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Long Overdue Pictures

Well, nothing amazing. I just didn't post these ever. My sis and bro-in-law came to stay for a few days and enjoy the So Cal fall with a trip to the beach. It was so much fun to have them all to ourselves, although we missed their kiddos and probably put a hold on their romantic getaway. Thanks for staying with us! Of course, we didn't take a picture of them on their bikes on the boardwalk (fun!) or of us all together. Or of them at all. Sorry. We really do love you. 

Sum up of the beach:

1. Boogie boarding attempt (yeah, right. I am not so good at this)

2. Scott slept on a blanket the whole time. J&J slept. I played with the kids.

3. Jake and Alisa made friends with 10 year old girls and took over their sand castle. Maybe I didn't play as much as they wanted!

4. Alisa likes the taste of sand.

First Day of Preschool picture happened to be about the fourth day. Ah, well. I can't always remember what a good mom is supposed to do. I was just happy we were getting there on time. 

Jake and Alisa like to play in our mostly dug up garden area. This day, Jake filled Alisa's clothes with dirt. This picture doesn't even capture the filth.

The culprit, mopping the dirty slide. Jake is always in undies, only. It is the bare minimum requirement here, as it's so hot! The other day he got his undies dirty in the mud, and I found him sitting buck naked in the dirty garden area. He was really surprised to find dirt in the cracker. Bath time early that day.

Lastly, I wanted to get a side-by-side shot of these two. Think they might be related? It's more than just looks. This is my bro., Josh, awhile after he knocked out his front tooth and his other one turned gray. Familiar story, huh? Jake's just following in his fireman uncle's footsteps...

What have I been up to?

Since my friend, Melissa, told me about the new book being written from Edward's point of view (18 chapters online, due to a copyright enfringement), I have been sneaking in moments of this. If you are a fan of Bella and Edward, have a go.

Life is Precious!

One of my amazing friends just gave birth to her sixth child. He is so beautiful and such a little miracle. As I was holding him, I was reminded of just how much God trusts us. What a blessing to have a child! I'm so grateful to be a mother! It is a miracle that a female body can and was designed to grow another human being inside of it. It was a reminder to me of the truth that God designed the family unit--male and female--the core of our society and of our world, for that matter. 

I was reminded this again as I read an article by Elder Russel M. Nelson, who is one of the twelve apostles in my church. He says:

     Life is precious! No one can cuddle an innocent infant, look into those beautiful eyes, feel           the little fingers, and kiss that baby's cheek without a deepening reverence for life and for         our Creator. Life comes from life. It is no accident. It is a gift from God. Innocent life is not       sent by Him to be destroyed. It is given by Him and is naturally to be taken by Him alone. 

Amen to that! Life is precious! Reading this and holding that little babe helped me remember what matters most in this life. 

Carlsbad Post--LOTS of Pictures!

First, a HUGE THANK YOU to Les and Linda (Mom and Dad) for the wonderful time share week at this resort. We were so lucky to find it! Thank you! 

We got there on Scott's birthday, checked in late, he got groceries. We played or unpacked, or something. I made him Carraba's chicken bryan (yum!), broccoli, french bread dipped in evoo and balsalmic vinegar, and bubbly. It was a late, yummy dinner. We had pazooki's for his birthday cake. Heavenly. Love them! Happy birthday, hon!

We had two escape artists and quickly learned the reason for the child lock up high. That is a real lizard. It lived with us all week.

[monday]

Just kidding about the lizard. Fake. Jake chose Disneyland over the beach and pool for the first day of vacation. Jake and Alisa at the white rabbit's house by Alice in Wonderland. They love this door. Alisa stayed here for a good 15 minutes while Jake and Scott hit the tea cups.

Jake and Me on Splash Mountain. We're in the back.

Thanks, Kara. Jake loves the Minnie Mouse jacket for Alisa. He also found a lovely princess Jasmine wand at the table where we ate dinner (picnic, of course!). Yep, all boy!

