Saturday, August 31, 2013

Monkey in the Middle

When my family gets together one of our favorite things to do is sit back on the couches and watch JJ. This kid is such a ham and a goofball, he really is our home entertainment center.
 
 
Uncle Braeden had fun playing fetch with JJ.

 
JJ "I got it!, I got it!"

 
then Wil and Braeden decided monkey in the middle was more fun with JJ as the monkey.

 
Brian and Ben became fast friends since they both play mine craft.

 
Grandma tried to get it some more kisses.
 
 
I remember so many fun times playing in this room with my cousins when we came to visit grandma. 


 
Aunt Jill stole some cuddle time with the little man.

 
While we were in Utah we got to celebrate Wil's birthday, he would have rather had Justin there but he was ok with JJ there. 
 
 
Just a couple more pictures from Wil's all star baseball tournament, Wil Irving has a nice ring as a pro baseball player doesn't it? he'll tell you he's gonna go pro and play for the Angels.

 
Our cheering section, and Jill one of those loud baseball moms cheering for her not so baby boy.



UP NEXT: JULY!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Where the Land Meets the Sea

Since we came all the way to California we had to spend at least a little time with our feet in the sand. This time around we chose Corona Del Mar, the same place we came to take pictures after our wedding!
 
 
This is one of my favorite spots in all of California, I used to come sit on these rocks in the morning just to soak up some time by the sea before the world figured out where I was.
 
 
Now I get to bring my little one here and show him the beauty of the place where the land meets the sea.

 
at first he was timid of the water and wasn't sure he like how cold it was.

 
those big eyes, and eyelashes kill me, EVERY time.

 
once JJ warmed up to the water he played in the small puddles next to the rocks once the tide went out.


 
looking at the ocean and the blue skies makes me crave being there right now.


 
He started waving more on our trip, it is so fun to see him learning new things.

 
Braeden and Brian making a chair in the sand.
 
 
don't you love self timers?
 
 
they even made a mini chair for JJ to sit in...although he didn't quite get it the first time.

 
after figuring out how to sit in it he lasted like 5 seconds... you know how it goes.


 
My Mom so did not want her picture taken (tough luck!) and look, I even left out the one of the face you made at me once you realized I took your picture. What a great daughter I am!

 
I seriously love the beach! and I wish that we lived closer, so we could see some of our family and friends more often but also because I miss the salty, warm, tight feeling of your skin after a day at the beach.  
 
UP NEXT: MORE LOVE FROM CALI

A Visit to Mems and Peps

While JJ and I were in California we were able to visit with Justin's family. We were able to give Ed his father's day gift in person! the ties with JJ's hand prints turned out so cool!
 
 
Now that JJ and Makua are getting older they are starting to play together for a few moments until they get distracted by some toy.

 
JJ with Memere Doris and Pepere

 
JJ with Memere and Grandpa

 
JJ even got to play with uncle Mike!

 
and got a kiss from auntie JoJo

 
It's so easy to get a picture of two kids looking at the camera and smiling... not really... but they are both facing forward, we take what we can get around here.

 
the boys with Memere Doris and Pepere

 
UP NEXT: THE OCEAN

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

The Happiest Place on Earth

While we were in California we decided that it would be fun to take JJ to DISNEYLAND! the only thing that we were missing was Justin. Our first stop of the day was the new Cars Land in California Adventure.
 
 
Cars Land was a ton of fun and looked just like the movie. While everyone else was on the cars ride my mom and I stayed off to let JJ run around and hopefully take a nap.

 
While we were waiting in Cars Land our stomachs started growling... we had forgotten to eat breakfast and although the free sourdough samples and Godiva chocolates helped, we ended up buying a baguette to hold us over.
 
 
JJ really liked all of the sights and people watching at Disneyland.
 
 
We were able to catch a glimpse of Jill, Grandma, Sydney, Wil, Ben, Braeden, and Brian... we mostly saw and heard Jill though.

 
Next it was time for my Mom and I to ride, we got to jump ahead in line and use our kiddie swap.
 
 
Our next stop was Ice Cream at the Cozy Cone while we sorted a few things out, and sent Brian and Braeden off to ride the Coaster.

 
Thanks to all of our trips and technology JJ really does know our families and had lots of fun with Grandma even if she squished him and kissed him.
 
 
look at that cute kid!

 
This was our whole gang in Disneyland!

 
Wil and Brian became fast friends.

 
Buzz Lightyear was our next stop and JJ really liked it! especially when he figured out he could turn our ship with the joystick

 
I really love that you can email the pictures to yourself so we don't have to buy them.
 
 
My Mom, JJ and I went on again while the rest of the gang went on Star Tours.

 
Next we were off to Fantasy Land to ride Peter Pan, and Snow White. Sydney and Jill rode in the backseat for Snow white

 
They were thrilled to have yet another picture taken of them.

 
contrary to what this picture tells you, JJ really loves Aunt Jill.

 
JJ decided that it was funny to collapse in line while waiting for Peter Pan.

 
These two sisters kept bugging us to ride together! ;)
 
 
Peter Pan has always been one of my favorites and I hope JJ sees the same magic we saw in it as kids.

 
 This is the best picture we got of all of us kids, can you tell it was bright?

 
My Mom and I got to ride the new Star Tours!
 
 
After Space Mountain finally opened back up we got to use our fast passes, man I love that ride!

 
JJ really loves his grandma! 

 
This kid had an awesome time at Disneyland and can't wait to go back I'm sure!

 
can you tell his favorite color is orange?
 
 
After dinner I went with these goons to ride Indiana Jones, one of our favorites as a kid. We always used to fight over who was going to drive, this time Ben got to drive while the rest of us yelled.

 
All in all it was a great day at Disneyland and although we tired ourselves out we had a ton of fun!!!
 
UP NEXT: MORE ADVENTURES IN THE SUNSHINE