehow finds a way to get into everything. I guess that it is just part of her cute little personality.

Take me out to the ball game

The goofballs dancing crazy to the music

Sara on the big screen (did not get the picture of Travis)

Tonight we took the kids to the Angel's game. They were actually quite good. We keep them eating the whole time...cotton candy, popcorn, nachos, ice cream sandwich.... Some people came up and asked us if they could take Travis and Sara to put them on the Smile Cam. It was great seeing them up on the big screen. They were both shown a couple of times, but my pictures of Travis did not turn out (I was looking at the screen and not through my camera so the pictures were really off). What a fun night!

Back to School

Connor, Travis, Kai & Garrik

After a few week break, life is finally getting back to normal...preschool started today. Travis was excited to go back and see his friends. He gets so bored at home. It is hard to keep him entertained. All he wants to do is "go and do something fun". With it being so hot, I really have not been up for doing anything but sitting in my air-conditioned house. He seems to be learning so much at preschool. Poor Sara, every time we drop off Travis she says that she wants to go to preschool too. It is nice being able to spend some one on one time with just her.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

88 years old! Wow! Today we celebrated Grandpa's birthday. We are so thankful for him. He is a wonderful example to us. Everyone shared 3 memories about him. It was really nice hearing what people had to say.

Travis on Grandpa:

• "I like to hug Gramps"
  

Sara on Gramps:

• "I like to help Gramps blow out the candles"

Jay's memories about Grandpa:

• watching Star Wars on laser disk
• sitting on the lawn watching firetrucks and cars go by
• his great attitude when he lost his eye site

My memories about Grandpa:

• his prayers, they are like a song or a poem...just beautiful
• always used to have a camera in his hand and take lots of pictures--even though he couldn't see
• Always greet you with a hug and kiss

Labor Day Fun

"it's too hot"

Little flipper

dare-devil

bath tub or jacuzzi?

We had a great Labor Day. We started the day off perfectly, going to the Pancake House, with friends. It was wonderful food and great company!! Thanks guys. After breakfast we went up to Jay's parents house for a day full of swimming. It was a very hot day! The kids had so much fun. Travis got flipping lessons from PaPa. Later in the afternoon the Fernleys came over. It is always so much fun to get everyone together. Travis and Sara have a great time playing with Jake and Hallee.

20 Mile Man

Soaking after the long run

"Hey mom, what color is my mouth?"

Jay is training for the St. George Marathon and today was his longest run yet. He ran 20 miles. He was gone by 5:00 this morning. Usually after the long runs, Jay is not in the best of moods, but today he did great. He said he could have gone another mile. I don't think that he will have a hard time with the marathon. What is 6.5 more miles? (Easy for me to say!) He usually soaks in a cold bath after, but today he filled up the kids pool and soaked in there. It did not take long for Travis and Sara to join him. Jay did not last long with them in there...too much splashing. I am very proud of Jay. He is a very determined person. I may not understand why anyone would even want to run a marathon, but good for him for setting the goal and sticking with it.