LIFE

So life takes over sometimes and you don't know where the days have gone. We are back into the routine of school/homework. Tyler had his birthday at the end of August and turned 7. He was so excited! My sister was in town and we all went out to dinner and just enjoyed being together. Then Carter started preschool and loves it. Mommy loves it too! I am teaching again and I am having a blast. I have 8 students including Carter every Tues./Thurs. It is what I love to do and I really enjoy it!
The other days of the week I go into Tyler's classroom and help out. Then I watch a friends kids so she can go into her son's class (we do a little swap). So I really only have day with nothing to do. I am sure it will fill up with something though!
Soccer is also going on. We are at practice a couple of nights a week. That means there are also two different games we have to be at on Saturdays. So there go our weekends. It is a fun busy life but we love it. Our boys are growing up so fast and we are so proud of them. We love our boys!

Tyler wanted a Lego birthday cake. So this is the best I could do!

9 Years

It is hard to believe that 9 years ago we were just two young people in LOVE. Now 9 years later we are happily married and have three little rambunctious boys running around the house. Time sure does fly by! Matt has been traveling a lot lately for work so I squeezed in a little getaway for our anniversary.
I found this awesome deal online for a Bed and Breakfast up in Sacramento. Matt was up there all week so I dropped off the boys at my Mom's and then headed up North to meet Matt.
We have never been to a Bed and Breakfast so I was excited to try something new. They also had a spa on the site but Matt wasn't too sure about getting a massage. We did get chocolate covered strawberries that were divine. Our room was a little smaller then I thought but it was still really nice. I loved the BIG jetted tub! It was awesome.
We walked around Downtown Sacramento and just enjoyed being with each others company. Breakfast was little awkward with the other guests but we made it through and the food was so delicious.  We always go and do sealings at the temple for our anniversary but it was closed which was a bummer.  So we just hung around town and went shopping.  Since Matt didn't want to get a massage I took him to get a pedicure. He was not too sure about it and looked very uncomfortable while we were there but he did enjoy it!
It was nice to getaway for a day without the boys. They had a blast at Grandma's with their cousins. Thanks Mom and Katie for your help.
 Now I am ready for another 90 years together!

First Day of School

Tyler started 2nd grade this year. I can't believe he is that old! We had a little FHE Sunday night on preparing for the new school year and Matt gave the boys their blessings. Then we headed to the school to find his classroom and check the list to make sure he was in the right room etc. We also ran into a couple of other families from our ward doing the same thing. It was quite funny!  Anyways, he was super excited for school and could hardly sleep the night before.  He kept getting up all night and tossing and turning. Then he was up and ready before I came downstairs to make his lunch or breakfast. Then I was going to be the awesome mom and get him there really early and take lots of pictures. Of course I couldn't find my keys anywhere. I was a basket case. Really on the first day of school, come on! So, I called Matt and he rushed home from work and took Tyler to school. It was so crazy that Matt just dropped him off at the corner and Tyler had to walk down the street to his school. Not at all how I had planned it. 

We did find my keys hidden in the toys by Hayden. I went to the grocery store that day and went to get my wallet which was not in my purse. I about had a heart attack, could my day get any worse. (It was in the glove box of my car thankfully.) It was just a crazy day. I did go and get Tyler that afternoon and went inside his class and took a few pictures since we didn't get to that morning. He was excited because he has some friends from Kindergarten and 1st grade in his class. 

That afternoon and evening Tyler was not himself and just wanted to lay on the couch and do nothing. Now, if you know Tyler he is loud and a very active boy. He didn't want to eat dinner or anything and then told me that his tummy hurt. He threw up a couples times that night and fell asleep by 6:30pm. I know that he was not sick and it was just nerves and being so anxious about school. He did the same thing last year on the first day of school. The next morning he woke right up and was ready for a new day. I am glad that he is enjoying school and hope that he will continue to do so. 

Now I just need to start Preschool with Carter.

Summer Vacation

This summer we went on a family trip over to the coast. Matt's parents joined us and we all had a great time. First we took the boys to the Oakland Temple. There was a visitors center that we went through and enjoyed. The Temple grounds were just so beautiful! It was such a peaceful feeling and it was my favorite part of our whole trip.

Then we headed over to San Francisco. Matt and the boys have never been there so they were excited. It was fun to see the sights all though it was too foggy that we couldn't see the Golden Gate Bridge. It was too much walking for the boys so they didn't enjoy it that much. Their favorite part was riding the trolley ride back to our car. It was an hour and half wait so that was not very fun.

After that we went over to Santa Cruz for a few days. We rented a condo right across the street from the Boardwalk. It was so beautiful to look out our front window and see the ocean. The condo was pretty nice and we enjoyed being so close to everything. One day we did all the rides at the boardwalk. Tyler did all the big scary rides with Matt and Grandpa while I hung out with the little ones.  Hayden and Carter loved all the rides especially the car ride. I think that they went on that one 8 times! 

We got this special deal through Costco so we got extra tickets to go bowling and mini golf. The boys had a blast and enjoyed just playing with each other. We also spent some time on the beach. Tyler and Hayden built sandcastles and loved the water while Carter wasn't a big fan. Hayden was covered from head to toe with sand.  It was pretty bad but quite funny to see him! Matt went boggie boarding and I would have joined him but it was a little too cold. 

We were right by the wharf so we walked over there and got to see some sea lions. It was awesome to see them up close. They sure all loud animals, they kept me up some nights.  

It was a nice little getaway. Not to long but not to short, especially with kids!

