Redwoods—Big Basin National Park

California Trip Part II

We left my grandparents house on Saturday in early afternoon to head to San Diego.  We planned a stop at the Big Basin National Park so we could see the redwood trees.  I’ve never seen them in real life and we thought Tyson would like the really big trees.  It took a lot longer than we thought to get there and we couldn’t find any parking.  We had to make it to Bakersfield to stay the night and we were looking at 8 or 9 pm already.  So we stayed at the national park for about 20 minutes.  We took the shortest '”hike” we could find and walked pretty fast.  It was wonderful to get out of the car and stretch our legs.  It was very enjoyable for me to see the trees and I know Tyson loved it too.  He kept asking if he could sit on the big trees again.

   

We got a bit bored on the drive to Bakersfield :)

California Vacation

PART I

Mid July we left for our first ever family vacation.  All 4 of us!  We had such a blast.  Prepare to be over loaded with pictures and stories!

We drove the whole first day to California.  We stopped at the salt water flats since I’d never seen it.  That place is pretty neat for pictures I think!

            

We weren’t sure if we were going to make it all the way to California but the kids were doing so great in the car that we pushed ahead and made it to my grandparents house that evening around 9pm.  My grandma usually goes to bed around 8 but she stayed up to say hello to us and give the kids hugs and kisses.  Grandpa, Brian and I stayed up for a few hours talking.  Tyson didn’t have a wonderful night.  Apparently I let Tyson have 1 too many licorice in the car ride and that led to some stomach issues.  Lesson learned.  (I may want to eat junk food in the car but kids really should.) The next morning Tyson learned about the putting green in their back yard.  That became his favorite spot of the house.  He would just play out there for hours trying to hit the ball into the holes. 

We did some fun things with Grandma and Grandpa.  We went to the Jelly Belly Factory.  Poor Grandpa has probably been there more times than he would like.  He’s a good sport.  Tyson loved it and was so excited for the free bag of jelly beans at the end of the tour!  Andrew slept pretty much the whole time.  Grandpa was shocked that he didn’t even make a peep during the whole tour.  That’s my Andrew! ;)

The next day we went to the Western Railway Museum in Solano County, CA.  We got the flyer for this museum at the Jelly Belly Factory and Brian and I figured Tyson would love this.  And we were right.  He did.  Here are some pictures.  At one point while walking through the engines I asked him if he was having fun and he said, “Yes.  I love all of these engines!”  Thanks Grandma for taking us. 

 

All of the old electric trains were lined up in rows and you walked down the aisle to look at them.  Everyone went once but Tyson wanted to go again so me and Andrew went back through with Tyson.

A few trains we were able to climb in and see!

 

Here’s Ty and Grandma Murray on the Electric train car wait for the ride.  It was a pretty jerky and bumpy ride but it was really fun.  I personally enjoyed myself and I know everyone else did as well.

This is what Andrew did the whole train ride…

 

Tyson and the “conductor”!  I love this picture :)

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for letting us come and visit.  We had so much fun.  Thank you for the delicious meals and all the chatting time.  We love you very much and can’t wait to come back and visit.  Tyson was really upset that we left your house.  He didn’t understand that we weren’t going back.   I didn’t get a picture of Grandpa holding Andrew but I should have.  Apparently he isn’t too fond of holding babies.  I learned that he has never once changed a baby’s diaper.  I made him hold Andrew because Tyson had to go to the bathroom.  I just shoved the baby to Grandpa and took off.  I actually didn’t really realize how he doesn’t really like to do that.  I came back though and Grandpa was holding him and laughing and smiling at Andrew.  I have the image in my mind but I wish I could share that with all of you.  My Grandma sure loves kids.  She held Andrew as often as she could and was always there to listen to Tyson talk about his puppy, trains and whatever else comes out of that kid’s mouth. 

Part 2 coming up tomorrow…

Swim lessons, flying a kite and meeting a lobster!

