The latest

Quiet moments around here are hard to come by.  One minute there boys are playing nicely and the next minute someone is crying. Sometimes it's me. ha! (Those naughty boys!) Pretty typical of two small boys. I captured a fun moment here of them riding around in their toy box. Erik's Uncle Joe made this for him when he was a child and now we have it. It's SO cool! They emptied it out and we raced up and down the hallway.

There has been a lot of street work/construction near our house lately. Free entertainment. I'm not kidding. we've watched street sweepers, steam rollers, digger, backhoe loaders, dump trucks, pavement trucks, etc. all from our front window (they are taking weeks, it's been about 5, to replace all the perfect street corners to have those yellow bumpy things ...... yet we're closing schools...don't get me started. There must be good reason for it, right?) Anyway...the boys love construction. And it's something different, right? So I shouldn't complain.

Grandma Gail gave the boys a butterfly Garden for Easter. It's SO neat! We ordered our caterpillars and they boys have been watching them closely every day. They say good-night to them every night too. We're anxious to see them change into butterflies. Getting closer!

It seems we've had quite a bit of rain this year. I love it. This day it was hailing for a while. So, yes, I let them outside in their pajamas to collect some ice.
(click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see the hail falling)

I got this idea from a friend of mine (she has three boys). Finger painting with shaving cream. Boys are in heaven, they are occupied and are not fighting. Yay! For like 20 minutes! Complete disaster but worth it every once in a while. Our house smelled like "man" for several days afterwards. I mean, "clean man". But, eh, still worth it.

Be sure to keep scrolling down to find the other two posts I did today. One on our local fair and another on DISNEYLAND!

Fiesta Days 2011

Our local fair was in town recently and we had a little time to check it our one morning before Erik had to go to work. It's like every other fair/carnival. Carnies. Creepy. We tried to look at it through the eyes of the munchkins and let them do a few trusty-looking rides. We saw part of the parade and hit up the Farmer's Market too.

Max got to go on a pony ride.

  The boys got to ride on the "super-fast-race cars". Just like Autopia, Max takes this stuff very seriously.

And the carousel. Home of the creepiest carnies. Erik held onto them pretty tightly (no belts or buckles) and we scrubbed them after they got off. ha!

We gave our last few tickets to another family walking by and we got out of there. The boys had fun, that's all that matters, right? 

Disneyland 2011

I'm finally blogging about our trip. Every single time I try and post pictures I quickly find two little Disney fans glued to my side screaming and squealing from excitement, pointing, naming, and begging to return. I completely understand it all and it turns into a fun little trip down memory lane.

We drove down in the veeeery early hours (after Erik got off work) of a Wednesday morning. We had three day passes that were starting that very day. So we were in a hurry! My younger brother, John, and his wife, Carla, and their three kids were there that day too.....and they had GRANDMA MILLS

(my Mom) with them! It was their "day three" and they were leaving town the next day. So, we were so lucky to be able to spend the day with them.

And...

We got to keep Grandma to ourselves for the next two days! Did you hear that? Grandma got to be at Disneyland for FIVE days! With Grand babies. Seriously, it's her happy place. And when you go with her, it's your happy place too.

One day when we were walking into the park there was another family close-by. We overheard the Mom say "Oh, you guys, I think I'm gonna cry." My Mom and I looked at each other and said, "Yeah, we totally get her." I know, it sounds way nerdy. But it's such a magical place!!!

All pictures are out of order.

And in 99.9% of all pictures, someone is looking the wrong way.

The boys in Toon Town, driving the fire truck.

Alex in Max's new pirate hat.

Wednesday was VERY HOT! At least 95 degrees. Here are the boys trying to cool off with cold treats.

Max posing with his personal pirate.

On Thursday we spent some time at California Adventure. It was the first time there for us (not my Mom) and we had fun exploring. Here are Max and Erik posing in the Toy Box.

Max's favorite ride was Pirates of the Caribbean. We probably went on in a hundred times. He was able to pick out his very own pirate hat. At this dinner, he asked for the map of the park and quickly turned it into his treasure map. He sang the pirates theme song the whole time. And made Erik turn his hat on backwards to be his trusty assistant, Mr. Smee.

 

Erik and Max riding Dumbo.

All of us on Alice in Wonderland. It was pretty quiet that morning so the operator offered to take a photo. Nice guy.

At California Adventure we were able to watch a Disney Junior Live! show. It was all the characters the boys love to watch on TV. They got to dance and sing and they loved every second of it. This photo sums up Alex. Really wants to have fun. But reeeealllly wants to have Mom in sight. At.All.Times.

