Kate with her hairy cousins

We spent last Sunday with Jes and Brian and their doggies.  Kate loved playing with her hairy cousins!

Last Day, Day 25

I thought this looked cool--can you see the train?

this was Trudy's spot on our way home

I think this will be Alex's special love

Again, to end this vacation on the same note, the dogs woke us up WAY TOO early (6AM)!! I just want to sleep until 7AM!!! Anyways, we packed the car, tried to have breakfast & we were off!!!
We made it home at around 7:30pm Texas time. It is so good to be HOME!!!!

Day 24

Kate was crying here, she was NOT happy!

She's sorta happy here

This is really the best one, but Mike's eyes are closed!!!

We left early this morning, around 5:45AM. The kids & dogs did great this morning on our way to the Grand Canyon. We got there at around 1:00 I think. It was beautiful, but it was hard to get out & enjoy it with the 2 dogs & 2 kids. We had Kate in the umbrella stroller & held Alex. It was just too much so we ended up leaving the dogs in the car with some windows down. It wasn't too hot & there was a very strong wind & we never left them for long. We were disappointed that you can't just drive around & see the Grand Canyon, you have to park at different spots & get out & walk on a trail. I was surprised that there were a TON of people there!!! And I heard very many different languages. We took a few family shots, hopefully at least one of them is good of all four of us!! I think if the kids had been older & we could have done some walking on the trails it would have been better, but we were still there like 3 hours or something! We hit the road & Alex got real fussy like he did on the way up & I tried to feed him & then he threw up. Maybe he gets car sick, it's weird. And he seemed to feel a lot better after. Anyway, now we are almost to our stop for the night in Albuquerque. Tomorrow will be another long day on the road!

Day 23

Boring day of packing & cleaning! We head out in the morning! Texas here we come!

Day 22

She is after the bunny rabbit!

We hit up the Atlantis Play center again this morning. Unfortunately, I won the Bad Mommy award this morning, by completely forgetting to feed Alex his yogurt before we left!! He napped from 7:30 until 9:30 & I just got him up & we got dressed & headed out!! So by 11 he got super fussy & then I realized that I had forgotten--poor baby!!!
We had lunch at home (along with some In&Out Burger french fries) & put the kiddos down for a nap. Alex fell asleep & Kate didn't so after an hour or so so we brought her downstairs to hang out with us. Then a little while later, she went upstairs & woke up Alex--and he starts crying & we hear her on the baby monitor asking Alex "Baby Alex what's wrong? What's wrong Baby Alex?" Real nice big sister huh? Yet again, poor Alex!!
Then we headed to the beach!! I was so sad because it was our last trip to the beach since we plan to leave Thursday morning. We had a great last time at the beach with sandcastles & lots of giggles! I will miss watching all the surfers & our drive down Main street!

Day 21

Mike had an auction this morning so the kiddos & I headed out to the Santa Ana Zoo. It was a small zoo, like the zoos in Austin. It had a ton of monkeys, that Kate enjoyed. There was even this smaller breed of monkey that had had twin babies & they were both on her back, so cute! There were lots of schools there on field trips & Kate enjoyed seeing all the kids. She liked playing on the turtle, lizard, & frog statues. It also had a cute farm area with farm animals. Then Kate saw the train & said "that one, mama!!" I got us tickets for the train & we were off! Kate loved it so much that she didn't want to leave the train!! She threw a fit about getting off the train, but once she came around she was excited to ride the carousel. The carousel had a tea cup like thing so Kate wanted to ride that! We all jumped on & had a great time! Of course, she wanted to ride again & it was another fight to get her to exit! Next we had lunch & Kate played on the playground until we headed home.
Mike's auction was over when we got home, but the kids needed naps so after both kids had a short nap, we headed to the beach! Mike & Kate made sand castles again & Alex just loved watching them!! I mean really is there anything better than hearing your husband & 2 kids laughing while relaxing & watching the ocean? I love it!!! Reason #1 why I don't want to leave!!! Also, we always drive down the main "drag" here in Huntington Beach & I love looking at the people, Mike likes looking at the cars & Kate likes to see the bikes & dogs--we will miss that!
But we all miss home. Trudy & Sammy miss their doggy door & automatic feeder. Trudy misses having more places to hide from Kate! Mike & I miss our sleep!!! With Alex in our room & him being such a light sleeper, everything wakes him up! And then there's the getting up at 5:45 every morning!! We are not going to miss that!!
We will be leaving Thursday morning & be home late Friday night!

