Dec in Review

This month has been so busy, not only with Christmas shopping but with Christmas activities. I figured I would just do a couple pictures of each activity instead of overloading my blog with pictures. That is what my scrapbooking is for....right?

Ultradent did there Christmas party and we made sure to be there for that. They always go above and beyond and the kids have so much fun. Kayse didn't know what to think about Santa. He wanted off his lap ASAP but he didn't cry. Had he been on his lap any longer I think it would have turned to cries.

Braiden found a friend.....We have used the crap out of our free membership (thanks Cindy :) to Thanksgiving Point and decided to head out to the Petting Zoo today. It was a little chilly but perfect because there was nobody there. Note to self: DO NOT go to the petting zoo or any animal exhibit when the poo is soaking wet. It was so stinky!

This kid is so great. It doesn't matter what the activity is he is participating. He is such an amazing big brother (and a pretty good son too!)

Had to throw this picture in....it so shows Bryce's personality. He is riding a pony and takes a time out to give me some hand gesture. I am not sure if he is shooting me, giving me a thumbs up or flashing me a gang sign. With this kid you never know!

Again, Bryce flashing me a gang sign

And the winners are....Mom and Braiden. Ugh, it is hard to be so good!
Last year we decided to start a family tradition of making gingerbread houses. Well, last year Lisa gave us these gingerbread trains and we hung on to them until this year. Ok, that is not the best idea. Frosting doesn't do real good sitting in a box for a year. We did our best and had fun.

Happy Birthday S'more! This year I decided for Cori's birthday to take her with us to do something fun instead of giving her a present. We did the zoo lights and it was so much fun.

I love these girls. I seriously have such a great group of friends. I can go weeks without talking to them and it is like nothing changed. I hope I am friends with these girls forever. We went to Olive Garden for our Girls Christmas party and ate and caught up. Good Times!

Today was a day to go in the Wood Family history books. I was being funny and asked Tim if he would like to run to Cabellas with me to get my Dad's xmas gift. Tim doesn't shop little lone on a Saturday and the Saturday before Christmas at that. He said "yes" (I almost tipped over) so I thought I would push my luck and ask him to come with us to the Dino Museum (Thanksgiving Point...again) and again, I got a "yes." Who are you and what have you done with my hubby. Seriously. Well we went and Cabella's was a zoo so we got in and out of there pretty quick without Tim killing anyone and headed over to the Dino Museum. I am so glad we went, there was nobody there and Bryce was in heaven running around showing his Daddy everything. We had a great Saturday with Tim!

Thrifty is my middle name

Drum roll please....

My total came to $490.50...I spent $117.00 so my total savings were $373.50.
I have a love/hate relationship with the mall. Today I went in only to go and get some pants altered for me. Well, while walking past Pacsun I noticed a sign that said 50% off already clearanced items. I had to go in and look right? WRONG! Ugh, I have a problem leaving good deals on the rack. However, today I did okay. I got some much needed pants for Tim and some shoes for Braiden. I did okay.
I got (4) Hurley shirts for me, a Hurley hoodie for Tim, (4) Bull Head levi's for Tim, DC shoes for Braiden and DC shoes for Tim (they are going to be twinners) and a super cute pair of FOX shoes for me...all for $117.

This is hilarious. Some people have been posting these on FB so I decided to make one and ended up making 5 different dances. They are so funny! Yes, there is not one with me in it. I could not find a picture. It's not that I couldn't find a "cute" picture, I really could not find one picture of me that was close up enough to work. Hmmm, guess I need to start handing off the camera more often. ENJOY!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Elf on the Shelf

Katie kept talking about this Elf on the Shelf that she was going to get for Gage. After hearing the idea I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to start this tradition. That is one thing we do not need is another tradition in our house but I couldn't resist starting this one.
So, last night we had a knock at our door and we found a gift that the elfs dropped off. Braid and Bryce opened it (I couldn't get the picture with Braid in it to load....stupid computer!) and Bryce went nuts. He was so excited. We read the story and left the box with the elf (a creepy looking elf if you ask me) on the bar and went to sleep. Basically, the story is that the elf is magic and watches you all day and then leaves the house and reports back to Santa each night and tells him what he saw. Then, he returns in a different place the next morning and we get to try and find where he has moved to. You can't touch the elf or it will take away his magic. The next morning Bryce came running upstairs and ran over to the box to find it empty. The look on his face was priceless! He ran around looking for Toby (that is what he chose to name him) and found him sitting up in the light in the kitchen. I love this tradition and love that every morning Bryce runs around trying to find Toby.

