Sea World and Faith

We have been wanting to take the boys to Sea World so on the 4th of July weekend we went. It had been ages since I had been, so I was just as excited as the boys.

Keaton wanted to go on the the few rollercoaster rides that they had, so the first thing we did was head to Atlantis. It was a little bit of a shocker ride for him, but after the ride was all done and over with he said he liked it. Of course, Xander was too short for the ride so him and I relaxed and saw some sea life.

It was really cute while we were checking Xander's height to see if he could go on the ride and found out he was too short Keaton said with a worker standing next to him,"Xander stand on stand on your tippy toes" so then Xander stands on his tippy toes and meets the height limit. Of course this was all innocently done by Keaton because he didn't know it was against the rules. It was worth a try.

For the Shamu show we got amazing seats, atleast we thought so, in the wet zone and really close to the platform where the whale comes on. It was a hot day so it felt good to get wet and we actually didn't get soaked, but just in case during the show we took off the boys shirts.

During the show Xander said he was a scuba diver, thinking he was one of the trainers and was standing like a flamingo and then I realized what he was doing...he was pretending he was standing on the killer whale as the trainer gets lifted up in the air.

Keaton really wanted to go on the Rapid Ride, but in the afternoon it was a very very long wait and since only half of our family could go we told him we would go later on. So when the night time came we went over, but it was broken down. My dramatic boy(Keaton) was besides himself. So I talked to the Sea World worker to see how long it might be and he didn't know, so I told Keaton we would wait. There were about 5 other people also waiting for the ride to reopen

What I love about Keaton, he just started talking to these people and his mind was ticking, coming up with all these reasons why the ride broke down. Keaton makes friends easily and is never short of conversation. Then... he said,"I know, I need to say a prayer so this ride can get fixed"

One of the people waiting said,"Prayer is really powerful"

Keaton while pointing to his head," I know I am really smart"

Now I am holding back tears of laughter because he is so cute with all the expressions that he uses and admiration for him.

Then Keaton gets down on the ground on his hands and knees and says a prayer. He gets back up and says, " I asked Heavenly Father to help fix the ride and to help the workers fix it"

Within 5 minutes after his prayer the ride opened up and we were riding the rapids. The whole wait time was about 15 min.

I love the faith of children.

The Day

Jacobs high school graduation day.

Keaton said after the graduation: I wish I had a hat to throw up in the air like Jacob did. Jacob has had a few busy months. He is now a high school graduate and an Eagle Scout. Here he is working at Dairy Queen. Yes, I embarrassed him by bringing in the camera, he wasn't going to look up, but i just told him i was going to keep taking the pictures until he finally looked up at me. The boys thought it was so exciting to see Jacob at work. At home we were reading a book and it talked about someone making an ice cream cone and both of the boys mentioned that Jacob makes ice cream cones. Jacob made quite the impression on his nephews. The boys love their uncle!!

Graduation Day

The preschool graduate. In Keatons class every parent had to make a paper doll that looked like their child, so here is Keatons. I copied one of his favorite shirts. It was an amazing preschool year. Keaton made some great friends as for myself. I loved volunteering in the class and seeing how Keaton learned and interacted with the teachers and other children.

Keaton was blessed to have the most amazing preschool teacher, Mrs. Burkley and her assistants were Mrs. Trana and Mrs. Holguin. I couldn't asked for a better run program.

Our next preschoolers, Peter Everitt, Sara Thompson, and Xander all enjoying the yummy food from the graduation party. In my family I always remember doing something special after each year of school so I wanted to start it up for my boys. So a group of his friends from school all went out to celebrate their year of learning and went and saw the movie "UP". It was a fun, celebrating day.

Now I just hope he keeps up the excitement for school for the next 12 years and more.

