San Diego 2012

San Diego is always a week that we look forward to starting in oh, about September. It is such a fun time. It is the perfect vacation away from all the stress and worry of life at home. The kids had been asking when it was "Sand Diego" time for months leading up to the trip. I think we were all anxious for a getaway.

Apparently the girls found something very interesting to the left.

The whole San Diego crew

On Sunday after church we always go to La Jolla beach to look at the seals and just relax.

Nope, you can' have her. She is all mine.

It was Addison's first time in the sand. She did okay with it unless it got anywhere near her face, then she screamed and cried. 

cute cousins

Kaden and Taycee found a squirrel on the beach that would eat right out of their hands. They were so excited. Kaden had a hard time holding still long enough for the squirrel to get close because he was just so full of excited energy.

We spent 4 days on the beach, playing in the water and soaking up the sun.

Aunt Kathy was so nice to play with Kaden in the water.

Kaden was so brave with the waves. He got pummeled a few times but just got right back up with a smile on his face.

We built a few sand monuments while we were there. It started with a pyramid and then just expanded from there. By the last day we had about 100 feet of the beach taken up with giant sand sculptures.

I didn't get a picture of the shark or the lightening McQueen we made,

The happiest place on earth

We did it. We have officially visited the happiest place on earth. Let it be known that HONESTLY... my kids couldn't have been happier. :D

I decided to be "that mom" that dresses her kids up like Disney characters. Because, well let's be honest, I am a sucker for a good photo opportunity and I have a 3 year old who wishes daily she really was a princess. ( I did make her wear shorts underneath and tennis shoes ;))

My little snow white

I decided to make a photo book of the trip because if I would have put all the pictures I took in this post. I would have maxed out my storage space. So here are the highlights.

It was hot. Really hot. Addison was baking in her stroller so Chris wet her down at one of the drinking fountains. He started blowing on her hair to cool her down and she thought it was hilarious

Taycee took a nice 2 hour mid-day nap in the stroller. While Kaden rode Dumbo, Pinocchio and a few other small rides.

 

Addison chilled on top of the stroller while Taycee slept.

Then Taycee woke up and all she wanted to do was meet the princesses. So much in fact that we waited for 2 hours to meet this princess... then the moment came, and all the waiting was worth it. She was ecstatic that that were wearing matching dresses.

Addison met Snow White too, but was more confused than ecstatic :)

After we met princesses Taycee really wanted to meet Mickey and Minnie.So we waited again. For HOURS. Man, that is one popular mouse.

This was in front of Minnies House moments after they asked not to pull out all of Minnie's grass. : / whoops. 

Inside Minnie's Kitchen

The most expensive sucker on the planet. :)

I have a picture just like this with me and Jason sitting in the car. 

Some fun in Toon Town

And what is Disneyland without a ride on the tea cups?

The kids had so much fun. They wanted to do everything again and again. Everyone else left about 7 but our kids were no where near done so we stayed til closing. It was such a fun day, I was amazed at how brave they were. Kaden LOVED the adult rides. (except Indiana Jones, he thought the snake and spiders were real) We went on Space Mountain twice and both times Kaden walked off the ride all smiles. Taycee was a little unsure but she did it both times. They were such troopers. I think they would live at Disneyland if we let them. A HUGE thanks has to go out to grandpa and grandma Clayton who made the whole trip possible. It was a memory we will never forget.

Solid Ground

Summer is over and I find myself at a loss for words. I want more. More warm days spent playing in the backyard. More days to use our Cherry Hill passes. More lazy mornings and game nights. More time to be spontaneous and carefree. Not to say that I don't love fall and schedules and routines. Because the organized OCD part of me lives for the time of year when I know what we will be doing on any given day. I also long for the day that I don't wake up 5 times a night and wish I lived in Antarctica so my house wouldn't be so flippin hot. :) 

This summer has been good to us. So many fun memories were made. Too much growing up happened. Lots of sun was soaked up ( spending 60% of the summer at Cherry Hill will do that to you). And though we had floods and surgeries, and a car without an AC (Antarctica here we come). I feel like we are starting fall out on a more solid ground. A little more thankful, a little happier, and (hopefully) a little healthier too! 

Addison has made incredible leaps and bounds this summer. And thanks to an incredible blessing from her grandpa Clayton she is finally unhindered by Acid Reflux. #sothankfulforthepreisthood. It has been a joy to watch her grow and thrive and finally be an active outgoing baby.

The kids have been angels this summer. They stick together like paper and glue. They are the best of buddies and I am so glad they have each other. I worry that Taycee might have a hard time with Kaden gone everyday. But no doubt she will find new ways to entertain herself. Addison might be the one who really wishes Kaden would come home.

