A new arrival

I just wanted to post this really quick. I have a new baby nephew. My sister, Shelly, had her baby on Monday, October 5th. He was a healthy baby boy and a very big boy I might add. I guess he weighed in at 9 lbs. 13 oz. My poor sister! It's a good thing that she was induced a week early or else he probably would have been over ten pounds. And I thought I had a big baby with Logan at 9 lbs. 1 oz. I think that's what he weighed. Anyways, my nephew's name is Tucker and I don't have any pictures because I haven't gotten hold of any yet. When I get some from my mom or sister I'll post them for all to see. Congratulations Shelly and Cody! We're so happy for you and your family.

Yep....one more A's game

Can you believe it? One more baseball game. Jason's uncle got these tickets in a package deal for work so we've been going to lots of A's games this year. It's been lots of fun too. We love having a sky box because it's perfect for the kids. They don't get too cold and they can run around like crazy monkeys. We went to this game on August 17th. The Oakland Athletics played the New York Yankees and won. It was a great game and we had a blast with our family.

Afton and Dylen getting ready for the game with their foam fingers.

Max, Dax and Michael. The very rambunctious boys. They had fun chasing each other all over the room.

Max drumming on Daxon's head. Max loves music. He especially loves guitars, but I guess at the game he was in the mood for drums.

Logan and Jason. I can't believe that Jason isn't pulling some kind of weird face in this picture.

Logan showing off his dance moves. In the front of the sky box there is glass in front and on the sides so you can see into the other sky boxes on each side. Well, they all saw Logan dancing and must of thought it was funny because they were all laughing. Logan does have some pretty sweet dance moves.

Misty and the girls doing some puzzles. Misty and Jody brought some extra things for the kids to do. It was a great idea!

This is Logan's new little thing. He loves to be tickled and to tickle other people. And this is him tickling Jason. It's so cute! He goes up to you with his little fingers and says, "tickle, tickle, tickle", but of course in his cute little baby talk.

Logan being silly again. This kid is such a ham. He loves the attention. He was having fun going down the stairs backwards and on his back.

This is Jason's cousins little girl. Her name is Brisa and she is so cute! Daxon loves babies and he loves when we see Brisa. He likes to talk to her and hold her hand.

At the end of the game. Jason, me and Afton. that's all the family we could get in the picture.

Me and Afton

Sophia's party

Afton, Dax, and Logan's cute friend, Sophia, invited them to her 5th birthday party. It was at her aunt's house and they got to go swimming in her very fun pool. Afton was really excited because the pool had a slide. She loved it! It was a hula/mermaid theme and they swam, ate some very yummy cupcakes and opened presents. The kids had a great time hanging out with their friends, Paris, Brenden and Sophia. Happy Birthday Sophia!

1st Grade

I can't believe that Afton is in first grade already. It just seems so crazy that I have a six year old. He first day of school was on August 11th. I know that sounds really early because it is. They start school really early here. Right in the middle of the heat. It's great! Afton was so excited for school that she couldn't even finish her breakfast. She's a two bowls of cereal girl and could barely finish one. Afton just loves school and being with her friends and playing on the playground, so she couldn't wait to go back to school. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Jones. We actually met her at the end of school last school year. We kind of got a hint from her Kindergarten teacher that Mrs. Jones would be her first grade teacher, so we stopped by her classroom and met her. After talking with her, Afton was so excited and said that she hoped she was in Mrs. Jones class.

All ready to go to school, missing teeth and all.

She was busting out with some very wacky poses for the camera.

Her first grade classroom.

Her very own desk. I think this is what she was most excited for.

Way to go AFTON! Good luck with your first grade year.

Zoo & Fairytale Land

On August 10th, the day before Afton started school, we went to the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Land. My friend, Krissy, had some extra tickets, so we planned a day to go and thought it would be one last fun outing before the kids started school. Krissy and her daughter Emma and son Chad came with us and it turned out to be a very fun day. Although we did manage to pick the hottest day of the week. I think it was right around 100 degrees that day. We went to the Zoo first and the kids loved seeing all of the animals. Their favorite was the tiger. He was just resting up against the glass and Afton and Dax thought it was so cool. They were pounding on the glass trying to get him to move. But he wouldn't budge a bit.

Measuring up to the birds, being a beautiful butterfly, watching the colorful fish and picking a gorilla's nose.

We all rode the carousel on our way out of the zoo. Afton and Logan loved it but Dax wasn't too thrilled. I also tried to get a picture of all of us by the flamingos but of course the kids didn't want to cooperate.


After the zoo, we ate lunch at the park and then headed over to Fairytale Land. It was a fun little place for the kids. They had a bunch of little buildings and play areas geared towards nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Afton, Dax and Logan had lots of fun running from place to place. They especially loved the ones that had slides.

