Visit To California I

Labor Day Weekend we decided last minute to drive to California and see my folks. It used to be a whole lot easier to make these spilt second decisions. When we were newly married Eric and I would just take off after work Friday night and get in at two or three in the morning without telling my parents we were coming. I think we shocked my parents on several occasions. Now it takes us at least an hour-and-a-half to pack and that is only if we have clean clothes ready to throw in the suitcase. We also frown on leaving too late in the day now because putting kids to bed in the wee hours of the morning is really NO fun.

Adam is our best traveler on long distance runs. He seems to understand that you have to pay a price to see a Grandma (he has one in Burley and one in California, neither of which is very close). Caleb is by far our worst traveler. He will cry angrily for long periods of time and makes life really unpleasant for the rest of us. James cries only because I am not holding him and, truthfully, I think he should be allowed to cry because he is just a baby. Despite all the challenges I am so grateful we made the decision to go this time. The boys had a blast and I got to see my brother Joseph for the first time since he got home from his mission in August. Life is truly good to us.

While we were there Grandpa and Uncle Joseph put up a fence to block the ferocious turtles. Adam and Caleb "helped" in this process. While they were helping Adam spent some quality time with my parent's dog Boaz who he calls "his" dog. That is Caleb's hand with the wrench.

Adam and Caleb standing behind the new fence. The turtle was trying to figure out how he could get in too.

The fence makers.

Adam found a tool.

Caleb was trying to find a tool of his own. I just prayed it wouldn't be something I had to take away for safety issues.

Adam LOVES to help Grandpa.

A hammer was an ok tool but not my favorite for an eighteen-month-old.

Love that face.

Adam and Caleb also "helped" pick Grandma's tomatoes.

Caleb thought the tomatoes were balls and kept chucking them into the basket with a little too much force. Poor tomatoes. 

Grandpa trying to explain what a tomato is and how we should treat it.

Caleb loving the trampoline.

Adam loving it as well.

My parents bought some swings to hang in one of their trees for the grand kids to enjoy. It's always a game to see which adult will get stuck outside pushing for extended periods of time. Isn't that face beautiful.

Adam is blurry because he never stops moving.

James being loved by his grandma.

I had a really hard time getting James to pay attention to me when I wanted to take his picture. The outside was so much more interesting than I was.

Another failed attempt.

Some friends came over to play one day. Ethan and Caleb drenched themselves in the fountain.

So wet.

Uncle Joseph helped by getting everyone wet with the hose.

Emily striking fear into Adam's heart.

These two are partners in crime. So cute.

This is Adam pretending to like the sprinklers on. His hand was the only thing that got wet.

After a few minutes of "fun" he decided to help Grandpa move the turtle pen instead.

Caleb loved his first time of running through the sprinklers. He kept trying to catch the water.

He looks so cold but it was really warm out.

I love this picture.

Taking a break from running but still enjoying the water.