My Family

My Family
Ry-11 Caden -5 Bean-Belly

Saturday, September 10, 2011

911 We Will Never Forget

Ten years ago I was pregnant with Rylan. It was the hardest year of my life. I was strained from stress of pregnancy and uncertainty of my future.  I woke up at 911 with a phone call from my dad telling me to pack up all my stuff to stay with him and his then girlfriend Valerie, in Apple Valley. Because America was being attacked. This was 9-11-01. I remember standing in my room and watching the news and feeling panicked, and scared, grateful and blessed all at the same time.  I felt for the families and victims from the three attacks. I felt blessed to have Rylan with me.  I stayed in town and went to Pappy's for work. We watched the news all day.  Now ten years later I am watching the show in remembrance of that day.  I get to educate Rylan about the tragedy.  I get to teach my kids that kindness and goodwill to others is the lesson of the tragedy.  People exhibited kindness to others despite their race or creed. First responders were compelled to assist and help, to risk and some give their lives.  I will never forget this day...ever.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Zoo Pics August 2011

Gorillas -they have around 8 of them. Really make a compelling argument for the evolution/creation argument.

great way to travel

flamingos- another favorite animal.


mean faces...so scary!

orangutan

xoxo

Sea World 2011 pics

Rylan and I waiting for the sea show...sitting in the soak zone! Per Rylans request

Waiting for the Show -Caden and DAD

*Mommy and Caden*
Still waiting

It is a breathtaking view... We never got wet!!!!

getting a little bored... though he loved the whales shaking their booty(tails)

Petting Star Fish

getting ready to feed seals

feeling a glacier...its cold!

at shamu show


Dolphin feeding...we waited an hour to get into feed them. It was worth it to allow Rylan to ask questions about her favorite animal.


Look at her face. So cool.


Sea World 2011

We've been wanting to take the kids to Sea World even before Caden was born.  Rylan hated Disneyland. She hated the rides, heat, and is not a fan of characters(men dressed up as cartoons).  She has a point. Usually in the summer are funds are low due to the month that I do not get paid.  We make it a point to go to the beach because we make that 400$ trailer payment.  This year I worked hard to pay off bills and put money aside to go towards vacations.  We were able to go!!! The kids loved it. We splurged and ate lunch with Shamu. Rylan go to ask a dolphin trainer questions about how  to have her job. They kids got to feed the dolphin. Rylan asked her what she would need to have her job. The trainer said to be a strong swimmer, any degree, animal experience(like 4-h). She was excited. The kids also got to feed a seal, pet a starfish, feel an ice burg. It was an educational, fun, day. Caden got to play at sesame street and ride the spinning tea cup ride. He loved it! We are wanting to buy season passes. It was a great day.

The zoo was ok... not fun! Not boring! somewhere in between.  It was hot.  The kids liked the elephants and the monkeys were to cute. So we finally figured out that the best way to see the Zoo was to take the bus. We sat on the double decker bus and was able to see it all! we probably will not go back to the zoo anytime soon. Possibly the wild animal park....

We indulged the kids at the hotel and let them swim at night! I love that its the small things that get her excited. We small for an hour or less, but she was so excited. FYI we will never stay at that hotel again. Dirty rooms, and breakfast was a joke. sooo not worth it.

Annual Trip to Pismo Dunes August


digging with rylan

walking to the water for family time


Dad and Mikey on his quad.

Rylans new quad. I traded Kimmie

Every year we take a trip with Mikey's Family to the dunes. Mikey's family has been going for many years.  I love the trip and dread it.  We spend so much money getting the trailer, bike, kids ready. Typically Mikey gets stuck trying to park on the beach and he patently asks for his dad to pull him out he yells and hits his truck until his dad pulls him out. It is so frustrating.  This year I missed the first couple days because I had college classes to take.  So sadly happily I missed the drama. I did miss the kids. I got to hang out with cheree a lot and be alone...that was nice.  It turns out that Mikey didn't get stuck. He credits it to his new dodge truck. 
We had a wedding to attend for Mason and Morgan. Yes They looked beautiful, but Caden was so handsome and carried those rings masterfully.  Mikey drove the kids home for the wedding then the following day we headed back to the beach to complete the vacation.  I really wanted to go to Avila Barn. We fed the animals, ate corn, Mikey got fudge.  At Avila Barn they have a huge trailer that is set not to move, and built around it are stray bails for people to sit on and eat their corn.  We did that. Caden slipped and fell, we laughed(as good parents would), he got up and says"that was my trick!"  Well he attempts the trick again, only this time he fell all the way down off the staggering bails of hay. He got a scratch on his head. Most of all his ego was bruised.  That "trick" didn't go as planned. It was on this trip that we also figured out Caden gets car sick. I put the barn in to google maps and it misled us to a winding road.  When we made the correct destination... Caden threw up!!! he was car sick!
We then headed back to the beach. Caden rode the ryno, Rylan rode her quad... even in the dunes.  We went to pismo to the Pier once.  As Mikey and I always do got into a huge fight...HUGE!!! We now call it THE ANNUAL FIGHT... which is why I dread the trip. I hate to fight especially in front of the in laws. Caden did not have any asthma this trip and did well. Mikey even walked to the water, he never has done that in the last 5 years Ive been going to the beach.  It was good for the kids, they got star fish, Mikey tripped Rylan into the water, Caden got to his chest with a small wave.