This big chair was at the round table in King Arthur's Castle. And again no cooperation from a couple of kids for the picture.

The old woman who lived in a shoe. We spent a good 20 minutes here going up and down the slide. I thought this was a fun little slide for the kids, although the stairs were pretty steep so I had to help Logan.

Emma and Afton on Cinderella's pumpkin carriage and horses.

I think the one with Logan was a rabbit hole and then Dax on a pirate ship.

And then we finished off the day with some very refreshing snow cones. As you can see from the red cheeks and sweaty faces it was a very hot day. Poor little Logan! He was just drenched in sweat. That kid runs around for like 5 minutes and then he's covered in sweat. I guess that happens when you're packing around a few extra pounds. That's ok. I still love my chubby little sweaty Logan.

What a cutie!

Even though it was a very hot day, we still had lots of fun. Thanks to my friend Krissy for inviting us along. What a great way to end the summer.

One more Birthday

Jason celebrated his 32nd birthday back on August 4th. I don't think he was looking forward to his birthday. Who does when you're that old! Just kidding babe. 32 isn't that old. You don't look a day over 18! I think the kids were more excited for his birthday than he was. We decorated the house, put together a little treasure hunt to his presents and made him a cake. When he got home from work the kids threw confetti all over him. IT was great! We even made him a happy birthday sign and hung it on the garage door for all to see. It was lots of fun! HApPy BIrThDAy JaSoN!! We love you mucho!

Getting ready to surprise their daddy.

Surprise!

Our homemade Happy Birthday sign

Jason getting help blowing out the candles and opening his presents. Daxon picked him out this gun from the dollar store. He was so excited to have Jason open it. I surprised him with AC/DC tickets. We've already gone to the concert and it was so much fun!

I really need to work with Jason on his blinking techniques. He always seems to blink right in the middle of a picture.

One more picture of the sign with my way awesome boys in front of it.

Disneyland

I'm finally getting to our Disneyland trip. It's about time! This is going to be one mighty long post. I'm going to include the entire trip and pictures in this post so that it will go in order and hopefully make sense. Here goes...

Day 1 &2: The drive there
We left on Friday, July 24th. The kids had a primary swim party so when that ended we met up with Jason at our house and got on the road. Since we got a late start, we decided to stop at our friends, the Davenports, and spend the night there. The kids were really excited to hang out with their friends and we had a great time visiting and watching a movie. The next morning, we had a very yummy breakfast, visited some more and then headed on our way. We made one more stop. This time it was in Los Angeles at an ice cream place called "Diddy Riece". I've been to this place two other times and it's so good. You pick two big cookies of your choice, a flavor of ice cream and then they put a scoop of it between the cookies for one monster ice cream sandwich. And it's all for $1.50! It's so delicious.

Enjoying our ice cream sandwiches.




After our ice cream stop, we finally made it to the Disneyland Hotel. We got there around 3 p.m. Jason's family wasn't too far behind us. His mom and dad and sister Kari and her family met us there a little later. While we were busy checking in the kids were watching a Disney movie from this kid size couch. What a great idea! It kept the kids entertained.

After check-in and dinner with Jason's friend Cameron and his wife and daughter, we did some swimming in the very fun swimming pool at the hotel. We spent most of the time in the hot tub though. The pool was a little chilly and the hot tub was so very nice.


Day 3: Logan's Birthday Fun
We had one more day before we were actually going to Disneyland, so on Sunday, July 26th, we celebrated Logan's 2nd birthday with some very fun festivities. That morning we went to Balboa Beach and boy was it crowded. I guess everyone else had the same idea as us. It took forever to find a place to park and we lucked out and got one right by the beach.

I was trying to get some pictures of Logan on the way to the beach but he was not cooperating. I told him I was taking his birthday photo and he just covered himself up with his blanket.

Finally, I caught him.


We had a great time at the beach. The kids loved it. Afton was having so much fun in the ocean. She kept getting farther and farther out and making me very nervous. Even Dax got into the water. He loved jumping over the waves when they would come up to the beach. Logan didn't want to get in the water at all. When the water would go back out, he'd run all over and then when he would see the water coming back in he'd run over to me yelling, "mommy, the water is coming!". They had a blast digging in the sand again with Uncle Ben and making castles. We all had a great time at the beach and it was lots of fun to be there with our family.

The water had come up on his feet and he was very upset. He was telling me all about it.

Our family: Jason, Logan, Rickie, Dax and Afton

He didn't like being in the water but he loved the sand.

Dax. Isn't this kid so cute?

Afton giving me her best cheeser.


After the beach, we went to Chuck-e-Cheese for some more of Logan's b-day festivities. He loved the place but kept running off and I couldn't find him. Good thing they have you stamp your hands when you come in. His favorite games were the basketball one, the horse ride and the big monster truck. And he did NOT like Chuck-E. What little kid does? He is kind of scary looking. He came over to our table when we sang Happy Birthday and Logan was trying to get as far away from him as he could.

