Play Food

The day after the beach club, I needed a day at home to rest and the boys were so great to play together nicely. They asked me to open the play food container before I started feeding the baby. When I was done, I went to check on them and this is what I found. (I could only include 2 of the 20 photos because of LIl A's lack of shorts- sorry Lil A, you can hate me when you are a teenager because of all the photos on the internet of you pantless).

"Beach Pool" (Aug 12)

2 Newborns

1 16 Month Old

2 Three Year Olds

1 Four Year Old

2 44oz drinks

1 trip to McDonald's

and 2 Very Brave Moms EQUALS a fun time, right?
*I stole Abby's idea but it explained it so perfectly, I HAD to steal it.*

A family in our ward was moving and there was a going away party for them at the RSM Beach Club (Big A called it the "beach pool"). I think every community needs a beach club. It is a pool that has sand around it, the water gradually gets deeper- like the beach, and the best part for my boys, NO WAVES to knock them down. We are hoping to go back a few more times before it closes in October and hopefully Abby will leave her baby with me the next time her oldest decides to go too far out.

HA HA (to my sisters that live far away)

Those are Kevin's arms, he worked on Saturday too.

On Saturday we took Ga lunch at work with Katie. I just thought I would rub it in that we live close enough to see them after they have been gone for almost a month. I meant to get a photo of Papa with the boys too but I was busy eating (we had Sunday breakfast-YUM), making blankets, playing Pinochle or Crazy Nine Hole Golf when he was around.
Oh, we had roast, ham and mashed potatoes for dinner on Sunday (the Andersons, including Celeste and son, came over too-with the biggest ham I have ever seen). I know y'all are so jealous.

Beach with Todd & Kim (Aug 7-11)

Todd (Bryan's brother) came from AZ to see about school (I think), decided to make the drive worth his while and visit us- oh and to surf. Kim (Bryan's sister) & Jon were celebrating their anniversary with a weekend at the beach (and their 6 kids). And we were lucky to be invited- I love living close by everything. We had dinner Friday with them (Bryan worked on Friday and I thought it would be too much if we went to the beach 2 days in a row),went to the beach on Saturday, had dinner at our place on Saturday and lunch after church. It is fun to be able to see family as often as we get to, I am going to miss it when we move (that is not an announcement, just a dream).

building a sand castleTRAIN!!!

(one good thing about going to the San Clemente Pier is the train that passes by and another is the packed-sand trail for the stroller)

chasing birds

Frisbee with the older cousins.

She got covered in sand and stayed like that for awhile (it seemed forever to me because I could
not handle being trapped like that)

She had a great time. It was so fun to watch her "schwim" and play in the sand.

Not a great photo of Bryan and Jon but this is where they spent a lot time.

Again, not a great photo but I needed to document Todd visited us and that there is hope of looking good in a suit after having kids (thanks Kim).

By Myself (July 28-30)

Bryan went to Denver and I stayed by my-myself (Lil A would have said it that way) with 3 boys. Well, Katie switched with someone at work so she could come down on Tuesday and stayed the night Tuesday (when are you going to come and watch Intervention with me again?). I am very impressed with myself and had to post about it so I won't forget it. I had to take a picture of the boys sleeping my first night alone. It went better than I thought, but I think they knew to take it easy on me. And I really am just bummed that I didn't get to see the Warners, maybe they will meet us for a football game (hint, hint). I have said it before and I will say it again, Heavenly Father knows what we can handle.

Texas Friends

Some friends from Texas were on a family vacation at Disneyland and we were lucky enough to be able to see them. The best thing about living where we live, people vacation here.

It took my boys a little while to not hide behind mom and dad but then they were so cute, playing and running. baby i loved Deena, just like his brothers. I decided that I need to see Deena more often and for longer than one evening.

