Spring Break - March 2011 - Day 2

 Kids patiently playing and waiting for Mom and Dad to be ready to go.

 Sea World here we come!

 Yes Olivia is NOT in this family picture. That's because Mommy is dumb and didn't bring the stroller over. Don't know what I was thinking.

 The biggest performing creatures. These guys would do anything to get some fish.

 Baby slept while Daddy and the big kids went on some rides.

 They went on this rafting ride and got drenched. Poor Zoey was wet the rest of the day and had a hard time keeping her jeans up.

 Checking out the sea stars in the tide pool.

 More rides.

 Jay and Ali's future selves, we hope.

 Shamu and friends!

 The kids are doing the hand movements they were supposed to do to get the whale to splash water with it's tail.

Spring Break - March 2011 - Day 1

 We decided this year to spend some money and actually do something for spring break. Zoey had the week off school and so we decided to take a fun family trip to San Diego. We had an absolutely fabulous time and we can't wait to go back and visit again one day.

The drive there.

  Jumping on the beds is always a top priority when getting to the hotel. It's just tradition.

5 Whole Years

 Our wonderful Noah celebrated his 5th birthday yesterday. Where did those years go? He has grown so much in the last year it is crazy. He is still the sweet lovey boy he has always been but he is such a big kid now. Noah has really taken to learning how to write and read and figure out anything he doesn't know yet. He is great at video games, riding his bike, swimming, and pretty much anything he decides he really wants to do. He is a great big brother to Olivia, entertaining her constantly and doing all he can to keep her safe and from being naughty. He is so good to his big sister too. He adores her and wants to do everything she does. Really, Noah is just a great kid. He definitely gives us a run for our money, as any kid does, but he is so wonderful and we are incredibly grateful he is ours.

 HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY NOAH JAY! WE LOVE YOU TO PIECES!

So. . . I am well aware that I have been a terrible blogger for a little while now. I just haven't had the energy or the care to deal with it. I do love to keep people updated with our family, especially the kids. My goal is to start getting back into the blog world again in the next week or so. I warn now that it will mostly be an overload of pictures but isn't that what everyone really wants to see anyway? So bear with me and I will do my best to update and share lots of fun pictures.

Visiting the Animals

 Way back in February my sister and I took our kids to the zoo. We all had a great time seeing all the animals and enjoyed a nice picnic at the park after. It was a beautiful day and we all had a very nice time.

 Just loved the lazy lounging bear.

 If I remember correctly a duck was the very first of any animal that Olivia actually noticed. She loved it!

 We also love the capybara. It looks like a giant guinea pig.

 I don't remember what this dude is but I greatly appreciated him looking right at me and posing for a nice picture.

 See Zoey's cute french braided hair? I love it this way but never do it because I am not that skilled. I am pretty sure it took me at least 35 minutes the night before to do it.

 Gotta love the elephants. The funny thing is that I just couldn't get my 11 month old to see them. She could spot a duck but not the giant elephants.

 Mommy's favorite animal the giraffe. I just love them.

At the park Olivia had to do some crawling around and exploring.

 It made her SO happy!

She found a stick and thought the best thing to do was to taste it.

 It was a fantastic afternoon! It's always nice to get out and visit some of our own kind. :)

Inside Looking Out