San Diego Zoo

Last week Liam had a couple of  crazy long naps. Monday he slept two and a half hours and then Tuesday morning he was up at 5:15! Wednesday he had been asleep for well over two hours and I decided to open the door and let some light/noise in so he would wake up.  Usually the minute you open the door Liam wakes up because he is a pretty light sleeper, but not this day!  I took pictures with flash and he continued to stay racked out! He eventually woke up fifteen minutes later!

We had dinner with G&G Casson and Colin was smitten with his grandpa.

This past weekend we went to California to see Uncle Michael and Noel.  Friday was an interesting day.  Chris was not feeling great, and had a sore throat and a low grade fever the night before, I wasn't feeling so awesome, and about an hour prior to leaving it started snowing like crazy.  I went back and forth with Chris on whether or not we should even take the trip.  I did not want to drive in nasty weather with both of us not feeling so great and two babies.  The weather stopped and we decided to take off and I drove so Chris could try and rest. We made our first stop in Blythe at McDonald's.  When we got Liam out of the car he was SOAKING wet, along with his car seat!  Apparently his water bottle leaked all over him and he didn't even say anything.  So I took him into the bathroom and we got him changed and cleaned up.  Then all of a sudden I saw Aunt Sadie come into the bathroom!  Random!  Sadie was on her way back from Astro Camp with a school group and we just happened to stop at the same McDonald's in Blythe at the same time.  Weird!  Anyway, we eventually left after and hour and fifteen minute stop which also included attempting to dry Liam's car seat.  He had to sit on a plastic bag for the rest of the drive. We made it to our hotel about 10PM with two cranky adults and two very tired babies!

The next morning everyone was much happier!  Chris said he felt a little better, I was better, and the boys were perfectly happy! We stayed at hotel with a kids' suite.  Liam really enjoyed the bunk beds!

We ate breakfast at the hotel and Colin tried out a high chair for the first time!  He liked it :)

We arrived at the zoo around 10:30 and we set Colin up in the big boy chair with his brother.  I did change my mind though and switched him back to the car seat carrier for napping purposes.

This beautiful fella met us when we entered the zoo.  If you have never been to the San Diego Zoo the Peacocks just wander around.  It's pretty cool.

Colin was very tired and fell asleep not too long after we switched seats for him.

Meerkat

Liam was obsessed with checking the zoo map.  He kept wanting to look at it and did a pretty good job of finding the pictures of the animals and knowing where we were.  It was super cute!

Hanging with the elephants

He really enjoyed  climbing on the animal statues too.

We made our way to the Polar Bears which are always awesome to see but Liam was having so much fun in the kid area which consisted of a tunnel area and two different exits on opposite sides. It was SO crowded I didn't like being there in fear of loosing Liam so I told him we had to keep moving.  He was NOT happy so this handsome guy showed up just in time to put a smile on his face and help mom and dad keep moving!

Colin woke up just in time to see the Zebras

He is always such a happy guy

We went to eat lunch, met up with G&G Casson, Michael, and Noel, and continued on our journey.

Liam and Grandma holding hands while checking out the animals 

Boys and the Rhino

Boys and the Flamingos

The Flamingos were kind of crazy.  I had no idea how noisy they could be!  They were fun to watch.

Family photo.  I was hoping to get the Giraffes in the background, oh well!

Our little family :)

We made a pit stop for ice cream and Liam was very excited about it!  He shared with everyone, meaning he had to taste everyone's!

This little one took his second nap of the day.

After ice cream we checked out the monkeys

We left around 4-ish and Liam had not napped so he was exhausted.  He crashed before we even pulled out of the parking lot.  He was a trooper! 

We went to eat dinner and set the stroller up so Liam could continue to sleep.  Colin was wide awake and entertained us.  When we finished we drove to Lake Forest and crashed at our motel!  More to come!

Play Area!

Saturday Liam started a new session of swim lessons.  He is now in a class with two other 2 year-olds and they get in the water without a parent.  I was nervous about this class because:  these are 2 year-olds who are not the best listeners (they are two), and Liam is rambunctious.  I even mentioned to Chris that maybe one of us should wear a swimsuit in case we need to get in. Well, my fear came true--just not with my child.  The instructor is pretty terrible about seeing the kids at all times while they stand on a platform in a four foot rehab pool.  She was working with one of the other kids when one of the little guys thought he could leave the platform.  He went under and there was NO way the instructor was going to get there within one or two seconds (she was about 10 feet away).  I leaped up ready to jump in but his mom was closer and got to him first. Luckily, he wasn't under long but I may just wear my suit next class.  In the locker room the mom said she felt like maybe she over-reacted.  I told her there was no way she over-reacted and if she didn't leap in I would have because there was no way the instructor would have been there quickly enough.  I don't think she even knew a kid was under until she heard the splash from the mom jumping in the pool.

Anyway, here is Liam with one of his little classmates

Colin loves watching his big bro swim.

Saturday after the boys took a nap we went over to G&G Snay's house and did a little swimming.  Here's Colin looking super cute

Brothers :)

Colin and Grandma watching the silly dog.

Sunday I was on a mission.  I really wanted to get a play set for the boys, which we did, but we needed to make a section of the yard presentable to put the play set on.  Luckily, Uncle Matt didn't really care what we did to his back yard :)  So we went to Home Depot and came up with a plan.  Once we had a plan G&G Casson came over to help us execute it.  Colin had plenty of fun playing cars with Grandma.