Festival of Trees

I love this tradition (who am I kidding, I love every tradition we have). This year my folks were out of town so they didn't go and Lisa's kids both had sports stuff so they didn't go and as you can see, Tim is missing. Crowds and holiday's are not Tim's favorite so you can imagine how much he enjoys the Festival of Trees. I mentioned to him that it wasn't a big deal if he stayed home and he jumped on that. Honestly, I enjoy it so much and wanted to not feel rushed so we were all fine with him opting out this year. Me, my boys, Jo, Brad and Family and Katie, Gage and Margaret all came. It was a lot of fun. Bryce made it about half way through before he was done and he would point at every other tree and say "that ones my favorite" or "that's my tree."

Thankful for my life

Day 10

After shopping Wal-mart on Black Friday I am so very grateful for my life. I have done Black Friday every year for as long as I can remember and before that I was working at K-mart for Black Friday so it shouldn't have been that big of a deal right? Ha Ha....This year Wal-Mart did a 12:01 sale which was pretty good, even better than the 5:00 am doorbusters. I decided to drag Braiden along (I know, talk about ruining the christmas spirit for the dude but honestly, I needed more bodies to wait at lines for me. Did I mention that I also drug along my niece Brianna and Cori?)
Oh my goodness, just to make a long story short....I will NEVER EVER in my life do a Wal-mart Black Friday sale again. I was waiting next to two boxes full of some stupid sleeping bag buddy making sure I got a few of those and noticed a huge line next to me. There were sewing machines stacked up 2 wide and about 15 high and about 40 people in line. Do the math. Someone was leaving there without a sewing machine. They had employees that were making sure nobody took anything before the 12:01 starting time. Yah right, good luck stopping a large group of Wal-mart shoppers looking for a so called fabulous deal. We heard this group start counting and then we hear three and they all just started grabbing for them (at 11:50 pm) It was a freakin riot and there were people everywhere. The sewing machines tipped over knocking in to the items I was waiting for which pushed me and all the other ladies over and people were bumping in to us. I just grabbed my stupid sleeping bag buddies and ran for my life. Literally. I saw this girl and man fighting over one and he just ripped it out of her hands and ran off and another girl got up with a bleeding elbow. Seriously, I could not believe I was really sitting in the isle of Wal-mart witnessing this chaos, I should be home in bed.

Thanks to my cutest Braiden and my nieces I got everything I went for and after 2 long hours in line I was actually happy with my purchases!

Thankful for my WHOLE family

Day 9

I am so thankful for my family....my boys, my husband and all of them (sisters, nieces, nephews & mom and dad). This weekend, I saw my family so much and I realized how much I really love living so close to all of them. It is nice when I am bored to call up my Mom and sister and go see a movie (saturday morning I saw Bulesque with Mom and Lisa) or call up my Mom and ask her to watch my little guys while Tim, Braiden and I go see Faster (yes, I saw two movies in one day and it was so nice!)

Thankful I can fix it

Day 8

So very thankful for my hair straightener. I know the ideal post would have been a picture of me with my hair before it is straightened but that will NEVER happen. I have had problems with my frizzy hair for as long as I can remember and I still remember the day I found out a straightener existed. I never leave my home for longer than 2 days without making sure I have this baby with me (except for Delta of course). Today I am so thankful that I can somewhat keep my fro under control.

Thankful for my thorns

Day 7

I copied this story of my BFF Katie's Blog and after reading it I sat there and thought about it and how true it really is. The only time we thank God for things is when he is giving us a blessing or something good happens to us. I am such a true believer that everything (and I mean everything) happens for a reason and I am thankful for the "thorns" that have taken place in my life. I know they have made me who I am today and I think I turned out pretty darn good!

THE THANKSGIVING "SPECIAL" BOUQUET

November 27, 2000

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.

"She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.

Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an air bag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, may I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

"I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order."

She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses; Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!"

"Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement...twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems," laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?"

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special."

I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life," Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too...fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment.

"I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?" Sarah asked.

