California 2012: 4th of July

On the Fourth we opted out of an extended family gathering in San Diego and stayed at Stephanie's house and locally. We took the kids to the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana. Rhett fell asleep on the way there and was dead to the world. Phil opted to stay in the truck while he napped and I took the big kids into the science center. Since Max and Kate are under 3 I just had to pay for one ticket. Our meager budget is always on our mind so this was a nice bonus. We explored and played for a good hour. Science centers are generally geared towards older kids and this one was no exception but we still managed to find some fun.

  

Legos, baseball pitching, turtles and a submarine slide.

There was a Zamboni that Max got really into driving.

A fun game was sorting "garbage" and learning what you can recycle. The kids just loved to grab the items of the conveyor belt and put it in the box. 

A flight simulator.

Phil texted me when Rhett woke up and we joined back up and went across the street to a nice park for lunch. We have become park snobs, always seeking out nice areas that are clean, have shade, good equipment, etc. We were happy with this one and being in California it was lush and green. We stopped at a picnic table and ate lunch. There were a lot of squirrels around and it was fun to toss some bits of our lunch to encourage them to come closer to us. No pictures, we were too busy eating and I was holding a squirmy, hungry baby. We stretched our legs, played on the equipment and just soaked up the amazing weather. Phil and I continually asked ourselves why on earth we live in the desert. There were so many people out exercising. I want to raise our kids to be active and be more active myself and I know that would become more of a reality if it wasn't so blasted hot here in Arizona most of the year.

   

After our lunch break we headed back to the science center. We were able to re-enter and this time Phil took the kids in on the same ticket while I hung out with Rhett. Yay for budget bonuses! They lasted another hour before the "no-nap" fatigue and tantrums caught up with them.

We headed home and took it easy the rest of the day. The kids napped and I walked to the grocery store to pick up a few dinner items. Phil grilled us some steaks, I made a potato and spinach salad. The kids had pasta and veggies. We went to the park by Steph's house, came home, did baths and then bed. Phil relaxed and vegged with Matthew's Lego Star Wars Wii game and once the kids were asleep we watched a movie, skipped the fireworks and called it a night. It was fun to have some solo family time and we had a very full day.

California 2012: Newport Beach, Day Two

We went back to Newport Beach for a second day and we are glad we did. It was our best beach day yet! We reasoned that we didn't drive almost 7 hours to just go to the beach for one morning. This was July 3rd and we anticipated it being very crowded due to the holiday. With an early arrival we beat the crowds, snagged good parking and the same spot we were in the day before. Perfect! It was busy but not overwhelming. We were also lucky enough to meet up with the Merrill's, our friends from medical school. They have family in California and were happy to drive to the beach to hang out with us.



David, J'lene, Liliana and Addelynn




Sweet girls and friends; Liliana and Kate.



The kids did wonderfully and once they discovered sand crabs they were in heaven. It kept them occupied for two hours or more. They loved digging in the sand, filtering them out and keeping them in their beach bucket. Neighboring kids even joined in the fun.



So tiny! Matthew holding a sand crab.



Max running in like a stud with Phil and Matthew "harvesting" sand crabs in the surf.



Max refused to look at me and the camera. I tried all my tricks and he was having none of it. I need to find new material.



Kate got cold and came in for a rest and a snack. She just sat on the edge of the shade wrapped up in a towel. She kept to herself and was very quiet, playing with the sand. She crashed and had a nice power nap. They did so well. My kids never sleep anywhere but home in bed. Even Rhett succumbed to slumber.



J'lene and I held our sleeping babes for over an hour. It was windy and our arms were dead but we were grateful for happy sleeping babies and this nap made it possible to stay at the beach for almost 5 hours.




We buried more children.



That pink hat below is Kate.



I took waaay too many pictures of the crawling sand baby. But how can I resist this adorable face?



The water is a lot farther away than it looks here. All children were constantly supervised near the water.



Ah! Yes, I will eat you.



We rested.



Visited with friends, family and munched on fat babies. Seriously, check out Addy's awesome legs. Love her.



We drove back to Stephanie's house grateful we had geared up for another beach day. It was wonderful and we are already looking forward to the next trip. Thank you to Stephanie for hosting us and to the Merrill's for hanging out with us and sharing their shade.

California 2012: Park Play

Rhett: 10 Months

Here we are again with another month post. 

And again I will say that it is going too fast and this kid is on double-time to grow up on me.

Rhett pulls himself up on anything and everything. The past two days he has balanced on his own, free standing for a small bit of time. I was so proud of him!

He is still squishy and delicious. Check out that elbow dimple, the chubby hand and scrummy ear. Mmmm. Seriously. I do eat him.

He loves his blankie. I want to get him his own since this is a blanket we had from Max. One with different materials ie: minky and silky fabrics but he seems pretty attached to this one. He recognizes that it is his blankie, gets excited when he sees it and it is comforting to him. He loves soft items. He is often found crawling around the house with a random pair of shorts, shirt or other garment from the laundry pile or the kids' room. He always puts them up to his face.

 

He loves to be in on the action, where ever it may be. He has recently gotten into playing with the kitchen and this can occupy him for some time.

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed. He adores his siblings and when he wakes in the morning or from naps he always looks for them as we walk down the hall. If they come with me into his room to get him, he squeals and shrieks when he sees them. 

I love him. He is such a good boy.

He says "Ma ma ma ma". 

He is LOUD. 

He knows how to get his way with his voice. He can be bossy.

He knows what he wants and will protest accordingly if he doesn't get it.

He loves food. LOVES it. 

We are nursing 3 to 4 times per day. He is a very proficient eater and loves to self-feed.

He naps about 2 hours in the morning and the same in the afternoon.

He can stand up in his bed. I think it is so cute when I go in to get him and there he is standing, gripping the edge of the rail waiting for me.

This past month he cut his two top teeth, #E and #F. He has quite the diastema but I think it is darling and am pretty sure it will close up as he continues to grow. I remember Max and Kate's teeth doing the same. 

I love when I am in the kitchen doing dishes, prepping  a meal or whatnot and I feel his little hands on the back of my legs. He will pull himself up against me or just remind me that he is down there and needs some love. I happily oblige.

Rhett you make me want to have a dozen more babies just to prolong the sweetness of your disposition and this magical time. I love you.

Now stop growing up.