Too much lovin

Xander saw this cricket in the yard and wanted to catch it. My bug lover chased that cricket around and unfortunatley for the cricket, Xander caught him. Once Xander got the cricket he was started petting it like a dog, then he put him on his arm to hop on him. Xander got very frustrated everytime he jumped off, so he would catch him again and put him back on his arm, soon it became much easier for Xander to catch the cricket. I wonder why? Well, not purposely, but because my bug lover was giving this cricket too much love he started to lose a leg here and was slowly getting crippled. This is Xander showing his catch of the day. He is always poking his head in cracks and holes to see what bugs he can find.

Strawberries and More

The 2nd year off to the Oxnard Strawberry Festival and the boys are more excited for the rides than strawberries. Our first ride is a bus ride to the festival, this is Xanders 1st bus ride and Keatons 2nd and they were very excited.

Note to self: Next bus ride, don't sit next to the Emergency Exit window with Xander because he kept pushing the button all throughout the ride.

Xander's and Keaton's favorite ride was the giant bouncy slide.

Already preparing for the big bounce down, look at the air.

More rides and thank goodness Daddy is here because Mommy's stomach can't handle the carousel.

One picture with my boys isn't the easiest, as you can see. But I'll take what I can because most of the time they are running around and it isn't too often they are both sitting down.

Actually, rare.

On the way out of the strawberry festival the boys couldn't resist saying, "Hi" to the police man. Xander really wanted to ride on the motorcycle, so we asked Mr. Cop if the boys could take a look.

Xander up close and personal was afraid Mr. Cop was going to lock him up, so he stayed off, but Keaton was more than happy to get on the motorcycle and turn on the sirens.

We ended up leaving the Strawberry Festival without buying a flat of strawberries because we didn't want to carry them around. Now that is kind of unheard of, but that is only because Chris now covers the Oxnard area so since strawberry season opened Chris has made sure he has had to go through Oxnard so we can get these yummy delicious strawberries that are red all the way through.

Of course, we did eat strawberries and had yummy strawberry desserts.

Strawberries go fast in our house, nothing fancy. I think I have made a few pies, but we love them fresh in our home. I wouldn't be surprised if my boys had a strawberry plant growing inside their stomaches.

I want a Sister

It seems our place is always full with children and most of the time I am helping out with friends. (No, I don't run a day care) Well, the little babies tend to be little girls and Xander can't get enough of babies. He wants to:

-feed them

-change the diaper

-hold them (even when they are crying)

Xander thinks he knows what is best for the baby, he even tries to boss me around (such a determined boy)

This is a picture of Brooke Everritt with Xander. (she had an accident,so that is why she is missing her clothes)

****Then I was reading to Keaton one day and Keaton said,"Xander and I want a sister"

Me: You are so blessed, you have a brother to play with

K, getting angry: Well, we want a sister

Me: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllll...............................................

That same day I was talking to Keaton, another friend comes over for us to watch her daughter, Eilene who is 14mo. We were having a good time playing and then...... Eilene has one of Keatons toys and is chewing on it. Keaton starts getting frustrated and whiny and now I step in.

Me: Keaton just pretend that Eilene is your sister for the day.

K: I don't want a sister.

Me: I thought you told me that you and Xander wanted a sister.

K: Well, I want an older sister who can play with me.

Me:(I am now laughing with tears in my eyes) That one is not going to happen.

K:Okay

He then grabbed Eilenes hand and helped her outside to play.

The thought of Keaton having to share more toys or more toys getting destroyed by a younger sibling almost switched Keatons view of wanting a sister. I wish I wrote down all the comments the boys say or remembered them because they come up with the funniest things.

Keaton and Xander sure are the joys of my life.

Singing in the Rain

We are in a drought in southern in CA, but we were surprised in June when it started raining, luckily the boys remembered what rain was. Xander couldn't wait to get outside with the umbrella to play in it.

Of course, barefoot, but at least it was warm(68 deg). He was silly and singing, always singing some tune.

Cousins

It was a lot of fun having Heather in town and Keaton and Xander loved hanging out with Travis and Lana.

Keaton kept saying,"Travis is my best bud."

My boys are crazy and they have been riding the skateboards for months, especially Xander, by the time he was 2 he was riding the skateboard down the driveway. No Fear!

