California Trip – Day 2

Saturday was beach day. It also happened to be the only day on our trip that was cloudy, overcast and cold. That is my luck. We were all (except Ricky who doesn’t like the beach) looking forward to beach time since our last beach day was spoiled by jellyfish during our Florida.  I promised the boys we could swim in the ocean but when we got there, the sun wasn’t even out.  Instead we visited with Grammy, Auntie Calee, Uncle Tony and some friends of theirs that came to hang out also. We had bought special beach sand toys especially for this trip so the boys made sand castles, walked the beach collecting shells, played Frisbee and ultimately go to play in the water. I was surprised they lasted about five hours which was much longer than I anticipated.

That evening we had tickets to attend the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. The boys had never been and I thought it was something fun and different that they would enjoy. We invited Grammy to join along with us. We were assigned to the yellow knight and although he didn’t win, we had great seats and enjoyed the show. The boys were thoroughly entertained and quite into all of the tournament games. They loved cheering for the knights, booing the enemy and awing with the crowd when one “died.” Both boys quite enjoyed the dinner and were thrown for a loop when I told them they actually got to eat with their hands – there were no utensils. It isn’t something I would pick to do for myself but it was so fun to watch the boys be intrigued and excited by what they were seeing. They are the perfect age to enjoy that type of experience and for me that is what makes it worth it.

California Trip - Day 1

I had grand plans for a 4^th of July swim party and BBQ as a great way to break in our new pool and celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, about two weeks before the 4^th the pool company told us the pool likely wouldn’t be done in time for the holiday weekend. I was pretty bummed so I decided we needed a break from the ridiculous triple digit heat. I planned a last minute trip for us to California. 

We headed right to Orange County and stayed at the Embassy Suites Anaheim, which has been our go-to place over the last several trips to CA. The boys love the breakfast and the pull out bed and the location is great so it’s a win all around. The first night we met up with the Rizzo’s at Farrell’s in Brea. I thought it would be a fun atmosphere and loud enough that we wouldn’t be hushing the boys yet not so loud that we couldn’t visit. It did end up being the perfect place. It was so fun to see Marc, Mike, Karen and Vincent and to catch up with them. Lincoln and Vincent hit it off right away, as they always do on our annual visit with them. 

Sweet 16!

I can't believe this beautiful girl is 16. We were so lucky to get a quick visit from the Draper's just a couple weeks before Madison's birthday. The boys LOVED playing with her....they sure kept her busy! I loved getting to visit and talk with them. We are so blessed to have them in a our lives on a regular basis. I had to post these pictures of Madison because she is beautiful and she defintiely looks like a young woman now. Happy birthday, Maddie!

What We've Been Up To

Here are some random pictures that show a little bit of how we've filled our days. It has really been a blessing for me to work from home so that I can maximize my time with the boys. I can have lunch with them and I don't have a commute so right when I'm done for the day I can just step out of my office and be with them. It's the best when they are home for summer.

Ricky took the boys to Cabela's Sporting Goods to look for a couple things and they were there for hours. They loved it and keep asking to go back, which surprises me considering the only thing they bought that day was a hat for Ricky. Boys and their toys. 

 Daddy built them a super cool fort in our room using our love seat, the bed blankets and pillows. They tried to sleep in it but fought too much so they just played in it for a few days. 

 Lincoln's art work. 

 We've made a few trips down to the park by our house. We have to go in the evening when it's 100 degrees so that the sun isn't shining right on us like it does during the day. 

 Logan advanced another level in his swim lessons. Now he and Lincoln are in the same class. 

 Just a little bath time fun. 

 Logan's artwork

 Logan lost another tooth. Unfortunately the tooth fairy hasn't come to our house yet because he refuses to put it under his pillow. He wants to keep it on his desk. 

 Logan loves to bake and now cook (since Daddy just showed him how to properly turn on the stove) so we baked some cookies to surprise Lincoln and Daddy after scouts. 

 We went swimming at Lisa and Doug's new house. They moved into the same sub-division we just moved out of a year ago. The boys had a great time with Sadie and Dylan. 

