Vacation Weekend

We had a nice long vacation weekend.



Ahh, the beauty of I-5,



Colby enjoying his first In-N-Out milkshake,



Until you hit S.CA and I-5 turns into this.  We were stopped on the freeway at a standstill for about an hour while there was some hold-up for a murder suspect about 4 miles ahead of us.  They stopped the freeway going both ways throughout the whole thing.  The other side started up a bit before us, which was quite a tease.  Our side going South took a lot longer to get started, since the suspect's car was still in lane 2, which we all got to stare at while passing.  Ugh.



My goodness, we must have saints for kids ;)  We left at 10am on Thursday and didn't get to Coronado until 10pm.  We were doing fine and actually only took two breaks.  One for In-N-Out and one for gas, which only took 10 minutes tops.  The boys didn't complain, drive us crazy, or even make much of a peep about the drive.



Friday, Jackson got to see the elephants at the San Diego Zoo!!  Haha, I know he doesn't look thrilled, but that's probably because I was bugging him watching them trying to get a picture.



We rode the double decker "Bertie" bus around the zoo.  It was so great to see the animals from above and Jackson was thrilled to sit in the front on the top.



Saturday we watched both of the kid's baseball games, had a great lunch, and then went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner for Elsa & Donnie's birthday.  Jackson tried calamari, crab, and clams and liked them all!

The whale show at Sea World on Sunday.  Oh how I miss when there used to be trainers in the actual show, it was so much better then!  But, I still did get a bit teary.  I couldn't help it while sitting there watching the boys watch the show and hearing all of the narration about the next generation.


Whoops, found out later you weren't supposed to take the starfish out of the water :)



Bacon-wrapped hot dog at Sea World.  Yes, please!









Chocolate funnel cake, with strawberries, a la mode.  And a margarita for us on the side,





As you can tell, our kids just love characters,



After our horrific drive down, we decided on Monday  to split up the drive, by going that day to Disneyland!  What a pleasant, make me happy, decision.  We aren't planning to go back to Disneyland until Colby passes his 'terrific' twos, so it was nice to get one day with him as an easy guy in.  He is SUCH an easy guy at the moment.

Seeing your child's name stitched in cursive on Mickey ears has to be one of the best things ever!



Could eat him up,







Jackson was such a different kid this time at Disneyland.  We waited 45 minutes (which was the longest line in the whole park, it was such a quiet day) for Splash Mountain because Jackson just had to go on it after he saw it.  Surprisingly, he is 41 inches tall and made the height-limit.  He easily waited in line and wasn't even scared after seeing the huge drop.  Such a change from a year ago when he could barely wait 10 minutes in a line!





We ate dinner at Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue.  Family & cowboy-style rib BBQ.  It was so great  to sit, relax, and have dinner brought to us after day 3 of walking!  Colby loved it all,







We stayed at Ramada Inn Maingate, where I always stay with my family, and Donnie and I have stayed once before.  Donnie and Jackson went swimming when we got home, and Colby and I sat on the floor and shared our caramel apple.  He was so darling and happy.



At the same In-N-Out on the way home.



We had a great vaca!  Everybody probably has 5lb to lose after the weekend, but ehh, as it should be after a great vaca.

rand..om

The chickens are out of the garage, woot!  Will post pictures as soon as their home is complete :)



Roxanne!



Not much cuter than some baby chubs.  Too bad all chubs, chunk, and cellulite is not this cute.



Oops, this might be just as cute.



Underwear streaker with a winter hat!



A boy, swimming, and a box of animal crackers, not much better in life.

3 1/2 Years

Jackson, you're are 3 1/2!  So close to four, and don't we all know it.  You talk constantly about your birthday, even though it is still a half of a year away.  We'll see if you still want a dinosaur birthday party before then.  Right now you want a volcano cake with dinosaurs and trees.

I googled how to do this especially for this picture, which you loved taking,



You love preschool.  The teachers often ask if you're always so quiet and polite at home.  Ha.  You a chatter-box most of the time, although yes, for the most part you are extremely polite, thoughtful, and kind.



You're by yourself at swimming class at the moment and love it.  You have more time to yourself to talk to Mrs. Diaz and show off all by yourself.  Now you constantly ask if it's a swimming day.



We're going to Sea World next week, just so you can see some elephants.  There were none at the Sacramento Zoo and you've been dying to see some.  You see the Sea World commercials and have been dying to go.  It will be so exciting for us to see how excited you are.  I can't wait for the whale & dolphin show & for us to all share some funnel cakes.  (And of course see your uncle, aunt, and cousins, which is the main reason we're going!)



You put your hand in your pocket all my yourself for this one.  Maybe you were just saving some rocks.



We have "I love you" battles.  Who loves more, and who loves the biggest.  You say you love us bigger than the universe plus the solar system.  You have us stumped a lot of the time.



You remember things from so long ago that it's crazy.  You went to monster trucks this year with daddy and you said last year everybody went, even Colby in my belly.  If we promise you something, you don't dare forget that.



You're just a joy!



And we hope you get every wish,

Insta-bulous

"Shh, there's a wizard on the window!"