We sort of surprised the boys with this. The line kind of goes around a little corner so we waited and then BAM! Mater and McQueen. They were SO stinking excited. Max hugged McQueen on his way out.

Erik and Max on Autopia. Notice a trend here? Max wanted to do every ride with his Daddy. Which was fine, since Alex doesn't want me out of his sight. He even puked on my Mom from crying so hard when Erik and I went on a ride together. Sorry, Mom.

I love the seriousness on Max's face here.

Wednesday night we went to dinner at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. We snapped this picture of Riley, Max and John while walking there. Super cute.

Payten, Max and Riley on the Jungle Cruise. See their red faces? So HOT!

Okay, so this ride is boring, yes. But the kids love it and it had A/C.

The first ride we (and by we, I mean Erik and Max) went on was The Matterhorn. I really don't think Max had any idea what he was getting himself into. But he did it again. And he did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain too.

Here they are on a jellyfish ride (I think?). I loved that you can see Max's little head peeking out.

At the end of the day, you find this. Pure exhaustion.

We had the most amazing trip. It was quick and busy.

And we can't wait to go back!

Teaser

Here is a little teaser of what we've been up to.

1. Took the kids to the Happiest Place on Earth. (it really is and Max has been asking/dreaming about it since we got home. Alex too, but is more like a muted scream when he see's anything Disney). Best trip ever!
2. Max is three. I'm not sure if I have enough "Mom" in me to handle a three year old. Learning new tricks.
3. Erik still works UHLOT! He's transitioning from the hospital to the ambulance (full time) so we are getting used to new hours, etc.
4. I have a leach. You call him Alex. I call him annoyingly cute. I just want to walk three feet without a hitch hiker (Oh, I'm so not joking about that either)
5. Erik also got hired on with the County Fire District. It's volunteer and he has all that sexy fireman gear. Makes my heart go pitter patter. It's still new so more on that as we learn.
6. Breathing Treatments. Back to those again. After our trip, the boys got hit with illness. Fever, coughs, etc. They sound horrible and we're watching them closely. There might not be anything worse than watching/listening to your babies struggle to breathe.
7. Running. I'm learning how. My niece, Kirra. is going off to college in the fall (BYU!) and wants to run a 5k with all the girls in the family before she goes. We'll see if I can. I love Kirra way more than I HATE running. No promises.
8. We have all been diagnosed with something called PDD. It's very serious and can only be resolved on one way. I'm sure you have all had it at one time, it's very common in my family. It's called.............................................Post Disneyland Depression. It's totally real. We're totally suffering. We miss you, Mickey!
9.Words With Friends. Yes, I'm blogging about it. (It's scrabble on the phone) My sister, Kristen, is a gamer. Like, a big fat nerd when it comes to games (not video game nerd, just so dang good at them! So is her husband. We're talking GOOOOOOOD!). She kicks my booty every time. Now on my Bucket List (cause it will take that long): BEAT HER!
10. Sleep. Please come back to my house!!! PLLLEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSEEEE??? With sugar on top???

Gotta go, the leach is trying to pull my arm off the boys are calling...more pictures later...

Easter 2011

Coloring eggs the night before Easter.

Waiting...waiting....waiting...

It took Alex about 2.5 seconds to figure this out.

Easter morning came and we had to wake the boys up.

They were happy to report they heard noises all over the house during the night. Like hopping noises! Sure enough, the Easter Bunny came for a visit and was happy to find the carrots and jelly beans we left for him.

He left all sorts of surprises for the boys in their own special Easter Bag-sket.

Max and Alex coloring in their new coloring books....by the light of their new lantern. (And THAT is Alex's new smile. Lovely, eh?)

 

After a busy morning of bag-skets, church, lunch-ish/brunch-ish, coloring, playing and a little resting time it was finally time to start the Easter Egg hunt.

Inside one of the eggs was a clue to the SPECIAL TREAT for both boys. Max was not thrilled with the idea of putting down candy and coins to read something. But, he quickly got into it. 

CLUE #1: Find the truck that says "BURBABA BURBABA...."

That led them to a book of truck sounds. On the garbage truck page, there was another clue.

CLUE #2: Maybe Obi will know where to find the next clue!

 After asking the dog where the next clue was...uh...she suggested we read the pink clue on her crate.

CLUE #3: Where do you watch the Megasaurus videos?

They ran over to the computer where they can spend a loooong time watching Monster Truck videos on you tube. The favorite one this week is of Megasaurus.

CLUE #4: For your next clue, go to where big boys go potty.

 "Oh...giggle...da twoi-let!" (We had a feeling this one would get a little laughter).

CLUE #5: Go to where you sleep tight and have sweet dreams!