This summer has solidified us. We have found our groove. We are happy and content and comfortable. Maybe I just feel this way because I know that change is coming, BIG change. Pack up your things and move across the world change. Maybe I don't want this summer to end because I know it will be our last here, surrounded by the friends and family that we love. Whatever the reason, I feel a little bit of loss at seeing this summer go. 

Here is to more summers like this one, and to being on solid ground.

Princess Samantha

Oh my little miss Taycee, what a spark of energy you are.

You keep everyone at our house on our toes. What would we ever do without you? You are growing up so much these days, you have outgrown most of your "naughty" stage and are my little buddy most days. You are so quick. Nothing gets past you and if you don't understand something you over hear me say you will make sure to ask me what it means. You LOVE Dora, today while I was doing your hair you said "mom, I wish Dora was real and could come play at my house."

10 things I love about Taycee right now

1. Your imagination. You love to pretend that you are a princess. The other day you came upstairs all decked out in your dress up clothes and said "I am princess Samantha" who will marry me?

2. When you ask "why" about something and I give you an answer you scrunch up your face move your lips to one side tilt you head to the side and nod as if to say "oh I get it" 

3. Your cute words. You say chopstick for chapstick, swimsoup for swimming suit, poke-a-nut for a pinecone, nakeup for makeup and you call hootenanies pootananies.

4. How every day when I am getting ready you sit on the toilet and watch me and tell me how beautiful I am.

5. How much you love to be beautiful. You love wearing pretty clothes, and having your hair done. You love it even more when daddy tells you you look beautiful.

6. In the morning you wake up after daddy goes to work and come snuggle in my bed for an hour or so.

7. You love to be my helper. You will sit on the counter when I am baking and help me mix. Or stand by the dishwasher and help me put away all the silverware. 

8. You are the best big sister. You love Addison so much it hurts (her) :). If she is crying you will give her your kitty and tell her stories. If I need a diaper you run upstairs and grab me one. In the morning if she is crying you run out of bed and make sure she is okay. 

9. You have a love for learning. You love to learn new things. When you learned how to spell your name you asked to call everyone you knew to tell them. You are always so proud of the new things you learn to do. 

10. You have a strong sense of who you are. I don't worry about people pushing you around. You are strong and determined and you find ways to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Although this makes me crazy sometimes, it is a quality I am so glad you possess. Life is rough sometimes and people will try to tear you down, but you my girl will stand up stare them in the eye and probably stomp on their toe. :D
10a. Your candy radar. If anyone is opening a candy ANYWHERE in the house you can here it and you make a bee-line to that location and say " I want like that what you are having." with your sweetest smile.

10b. When you say "mom, you are the greatest mom I ever had" ( which you say almost daily)

10c. Your bright blue eyes. You have gorgeous eyes. Last week someone told me they had never seen a prettier child. Please go through an ugly stage between the ages of 14-18. Thanks.
10d. Every time you see dad and me kiss you scrunch your face and say, "ew why are you guys getting married again?" ... ( If you DON'T go through that ugly stage I mentioned earlier then please always believe that if you kiss a boy you are marrying them.)

My miss Taycee, you are a beautiful girl full of life and energy. You teach me things every day. I am excited that we get to spend some one on one time now that Kaden is in school. You are a one smart cookie and I am afraid that you will grow up much too quickly for my liking. Please pretend you are princess Samantha and eat pootenanies with me and wear chopstick for a while longer. Okay?

xoxoxo- mom

You dressed yourself and did your own hair this day and then begged me to take a picture because "you were so beautiful!"

Hello, my name is Kaden

Oh Mr. Kaden. How you light up my life.

You get smarter and funnier every day. You start school tomorrow, Kindergarten. I am having a much harder time handling the whole thing than you are I'm afraid. We went to back to school night a few nights ago and you were beaming with excitement. You found your cubby then your desk and sat in it so anxiously waiting for class to start. You were quite disappointed when we told you school was still 6 days away.

Your smile is contagious, I find it literally impossible not to smile back when I see that million watt smile burst across your face. You are not shy or afraid of anyone. If there is someone new around you march right up to them and say "Hello, my name is Kaden. Do you want to play with me?"   

You have grown so much lately in every way it seems. When we went shopping for your school clothes I was buying 7T clothing. Must I always remind you you are only 5? And must you always remind me that you are already 5 now. If I ask nicely will you please revert back to a baby for just a few moments so I can rock you and kiss those chubby cheeks? I am guessing not. **Sigh**

You have a love for life that is unmatched. I don't think I know another soul who finds so much JOY in everything. It is impossible to keep you down. Please please always stay that way.

10 things I love about Kaden right now

1. The way you always try to make peace, you are so willing to compromise to make others happy. 

2. You are so funny!  The whole time we were at Disneyland you kept asking to go to "little land" it took quite awhile before I realized you meant small world. Yesterday I cut up a few baby cucumbers for your lunch, you asked what they were and I said "mini cukes" a few minutes later I heard you exclaim with joy "I LOVE these little pukes!" Another night you wanted to play a game that I thought was a little too complicated. When I said that I thought it might be too hard you said in your most serious voice "Mom, I am 5 now, I am a kindergarten boy."