"Nothing; nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read:

"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the life I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for your roses, thank him for your thorns.
--- Author Unknown ---

Thankful for my boys

Day 6

I am so thankful each and every day for these boys and their health.
I just read the saddest story and it made me realize how much we take for granted the fact that our kids are healthy.
Last year while babysitting in MOPS I babysat with the cutest lady. She had a 2 year old boy and explained that she was prego with a baby girl (maybe like 4 months along) I however was ready to give birth any time so we spent the entire time talking about being pregnant, having babies and our kids. She did not return to MOPS this year and honestly, I had kind of forgotten about her. At our last meeting they told a story about a Mom from last year that had a baby in July and that it was still up at Primary Children's in the NICU with heart issues and that they were collecting dinner to help the family. I didn't recognize the name and didn't think much of it. A couple of day later the MOPS Facebook posted a link about a family from MOPS that had just lost their baby girl that day. I clicked on the link and froze. It was Julie Huebner that I had babysat with before and my heart just broke. I could not imagine having a sick child that I could never take home from the hospital. The baby was born with a hole in her heart and lived for 4 months in the NICU and lost her teeny tiny battle 4 months later, right before the holiday's. My heart goes out to this family and again makes me so grateful for my healthy boys!

Thankful for McDonalds

Day 5

(Super duper yummy Caramel Frappe)

I know, most of you are throwing up or saying ewww but I am addicted. I have stopped eating there a while ago but have since found these bad boys. Oh my goodness, I have described it as a little bit of heaven in my mouth. I am serious, not only does it taste delicious but it gives me that little boost to deal with my daily life. It upsets my stomach something awful (I am lactose intolerant) but I deal with that for my little piece of heaven each morning. Thanks McDonalds!

Little Ms. Suzy Homemaker

Okay, Little Ms. Suzy Homemaker I am NOT! I have never claimed I was good at the whole housewife thing. I wanted to be a stay home Mom without doing the chores! I need a maid service ASAP.

So, I always tell a funny story. This however is not a funny story at all. In fact, it is a very sad (and pathetic) story.

Today Bryce was in going potty. He is usually very good about pushing his little man down so he doesn't squirt it around the bathroom. Well today Daddy took him in to go potty (we have a lock on the outside of the door so he doesn't go in and play in the sink) and all of a sudden Tim comes walking out with Bryce's underwear, pants and my bathroom rug. "Bryce just peed everywhere, he let the thing go like a fire hose." I have never had problems with Bryce peeing anywhere except in the potty. So, I take the rug down and throw it in the wash. Well, since I am washing rugs I should probably throw my bathroom rugs in as well....right? They however are dark green. Not a good idea when washing light brown rugs. Ugh, I didn't think they would bleed. I guess I assumed they had been washed before and would be okay. Yah, I should not be allowed to do laundry. And, I am FINE with that.....other than I now have mismatched rugs.

Right before that load of laundry I had a load of just my clothes (jeans, t-shirts and some tank tops) that were in the dryer. So I got them out of the dryer and while doing so I noticed a raspberry Soft Lips lying in the bottom of the dryer. What the heck, have I not learned to check pockets....Ugh again! I opened the lid and of course, after running through a cycle in the dryer it is all melted. Yep, melted all over my clothes. I rush in to lay them out on my bed and sure enough, they have grease marks all over them. I almost cried but couldn't because I was so angy. I am now throwing out 4 (name brand) t-shirts, a super cute tank and a really nice pair of jeans. Thankfully, there were some workout pants that don't have any marks on them. Maybe that is a sign that I need to be using the workout pants more than anything. Hmmm, didn't think of that.

Sad day and I am currently looking into a maid service or a nanny!

Thankful for my home

Day 4

This may not be my dream home but it a nice home. Sitting looking out the window today looking at 9 inches of snow and still coming is making me feel so grateful for a house with a heater. Having somewhere cozy for my kids is the most important thing to me. I could not imagine being homeless especially with kids. Today I am more than thankful for my house with a cozy bed to climb into!

Thankful for Technology

Day 3

I am so thankful for my Apple Iphone. I wanted one ever since I saw what my sister's could do. I wasn't sure I needed one (okay, I knew I didn't need one) but my want quickly turned into a need and I got one. I love it and I know that I don't even use it like it can be used.
The other day while driving looking for Braiden's friend house and after a few swear words because I can't find it my phone rings. It is Leslie and I explain to her how frustrated I am because I can't find this house. She asks if the calmest voice "why don't you plug it into your phone?" So I hang up and plug the stupid address into my phone and BOOM, I drive right to it. I probably should take a class on how to use the stupid thing or better yet just ask Braiden. I ask him how to use everything else technical in the house.

Thankful for peace and quiet

Day 2

I am so thankful for Pre-School Paradise. I am happy that I found a pre-school that Bryce enjoys going to and that I get some much needed Mommy Time. I love Bryce to death and I love his constant need to learn and ask questions but I really love some peace and quiet.
I love driving in the car without a hundred and one questions and I love driving and being able to listen to the radio. Today I am thankful for NO NOISE!

