Boy's fun, and the 4x4 tag

Blair's been busy studying nonstop it seems.  Last week he had a break on Monday though, so he went with some buddies for the day to go on a hike.

They said it was really fun and beautiful, but that the water was FREEZING (and oh yes, they had to swim through it for a section of that hike).  He also had stories of climbing a tree and using rope to climb up or down stuff- I don't know.  It sounds beyond my hiking capabilities or aspirations.

Then on the weekend, Blair and our boys got to go on their 1st father and son's together (& I went on a girl's night out). The little ones loved it, but Blair said the night was quite long with Will's shenanigans.

Last but not least, I got tagged with the 4x4 tag. Here are the rules:

Open your pictures folder and post the 4th picture in your 4th folder, then give a brief description of the picture and pass on the tag.

So here's my awesome picture.  It was the 1st time that I tried to feed Xander peas.  This was like 30 seconds before he projectile-vomited it back out.

I thought the next picture was worth posting too.  The look on his face is priceless.  Man he did not like those baby food peas.

Memories.  Well, I tag Kathryn, Marina, Lacey, Jackie.

Zions

Blair goes to a Jewish school, which means to us, that he gets a bunch of extra holidays off in September and October!  It's been nice to do some fun family things.  We went to Zion National Park last week with some friends from Blair's school.  We had such a fun time camping, hiking, swimming, & biking.

Monster Bites

The doctor's appointment was going so well.  My sons were perfectly behaved, and having such a fun time taking turns getting measured.  It was his 4-year appointment, so Xander even got his hearing tested and blood pressure taken.  Will was right at his side saying, "My turn, my turn."  Xander got a vision test, and Will was standing right to his side, covering one eye, and saying random letters and shapes, just like he thought Xander was.  I thought it was a pity that I hadn't brought my camera to document such a great time.

Until it was time for immunizations.

In the past, it hasn't been too bad... well, nothing that candy couldn't fix a few seconds later at least.  This time I decided to have Will go first (he needed 2) and Xander go next (he needed 5).  William's shots weren't too bad (it's never fun- but I had a purse full of candy, and he quickly forgot).  Then, Xander was up.  I had already told him about the importance of shots, and how they help us to not get sick later.  He had shots a year ago, but I wasn't sure if he could remember.  I sat him on the table, and was trying to decide if I should just catch him unexpected, or prepare him mentally for it.  I decided I'd prepare him, so that he didn't feel betrayed by me, so I said, "Xander this is really going to hurt, but just for a second and then it will be over."

  

Remember those words, and never use them on your own kid- because it caused him to start panicking and screaming immediately.  The nurse instructed me to hold his top half down, while he held down the lower half, all the while Xander was crying and screaming his head off and trying to get away.  I immediately wanted to laugh from the scene that he was making, and cry at the same time because he sounded like he was being tortured!  I mainly just had to stay calm myself, and talk him through it.  Will started crying, from being so scared from Xander's reaction.  

Finally it was over and I placed Xander in a chair, where he curled up in a ball.  I apologized to the nurse again and again that I'd told Xander it was going to hurt, but I didn't want to make eye contact, because I had tears in my eyes.  The nurse left and I thought it might be good to talk with Xander.  "So did it feel like a pinch, or a bee sting?" I asked.

Still whimpering, and with a sad little voice, he said, "It felt like monster bites."

The Happiest Place on Earth

Last week at this time, we were at the happiest place on earth- 

D i s n e y l a n d!

M-I-C-K-E-Y

Will was all tuckered out after a couple days without naps.  We stopped for a break and he fell asleep at The Golden Horseshoe on a pile of napkins for a pillow. 

                                     Teacups

My mom and Xander on Xander's favorite ride Buzz Lightyear. His other favorites this year were the Matterhorn, Toy Story, and Star Tours.

My best friend Tiff (who lives in CA, and has a season pass to Disneyland) met us with her hubby and girls on our last night.

We went on Indiana Jones together, and the ride malfunctioned halfway through.  It just stopped, shutdown, and all the light went out right before the best part.

We had to wait for staff to bring a step ladder, then we all got down and had to walk out in a line.  Oh well- I guess we got a back tour of the ride that most people don't get.  Good thing I'd already been on it earlier that day with Blair.

Indiana Jones himself.

Talk about fun.  It's Halloween-time too, so Disneyland was all decked out with their cute decorations.

SeaWorld

We actually went here for our 1st stop on our CA visit, a couple of days before Disneyland.

Getting ready for some 3-D entertainment.

Check out these piranhas.  It's weird but they don't even look like their fins or tails are moving, like normal fish.  They just look like they're frozen still... just waiting for someone to put their arm in and see if they're real, I guess :)

Feeding the stingrays.

My mom and Xander on a ride.

They had a whole new kid's section this year with rides and lots of fun things for the kids to do.

La Jolla

In between Seaworld and Disneyland, we stopped in La Jolla.  Here we all are.

We saw all the seals on the beach.

The kids and my dad ran around on the nice green grass, and the rest of us just sat and enjoyed the ocean breezes.  It was sure nice to have my parents along for the trip. There's nothing like an extra pair of helping hands. 

Another fun vacation.

Sticky situation

It was mighty quiet in the kitchen after Will went in today.

I went to investigate, and this is what I found:

Look at the mischievous little smile on his face.

Who knew that maple syrup could be so fun.