Parenting

Being a parent can be frustrating, challenging and more often than not if you sit back and just watch kids, a hilarious job.  We asked these two to get their jammies on (which they did) and when we got upstairs, they were both laughing hysterically in costumes over their jammies.  

Big Brothers and Little Brothers

My dad's youngest brother was in town last week and we went with him to the Botanic Gardens so he could see Elsie's tree.  I think these pictures are so sweet of big brothers with their little brothers remembering little Elsie.

10 Years

We celebrated our 10th anniversary recently by spending a wonderful relaxing weekend away together in Beaver Creek (the boys stayed with Papa and Grandma). And on the actual day of our anniversary we had a special family dinner out at Benihana with the boys, which was somewhat less than relaxing but still fun. 

Arizona

Some more photos from our spring break trip to Phoenix, AZ.

Cotton Candy

Our pool has punchcards that you can buy for certain dollar amounts and use at their snack shack.  I decided to get each kid one and let them be responsible for their own spending until its gone.  In the first day, Landon bought an ice cream cone.  Adler bought a hot chocolate, cotton candy and an ice cream cone.  Landon came back 3 times to make sure it really was OK that they get anything they wanted.  I assured them it was, curious to see what they would get.  Adler's card is almost gone after just one day and he didn't like the hot chocolate or cotton candy.

Swim team kids

Living the swim team life.

A private view with a private beach

We were so lucky to be invited to stay with some friends in Surfside at their beautiful home situated on a private (yes private!) beach in Southern California.  This was the view from one of the balconies.

 Because the beach is private, shell collecting is limited to the residents.  Each night hundreds of shells are washed up on the shore, which made for shell collecting each morning.

 Landon very meticulously sorted them into different types of shells and color coordinated them all.

  Sunset in Surfside.

 In addition to shell collecting, the boys built water systems in the sand.

A first

I am hesitant to feed our kids fast food, for many reasons, but after hearing about In and Out burgers for so long, I researched the company a little bit and found its actually better than most fast food.  We stopped on our way from Surfside to La Jolla to break up the drive.  The kids loved it, I was underwhelmed, it was OK, not the best burger, but OK. 

Adler is not much of a meat eater, but he gobbled down most of the burger!  Brian still hadn't been and so we did the reverse and stopped on our way driving from La Jolla back to Surfside.  

brothers

Climbing a tree together outside the museum a few weekends back. 

Legoland

 We spent the last week in southern California.  Most of the week was on the beach with friends (more to come on that), but one day we went further south to LaJolla and spent a day at Legoland.  

 We spent the week with some family friends who have a son Landon's age.  He joined us at Legoland.

 Adler was too young to drive the big kid cars, but they had a little race course for 5 and under that was perfectly fine for him.

 Probably the highlight of the trip (for the parents at least) was these two getting stuck on the boats.  They insisted on riding together and refused to listen to how the boats worked.  After nearly 20 minutes of being passed by other boats and completely unable to navigate their way, we finally had to ask the ride operator for help.  She reluctantly put on waders and plunged into the water to rescue them.  Landon was laughing hysterically the whole time, as were the adults.  Landon's friend didn't feel it was so funny.

As we were about to leave (after a FULL day there), Adler insisted he wanted to ride on the roller coaster.  I'm not allowed to right now and Landon was unsure.  Adler insisted he could wait in line by himself and ride it alone.  Landon and I decided to wait in line with him and at the very end Landon went with him.  Their first roller coaster alone, and they loved it.

Cousin Love

LT turns 8!

 LT turned 8!  I always try and make the actual day a special one, filled with activities he loves.  We started off with a breakfast date (just LT and mommy) at Snooze (only Adler had been).  

 He really wanted to go to the driving range, which between big rain storms we managed to squeeze in.

 He's been taking golf after school once a week and both Brian and I (well, mostly Brian since I haven't the slightest clue how to play golf) were really impressed by all he's learned.

 Adler had some fun too!

And for the fourth year, we went to White Fence Farm for dinner with the whole family.