Before I jump into how awesome Ty’s swim lessons were and such I’d like to let my husband know how much I am in love with him.  He is the most wonderful husband and father.  Happy 32nd Birthday babe!  We went to Red Lobster for dinner tonight.  It’s his favorite.  And Tyson and Andrew were angels at dinner.  Thank you little boys for being so great.  Tyson met a lobster tonight and actually got to touch it and pet it.  He was fine and then the lobster freaked out and Ty got scared.  I don’t blame him.  I wouldn’t go anywhere near that ‘creature’ (that’s what Tyson kept calling it!  So funny!)

Last night our ward had a BBQ and flying kites activity.  The food and company was fantastic.  I had so much fun talking to my 2 neighbor girls :)  Here are some pictures of Tyson flying a kite.  We went to Wal-Mart and bought a cheap one and he was so excited to use it.  He wanted to sleep with it the night we bought it.  I’m not sure he even knew what I kite was until dad ran around showing him what to do!

So cute this first time flying it he was running and trying to keep up with Brian.  He ended up stopping and then begging to have a turn :)

Off he goes!

Does it get any cuter than that?  I’m not sure it does. 

Okay, so Thursday was Tyson’s last day of swim lessons.  I am seriously so impressed with that whole program.  Totally worth $25.  Tyson loved it so much.  He was always so excited to go to swim lessons and he kept talking about going down the slide.  On the last day he was able to go down the slide 3 times with his teacher, Clari.  She was so animated and I could tell she really enjoyed the kids.  I felt like he got the best teacher out there :)  At the end he got a card that says what he was able to learn and pass off.  Here it is:

He could enter and exit the water using a ladder, steps or slide.

Blow bubbles through mouth and nose for 3 seconds.

He would submerge mouth, nose and eyes.

Supported back float for 5 seconds with recovery.

Rollover from front to back with support.

Roll over from back to front with support.

Tread water using arm and hand actions.

Glide on front with support

Glide on back with support

Arm and leg actions on front and back

Combined stroke on front

Combined stroke on back

Water safety rules an skills

Skill #1:  Enter unassisted, move 5 yards, submerge to mouth abd blow bubbles and safely exit water

Skill #2:  Glide on front, roll to a back float, and recover to a vertical position (can be done with support).

The only thing he didn’t pass off was opening eyes underwater.  I am so proud of him!  I don’t blame him with the eye thing.  I wouldn’t want to open my eyes under water either unless I have goggles on.

I think riding on this floaty and kicking his feet was probably his favorite part besides the slide.

Learning to stroke his arms.  He told me on the car ride home one day that he can scoop the water, just like scooping ice cream ;)

He just stuck his whole face under the water to go under the rope.  So proud!

His awesome teachers!  The guy usually worked with the other little girl in the class and Clari usually worked with Tyson.

And the slide!!!

Usborne Books and more!

Interesting sometimes how things fall into place.  Becoming an Usborne book consultant made complete sense to me right now.  I am so excited about!  Tyson loves these books and so do I!  These are high quality books with adorable stories and illustrations.  I love how it has books and learning kits for babies all the way to teens.  If you have haven’t heard of these books before that’s okay.  This company has been around since I was a kid but they are still relatively unknown. I totally had some Usborne books when I was a child.  :)  Did you? 

If you would like to set up a party and become a hostess let me know!  Because I just signed up I can offer some pretty awesome deals for free books!!!

If you live out of state and are interested we can set up an e-show for you! 

Or join me and become an Usborne consultant.  It is a super deal that I couldn’t say no to!

Pass the word around and here is my website!  www.readwithashley.com

Thanks guys!

     

Father’s Day weekend

We had a great Father’s day weekend (minus Sunday morning).   Friday night we drove up to Bountiful for my father’s cousin’s son’s wedding. ( So does that make us 2nd cousins???)  Regardless I refer to them him as my cousin.  It was such a lovely reception and I got to talk with some family members I hadn’t seen in quite some time.  Joyce, Ralph, Thelma, Leon, and the Ericksons.   Afterwards we went to my brother’s house to chat and hang out.  Mike and Emily are so fun and I’m so glad Mike is my brother and Emily is my sister in law. 