Thankful for copying

I saw this on someone's blog (I am not going to lie, I have no idea who's blog it is. It is probably a friend of a friends friend.)
Anyway's, I love the idea and I am going to try and do 10 days of things I am thankful for.

Day 1

Laughing. I am a firm believe that laughter is the best medicine. I go scrapbooking once a month with my girlfriends and honestly, I think if we did it once a week I would have six pack abs. I laugh and laugh when I am with these girls and half the time we aren't laughing at anything at all.

(Today we aren't scrapbooking, we headed up to ride the Alpine Slide and it was closed due to weather so we got a yummy dinner (laughed) and shopped at the outlets (and laughed even more!)

I also laugh all day long with my boys. These 3 boys are the funniest boys ever. Braiden is hilarious but the only problem is he keeps such a serious face that I never know when is he joking or being serious (he get's this from Grandpa Heath)
Bryce tells stories and says the craziest things. I swear, I will never know where he comes up with the stuff he says.
Story....last night Tim is laying on the couch watching t.v. and Bryce climbs behind him and lays in the crevice of his legs (try to picture it). All of a sudden Bryce says "Daddy do you think you can take off those socks so I don't have to lay here and smell that horrible smell?" I laughed and laughed (mainly because he said it to Tim but it was so funny.)

I love laughing and I love hearing laughter!

Xmas Card Tryout

Wow, you would think it would be easy to get my family to take a couple pictures. Yah right. The worst part was getting the husband to pose "cute". Kayson wouldn't look at the camera and Daddy kept flicking Bryce in the back of the head to get him to look at the camera. So, now Bryce is looking at the camera with tears rolling down his face. Ugh, I got one that is worthy of a xmas card. Maybe next year I will skip the pictures and just do a cute card...

Custest Story Ever

I will set the scene for you...I am cookie dinner so I put Kayson in the high chair with a teething cookie when I leave the kitchen to do something. I come back in just in time to hear Bryce dragging the chair over to Kayson's high chair. Bryce says "hey buddy want me to tell you a story?" Kayson "uhhh ewww" Bryce says "I love you and you love me. That's a good story huh? Wanna hear it again?"

I love it when Bryce decides to be nice and have good days!

Look what the kids drug in

Ugh, I hate cats. Everything about them! You know when they arch their back and rub against your leg...um yah, that make me want to vomit.
So, today Bryce and Brighton were outside in the backyard playing (I was in the house cleaning...really, this time I was actually cleaning) and they both came in giggling and freaking out. I hear "Hey Mom we brought a cat inside to play." I am thinking what in the world are they up to now. I slowly get up from what I am doing and head to see what they had made or what they could possibly be pretending is a cat. What the....their is a cat in my kitchen. A real cat. Bryce starts panicking "please don't make it leave, I want it to live here."
I am a little "scared" of cats. I seriously kept thinking it was looking at me and laughing but I could not get it to go out the back door. It just sat and wondered through out my house checking everything out and arching it's back on all my couches....Oh Bryce what am I going to do with you?

Boys of Fall

Fall Football
I love fall! The funniest part is I hate fall weather. I love football...everything about it. I wait all year long for football season. I love sitting at the field watching practices, I love watching the games and I love cheering on Braiden. This year he is playing Center. Hello, the center is usually one of the biggest kids on the team. Nope not this year, it is Braiden. He is really good at Center and does a good job!

San Diego

This is another picture over load warning....I would make one of those cute little collage things that everyone is doing....if I only knew how. Enjoy!

Day 1 Sea World

This is the wave (or tsunami) that Shamu sent out way.

Yes,I sat in the soak zone. I know you are thinking "how did you sit in soak zone with your hair problems?" But I decided not to worry about it and just enjoy this trip. Oh and I purchased an $8 shamu poncho to protect my do.

I thought Tim did a good job and protecting Kayson...until I say this picture.

The little guys got soaked. He didn't mind, he just kept watching the show. Such a trooper!

Dad thinking Brad is going to make a great shield

Oops, I guess it didn't work out so well!

Happy Birthday Dad! His birthday was yesterday so we all got together at the hotel restaurant for dinner. It was GOOD food.

Day 2 Beach and San Diego Zoo

I love this picture....even though I wasn't there to enjoy it. This is kind of a sensitive post for me (only joking...a little.) The plan was for everyone to wake up this morning and head to the beach. Well, the more I got thinking about it that didn't sound like lots of fun with mr. won't sit still these days Kayson. My Mom had this great idea and says "why don't you just lay him on a blanket?" Oh man if it was only that easy....So, Tim, Bryce, Kayson and I decided to ditch the family and head to the San Diego Zoo. It was bitter sweet because I had a great time but was missing having Braiden with us and missing being with the group!
Oh well, they had a great time at the beach and we really enjoyed the zoo.