3. The way you rush to me every morning with the happiest grin and yell "MOM! I am so glad to see you!"

4. The way you ask me about lines from movies DAYS after you have seen them.

5. The way you sit in primary and belt every single song out at the top of your lungs.

6. Those dimples, OH those dimples

7. The way you try to bargain with me, ex. Me:  Kaden we need to go back to the pirate ship for 10 minutes to let Taycee play and then we can come back to the water slides. Kaden: UMMM, how about like 4 minutes. Me: No I think 10 is good. Kaden: How about 5 Me: 10 Kaden: 6 Me: 10 Kaden: sigh, (sounding resigned) okay okay mom, 3 minutes.  Ha!

8. The random words you pick up and use in sentences. We were at Arctic Circle and a girl bumped into you at the bottom of the slide. You looked at her and then me and said with you eyebrows raised "awkward". Yesterday we were playing a game where I started telling a story and then would pause to let you fill in a word. My story was about a beautiful girl, I said "and she smelled like a..." you shouted "PETUNIA!" 

9. You are so kind hearted. You are the first to go comfort someone who is sad. At your birthday party someone got hurt feelings and was sitting by the fence, you left the party and went and sat down by her, I don't know what you said but in minutes she was up and joining the party again. There was a new girl in your primary class, she can't walk very well and she sits in a stroller. When you saw her you walked up sat down by her and said " You are so beautiful." That little girl's mom will forever be thankful to you. So will I.

10. You keep me on my toes and don't let me get away with things you think aren't right. Last night before family prayer I was sitting on the couch with a bunch of things on my lap. When it came time to say prayers I didn't want to move everything to kneel down so I just folded my arms. I told you and Taycee to go kneel down by dad. You looked at me and said "Mom, YOU aren't kneeling down, so I don't think I have to either." Dad thought you were hilarious. I moved the stuff and knelt down.

10b. You have a testimony of the gospel. It touches my heart to listen to you tell me about the Savior and his Resurrection. The other night while you were listening to your primary sing along DVD you said "mom, I will always choose the right. I can feel the spirit in my heart." You my son, are a special spirit. I know Heavenly Father has important work on this earth that only you can do.

10c. ;)- there are just so many! Your self confidence. You think you are the greatest. So do I. You are so proud of everything you do. While we were at Cherry Hill on the lazy river you learned how to float on you back. You were so excited you exclaimed, "HEY MOM! Look at me, I am floating. I am a floating man. I am the man who floats!!" 

Bug I could go on all night. You truly are my sunshine. Life would be so dull and quiet without you around. Never ever change. I love every bit of you just the way you are. 

xoxoxo- mom

Then, just like that, she wasn't a baby.

She can crawl. My little Addi Boo who has so kindly stayed a "baby" for me for so long can crawl. And suddenly I realize that she is not a baby anymore. I think that all babies should wait til they are 14 months to become mobile. :D I have soaked up every extra second I got of her preemie-delayed-12 month and still only rolling self. I want her to succeed and grow and build her muscles and do all the things that I know she has to do. But maybe, just maybe, I was secretly hoping on the inside that she would never learn those things or grow out of her 6 month clothes and always be my little angel baby. The one who never cries, kisses me back, and snuggles with me for as long as I like. The one who was still just a baby.

 

Oh boy is this girl is cute. No one can walk by her without reminding me of just how cute she is. Whenever we are out I hear at least 5 people say. "Look at those eyes!"

8 teeth! This little babe now has 8 teeth. 4 of which all came in at the same time, it was a rough time. 

She is terrified of the vacuum unless she can see it. So when I vacuum I have to make sure she can see me and what is making the loud noise.

Her latest words: up,water, doggy, 

New Tricks: crawling, standing, blowing kisses

It's incredible how much fun you can have with sunglasses and a cup!

10 things I love about you right now

1. The way you pucker you lips like a fish when I say "kisses"

2. The way you flap your arms and flail your legs when something excites you

3. The way you say "up,up up" whenever someone walks by.

4. The way you still go crazy every time you are in your jumper

5. The way your incredible long eyelashes rest on your cheeks when you are sleeping

6. The way you swat my face away when you are done being smothered in kisses. 

7. The way your face lights up when you learn a new trick

8. Your incredible determination to reach my laptop, no matter where you are in the room. 

9. The way you snuggle into my shoulder every time I pick you up

10. The 30 minutes before bedtime when you become a wild animal and laugh, and squeal, and smile, and have more energy then I manage to muster in an entire day. Followed by the two minutes when you crash and fall soundly asleep. 

Miss Addi Boo,

 I don't know what I would do without you in my life. You have my heart baby, always will. 

 -mama