 The boys have been going to bed at about 10:00 pm each night. We keep trying to make it earlier and it just doesn't happen. They are night owls like us. As a result, it also means they sleep in everyday until about 8:30 - 9:00 am.  When school starts back up it's going to be a rude awakening for all of us. 

 This handsome guy is the cutest scout you will see. He really enjoys going, even though there is only one other boy is in class. He continues to earn lots of awards each month and I'm getting better at sewing on patches. 

 Logan drew a picture of Officer Judy Hops from the movie Zootopia. 

Logan has been wanting a kite for a while so we finally got one. It's been so hot but he's been begging to go fly it so I finally told him that we would one evening. I found this note that he wrote (7:30 to fly my kite) and placed right under the clock on the stove. Thankfully Daddy was willing to take him in the triple digit heat to go fly a kite. 

Here is Logan flying a kite for the first time. 

Logan Learned to Ride a Bike

I took Logan down to the park so that he could practice riding his bike in the grass. He did a great job and it was successful, for the most part. I tried to get him to ride on the cement at the park and he didn't want to. He threw a bit of a fit and said he would fall, crack his head open and die (even though he had his helmet on). That overreaction may come from me and Ricky and all the times we tell them to be careful so they don't die. We are pretty protective but figure it's better than being neglectful.

Anyway, we walked the bike home and Lincoln was riding his bike on the driveway. Logan naturally wanted to do what his brother was doing, so he jumped right on his bike and started driving it around. Really the rest is history because he has been riding his bike all over the basketball courts, down to the mailbox and all around the driveway. I know have tow little bike riders!

Summer Fun

When it’s triple digit temperatures outside, we are always looking for fun activities in doors. A fun place just went in near our house called Main Event. We’ve gone several times and the boys love it. They bowl, play laser tag, walk on a high ropes obstacle course, play video games and usually grab a bite to eat. Lincoln has seemed to master the ropes course. I know he’s a little scared but he does a great job of hiding that and pushing on. He has completed every obstacle on the course, and it quick time too. Logan, who we’ve known has a fear of heights since he was a baby, has attempted the course several times. I’m proud of him because while he’s only completed one obstacle, it is something he wants to conquer and he keeps trying to overcome the fear. The first two times he could hardly move when he was up there. He hugged the pole as tight as I’ve ever seen anyone hold a pole. 

 These are the little animated characters with the boys faces that come up on the score board overtime they bowl. There are probably 30 different designs and the boys were more fascinated with the screen then they were with actually bowling. 

 Lincoln bowling

 Logan bowling

 Lincoln with little to no fear going on the ropes course. 

 Logan contemplated for a long time about how he was going to face the fear and move. My heart really did ache for him because I knew he wanted to go so bad. I could only encourage him from the ground. 

 Eventually he employee helped him across. After several tries, he made it back once on his own. 

I was so incredibly proud of Logan - may have even shed a tear and swallowed the lump in my throat. I know how hard it was for him to overcome his paralyzing fear of heights and he did it. It was only one obstacle but it was further than he had made it the first two times he tried it. Such a persistent little guy with a determined little heart. 

 Laser tag.

 Logan hit the jackpot after his first try on this game. 

Like father, like son. These boys can find a motorcycle anywhere in the vicinity. 

Logan's Bedroom Makeover

We decided to add a little pop of color to each of the boys rooms, with an accent wall color of their choice. Logan picked this blue. It reminded him on the sky. He even tried to get me to paint some white clouds on it but we eventually got him to move on from that idea. Despite the fact that he picked the color, when it ultimately came down to painting the room, Logan wasn't happy about it. He doesn't do the best with the initial thought of change. He threw a fit for the first hour or so but eventually got over it when we let him help paint.

Logan is such a hard worker and wants to be involved in any work or projects we do. He helped paint and daddy even let him first paint his name on the wall. We finished it by rearranging some pictures and adding a couple of train vinyl stickers to the walls to keep with the train theme. I think it turned out great and it definitely brightens the room up. Logan loves it and said he's glad we did it so I would call that a success.