Saturday afternoon we had a little BBQ with our friends Joe and Heather.  We hadn’t seen them for a few months so it was fun as always to get together and chat.  We also went swimming and it was Andrew’s first time.  The weather turned chilly after about 10 minutes at the pool so I never even took Andrew out of his stroller.  So I guess technically it wasn’t his first time swimming.  It was more like his first time in a swim suit :) On Saturday night we went to the Strawberry Days carnival.  Brian and I always have a great time looking at all the people that come out to these things.  Anyone else notice those people?!  Anyway, we had some food, strawberries and cream and watched the rides.  That’s right, I said watched.  We’re a bit lame sometimes but those rides are so expensive.  A) We didn’t really want to spend the money and B) Tyson never asked!  We will take him on some rides when we go to Onion Days in Payson.  I swear we don’t always make our child miss out on things :) 

Then of course Sunday was Father’s Day.  I got Brian a PGA golf pass from Groupon.  He gets to go golfing at 5 various courses for free and then gets discounts at like 20 other courses.  He was pretty excited about that.  And I also blurted out the other day that I would get his window’s tinted on his car.  He has been asking for about 4 years to get that done and I finally decided it was okay :)  Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling all that great Sunday morning so I didn’t make him breakfast, I was a total brat and whined when I had to get up with the kids.  To be honest I totally forgot it was Father’s Day because the night before at midnight I realized we had gotten booked twice for our hotel reservation that is non-refundable and $410!  Needless to say I freaked out but my mom fixed everything for me.  I am a total wimp when it comes to those kinds of issues.  She has saved me many times on issues over the phone that require a manager.  So my mind was completely elsewhere which is why I forgot Father’s Day.  We had a wonderful dinner with Brian’s family in Payson in the evening.  It had been a few months since we had seen most of the family so it was really enjoyable.  I’m gonna have to make up the crappy morning to Brian next year…or maybe on some random day to surprise him :)

Brian with his 2 boys on Father’s Day! 

Tyson started swim lessons today.  I think he got told by the teacher 3 times to quit splashing the water…oops.  He didn’t listen all that great when they told him to stick his chin in the water and blow bubbles.  I asked him what his teacher’s name was and he said, “I don’t know.”  I’m not quiet sure what he got out of the lesson today but he made sure to tell me he had fun.  I only paid $25 for 8 or 9 lessons so I won’t be too heart broken if he doesn’t really learn anything.  He’s having fun so that’s what really matters right?  He is only 3.

And since I can’t leave Andrew out here is what he has been up to lately:  Growing, eating, pooping, sleeping, sucking on his entire fist, smiling, squealing, blowing bubbles and crying!  The last 3 mentioned are displayed in his video.  He’s so cute.

4 month stats

Andrew turned 4 months old on Friday.  Wish there was a way that I could freeze time.  He really should just stay the way he is ;)  He is a wonderful baby.  I think the Lord sent me a calm, happy baby on purpose.  Goes to show he knew exactly what I needed.  Our son Tyson is wonderful, but a bit on the active and rambunctious side.  I’m hoping Andrew’s calm nature sticks.  Comparing Tyson to Andrew at the same age they are very different in personalities.  However, with Andrew’s facial features developing the last month or so he is seriously looking more and more like Tyson.  When our screen saver pictures pop up on our computer I am taken back at times because I have a hard time figuring out who is who.  Tyson’s dark hair is really the only way that I can tell.

Andrew had his appointment on Friday and he did great.  The doctor said he is growing perfectly.  He was a trooper with the shots and didn’t cry.  He had a look on his face that seemed as though he was thinking, “What in the world?”  But I picked him up right after and he whined for 3 seconds.  See, calm nature!

