I'll catch up...

...someday...
Drew had a birthday...complete with another party at the train park. He's FIVE now...hard to believe. I have photos...I'll get around to it...

We're in California for a weekend getaway to celebrate Patrick's birthday and just have some family downtime before the holiday chaos starts. We've been here 30 hours and I have 100 photos...why do I do this to myself?!

Story #1:
Thursday we drove to Carlsbad, CA. We checked into our hotel, unloaded all of our bags, then drove over to the beach to introduce the boys to the Pacific Ocean, watch the sunset and have a nice dinner out. About 5 minutes after I took this picture, Allen was running around all excited about the beach, and was warned for the fourth time not to run or he might fall. So what did my youngest child do? He ran toward the ocean, saw the waves coming, turned around to run back and fell...face first...into the surf rolling in. Did I mention that the water is FREEZING?! We rinsed him off as best we could under the foot wash station, dried him with a roll of paper towels I keep in my car, and dressed him in a spare pullup that I keep on hand for emergencies (long story, but I learned my lesson the hard way on that one) and an extra t-shirt that happened to be in the car. Needless to say we did not see the remainder of the sunset nor did we have dinner out. A bath at the hotel, a pizza ordered for delivery and a movie wrapped up our first night. Ahhh...the joys of parenthood...

But it is a cute picture...

Awesome Fun

For Allen's birthday, Auntie Maggie sent him a Stomp Rocket. Greatest toy ever...especially for a kid like Allen!

Happy Halloween!

From the Super Mario Brothers...



And their pals Minnie and Mickey Mouse!



Off on a mission to get CANDY! The boys' total...6 1/2 lbs.



The boys' pumpkins...

Pink Jeep Videos

The boys' Pink Jeep Tour song...


Brotherly Love...and the Party in Your Hair song...

Sedona

After we left the Grand Canyon we headed to Sedona for a very quick visit.


Four tired kids chilling on the hotel couch after two full days in the Grand Canyon...


Drew enjoying the view from our balcony...


The kids decided to swim even though it was chilly!


Allen the Fearless...


Packing the cars was quite the adventure every time we stopped...


"Grandaddy, they're not pigs...they're 'have-a-lean-aas' (javalinas)" Guess he told you!


Pink Jeep Tour!


Amelia loved that the jeeps were pink. She was a little scared but did great!


The temps dropped and the rain started as we were driving back...the boys were so cold!

Grand Canyon

Frazier Family Trip to the Grand Canyon!


The Kiddos:


A peak into life with Allen...yep...that's a stick he's pointing in Amelia's face!


I mean seriously...he's a pistol!


Awesome photo of Mike, Celeste & Jay...but where's Amelia?


Hiding...she developed a quick fear of the edge and boycotted many photo ops without a railing!


The John Fraziers at sunrise...


Our little family of turtles...we all had our backpacks on every day and we seriously looked like turtles!


Working on their Junior Ranger workbooks...this was as far as they got...


Grandaddy put Allen in a tree...and then all we heard the next day was "don't put me in a tree again Grandaddy!"


Awww...the Grandparents!


Riding the bus...big fun! (Amelia looked SO CUTE in her pink hat and bow!)


They loved crossing the train tracks!


What in the world?!


Love this...


Trying to catch the four grandkids in a cute shot...


Allen trying to escape...backwards...(don't worry...daddy was behind him on a walkway below!)


Such a stinkin' mess!


The Train! (as close as they would get to the engine...it kept making loud noises since it was preparing to leave...they would jump so high!)


I literally have hundreds more photos but I'll spare you...

Where have we been?

This weekend has been full with a Frazier family visit! We ventured up to the Grand Canyon and Sedona to explore northern Arizona. We had a great time and took hundreds of pictures! More to come...until then...our very silly boys...

Party at the Train Park

Friday afternoon we had Allen's birthday party at the train park. Last year Drew had his party there, but it was a "do it yourself" party in one of the park ramadas. This year both boys want their parties there so we decided to do the organized parties that they offer. We were in the "Birthday Party Railroad Car" which is a converted Pullman coach (with air conditioning!) so that was exciting all on its own. We had two party organizers who led the kids in games on the lawn, set up for birthday cake inside the car, and took the kids on the train and carousel. Allen even got to sit in the engine and have his picture made! It was definitely simple and perfect for a bunch of 3-year olds!






















Even though the party was at the train park, Allen decided he wanted a Mickey Mouse theme. He gave specific instructions for the cake - it was to have Toodles, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Clarabelle and Pete. We managed to fulfill all requests except Clarabelle and Pete but I don't think he noticed! Patrick made his cake again this year and I think it was his best yet. It was very detailed and tasted great!







Allen loved his party and was so excited to have his friends there. As each one arrived he went out to say hello and would yell "Happy Birthday!" usually followed by "is that my present?!"...I guess we need to work on that side of things! He was also really good about saying "thank you" to everyone as they left. He was very proud that it was "his own birthday party" and I think it was everything he had hoped for!