Kate on the Tea Cups at Disneyland

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAHqGH_NINE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Kate Talks About Disneyland

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSLZorb6GTU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Kate on the Big Slide HD

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCnJGxaac88&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Kate on the Cars At Knotts Berry Farm

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bncV3HcJw8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 20

Not much to say about today. We went to Target & RCI to look for a new sun shade hat for Mike. We didn't find one, so we headed home for lunch. Then the kids & Mike napped, while I did some reading. It was cold & yucky this morning, but now it's really nice. We would be at the beach, but we have all had enough sun & need a break.

Day 19

The weather here is so different than at home. At home the nice part of the day is usually the morning since once the sun comes out it is too hot to do anything--here it's too cold out to do anything outside until the sun comes out!! We woke up the kiddos from their afternoon naps at 3 & headed to the beach!! We were there almost 3 hours again. Alex was in a great mood & hung out in his stroller. Kate & Mike built some sandcastles, which Kate really enjoyed! She kept saying "another castle Daddy!" There were lots of people at the beach today, this is the nicest Saturday we have had!
Is it bad that we want to come home already? Part of the reason is that there is a house that went for sale in Round Rock that we really want to go look at!

Day 18

We spent our morning at Atlantis Play Center.  It was a really nice playground that had lots of different areas for the kiddos to play.  This park opened in the 60's & had the largest trees I think i have ever seen!!  They had the width pine trees I have ever seen for sure!  They had this huge dragon slide that Kate loved!  She went down it a dozen times!  We played for about 2 hours & then both kids fell asleep on the 20 minute ride home.  I think this getting up at 5:30 in the morning is really taking a toll on Kate.  Poor baby!  She & Alex (and me) took a huge afternoon nap while Mike took Sammy back to the vet.  Unfortunately, Sammy wasn't able to get all her stitches out, so it looks like no more beach for her.  So sad!!  After naps it was too late for the beach so we headed out for some groceries.

Alex is for sure now clapping & he stood on his own for about 3 seconds today!  Kate is still trying to learn how to jump.  I took videos of both, but our Internet is too slow to upload them so I will when we get home.  Hard to believe we will be leaving in 8 days!

Day 18

Day 17

cool huh?

This picture really doesn't do the waves justice--same where hitting the bottom of the pier!

there he goes-crawling in the sand!

eating sand1

This morning Mike worked & then I finally updated my blog with pictures (be sure to look back & check them out!!) It was finally a warmer day so we headed out to the beach after lunch. We were greeted at the beach by the biggest waves I have ever seen!! They were so huge!! Like 10 feet waves!! This is called a
HIGH SURF ADVISORY by the weather channel. It was wild to see!! We were at the beach for 3 hours! We saw an awesome sand castle that looked like the Huntington beach pier & a high school surfing contest. The surfing contest looked just like that movie Blue Crush. It was neat! But I'm not so sure I would want a teenage Alex out in those waves!!!
On a side note, Alex is trying to learn how to clap! And he can almost stand by himself!

Day 16

Kate's first solo ride!

She probable rode this car ride over 20 times!!

She was sure to tell the Lion "thank you" for the ride!

She can be so sweet to Alex, sometimes!  What a sweet end to our great day!

Again we woke up to a rainy cold morning, but by 8 there was some sun so we decided to check out Knotts Berry Farm. It was a little chilly, like 62 degrees so we dressed warmly & off we went!!
Kate rode her very first solo ride ever!! It was a little airplane ride & she liked it so much she wanted to ride it again!! Next we all rode a little train. Next we rode a car ride that I think was Kate's favorite! Then Kate & I rode the kiddo rollar coaster. I thought it was going to scare her, but after the first time as soon as we stopped she said "again"!! And then after the second time, she said "Ride Again"!!! Dare I say she might already be an adrenaline junky!! I told her that would have to be the last time, I wasn't sure how much more my stomach could take!! Mike & Kate then rode in a school bus, boat & then a 18 wheeler train like ride. Kate jumped on a jumpy thing & then we had some lunch.
After lunch, we rode a carasail about 4 times!! Kate wanted to ride the lion, then a rabbit, then a rooster with me & then she rode a duck with Mike. We found a ride that was very similar to the teacup ride at Disney, except it was Mexican hats, & she ride this with Mike about 4 times. Then Kate & rode on a stage coach being pulled by 4 horses. It was neat! Alex took a little nap while we did that. We walked around while Kate & I had ICEEs & then ended up back in the area with the kiddo rides. I fed Alex while Kate & Mike rode the cars again 7 times in a row. Then she rode them like 4 more times after that!! Then we rode the 18 wheeler train thing again followed by 3 rides on the school bus ride! We followed this up with a first time ride on some hot air ballons & then a first time ride on a big skateboard.
As you can tell it wasn't crowed at all!! Most of the people at the park were teenagers so of course they weren't in the kiddo area. Kate probably went on about 70 rides!! She & Alex both did great!! Really great day, but we are so tried now!!