Length:  24 1/2 inches—25%

Weight:  13 lbs 8 oz—25%

Head:  41.9 cm—50%

Also comparing Tyson with Andrew (because it really is so much fun) their size at 4 months seem to be almost exactly the same.  Tyson was about an inch longer at this point but everything else is pretty close!

I took these pictures on Friday.  He is so smiley like this ALL THE TIME.  Love him!  (So I had some trouble with lighting…someone who does photography tell me what to fix!  The natural light was to his right and was casting a shadow on the other side of his face.  What should I have done?  I tried making the light face him but that didn’t seem to work either…)

Andrew at 4 months…

Tyson at 4 months…

and back to Andrew :)

 

I seriously adore this picture.  Just wish I had fixed Andrew’s ears.  Haha!  They really don’t stick out like that :)

Two weeks ago Brian and I went on a date to see Les Miserables.  It was fantastic!!!!  I just love the music from that show.  I forgot my camera so no pictures from our date but we enjoyed every second of dinner at the Olive Garden and sitting in a theater watching the show.  Michael and Emily watched the boys and Andrew refused the bottle.  We’ll have to work on that buddy! 

Tyson starts swim lessons next week Monday.  I am excited about it.  I think he’ll love it.  I signed him up with some friends so I’m excited to sit by the pool and chat while Tyson works out some of his never-ending energy.  Lately he has been protesting naps.  Which I would be totally fine with if the kid didn’t get cranky and ornery at 5 pm.  He’ll nap about every 2 or 3 days.  Even if he won’t fall asleep he’ll play in his room for at least 45 minutes but honestly that doesn’t help him not be cranky by 5.  I hoping though with the summer here and him playing outside most days that he’ll get tired enough for a small nap.  Nothing is more annoying then driving to the bus stop at 7 pm to pick up Brian from work and I look back and Tyson is asleep!

We are super excited about our first family vacation.  It will just be the 4 of us.  We’re headed to California to see my Grandparents, then to San Diego for Sea World and the beach and then to Vegas.  We will be gone a little over a week.  I wish I had a vacation planner though.  I really don’t enjoy planning all of this.  But I’m sure it will all be worth it once we hit the road and all the preparation work will be behind me. 

I’ve recently started cloth diapering part time.  I know, it’s crazy.  I honestly am liking it.  I look forward to buying more cloth diapers and using up the disposables that we already have.  The upfront cost is a bit high but in the end will save us quite a bit of money.  Especially with more kids.  Brian thinks this is a phase and that I’ll be done with it as soon as I start.  I hope that isn’t true.  It requires some extra laundry but if there is a chore that I really don’t mind doing, laundry is it.  Now, if I had to wash extra dishes or empty the dishwasher more because of it I’d never do it :)  I wanted to try it to prove to myself that I could do it.  I’m not sure why…I’m just cool like that I guess.

This was his first ever cloth diaper.  He liked it so much he pooped in it within 15 minutes ;)

If I had stuck with the 60 day slim down program I would be done with it sometime this week.  However, after 32 days I kinda stopped.  I decided to take 1 week off but ever since then I haven’t done well with it.  I wasn’t as strict about it anymore.  I was still eating pretty healthy but not so much exercise.  I’ve still lost 13 pounds and I have at least 10 more to go if not 15.  I’m extremely happy with the results thus far though.  I think it was just what I needed.  I have another month before vacation and wearing a swim suit on the beach.  Wish me luck!

Couponing

Well, I’m back in the game, at least for now.  I stopped about a year ago when I became pregnant and was so sick I didn’t even want to look at the computer or head out to a store at 8 am.  Some friends were talking about all their deals and I started to get jealous.  Yeah, so here I am once again at it.  It is probably good timing because our supplies were starting to diminish.  It will take some time to get into the swing of things again.  Hard to separate out what I need or what is just a good deal.  I use to be good at doing that but couponing is so addicted especially in the beginning.  Here are some pictures of the coupons I was cleaning out from my binder from a year ago!  Ty had a blast with them, that’s for sure.  Poor Andrew did not enjoy being covered in coupons.  Haha!  It was really funny.