That led them to their bedroom and their final clue.

CLUE #6: Last Clue! Almost there! When daddy packs his lunch for work he puts it in this big green box.

 They ran (like full speed ahead!!) to the kitchen to find Erik's lunch box. Inside was the new Chuck & Friends movie...the one we've been searching for...and just couldn't find...anywhere! That Easter bunny. So smart!

Having a great Easter!

Happy Easter to you too!

"Jumping"

A few days ago we went hiking with Carla (my sister-in-law), Payten, Riley and baby Blake. We didn't make it nearly as far as we'd hoped, but it was still fun. When we reached the top of one hill there was a little picnic table, another hill, more trails for Riley and Alex to wander and a big rock. Alex and Riley decided to jump off the rock. Watch how Alex "jumps".

Now watch it again to see Max and Payten playing in the background.
Unfortunately, the funniest of all jumps weren't recorded. But, if you turn up your volume you can hear Alex giggling while he watches Riley's feet and when he falls. Alex's "jumping" was mostly him falling on purpose and laughing when he hit the grass. He's crazy. And he giggels the same way when he watches this video.

Had a great time, come on over...we'll take you there too!

Soccer

We entered a new phase of parenting. Sports.

We signed Max up for a 3-4 year old soccer class. I think I might be the only one that understands this is going to be just a few kids running around like crazies after a ball. Somewhat chaotic, lots of wandering, lots of repetitive instruction and mostly basic kicking and running skills. And, that is pretty much what it is. For 30 minutes a week.

Max, on the other hand, believes he is in a professional game and he is winning with every kick.

And Erik. Oh, let's just say he is very excited we have entered this phase. Max was able to get new cleats, shin guards and a new ball. I had to convince Erik we did not need the metal goal in our backyard. ha! It's very sweet. And it's fun to see both boys so excited!

 Max is in the grey tee-shirt and grey pants. In the picture below he is raising his arms and yelling "I win!". He announced that after every time he kicked the ball. Every time.

I'm predicting this is just the beginning of many, many...many years of sporting events for our family.

Way to go, Max!

Erik's Birthday

Erik is another year older. Whihoo!

His work schedule recently changed (again!) so we had about three hours to celebrate with him.  (He's working 12 hour pm's/nights right now. When he works back-to-back shifts it leaves him with just a few hours of sleep/family time). We went out to breakfast, came home for gifts and a bit of cake to celebrate. Then sent him off to work with a very full belly (and two pieces of cake for he and his partner to eat later).

Erik prefers fruity over chocolate (gasp!). So he picks out a cake every year and, somehow, I manage to put it all together. This year we went a little easier (bought the cake part) and made THIS (Strawberry-Lime Shortcakes with Coconut Cream). It was absolutely FANTASTIC!

 My boys. I honestly couldn't be more in love with my family. And  I think you can see the actual glow around Erik in this photo. He loves being a Daddy so much. These are two lucky little guys.

Max picked out a few gifts for Erik. One being green army guys. See how far they got with their cake before they started playing?

Alex enjoyed that moment too. (Don't worry, Grandma's, no stabbing was involved).

Happy Birthday to Erik!

We love you so much it hurts!

Have a wonderful 34th year.

Make it a good one!


P.S. The day before Erik's actual birthday, Erik's Mom came over and we made THIS (Ham and Egg cups) for breakfast. Another delicious recipe from a great blog. We had fruit salad and chicken apple sausage along with it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. YUM!

chat with max

*posting from phone*

TV: Showing birthdays of the day, on Sprout, wishes an Addy a happy 2nd birthday and shows her photo..
Max: (big squeal with smile) ADDY???? WE HAVE AN ADDY!!!!
Me: Yes, we do.
Max: But, she doesn't wook wike dat, Mom.
Me: No, she doesn't. Something exciting just happened at Addy's house. Do you remember what happened?
Max: Uh....what?
Me: Addy got a new baby brother.
Max: Awww. How. Cah-yute. (How cute, with pause)
Max: What did dey call him?
Me: His name is Cohen.
Max: Oh. Yeah. Das right. Cohen. Cohen Bryan.
Me: Close, it's Cohen John.
Max: (Looks at me and looks away) Mom, I don't want to talk about dat anymore. Did you hear dat? Dat woud (loud) truck? I don't reah-wy wike dat truck sound, it's too woud. (Continues on about trucks)

Congrats to my baby brother, Ryan, and his wife, Melissa (who was probably the most beautiful pregnant lady I've ever seen)! Sweet baby Cohen is adorable! We can't wait to squeeze his cheeks!

If you can't beat 'em...

...join 'em!