[tuesday]

Heading back from the first beach trip. We didn't realize we had the cameras in the car until we left! We went running on the beach with the double jogger. We'd planned on going back to the hotel, letting Alisa nap, then hitting the beach in the p.m., but the kids were so excited that we just stayed... no sunscreen, no water, no food, for a few hours! They loved it! So did we. We all left with sunburns! Not the best idea, but hey! it was fun.

Our kids turned into couch potatoes! I'm not gonna lie. It was nice when Jake figured out how to find cartoons (PBS Kids) in the morning and would watch those with Alisa and let us wake up naturally. We got to sleep in until 7:30!

Sunburned babe #1.

Sunburned babe #2.

[wednesday]

It was so nice to have the beach so close! We had so much fun and the kids entertain themselves for hours. 

Pixie hair at the beach. She got a mouthful or two in. Yum!

Taking a rest after a lot of playing.

Alisa actually joined us for a few minutes.

Aw, cute!

Alisa thought she was so big swimming on the third step. She is a crack up. She actually lays on her tummy in the water and does big swimming arms over and over. 

Jake loved the water play area a the resort. This boat was awesome!

We'd get back from the beach, and Jake would hit the play/pool area hard while Alisa took a nap. We'd swim every day until 6 or so, then start dinner. Late dinner every night, but we had to take advantage...

All bundled up. It's quite a bit cooler there than here (15 degrees or so?)

The play area at the resort was great! It was a castle with a dungeon. Jake and Alisa LOVED it!

[thursday]

Yea! Disneyland has all their Halloween decorations up, so we had to get a picture with the giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin.

Jake was so brave to go on Space Mountain twice--once each time we went. He must've forgotten on Thursday that he really didn't like it Monday. It was too dark and scary. He will go when he is five, of course!

Jake's fave--to infinity... and beyond! 

Buzz. We are so intense.

Buzz Lightyear. Great ride. No lines.

Alisa loved waving to all the characters in the Pixar Parade.

New Toy Story ride at Cali Adventure. It is really fun... until you see the high score for the day and compare your own. Loser!

Jake and Scott on Splash Mountain. We love that ride! Quite a drop! And p.s. if you sit in the back, you don't really get wet...

Birthday lunch--thanks to the parents! We ate across from Pirates and had the yummy and deep fried Monte Cristo sandwich and the berry crepes (sorry, Devin, they no longer have the chocolate ones, as of that day!).

Scott introduced Jake to the barfy Tea cups--he loves them!

[friday]

On Friday we hit the beach one last time. It was overcast and cool all day long. The water was nice. My sister-in-law and her adorable babe came for a few hours of beach time. Scott and Jake had fun burying each others body parts. As you can see, Alisa is coming to take part.

Jake wasn't too happy about sharing the burying hole with her. She's thrilled to be a part of it.

Corban had a hearty appetite. He ate sand the entire time at the beach--fistfulls of it, or just plopping face-first into the sand with mouth wide open! He's pretty much the cutest boy I've ever seen... besides Jake...

Jake and Alisa with a last stomp to bury Scott's feet.

She loved it!

Falling In Love All Over Again

I fell in love all over again this week. It was exhilarating! So to my lost loves that were found again this week, I love you, I love you, I looooo-oooove you!!!! Sorry if you were expecting a tear-jerking, rekindled loved story between two humans. This is between one human and two appliances. I miss you two already! Until next year... hopefully.

Funny

From Jake:

Mom, where is your pee-pee?

I don't have one Jake. I am a girl. Only boys have pee-pees.

Well, are you going to be a boy after you are a girl? Then you will have a pee-pee?

Nope...

(and don't worry--I took advantage of the moment to teach about gender identity, of course!)

At the beach, Scott and Jake were building drip castles together, and out of the blue:

Dad, you are my best friend... and Jonas is my best friend. Who is your best friend?

Scott: You are my best friend, and mom is my best friend, and Alisa is my best friend.

And Jonas?

Scott: And Jonas is my best friend, too.