Who then fell on the ground as Jackson was trying to get him off of the window.  Poor guy was probably stunned enough from the fall to be able to be put into the bug cage so easily.



"French Kids Eat Everything" pretty good, although strict.  If only I had the ability to read in the car without feeling woozy, then maybe I would finally be able to get into Hunger Games on our car ride this week.





Wooden lunch, complete with garnish for me :)



Colby catching a snooze at Farmer's Market.  We switched him to the front so I could hold his wobbly  sleepy head.



Colby's first popsicle of the summer.  The boys promptly started to play swords with their popsicles after I took the picture.  Boys and their swords.



Jackson during Colby's birthday pictures.  Who then got a blister in his sockless Vans and cried like he was the one turning one.



Don't leave the pantry door open anymore.  And note to self, never leave quinoa on the bottom shelves.  And if you have any decent recipes for the stuff, please send them my way.  We have yet to find a quinoa recipe we're thrilled to eat.



Colby needed a bang cut before swimming lessons (he's already had a back baby mullet cut) so his hair wouldn't be in his eyes.  Is this flashbacks to Jackson's Dumb & Dumber again or what?!?!  Kidding, Colby's isn't nearly as short or bad, and at least I didn't pay $5 for it!

11 Months (tomorrow)

Oh dear Colby.  You are the sweetest little guy.  Everyone comments on how calm, easy-going, and sweet you are.

You are almost to the point of walking.  You can briefly stand unassisted.  We think you have the ability to walk before your big birthday, but you're so mellow that you'll probably wait a while.  You're so quick to get up and down to crawling, so why would you worry about staying up to walk.

This month you really started to enjoy swimming class.  You kick and don't ever mind a bit being brought under the water.  You're a dream at swimming class.  When all the other kids are crying afterwards while getting changed, you just lay there and give them quizzical looks.

Last month you started (with a little force) sleeping through the night.  You sleep 7pm to 6:30am without waking.  It's heavenly.

This year has flown by, and we're gearing up for your big birthday next month.  I'm finally catching up and taking all of the pictures that your sweetness deserves on the real camera and not just iphone pics.  I was a big slacker and didn't finish your year of monthly chair pictures.  It was totally my fault because I started them by moving a big rocker out of the way each month for a perfectly lighted area.  Which turned into such a hassle because the rocker weighs a ton, but I didn't want to move your monthly spot.  I should have just taken them anyways somewhere else.  Oh well, you're a boy and I'm sure you won't be as disappointed as I am.  I have tried to make up for it by taking plenty of nice pictures to document your first year.

I'm waiting to do a proper one year post on your birthday, but couldn't resist just this one,

This & That.

Having to wake Colby up for swimming lessons = the worst!  He's usually a 30 min napper, so this is few and far between.



Colby is loving swim lessons.  I think he started when he was 6 months? So he actually started before Jackson did at 8 months.  He's pretty mellow most of the time but especially during swimming.  Almost to the point where you're like, come on Colby, do something!  But, you can bring him under the water and he doesn't care.  He's definitely the quietest kid in class.  He's one of the few who wears his goggles throughout class without even trying to take them off.  He loves standing on the lilypad most and playing with the other boys. (Happens to be an all boy class.)  It will be fun this summer for him to have a bit more time on the lilypad in our pool.









It snowed at Donnie's new work his first week!  This is what it looked like on his drive home.  He brought Jackson a cooler full of snow, which he loved.

Easter & Such

We had a great Easter weekend.  Saturday we headed down for a quick trip to Napa for the boys to see their Nana and GG, and for Donnie to pick up his gear.  We even had a little time to stop off at Gotts and see Dean's hard work at their new house.



We got to see my friend Cheryl on the way home while Donnie took the boys to the park.



Sunday we were up bright and early for Easter.  So nice, casual, and relaxing.  We were visited by Susan, Tyler, Kailey, and the Colgans & girls.  Usual stratta, mimosas, and way too much candy.  Jackson was thrilled to have the kids to play with all day.

The dreaded annual Easter photo.  I guess they still cry even when you don't dress them in fuddy-duddy clothes.









Colby and I were a little under the weather, but he was a trooper.







Sunday night was nice enough to eat dinner on the patio.  Monday we were able to get a bunch of compost for our new vegetable boxes and also walk to the Plant Barn.  Donnie was able to do a bunch of errands before going to his first day at his new job in Susanville!

Is it already April?

We have a big weekend coming up, so I'll dump out these pictures here before I get behind.  Donnie comes home from being gone for a month in Ione, woo hoo!  Next week he starts at his new Captains job in Susanville.  Tomorrow we're going down to Napa to pick up some of Donnie's things, let the boys see both of their Nanas, and I get to see my friend Cheryl.

Sunday is Easter!  We have some visitors and hopefully will be home in time Saturday to fill some Easter eggs for the boys.  Have a wonderful weekend!

We're all a bit obsessed with edamame at the moment.


Breakfast in bed.  I married a good one.


3 hour basement wine tasting with the DeBarrs.  In Chico!