More CA

When we got back from the lake (read prior post if you haven't read about the lake, it's fun) Courtney and I went to visit my family for a few days. In about the past 5 years I have really started to appreciate my grandparents and really enjoy spending time with them. Since Grandpa died last year I have been reminded of our short time here and have really tried to 'get to know' my grandma better. I'm not sure if it's my age, maturity or just God opening my eyes, but I love sitting and talking with my Grandparents now. I've always enjoyed them, but it's different now. Like I told Grandma a week or so ago..."it's like I realized you are a normal person all of a sudden". (she understood) So we just talk, we talk about Paul (she adores him..no, she LOVES HIM TO PIECES!), we talk about the world and what is going on, we talk about Grandpa, we talk about her marriage, we talk about her memories, we talk about pretty much everything, some times even things I don't necessarily want to hear, but we talk and I enjoy it. Some day she will get to be with Grandpa and I really don't want to wonder if I could have gotten to know her better.

So, Grandma was our first stop in OC. Here is a cute picture of her and Courtney.

After Grandma's we went to Newport where my parents live and Courtney got to go to the beach for the first time. She did not like it at first, not only did she not like it, she hated it! Notice, she is not smiling.

Bopa tried to get her to like it since I couldn't.

So what if I copied Angela and Matt for this picture, it's still cute.

They don't have this one though, do they?

Walking with your grand-daughter on the beach: priceless

She says 'ewe, ewe'.

Run run run

This is just funny.

And after the beach we kept walking down to Balboa and she got to ride on a the carousel...she hated that too.

Chsss

The last day we were in town we picked Grandma up for lunch and I kidnapped her for the day. Ok, I called the night before and asked if she wanted to hang out for the day; she checked her calender (literally) and agreed. So, after lunch at Friday's (try the Jack Daniel's burger, it rocks!) we went down to Irvine to some indoor kart racing. K1 something or other where I proceeded to not whoop my dad's butt which I had nicely told him I was going to do the night before. Although I improved each race (and we did come in 1st and 2nd two out of 3 races) he seemed to improve too. Whatever.

This is me, I'm going way faster than I look.

This is Dad, he is going as fast as he looks. :-)

When we pulled up to the racing place Grandma said, "oh, you weren't kidding".

In the racing seat...where she'll never be! hehe (sorry hun)

#1 baby

What a great trip.

We're back...for a few days

Well hello blogging world, I have missed you. I would have posted sooner but my husband sabotaged my internet while I was gone. I know he was upset that I got an extra week vacation so he took the closest thing to my heart...the internet! Little does he know that I am a genius and can fix any computer/internet problem. I don't think he really did it on purpose, but he was left here alone to try to get the computer working (one that has sat since we got the laptop) and the internet did mysteriously stop working while he was trying to do that.

Anyway, enough bashing my husband, as fun as it is. JK I love you honey! We are back from CA/Arizona. We had a wonderful time of course. The first week was spent out at Temple Bar which is pretty much in the middle of no where. It's awesome though, and a lot of fun and good quality family time. The kids had a blast, even though it got up to 116 degrees. Yes, I said 116 - and I am not even exaggerating. Actually, the day it was that hot, poor Ethan was running a fever and was sitting on Grandma's lap shivering with a towel wrapped around him. He got better the next day and was back out on the lake.

Here are a few (a lot) of pictures from the lake. I didn't even remember to copy the pictures from my mother-in-law's camera so I will post more when I get them.

This is at Buffalo Bills at state line. We drive there and stay for the night, the kids enjoy swimming and roller coasters when we get there. I enjoyed sleeping since I had the fever that eventually caused Ethan to be shivering in 116 degree weather.

Ethan finally got up on the wakeboard, he was so happy about it!

Fun with the 'big boys'. This was the last morning when he went out with just the guys and I guess he got a little tougher that day.

Paul, relaxing in the shade.

Fever day.

Typical lake baby picture.

Paul's sister is a riot. Go Green or go home.

"Call a vet because these puppies are sick"

Interupting a game of washer toss to be too cute.

Sleeping with Gaunga. (one of the ONLY people my daughter will sleep on)

Never too big for the kiddie pool.

...I don't even know...

CA here we come! ...and blackberry pictures

We are off to CA in the morning, we are soooooo excited! It's been a while since Paul has been able to take off work to go to the lake. This year it will be all of us, our perfect little family all gets to go. We're looking forward to the time with the Pursley's and just getting away. We go out to Lake Mead in Arizona where it's hot and there is no cell phone reception. Yes, I said it, no cell phone reception. Granted we don't have Verizon, so we don't have 'the network', we may see that guy out there saying "can you hear me now", but our phone won't work so that is RAD. It's just fun to get out and just spend some family time, play washer toss, play on the lake with the kids, and all that fun stuff. Not to mention it is beautiful in the mornings.

Here are are some pictures from my blackberry, there are A LOT of them as I always have that thing with me and there are so many photo ops these days.

This is lovely, I took Courtney to Stefani's for a few hours to go to Girls Night Out and this is the picture she sends me. Are you serious?!

These pictures are so out of order; this is just yesterday at the airport while we were waiting for Dada.

Just precious.

These don't do anything, don't bother buying them.

Courtney has not been feeling well; if you know her, you know she does NOT usually lay around.


A good reason to wean off the bottle.

No one is getting that sippy cup!

I know this is sideways but i don't know how to change it in here. I am so proud of myself as I cleaned out the 'black hole' as Ethan calls it.

Someone tell me how to rotate these in here. Or do I have to do it before I upload it?

Me looking cool in my mom's new car.

Is this thing silly?

Ok, there is a goat in the back of that jeep. A goat I tell you! It was looking at me like a dog, all normal, like he belongs in the back of a jeep!

At the doctor's office, getting ready to get shots.

Drinking out of a straw, I didn't know she knew how! (it's just water, she doesn't get soda)

Mom's new car that I look so cool in.

Double whammy here. New stroller courtesy of my mom; it's a Peg Perego, it's awesome, it has shocks, it lays down, it does all kinds of things, I think it even has cruise control! And Courtney has about 15 clips in her hair. She woke up and kept handing them to me to put in, she was very proud and felt very pretty.

I LOVE these moments. Headed to swimming lessons.

Only the largest piece of pizza in the world!

She got very upset when I put this toy back on the shelf, but we were just trying it out.

Our neighbor has a pond, and now she has ducks.

I made these! And ate them all!

Talking to Dada.

I so wanted Paul to get these glasses but he was like 'uh, NO'. Whatever, they are sweet!

Courtney wanted to take a shower with me, so she climbed in fully dressed while I was getting undressed.

I was cleaning the boat covers out and Mr. Frog came jumping out. He felt the need to supervise me as he would not go away, even when I sprayed him with the hose!

I was trying to take a picture of our starfish to show Paul, not working so well.

I feel like such a bad mom when she gets sick and I have no extra clothes. Redneck?

This is Kaylee, my niece, she is precious.

Our fish, AKA Ethan.