California Vacation Part 2

On Wednesday we had a fun beach day. Our kids have never seen the ocean before and it was all they talked about leading up to vacation. They loved playing in the waves! Easton especially wanted to just run into the ocean.

They were excited to play on the beach all day...

The men went boogie boarding... and there were about four seals that were very interested in them and watched them catch waves. I couldn't get a good picture of them though.

Easton loved playing in the sand and then splashing in the waves.

On Thursday we went to the Happy Hollow Zoo. They really enjoyed feeding the goats...

They had some fun rides and the kids especially loved the roller coaster.

Easton found a alligator statue to climb on and didn't want to leave it. Grandpa Miller took some cute pictures.

After the zoo we met with Great Grandpa Miller and took him to lunch. And spent some time at his house after to visit. He gave the kids some bird whistles that he would give my siblings and I when we were kids. It was funny that he still had some left. The girls made him Father's day cards but I couldn't get Lydia to take a picture with him. She has decided she is camera shy.

Then the guys headed back Santa Cruz and fished off of the pier. They caught some little fish and Chad caught two at a time. Luke accidentally snagged a seagull and they had to rescue it. Luckily it flew away just fine. Grandpa and Grandpa Miller were nice enough to let us stay the night in the trailer. The girls are still talking that they want to do that again.

California Vacation Part 1

A couple of weeks ago we were able to go to California for vacation with Scott, Rachel, Craig, Jeanette, and Mom and Dad. We had so much fun and it was great to be able to visit the places I went to as a kid. First we went and saw the Redwood trees which are my most favorite trees ever. There is a steam train that will take you through the redwoods to Santa Cruz. Easton loved the "Choo Choo"

This tree started growing a few years before the birth of Jesus Christ. So cool!

The girls loved these clover plants that were everywhere. they tried so hard to find a four leaf clover. Never did find one though.

There were trees that you could stand inside....

The reason why they are my favorite is because they are just so massive! And these are little compared to the ones further North.

Probably my most favorite was the tree you could actually crawl inside and look up the inside of the tree! They were able to fit 40 people at one time is the record. They also used to rent it out as a honeymoon suite for people to actually sleep in! I would totally do it!

Here is the entrance to the tree....

Easton started walking just before we left on the trip and thoroughly enjoyed walking through the woods.

After we headed to a fun park in Santa Cruz that was built on a hill. They have a bunch of slides. Our favorite was the awesome metal slides! Rachel brought wax paper to ride on to make them even faster!

It was so much fun! You fly pretty fast down those things especially with the wax paper. Easton absolutely loved it and didn't want to stop. The girls got brave and started going down all by themselves. Sophie naturally being herself didn't look where she was going at the bottom and was taken out by Grandpa and Toodles. It was hilarious and of course everyone was okay.  As I said you fly down those things and there is no stopping.

We went to the Boardwalk in the evening. The girls love rides and had a blast! Lydia was so happy that she was tall enough for this Ferris wheel! She loved it!

This has always been my favorite carousel. It was built in 1911.

 

Easton went his first ride alone! He was too cute. He was all smiles until the ride started and then he just looked frightened and held on. But when I took him off he screamed and cried and wanted to get back on. 

 

We got to go to the boardwalk for two nights and honestly I think the girls could have stayed there all week and been happy. They just love rides.

Presidio Trail

A couple weeks ago we walked the Presidio Trail in Tucson. Grandma and Grandpa Clayton and Sarah and Jackson were able to join us for the fun. We have lived here for ten years and had no clue about it. I heard about it online and it ended up being pretty cool. There is a turquoise line that you follow around downtown Tucson. There are about thirty stops you make to see old buildings, statues and learn about the history of Tucson.

They even had a statue about the Mormon Battalion that came through Tucson. 

One of our first dates Chad took me on  was walking around downtown and we took pictures in this gazebo which ended up being a part of the trail where bands used to play and the stagecoach would pass.

It was fun and the kids seemed to enjoy the walk. Easton passed out at the end.

Changes

We finally finished laying all of the tile in our house! We love how it turned out and let me just say with how many crumbs I sweep up everyday our carpet must have been disgusting! Seriously gross.

The program I have been doing for five and a half years for work ended suddenly a few weeks ago. That left me with nothing but an invitation for a new, challenging, involved call program. For this I could not have any interruptions whatsoever. This meant of course no kids in the office while I work. So Chad and I determined I could wake up early and start work at 5 and work for a few hours before he goes to work. Surprisingly it has worked well so far and just working the 2 hours a day as opposed to 6 should cover what I need it to.

This also means that I don't have to work during the day which is very strange to me. The girls are still getting used to it but love that we can play together and they don't have to wait until 2pm to do so. It is all they have known since my first day of working from home was the day before Sophie was born. So we have been having fun spending time together! We have played in the little pool a lot.

We have also gone to the park several times. I have even been able to ride my bike to take Sophie to preschool. She rides her scooter and Lydia and Easton enjoy the ride.

We even went to the zoo and saw the baby lions. Sophie said they were so cute she wanted to take them home.

We were also chased by a peacock who wanted our lunch. We were sitting by the zebras eating sandwiches when a peacock kept creeping closer and closer. I am not sure how friendly they are and Lydia's eyes grew big with fear so I threw a piece of bread far away from us so it would leave. Big mistake. I had the girls quickly jump in the stroller only to be chased all the way to the grizzly bear exhibit before it gave up the chase. I am sure I looked like a crazy person running through the zoo.

We went to the library for preschool yesterday. We enjoyed story-time and the kids got to paint a picture. I was impressed by Lydia's artwork. She painted flowers all by herself...

It is fun to actually get to spend time with my kids during the day. It is going to take awhile to get used too though. I have gotten bored a few times since I am so used to working all day I am not sure how to fill the time. The kids are so used to playing on their own that sometimes they just want to play without me. I am sure when school starts though (both Sophie's and mine) life will get busy again. But for now I am going to enjoy.