Maternity Photos!

I've never had photos done while pregnant... So I really wanted to do some this time! I have done our own family pictures before with a tripod and a remote clicker, but these were pretty difficult.  When your pregnant, it's all about angles, and it's hard to see those when your not behind the camera!  The boys both got to try their hand at photography... They took the ones of just me and Randy.  Anyway, I was excited to share!

A night for the boys

As soon as we knew we would go out to California, Randy knew he would go to a baseball game (or games). So when we looked at the schedules for the California teams and saw that we could possibly see the Cardinals play...and it would be the first series played against Albert Who?... Randy got tickets! 

So on July 3, Randy and Doug took all the boys to see the Anaheim Angels play the St Louis Cardinals in Anaheim, California.  It turned out to be a great game for a Cardinal fan, as the Cards won 12-2!  The boys all had a great time (including Randy and Doug)!

Our Vacation

Thanks to the invite of some wonderful friends, our family went on vacation. 

A simple statement, a simple thing: vacation. 

The truth is, we have never taken a family vacation.  I guess the last time we did was our honeymoon (almost 13 years ago)... and that was before the boys were born.  The only time Austin has ever been out of the state of Missouri was a trip to Cahokia Mounds 15 minutes from St Louis, and when we crossed the state line into Kansas to pick up Randy's truck. 

So our trip was kind of a big deal to us!  Our friends, Doug and Christina had told us we were welcome to come and stay with them, so we took them up on it! They have 3 boys that are very close in age to ours, and we only see them when they make it back to Missouri, so it was great to get to spend time with their family.

We flew out there, and I think everyone should have the experience of taking a child on their first airplane ride...it was so much fun to see their excitement!  After layovers going there and back, they are both veterans at loading and unloading, watching for the seatbelt sign, and taking out liquids at security.  I think their favorite part, though, was picking out which drink they would order when the flight attendant came by.... That and take off...

I wasn't sure what I would think of California, and I have to say it was not at all what I expected.  They live in the Temecula Valley, which is about an hour south of Riverside, and an hour North of San Diego... but inland, not on the coast.  It was dry and really reminded me of being in the desert!  It was a great location for going and seeing things, though, as we were about an hour's drive from many places.  We were pretty much on or in the water every day, and even though we went to NO amusement parks or attractions that the area is known for, I think we got to see California for it's beauty and charm.  I think it will be something the boys will always remember....

Our first day at the ocean, we went to the beach by the pier in Oceanside, CA...

The water was kind of cold at first!

Austin trying to bury Andrew in the sand...

A view from the pier

My boys watching the surfers

Going home tomorrow :(

We have had a great week...got so busy relaxing I didn't have time to post!  Lauren came down from San Fransico this weekend, and we got to spend a few days together.  We went down to San Diego one of the days, and that was a lot of fun...

I will write some longer post when we get back and I can use my camera pics instead of my phone pics!

Boogie boarding at the beach

Deep Sea Fishing

On the USS Midway in San Diego

Both boys got autographs from Rockies players at the Padres game

They had a great time with Lauren in San Diego!

Rest of the week...

On Wednesday, Randy and Doug took all the boys to the Angels game to see the Cardinals play and they won 12-2!

Today we went down to San Diego to Coronado Beach... It was beautiful and sunny and the boys (all three) got to try out the boogie board...

The boys are in the center holding seaweed...

All the boogie board pics are on my real camera, so we will have to wait on those!

The Ocean

I was so excited to take the boys to see the ocean!  We went to Oceanside California today, and as the ocean came into view, they didn't disappoint, with a perfectly timed Wooooaaaaahhh! 

It was overcast, and a little cool, but they still loved it.  Randy took them out to jump the waves, which were so big people were surfing on them!  

(Sorry about the picture quality.... These are all phone pictures until I get home to download the camera)

Let's start with vacation!

I'm starting fresh today!  We are on a family vacation for the first time ever, so why not begin today?   We are out in California, visiting some great friends, Doug and Christina, who we went to Avila with.  Randy and Doug played baseball together, and worked at FedEx together.  They have 3 cute boys close to our boys ages, and are expecting a 4th baby in August.  

I think everyone should get to experience taking a child on their first flight.  The boys were so excited... Every little thing was exciting, and the very first takeoff was priceless... You would have thought we went on a roller coaster!  When the attendant took their drink order, and they got pretzels and peanuts and soda, it was like icing on the cake.  

At Kansas City International, our plane is in the background...

On the plane

Flying over the Rockies... We switched planes in Denver, so they got their first look at the mountains... I have never seen these from the air, and they are still amazing from up here.