While at the beach they decided to do the skurfing or fake surfing...or something like that. Brad, Les, Braid, Brianna, Riley, Brinley and Rebecca all tried. I am not going to lie, it didn't look like much fun to me (refer to the above photo) They all loved it and couldn't stop talking about it!

And, this is Brad's lovely toe that was broken on that super fun activity. Again, not sure that looks like a super fun thing I want to be trying any time soon!

Loved the San Diego Zoo. Man, that place is massive. At one point we said "let's just take the shuttle around and hope we can see everything." Bryce (and even Kayson) really got in to it and loved the shows.

Day 3 Universal Studios

Okay so not the cutest picture of me (it didn't quite turn out like I envisioned) but the best story of the trip. Let me start off by saying "I am not prejudice!" I promise.
So Leslie and I are hanging out with the little guys while everyone went in to see Shrek 4D and I look over and see this shark. Hello, great photo shoot. So we start heading over to it. There is nobody around. Not one single person. So I get over to the bloody shark and get ready to walk up to it and BOOM, there are chinese people everywhere. They are seriously swarming me. It was a tour group and chinese people going off in chinese and wanting their picture by the shark. Ok, no big deal I was here first right? I walk up ready for the pic and 2 by 2 the chinese people started walking up with me. I waited for 2 of them....waited for 4 of them. Shoot, I think I ended up waiting for about 20 of them. Finally Leslie had enough of them butting and yelled "wait, it is her turn" One of the little chinese ladies smiled and nodded so I walk up ready for this amazing photo. I get ready to sit down and up walks this little old chinese man and stands right next to me and turns to his misses and smiles from ear to ear. Seriously, did he really not care that I was posing (literally posing) in his photo? Ugh, Leslie ends up losing it and yells (with some hand gestures) "NO, NO it is her turn. Stay back". Oh my hell, I don't think this picture was worth what we went through. And, did I add that the as soon as this group walked up to me and the shark the jaws music started playing....Dun nuh Dun nuh. I am not making this up people. It was hilarious!

I will admit it, I was like a little kid on this tour. I thought the whole thing was so cool but when we got to Wisteria Lane I lost it. I jumped up on my knees for a better view and loved every minute of that quick ride through Wisteria. I would have give anything to get off the bus and walk around!

This ride (more of a bus ride) was loud and scary at times and even a little bumpy and Kayson was not letting that mess with his nap time. He fell asleep in the line while waiting to get on the ride and slept through the whole thing. Thank goodness for Aunt Lisa!

Best picture of the trip hands down. This pretty much shows how these two spent the whole trip. Smiles, smiles and even some laughs. Dad kept saying "we are doing everything. There isn't anything we aren't going to do. This is probably my last trip to Universal so I want to do it all." And, they did do it all. I had fun watching them have fun!

Day 4 Sea World (again)

I really got my use out of this Shamu poncho. We went on the (crap, I forgot the name) crazy tube river ride and got drenched. They have machines along the way where spectators can pay a quarter and squirt the people on the ride. I think Grandpa spend $30 sitting there letting Bryce and Brighton squirt people (they were too little to ride this one).

After Sea World the kids (who am I kidding, it was Jodi) really wanted to go back to the beach. Again, I opted out with Kayson. They had a great time and Braid actually said this was one of his favorite things on the trip!

Drive Home or attempt to drive home!

Yep, that is Tim's baby on a tow truck. You are probably thinking it is on a tow truck because it is a Volkswagen but that is not the case (this time).
While driving at a high rate of speed directly behind Leslie (see, in Cali you have to follow really close while trying to follow someone or a Cali drive will jump in between you) we hit a huge piece of wood in road. Leslie was able to go around it but we were not so lucky. It was the loudest band and thank goodness Tim was able to keep his cool and keep the car in our lane.
Long story short....we got towed to a VW dealership and waited for the rest of the family to leave San Diego and come pick us up. They got to the dealership and we loaded our stuff and our bodies in everyone's car. I rode in Lisa's van with Lisa, Alex, Kayson, Braiden, Cori and Kaylee and Tim and Bryce jumped in with Jo, Brad, Ling, Sissy and Riley. Full cars make for a fun ride home!

These two were so close growing up and it is fun to see they still love each other (or maybe it was just because there was NO room on that back seat) Either way, I think this is my other favorite picture of the trip!