Disneyland 2009 - Pictures from Day 1

Here are some pictures from our first night and day at Disneyland. I'll fill in the details later...

San Diego

We officially started our vacation on Thursday evening. Jason packed up the "G-burb" while the kids were at camp and I was at work. By 5:30, after a few stumbling blocks, we were on the road. We made pretty good time and stopped for the night at Harris Ranch. Everyone was tired and we got a little bit of a late start on Friday. Most of the day Friday was spent travelling down "The 5" to San Diego. The highlights around the way were In-n-Out for lunch, Emma Jo sending her first text message to Grampa and an exotic wood store in Carlsbad. Jason was amazed by the selection of wood. Many species he had never seen before and the quality was fantastic. His comment to me was that it was a good thing we live so far away because he could spend a lot of time and money there. When I told my dad about the store his comment was to tell Jason that the Yukon has a roof rack.It is always a big treat when we get to eat at In-N-Out. The closest one to us is about 30 minutes away and we only stop there a few times a year. The kids were very happy to get these cool hats and stickers.

In San Diego we stayed at the Westin which was formally known as the Emerald Palace. If you ever look at pictures of the San Diego skyline you will neon green hexagons on a hotel's roof. That was our hotel! We had an awesome view of the bay and could see the water, boats, tractors and even fireworks. Cooper loved standing on the windowsill and watching the cars go by below us. We went to dinner Friday night with old friends. On the way back to the room the girls were in awe of the city lights (a little different than Sonoma County). Gracie remarked that it looked like Christmas and Emma Jo thought New York must look just like it.Saturday we took the kids to Sea World and Grandma Bette and Grandpa Joe flew into town. Grace has been talking about Shamu for two years since our last visit so it was a must do. Cooper loved the Shamu show and clapped each time anyone else clapped. Despite the 90+ degree weather we all had a good time. Seaport Village for breakfast. It was in the mid-80s by 10am so Jason and I were pretty happy the kids agreed that we could skip Legoland and just head to LA and go swimming

Blog Hop - Favorite Photo

This picture was taken when Cooper was about 3 months old. It was right about the time I was returning to work. The girls and I dressed him up in an outfit that we had originally given to my nephews at their baby shower. I loved the outfit when I picked it out for them and I loved it even more when I got to dress Cooper in it a year later. We had a mini photo session as I tried to capture the perfect picture to post on my desktop at the office so that anytime I was missing my little dude I could close all other windows and just stare at him.

Click here to enter your link in the blog hop and view the entire list of entered links...

Fun in the Sun

Summer is finally here! The kids are so happy that with the hot weather comes the opportunity to swim, eat ice cream, and play in the water.

We go to Grammie and Grampa's house just about every week for Sunday dinner. It is one of my favorite times of the week when I can get together with my parents and share the adventures of the week. It warms my heart to see how much they love their grandchildren and it is special to me that my children will have so many great memories of their grandparents. The kids each love their Grammie and Grampa, in fact when we pulled in the driveway last Sunday Cooper yelled out "Grammie" and started clapping. Too cute...

Last Sunday Grammie and Grampa had been shopping, again. Emma Jo loves to swim in the big pool, but the little kids usually don't go in, so they had gotten a red-white-and-blue blow-up swimming pool for Cooper and an Ariel sprinkler for Grace.

First we coated each of the kids in sunscreen.

Then we let Cooper get in the pool.

Cooper watched Gracie playing in the sprinkler.

Cooper had never played in a sprinkler before and wanted to check it out for himself.

Emma Jo saw the little kids having so much fun she decided to come over and join in with them.

After all the water play, Cooper was hungry and devoured the guacamole. Too bad he doesn't actually eat the chips, just uses them for dippers to get the guacamole. As soon as they get soggy he throws them back in the basket and chooses a new chip.

Pina Napa Valley - Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Day

On Saturday in the 100+ degree weather, Pina Napa Valley hosted their first ever Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Day BBQ. There was food (BBQ Ribs, Chicken, Hot Dogs, Grilled Veggies, salads, fruit, Corn on the Cob), drink (Beer, Wine, Water, Soda) and fun (Corn Hole, Bocce, and a water trough). Misters outside kept it bearable to play games and get food. The cellar was a welcome reprieve from the heat. The food was great and I think everyone had a great time.

Is it time yet? Cooper John waiting patiently to go to the BBQ (and see Daddy).

Cooper enjoying the water trough Grampa brought to the party for the little kids. It was the perfect sized swimming pool. (Notice that he got his hair cut on the way to the party).

The ribs were delicious. Thank you Jason for cooking for everyone (as always).

Cornhole

Ranndy brought Cornhole to the winery. It is a game popular in the south and goes by many names. You might know it as washers, bean bag toss, bags or baggo. It is a lawn game similar to horseshoes. You use bean bags filled with dried corn and toss them at platforms made out of plywood that have a hole cut out of them. In regulation play the platforms are 30 feet apart, you get to throw four bags four times, add up your scores and declare a winner. At PNV we estimated the distance and had a tournament with a Magnum of wine as the prize.

Ranndy our Cornhole expert.

Official Cornhole platform.

Cooper John watched intently for his opportunity to run out there and grab the bean bags.

Emma Jo and Grace watching the game from the coolness of the misters.

Grampa John C. trying his hand at the game.

Emma Jo concentrating then showing the Pina form.

Taekwondo

Tonight we left the boys at home and the girls and I headed to an introductory Taekwondo class. Jason and I really want the girls to be filled with self-confidence and we've heard so many wonderful things about Taekwondo.

Hauth's Family Taekwondo is just down the street from our house and the owners attend our church. They offer free introductory classes and then have family classes where students of all ages can practice together. There were just the three of us (and later one little boy) in the introductory class. Emma, Grace and I had fun learning each of the stances, strikes, blocks, and a couple of kicks. We went through about a quarter of the while belt forms. We also got to kick the red pads. Emma Jo even got to lunge punch the instructor in the stomach!

We're going to go back for another introductory class next week and then decide if we want to enroll. The instructor told us that we could even bring Cooper and see if he is old enough to listen and follow instructions.


While we were gone, Jason and Cooper hung out together (one of Cooper's favorite things). Cooper loves to wear hats and Jason took these pictures of the little dude wearing Daddy's cowboy hat.

Daddy's Little Boy

For the last several weeks, Cooper has been going through a stage. The Daddy's Little Boy stage. When Jason is around Cooper wants nothing to do with anyone else. Cooper follows him around the house with arms outstretched calling "uppy, uppy, uppy dada". Jason spends a lot of time carrying the little dude around and getting very little else done. I've tried to remind Jason that in a few years Cooper won't want anything to do with cuddling and he should enjoy the time now. However it is a little tough to put together basketball hoops and prepare meals while you have a little dude in your arms.

I try to sympathize with Jason but I'm actually getting a little jealous. I wouldn't mind Cooper being hooked on Mama for a while. Sure I'll do when Daddy is gone, but when he is around I'm about as popular as chopped liver.