Scared

Every few weeks Jay and I decide we are going to go out and do something fun with the kids. This past Monday we decided we would take them to the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk. We knew the rides would be closed but thought it would be fun to miniature golf with the kids. I
should realize by now that I always have this grandiose idea of what we will do and how fun the kids will think it is.. Because we are dang good parents! It never works out that way. Problem number 1- it was loud. The golf was inside the arcade. Tristan hates loud. Problem number 2- Tristan looked up and at the entrance of the golf there a skeleton dressed as a pirate that totally freaked Tristan out. He was so scared he was crying hysterically and would not let go of us. Nice.
No golf. So we thought we would walk around the arcade. All kids love that, right?! Wrong. He wouldn't play anything. In the picture below Jay and Ry are playing skeeball but this is how Tristan looked. The whole time. That is, until we left the arcade and bought a licorice rope. He was all better then. I should be used to this by now. Poor Rylie wanted to do everything. Either she didn't see the skeleton or she is braver than her brother. I'm starting to believe the later is
true..

Stinker

Tristan's new favorite thing is to make a 'house' using all the pillows from both couches in the playroom. I feel like I clean them up at least 10 times a day! Maybe I should just leave them.. Clearly he loves it... Dang he is cute!

Auntie Stacia

Many of you know that Jay's sister, Stacia lived with us for 3 or 4 years in Georgia. She had a super busy schedule but still managed to help out a TON (more than i realized at the time, but do now!) with the kids and the house. The kids love her, and really miss her. . praying for her every single night. In fact, she is not only my sister in law, but i consider her a really great friend.

I was giving the kids a bath tonight when there was a knock on the door. I was leary to get up, thinking it would just be a solicitor. I am glad i did though because right outside of my front door were two large boxes. A care package from Stacia. It was huge, really. The first big box was a super cool pool with a slide. The second box had a Nemo slide, small ipod speaker (for the beach!), plates (I just said i needed more of the seperated ones today!) and a mug for Tristan, a cute bathing suit for Ry and a dress, a pair of shorts for Tristan and 2 shirts. Seriously?! What an awesome surprise. In true Stacia fashion i am sure she got insanely good deals for all of it. But still, she thought of us and that means a lot! We miss her. So much. And not because she always buys us super cool things. It is days like this that remind me there are people who care about us. So, thank you, Stacia. We love it!

Short end of the stick

Sometimes i find my self complaining that Rylie isn't more "girly". She doesn't really like to play with dolls (maybe because we haven't bought her that many) or most of the typically girly things. She would rather play with cars (with her brother) or wrestle. I realized this morning that i am not helping the situation by putting her in Tristan's old pajamas, that are obviously all boy. Luckily, she doesn't seem to mind. I guess this is what happens when you have a boy and then a girl. It will be interesting to see what kind of girl she turns out to be. For the record, i did paint her nails pink yesterday so maybe there is still hope for a girly girl after all...

Beachside Retreat Reunion

We just got back from a wonderful mini vacation in Long Beach with my family. It was the first time i have been with all of my siblings at the same time in literally like 5 years. My grandma Wilcox, few of my Dad's siblings, and my sister Nicole's boyfriend Danny came too. We stayed at the Beachside Retreat which is an apartment complex right on the beach. Many thanks to Muriel for putting it all together and allowing all of us to stay. We were spoiled for sure. Lots of food, sun, sand, and fun! I am hoping we can do something like this every year. I suppose the real reason we all got together was to celebrate my Grandma, Dad, and sister Natalie's birthday. It really was a great weekend!! Check out the pictures!