Xander loved playing with Lana, a cousin that was close enough to his age. Otherwise Keaton normally has Xander playing the monster and chasing him around with his cousins or his friends and actually Xander doesn't mind that either.

Easter

Chris and I were back in time for Easter, celebrating it at Grandma Nowlin's and Travis and Lana Nord were also visiting.

The Easter bunny (me) loaded up on candy a few weeks before Easter thinking I was prepared, bad idea. I ate all the starburst jelly beans and the cadbury eggs before Easter, so I had to restock. So much for trying to stay healthy.

Xander had no problem finding the eggs.

In our family we look for eggs before church, so everyone can be on a sugar high at church.

Here's the best part, if you live with Mom and Dad then the Easter bunny still delivers goodies, that means:

Uncle Patrick

Uncle Jacob

soon to be Auntie Christina (pat's fiancee)

all got to join Keaton, Xander, Travis and Lana on the Easter egg hunt.

I do believe some of the parents had to help the "older children" find some of the Easter eggs.

What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas

Chris and I decided to get away to celebrate the 7 years we have been married, so we headed to Vegas. I had always wanted to see the Blue Man Group and timing was right for this one, so we left the boys behind, hopped on a plane and we were off.

Now it had been a long time since I had actually toured Vegas, most of the time I was driving through to Utah, so the last time I stayed in Vegas was at least 5 years ago when Chris's cousin got married there and some of us Roberts thought we would stay in the same place. Well, I booked a place that was within everyones budget and it was off the strip. I think once Chris's family all got there, they were ready to kick me out of the family. Well, not that bad, but close. They just know never to let me make the booking.

We stayed at the Bellagio and this time I made sure we did Vegas right. Karan and Garry love Bobby Flay and have cooked his food for us, but we decided to try his actual cooking so we stop by the Mesa Grill and I loved it. Now I am going to salivate more when I watch Iron Chef on TV.

Someone needs to ban the buffets from Vegas, the Paris breakfast buffet was the best and I think Chris had to roll me out of that place, because I devoured the food, especially the sweets, it was pathetic.

Great show!! We had awesome seats and I loved the show. We were in the poncho seating-- so they actually had ponchos for you to put on so that during the show the paint wouldn't get on your clothes, nothing got on us.

Did we miss the boys? A lot

Did we have fun? A lot

Vegas was fun and relaxing

Preparing for Easter

As Chris and I were still in Vegas, Grandma Nowlin was sure to make sure the boys were getting ready for Easter and keeping the tradition going, by dying the eggs.

Keaton is focused in on the egg.

Grandparents Fun House

My parents were kind enough to watch the boys for almost a week so Chris and I could celebrate our 7 years of marriage in Vegas. The boys had no problem saying "goodbye" to us.

They were ready to play with their uncles, Pat and Jacob and have some fun with Grandma and Grandpa and fun is what they did.

Xander's favorite thing to do at grandma Nowlins house is:

ride the scooter, he still ask to go to her house so he can ride it

I knew I should've gotten him one for Christmas.

Keaton' s favorite thing to do at Grandma Nowlin's house is:

Playing the Wii

Grandpa Nowlin took the boys out looking for tadpoles, so he could put them in his pond in the back yard. Xander stuck by his side the whole time, no matter how deep he went, for Grandpa to his knees isn't deep, but for Xander it is kind of pushing it. But as long as Xander is looking for animal life he is happy.

Xander checking out the tadpoles in the bucket.

Keaton trying to catch a tadpole.

Bike Party

Ever since Keaton has been able to ride his bike without training wheels, he has been talking of a bike party he is going to have. He was telling everyone in his class almost everyday that they should come to our house and then he would say a time.

Well, I finally put together some invitations after about a month of Keaton bugging me, so he can finally say he had a bike party. It was quite a hit with his class.

Since we live so close to the school everyone rode the bikes over after school and we decorated them, ate pizza and decorated cookies.

Keaton is the person where the more the merrier, so he loved having everyone ride their bikes on our cul-de-sac.

Biker gang! I always forget the camera until the last minute so some already went home.