Marina Del Rey Beach

We went to the beach again on a nice day since the kids couldn't stop talking about it after we went the first time. We did a little burying.


Connor and Haydn helped build this with some strangers next to us.

Tristan still didn't try the water much but he played in the sand happily the whole 4 hours we were there. Who wouldn't fall in love with this face?

We left relaxed and luckily with a little January tan! We could get used to this!

Hiking in Griffith Park

We ventured to Griffith Park to do some hiking and see be a little more touristy. We had such fun doing a little off roading. Tristan did get a little grumpy at the end, but that was mainly a timing issue (hiking during lunch/naptime isn't the best idea). Scott, being the amazing father that he is, carried T on his shoulders through the rougher and steeper parts.





The best part was that these two really bonded on the trail. They spent most of it together talking, imagining and working together. This was them walking to the car as we were done. If this is how hikes end, we will go on many more!

Playing at the BEACH in JANUARY

We FINALLY decided to head to the beach on a sunny warm day in January. We went to the Santa Monica Pier and rode the ferris wheel to get the best view.



Then we walked down to the water. I envisioned the boys running from the waves and getting their toes wet, it is January afterall and the water is cold, but it went a lot farther than that. It started out like this...

And the ended up shirtless and drenched but having the time of their lives!

Tristan was a little nervous about the water but enjoyed playing in the sand...a little too much...stinker!

Trip to Sacramento

After Christmas we mad a trip to Sacramento to see my extended family. It was so fun! We stayed with my Aunt Pam and her family but we saw everyone else almost every day too. We played lots of cards, went to the park, made a trip to Leatherby's, went on a hike and had a New Years celebration. It was busy and fun.
When I get together with my aunts playing cards is a given, it's what we do!

This is our Indiana Jones Adventure hike lead by Indiana hinself(my Uncle Jeff)


The boys loved playing a game of soccer with my big cousins.

All of the cousins together (missing a couple families)

Dentist Visit

I took the boys to the dentist recently. Most of them had never been before. It was a superb experience. They explained everything they were doing, showed them videos of what would happen and how and why you need to keep your teeth clean and even let the boys help with the instruments (the water shooter and spit sucker). It really fun for them! In the end they got new toothbrushes and timers and got to choose a prize from their treasure chest.




Tristan got a little boredwaiting for his turn and by the end he was done being confined to a small area. The funny thing is we found a magazine that kept him riveted...Motor Trends. He looked through that thing for a good half hour! That boy LOVES cars!

Nana and a BIG ADVENTURE!

Scott's Mom came into town and so we got some amazing time with Nana! We went on an amazing trip to upstate NY together. We got to go to the Hill Cumorah Pageant and see some other LDS church historical sites. We got to see the printing press that printed the first Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith's childhood homes and the Sacred Grove where he saw the first vision. It was so fun! We also took an amazing trip to Niagara Falls!

Here's some poses with the cast members of the Hill Cumorah Pageant...


An amazing view of the printing press where the Book of Mormon was first printed...

This inside Joseph Smith's cabin...

This is Connor by the fireplace of Joseph Smith's frame home where we learned that he actually hid the golden plates under the bricks in the fireplace for a time.

This is our family after walking through the sacred grove...

Amazingly we ran into some old friends we hadn't seen in years, the Velingas, while on our trip! That was a great surprise!

Here's the photos from our Niagara Falls adventure...


We rode on the Maid of the Mist boat...




We stayed until late so we could see the lights on the falls and an amazing fireworks show as well.

A Weekend With Grandma

We had a nice long weekend with my Mom in town. We tried to go to the lake house of a friend and had a nice picnic there. Our dreams of paddle boating all day and swimming didn't work out as our heat wave ended and a nice cool breeze blew too strong. The house was right over the Mass boarder and they power was out because of the tornado that hit close a couple days prior. Oh well, we made the most of it. Connor even got in the water.

We got to see the boys play baseball this weekend. Connor even got to try out being catcher.

My Mom spent a lot of time reading to the kids and they loved playing games on her phone!!! We're glad she could join us for a short while. We don't see enough of our family. That's the biggest drawback of living out East all by ourselves. Love you Mom!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking on Columbus Day with some friends. The boys have been eating apples non-stop ever since. It was so fun! Take a look!
The Pumpkin Patch...

Mommy and Tristan riding on the hayride...

The BIG black cat...

The corn maze...




My little walker...

Face painting...


Croquet...



Tractors and slides...





Apple Picking...