Water Fun continued

These are the other photos from when we went to the fountain a couple weeks ago with Lisa and her son. I think I am going to have to go back soon because they really enjoy it and there is a little bit of water that drains- it is just nice.This was when we first got there, they were a little timid at first.
Not so shy anymore. I LOVE Lil A's face in this photo- Lisa can really capture the moment.
Lil A trying to have the water go through the "hole" between his hands.
Waiting for the water.
Big A is patient enough to wait for it- Lil A likes the flowing water better (and not so patient).


Thanks again, Lisa for always having your camera and willing to take such great photos of my boys. When do you get back again? I missed my photographer/baby holder yesterday.

Baby Tips

Bryan emailed this to me and I thought it would be helpful to other mothers too.
(click to enlarge)

Water Fun

Water Fun, originally uploaded by ksbrown98.

We went swimming with some friends a couple weeks ago and then went to a fountain with a friend later that week. The boys had such a great time that they want to do it every day. And,yes, Lil A is kissing a statue. And,yes, I know it is nasty.
Thanks again Lisa for being my photographer when I am a slacker mom and forget my camera. There are so many more photos that I wanted to post but I had to limit it (I think I might do another post with some others that needed to be big).

Pinochle

I LOVE Pinochle, especially after I got this. Mom was my partner and handed me everything I needed to get this lovely hand and we took it all (so Dad and Bryan didn't even get their 10 points). What a great way to end the day and to get ready for church the next morning.

Night Swim july 19

We went to my parents' house for my brother's birthday and Bryan decided to take the boys for a night swim. Big A LOVES the water and Lil A, well let's just say it takes a little while for him to get used to the water.

Earlier that day, Matt went swimming with Big A, a friend and Mike knocked on the window and told me to come out to take his photo. I told him this was blog-worthy.

Big A is growing up

Big A gave his first talk in Primary on July 13th. I was more nervous than he was. I think I was one of the few people to understand what he was saying but the microphone wasn't working very well (that is the excuse I am using). Bryan helped him give it and I was almost crying in the back. His talk was about being a missionary now and at the end of his talk he said "I can be a missionary NOW." (yes, he yelled now) He kept the sticker the Primary President gave him, so I put it on the paper I was given saying it was his turn to give the talk. It is hard for me to believe that he is old enough to give talks in Primary! My baby is growing up!
We took these quickly in the parking lot before church.

4th of july 2008

Bryan asked the boys what they wanted to do for the 4th of July, stay home and do all of these fabulous things or go to Ga & Papa's house? They chose to go to Ga and Papa's house and a bonus was that a couple sisters and their families were in town too. Swimming and grilling and then a baseball game with fireworks with a palm tree catching fire. I wish I had taken more photos but I always assume that I am going to get the photos that everyone is taking (I am not complaining because I have tons of photos for others).

Beach july 8th

We went to the beach on Tuesday after Legoland. It was great. It wasn't crowded and it wasn't too hot. I only remember Lil E getting taken down in the water and Ann saving him (I have a photo of the 2 of them wet but I am going to send them to Ann so she can post if she wants) which is unusual because my boys have both been taken down by waves recently. Beebe made everyone lunches and had a great set-up, we teased her at the time but really, it was great and I appreciated the sandwiches. this giant hole was given to us and in the end they were filling it up with from the "walls" of the hole. I am glad the people that gave it to us left before they started doing that.

Notice the cooler and basket blocking Beebe from everyone- brilliant.
they kept going back to the huge hole
trying to dig a huge hole
had a great time napping or eating- thanks again Beebe for loaning us the less girly hat.
big A was suppose to be in time out for flinging sand but Ga gave him a soda, oh well that is what grandparents are for right.
Lil A loves sand and I am grateful he doesn't love the water and is content to play in the sand.

legoland july 7th

We went to Legoland while almost everyone was here (Em, we missed you but not everyone went to Legoland or the beach). I was a little worried because I had not taken all 3 boys somewhere sans Bryan and Beebe had her 2 without Tyler and Ann & Pie were there but they had their 4 (in different age groups which means different activities for the older boys) but Mom and Matt were great and we had a fabulous time.