Happy 32nd Birthday Eric!

So we got some free passes from a friend to Disneyland for our whole family and it just so happened to fall on Eric's birthday! So we had tons of fun celebrating his special day!

Watch out Matthew is driving!

I've never seen an elephant fly!!

We're off to Neverland!

What?! Is it that hard to take the sword out of the stone? It was easy for me!

Put your back into it Ian!

So dainty. She must be a princess.

Plug up those holes!

Watching the other kids playing in the water.

Getting wet and loving it!

This whale was the cause of so much whining. The boys wanted to go on this ride so much all day long and by the time we got to it, it was closed for the parade! So we took a picture of it instead. They were happy though because we went on Casey Jr. train that followed the whale boat ride. So everyone was pleased.

So happy!

My monkeys. All day the kids were climbing on everything they could (and that is no understatement... everything). It was a constant struggled to stop them from climbing. So we put them in the cage where they belong!

Flaming ball of fire called the birthday cake.

A communal celebration and sigh of relief that he was able to blow the fire ball out in one breath!

Goodbye to more friends

The Marriott's left California and stopped by for one more playdate before they left. It was so nice to see them after about a year. We had babies within 10 days of each other so it was fun to see them play together! Calista was interested in his drink.

He was kind enough to share! Such a gentleman already!

Calista returned the kindness by trying to hug and kiss him...

But I don't think he liked it much!

It was a fun day and I am glad I got to know them over these last three years. I have missed them since I moved and I am sure many people miss them now that they have moved. I wish you the very best on your new adventure Marriott family! We love you!

The Evolution of My Garden

My father is building me a garden safe from the dog and kids. So he went all out. He cleared the weeds, dug some holes, and made cement footings for the fences. We are putting the hand prints of the kids in it. This has been so much work but it is one heck of a garden!

Matthew's prints

Ian's prints

This is with the fences now up around the area. He built these boxes for the planters and put in new plumbing so each plant can be watered with a timer.

This is the beginning of the boxes. I painted them and Eric built the rest. See the grass and debris on the floor? Eric and I hand pickaxed the ground to remove all grass and weeds, shoveled in new dirt and leveled the ground for the planters and bricks. Eric did a lot of the work, but I painted all the boxes inside and out to protect it from mold.

This is the piping my dad is installing.

This is where the timer will be hooked up. Notice the new copper plumbing he put in?

Crazy good!

Awesome!

This is the new and much needed water spicket thing he put on for us as he brought the piping over to the garden.

Painted boxes: check! Bricks laid out: check!

Mulch poured in: double check!!

Finished garden... almost. Now we need to put dirt in the buckets and plant the plants. When that is done I will take another picture. I can't wait!

Cute Calista

This is our new way of bathing her. She seems to like it. Put her in and 30 minutes later she comes out steamed and disinfected!

Time to get out!

Okay so we don't stick her in the dishwasher but it is an idea... the babywasher! She loves to climb in to the dishwasher when we are loading or unloading it. So I thought it would be funny to wet her hair like she had been in the washer. She didn't like the wet hair look though and I was told off by her.

Jungle gym mommy!

Calista gets into the Wii games too! I really thinks she thinks she is playing.

Chillin on Pappou while he sleeps. Too funny to pass up a picture.

Her hair is finally long enough to put into little pigtails. Now I need to go buy little hair ties.

Playing in the water in the front yard.

She played in the water more than the boys!

And she loved to sit in the towel in the sun after.

Sea World in July

We did the adults pay kids price and get a second trip for free deal. It worked out great because Ian got sick and we had to leave for a large part of the day. But we didn't have to worry about it because we can come back again sometime before the end of the year for free. Awesome! This pictures is cool because it looks like the Orca is flying!

Perfect timing with my camera.

The kids loved the splashing time of the show. They kept chanting the song to get the whales to splash. Ian wasn't feeling too well and threw a fit on my lap. I had him on one side of my lap and Calista on my other leg. Eric was in the splash zone with Matthew. Well, Ian fell in his fit and hit the railing and split his lip. Blood was flowing from his mouth and I didn't have my diaper bag. So some nice people gave me a wipe and said it was okay as Ian screamed through the first part of the show. I love kind and understanding parents like that. He refused to watch the show but secretly watched between the seat on the floor. He excitedly recounted everything that happened in the show later that day so I knew he had fun despite his tantrum.

Outside the Journey to Atlantis ride. Matthew was scared but loved it. My boy is big enough for roller coasters. When did this happen?!!!

Bouncy room

she looks so graceful.

About to go to sleep at Sea World. It was a long day but the night time shows were really awesome! I am glad we were able to see it!