Liam came outside a couple of times but then decided he didn't care too much for the saw so he watched Daddy and Grandpa from the window.

Basically we took over a corner of Matt's yard and laid some posts and put some wood chips down.

When it was all done Liam made Daddy and Grandma run in circles with him.

We are borrowing G&G Casson's play set until ours arrives.

Sunday night I was at the store and found a water table.  I texted Chris to see what he thought and he said to go ahead and get it.

Liam LOVES it!  Monday morning we got it set up outside and he was in heaven.

Colin looking super cute after his nap.

When daddy got home Liam took him outside to show him his new table

Colin did a little swinging.

Chris and Matt working on a fence to keep the dog on one side of the house when the kiddos are playing (though, it's also to fence off the big-boy toys Matt is planning on buying).

Today, Liam had a professional hair cut and did awesome!  I have been cutting his hair because when we have tried to take him to someone he would cry and get scared.  He has done great with me so I thought we'd give it a try again and I am glad we did. The last time we took him to an actual hairstylist was June and we didn't get to far.  I just wish he didn't look so grown up :(

After the hair cut he had some more water table fun.  He enjoyed putting dirt, wood chips, and rock into the mix.

This afternoon Liam wanted me to set up his cardboard box fort but I was sitting (and spotting) with Colin, so I told him to come sit with his brother.  He did and they look so cute together.  I love my sweet angel babies!

Daddy had another early basketball game tonight so Grandma Snay watched Colin, (basically put him to bed since he is usually out by 7PM) and I took Liam to the game.  He enjoyed watching his Daddy and Uncle Matt play ball.  At half time he went to see daddy and give him a few pointers.

We stayed the whole game and Liam started to get a little tired towards the end and started singing made up songs, the main one was "Uncle Matt, Uncle Matt, Uncle Matt" over and over in different tones. Ha! He had fun though

Last Week

Once again I am a little behind so here is last week's happenings.

Aunt Sadie was camera happy with Colin.

This is what Aunt Sadie does to the boys hair when she gives them a bath.

We discovered that Liam likes spinach leaves

Tuesday night dad had a basketball game.  We decided since it was an early game (7PM) I'd take Liam for part of the game.  He enjoyed watching for a little bit but then he was all about running on the bleachers.  At one point he came up to me and said "I run too much, mama" yet he continued running, Ha!

On Wednesday night the boys took a bath in G&G Casson's big tub.

Thursday we went to the park.  Colin enjoyed the swing for a little while.  He doesn't look too thrilled when he is swinging but when you take him out he screams and cries because he wants back in.  He's a funny guy.

Daddy and Colin went down the slide.

While we were at the park Liam and dad were running around and Liam told Chris that "Runnin' so much fun" It sounds more like Yunnin' so much pun! :)

Liam going down the slide.

Friday afternoon was beautiful outside.  We played out front and built this fort.

Liam enjoyed it and even brought his choo-choo pillow and blanket so he could lay down in it

Then I let him play with water and he thought that was way better than the cardboard box fort I made.

The poor kid needed a pool

Colin and I hung out in the shade.

Boys playing together.

Lastly, just a few things I want to jot down so I don't forget.

1. Liam says Colin but it sounds more like Taw'n (He has been saying it for some time now)

2. Liam has two moles on his left leg and the other night we went to count them he said "1, 2, 3, uh-oh one's missing", HA!  Silly boy

3. Liam sings the Happy Birthday song every morning when he wakes up (often at approximately 6:00AM).  It is basically his favorite song to sing.  Chris and I decided we should try and teach him some new stuff :)

4. Liam has been into the book "The Little Blue Truck".  There is a part in the book where a big dump truck comes through and says "HONK"  Liam thinks it's great and says "HONK" before we even turn the page some days.  He also says the part where the big truck says "Comin' through!, I've big important things to do!"

5. Colin has been clicking his tongue lately and will copy you.  He has also been sucking his lips in almost as if trying to bite them.  He's such a happy boy,

Vegas

Last weekend Tammy and Maggie flew into Vegas from Virginia so we could have a girls' weekend.  Chris, the boys, and I all drove up Saturday morning.  Chris and the boys hung out with us during the day so they could visit, too.

Tammy had her picture taken with Darth Vader

We went to lunch at a buffet in the Paris Casino.  Liam never actually said Tammy's name before we left Virginia.  He said it during lunch and Tammy was SUPER excited about it so Liam of course said it a couple more times :)

Group photo in front of the Bellagio

My babies

The family

It became a little windy/cold so Colin bundled up

Watching the water show.

We passed Woody and Buzz.  

After a lot of walking, we went up to the room and got ready for our night out and Chris headed home with the boys.

I was really nervous about this trip because it would be the longest I would be away from my boys since Liam was born!  It was just over 24 hours we all survived.  When I got home Liam was still awake.  I went in to say Hi and kiss him good night, and he got the biggest smile on his face and said "miss you mama"  It was a great moment.  We had a great time and saw a really neat show!  My feet hurt for about two days after I got home, so I won't be wearing heels again anytime soon!  Hopefully, we will have future trips together, and maybe next time the significant others can come too ;)