He was having a blast shooting hoops with his daddy.

No one wanted to smile for the picture or even look at the camera. the little stinkers!


After lunch at Chuck-e-cheese, we went back to our hotel and did some swimming. They had a couple water slides and the kids had lots of fun on those. They also had a smaller more shallow pool that was great for the little ones. They were able to run around more in the water.

Logan hanging out in his inner tube. Jason with the kids.

Later that night he opened his presents.

I'm pretty sure he had a great birthday. What a lucky guy! He got to go to the beach, Chuck-e-cheese, and then go swimming. Now he's stuffing his face with some caramel corn. He was one happy little guy.


Day 4: Disneyland & California Adventures:
The day after Logan's birthday is actually Sharon's birthday. So we decided to surprise her in the morning before we headed off to the park. Me and Kari and the kids made her a cute candy bar poster and ordered her a very yummy breakfast with a birthday cupcake. The kids loved surprising her.




Our first stop was toon town. Well, first dumbo then toon town. When you stay in the Disneyland hotel, you get to enter Toon Town early. So we took advantage of the early entry and saw Minnie, Mickey and Goofy.

Then we moved onto the Matterhorn. Afton and Dax were both able to ride this one.

Logan was hanging out in his stroller where is was nice and shady. Did I mention that it was very very hot that day? Well it was. I think it was in the upper 90's. Not the best weather when you're at Disneyland. We were all really gross and sweaty! Afton had to show off how wiggly her teeth were. I say "were" because she's lost them since then.

I think we were on Pirates of the Caribbean here.

Dax climbing Tarzan's rope. And Dax and Kya on the jungle ride.

Afton was so tired she fell asleep in the stroller. Jason and Ben waiting in line for Indiana Jones. We were right at the front of the line and then the ride shut down, so we had to wait another 15 minutes or so to get on the ride.

Getting ready to go into Small World.

Dax on Small World. He kept asking about all of the different little people in the ride.

Waiting to get on a ride. Don't remember which one.

The only family picture I managed to get.

Ben, Jason, Me and Afton after riding the Grizzly River Run at California adventures. It actually felt really good. We were all very soaked.

Afton being her silly self. If you didn't notice, she's wearing Daxon's shirt in the picture. I'm just glad that I packed an extra shirt. He other shirt was totally soaked and she was starting to get cold.

Waiting to get on Tower of Terror. This was Afton's absolute least favorite ride. I've never seen her so terrified in her life. She was hanging onto mine and Jason's arms for dear life. I explained to her what the ride was like before we got on so she'd be a little prepared, but it didn't help. I don't think she'll be going back on that ride anytime soon.

Getting ready to do California Screamin. Jason and I both really like this roller coaster ride.

Yes, it was a very long day.

Afton and Sharon getting ready to ride Space Mountain. I think they're both a little scared for the ride. Afton said that Space Mountain was her favorite.



Day 5: 2nd day at Disneyland & California Adventures
We started the day off at the new Finding Nemo ride and then to Autotopia for some crazy car driving. The kids really liked Autotopia. They had lots of fun steering the cars and giving Jason and I whiplash. I also have to say that the weather was much better this day. It was still a little hot, but not as bad as the day before.

We did another run on Autotopia with the kids. And then went to Peter Pan where Afton and Dax got to ride with their Grandma.



For lunch that day, the girls were spoiled and got to have lunch with the princesses. Me, Kari, Sharon, Kya and Afton went to Ariel's grotto. Afton and Kya got to dress up in their prettiest princess dresses and during lunch they were able to meet some princesses. They were both very happy girls and had lots of fun. I have to say that it was lots of fun to hang out with the girls and the food was really good!

They met Ariel before lunch and during lunch they met Cinderella......

and Snow White...

and Sleeping Beauty...

and Belle.

As you can probably tell, Belle is Afton's favorite and she gave her a great big hug. The princesses were all really nice and sweet to the girls.

Enjoying our yummy lunch.

My princess, Afton.

Afton and Kya after lunch. I think they were both still really excited about meeting the princesses. It really was lots of fun!



Well, that's the end of our Disneyland trip. We spent some more time at both the parks, then did some more swimming, then headed back to the park for the firework show, then back to the hotel for bed. Lots and lots of walking, but it was a good workout. On Wednesday, July 29th, we packed everything up and headed back home. We had a great time with Jason's family. They are always so much fun to hang out with. Afton and Dax and Logan love to see their cousin Kya and had so much fun with her. Thanks again to my wonderful in-laws for such a fun trip. Can't wait until Yellowstone next year. Yes, we've already decided that we're going to Yellowstone for our next family vacation. I'm so excited because I've never been there.