Pool Party

A couple of weekends ago I took off with the boys and headed up to my mom's. Matt was out of the town for the whole week so we decided to get away too. My nephew graduated from Jr. High and was having a pool party with some friends while we were there. That evening we went over to my brothers house and had a great time. They had this big blow up water slide that was so much fun! They also have a swimming pool so Tyler was in heaven. My brother put in a little kid area in the pool so Carter loved it and he was all over the place. It was fun to watch him, because he has not been a fan of the water. We gave him lessons this year and he still didn't like the water. Something about it being a small area just for him made all the difference. 

There was also lots of yummy food. It was taco salad/nachos/whatever you wanted! My brother Steve is an awesome cook! I love Mexican food so I was in heaven. Little Hayden did too and kept going back for more. One time I was freaking out because I couldn't find Hayden and then we all looked over at the food and there he was holding his plate up for someone put more on for him. It was too funny! Hayden was trying to give the dogs hugs all night but they never let him. He got pretty upset with them.

We all had a blast and enjoyed seeing family. In a nutshell:

Tyler- loved the pool and water slides like always he is our little fish.

Carter- loved the water and we had to pull him out of it. I am so happy he is not scared of it anymore.

Hayden- Give me the food and let me play with the dogs and I will be fine. 

What is that on my face? Oh ya it is Nacho Cheese Sauce, YUM!

My nephew Cameron and Tyler

Carter showing me he knows how to swim. AWESOME!

Come give me a hug doggy!

Hayden's two!

What is going on? My BABY is TWO years old. That can't be possible.  Oh, but it is! He is another loud child that likes to do everything for himself (very independent, "No Momma I do"). He loves to play cars/trucks and eating! 

For Hayden's birthday we went to the donut shop and got donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast. He woke up to balloons all over the family room and just loved it. He doesn't watch t.v. but when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on he gets excited and says "Meme, Meme" So I made him a Mickey mouse cake. When he woke up from his nap and I showed him it he just lit up and said "Meme, Meme". Grandma and Grandpa Carr came down for the evening.

 He loved opening presents and eating cake and ice cream. 

Hayden loves babies and would not let go of a baby doll when he was over at a friends house recently. So for his birthday he got one of his own. That baby goes everywhere he goes. He CAN NOT  go to sleep with out it. It goes to the store, park, friends house, etc. He loves his baby. He is also in the stage were he loves to mix things together. I will walk into the kitchen and it will be a little lake. He has gotten cups out and my muffin tins, bowls, spoons, etc. He loves to mix! We have to tell him that it is not time to mix when we are eating or else our dinner will get all watered. So of course he got his own plastic dishes for his b-day. He loves them too. 

We can't believe our little Hayden is all grown up. He is so cute and we are so thankful for him in our family.

                                              
                                       

Train Ride

Ever since we moved here I have been hearing about this train ride to get some really good ice cream. I finally asked around to see where it was and what it was like. So a couple of weeks ago a friend and I took our kids and went. The train ride was only 35 min. but felt like 15 min. it went by so fast. The boys loved it and enjoyed looking out the window. They even got some conductor hats to wear and felt very important. Once we got to our destination we had to walk a couple of blocks to the ice cream shop. It was hot and the kids got tired really fast.  We made it and the place so was busy we had to stand and wait for a place to sit for a while. It sure was a popular place and the ice cream was delicious. 

I got the boys a banana split to share and a sundae for myself. When our ice cream came out I was so glad that I just got one for the boys. It was huge, I couldn't believe it! It was piled high with vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream. Plus the whipped topping,  a cherry and some sprinkled nuts. They could barely finish it between the three of them. 

When we were all done we walked across the street to the park and let the kids play for little bit before we needed to head back to the train. It was a fun outing to do and I enjoyed visiting with my friend too. Before we knew it we were home again. It went by so fast and we all had a blast!

Monterey

So, a couple of weekends ago I took my boys on a little trip. Matt has been traveling a lot lately and working on his Masters program. We don't see him very much. Tyler had a 4 day weekend on Memorial weekend, plus Matt had a week break from school. So we booked a hotel and as soon as Matt got back into town we jumped into the car and took off. I let Matt sit in the back and watch a movie with the boys since he was tired of driving from work. 

We drove over to Monterey. Our first day we played at the beach mostly all day. We went to a big  park called Dennis the Menace. The boys had a blast. There were all sorts of different slides and climbing things. A big long bridge that was wobbly but it didn't scare Hayden.  He still ran across it screaming with laughter! We also had a picnic there and enjoyed just being together as a family.

 It was a lot cooler then we were use to. We brought some body boards and I taught Matt how to boggie board. The water was freezing. I actually didn't get all the way in but Matt loved it. He was out there for a long time.  The boys loved playing in the sand with their buckets and had fun. That night we all came home sunburnt! It was bad, little Hayden was the worst. We were all covered, it was just our faces were bright red. Hayden looked like a tomato. It matched his hair (which I hate by the way, we are hoping it will go strawberry blonde).  

The next day we woke up and got ready to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We spent all morning there looking at all the fish, sharks, jelly fish, otters, etc. They had little kid areas that the kids could play in with the animals or just fun stuff for them. Then we walked up and down the street and looked at all the cool shops they have there. We had some lunch and then headed back to the Aquarium. That is when we saw the seahorses. I think those were the best ones.  They are very interesting creatures. It was awesome and we had fun. It was a short trip but long enough with kids. 

Crazy boys! What is it with picking noses?!

Dennis!!!!!!