the beach, a black eye and the bay

This last week was fun.  Ben had his spring break, finally!  Although it was 2 weeks after Easter.  But it was fun to have him home with just our little family.

Monday and Tuesday we just kind of hung out.  we decided to go to the beach one day and fly Olivia's kite.  that lasted about 15 minuted until the wind was too strong and broke the string of the kite.  but we had fun and olivia loved being at the beach.  it was a cold wind too, so we decided to head back to the house and just play outside.

 

This little guy is just getting so big.

 

 This is Braxtons black eye.  he now stands up all the time, even in the bathtub.  he slipped and the water spout won.  he cried for about 20 sec and was ready to go back to playing.  He loves the bath now that he is in the tub with Olivia.  He is crawling so fast now too.  if you make ANY motion to the bathroom, he is there within seconds.  all he thinks about is the bath.

 the beach was really pretty that day too.

Wednesday Ben had a track meet in Willits, so we decided to make a trip to Jan and Lou's house.  me and the kids hung out for the day and ben went to the track meet.  we had dinner, then came home.  it was short, but really fun to see them and grandma donna.  sorry, no pictures.  i am working on that.

 

Thursday we headed down south.  we had a stake temple day on saturday and we decided to just make a weekend of it.  we left thursday morning and had good intentions of making it to the childrens museum in san jose, but that didnt work.  Olivia decided to pee her pants about 2 hours south, then once we got to Santa Rosa, Braxton woke up and screamed.  so with all the stops it took us about 5 hours to get to oakland.  but it was still fun.  we scrapped the CM, and stayed at the hotel.  they had an indoor pool.  well worth it.  Olivia loved it and it was the first time B had been swimming.  again, no pictures, but they loved it.

i was determined to get pics at the zoo.

friday we headed to SF to the zoo.  SO FUN!!!

 



 rented a stroller at the zoo, so we didnt have to pack one, and the hotel had a crib.  another bonus for packing a small car.
Olivia just loved it.  she loved being there and seeing what was going to come next.  we made it about 1 hour before braxton had a blow out in his diaper and distroyed his pants.  thanks to the spirit for prompting me to pack an extra pair of pants...because i never do.  so we changed those suckers and then had lunch. 

 there was a train that went around the zoo.  we took that and olivia was having a lot of fun the 2nd go round.  she was a little shocked i think, the first time.  she didn't really say anything and was just kind of staring off.  pretty funny.

 

 There was a petting zoo area.  Olivia was having a lot of fun.  she would follow the goats around and try to hug them.  we definately had to keep an eye on her so she didn't get hurt.  these animals were sure spoiled.  they didn't really want to have anything to do with you unless you had food.  there was even one goat that was laying under the food dispenser.  they had food in candy dispensers.  you put in $.50 and you got a handful.  once the goat heard that dispenser turn, she was on her feet!!

 This one came running when he discovered Olivia had food.

 right before the train took off.

 Us in the front

 These two in the back.

 during the ride, you can see B had fun!

 near the apes, we all saw how we measured up.

 Then the temple.  it was so nice to do a session with ben.  we hadn't done that in over a year.  they provided babysitting for us while we went in. 

 These are just some pictures of yesterday.  it was so nice outside that i put braxton in this outfit when we went jogging.  it is a 6 month outfit and he barely fit into it.  i wanted to take a picture before he couldn't ware it at all.  he smiled at first with the hat, but then broke down.  he is not a fan of hats.

all is well.  we have 7 weeks left of school, then summer.  i can't wait for ben to be around a whole lot more.  it sure is easier to get out to the beach or anywhere when i have help with the two kids.

No big deal...just a turkey!

 

 

This is what happens when Braxton wakes up from his nap crabby.  He will actually cuddle with Olivia.  I LOVE IT!!  He thinks it is so funny when we put his pacifier in our mouths and not his.

 

 We went to Jan and Lou's for the saturday before Easter for an early celebration.  I brought the camera for good form to try to get some pictures.  i took this one, and my battery died!!  as LaNell would say... FAIL!!  this was one of about 4 games of settlers played that day.  we really had a whole lot of fun this day with all the extended family.  especially joel and michelle and their kids taylor and seth, as well as ty and his little one, Autumn.  Olivia had so much fun playing with the kids.

 Easter came after Olivia and Braxtons afternoon nap.  when Olivia got up, she came and out was a little out of it, but she had fun.  it was raining, so the Easter bunny hid the eggs in the house.  not too much fun, but she loved it.

 The next day, coloring the eggs.  That is right folks.  we just did not have enough time this year to color the eggs before the Easter bunny came.  Luckily, LaNell came to stay with us for 3 days and she colored them with her later that evening.

 Olivia's picture taking skills.

 yes.... there were eggs in the bathtub.

 Big Braxton with his big boy teeth.  He has his two bottom teeth, and then got his two top teeth.  now he has a third one to the right and one more coming in on the left.  makes me want to cry.  he is just getting too big too fast!!

 He now stands up as well.  just turned 9 months and is just shy of 20 lbs.  and in the 75th percentile for his height.  he sure is getting big.

 I LOVE THIS LITTLE HAT ON HIM!!!  such a big boy!

 This is what happened this morning.  i thought i heard the kitchen table rattle when i was sitting at it, and so i tried to move it, and nothing.  then i heard it again.  so i thought it might be my chair.  nothing...then i heard it again.  i opened the blinds, and low and behold i see this turkey running through our yard.  we dont have turkeys, neither do our neighbors as far as i know.  kind of crazy!!

 Bubba at the dr today.  i couldn't keep him still.  he was all over the place and so happy to be playing, even if it was just in his diaper and cold.  he loved it!!