LDS Family Night at the Ports Baseball Game

A Spectacular Night at our families first Port's Baseball Game. We went because it was LDS Family Night. All the area missionaries where there to support the Mission President, who threw out the first pitch. And throughout the evening there where lots of fun "Mormon" games, example is a Green Jello eating contest and more. Sarah was enjoying herself until during the National Anthem she was scared as the Bombs bursted in air(Fireworks). From that moment until probably 3rd inning she was curled up in my lap, would not even look up. But then she settled in and we even got a smile.
Baseball, the American past-time!

It was a fun night with baseball, funnel cake and pretty phenomenal fireworks! We really enjoyed ourselves and Sarah still talks about the game and fireworks.

Discovery Kingdom a Family Adventure!!

We were fortunate enough to make one more trip to Discovery Kingdom with our freinds again and this time all the Dads joined in on the fun!! It was such a Fun day with great weather and lots of rides and shows. We started when the park opened and didn't stop until they closed. It was quite a day!! Our tired family at the park entry!
Crusing with our friends in the JEEPs. Ethan and Colton up front and Andrew and his brother in back. Then Melanie and Sarah with Mom hitching a ride followed close behind! Oh, and we crused around the grassy area that housed some large shelled tortioses having a bit too much fun.
The swimming Tiger show was amazing. Who knew tigers could swim so well and a little fact about tigers is that they fold back their ears sealing them off before they dive to prevent water from going in their ears. I thought that was very interesting!

Such a beautiful animal!

WEE!! WEE!!

Peek-a-Boo!! We see you boys! You aren't getting into trouble are you? ;) We treasure the fun we have with friends!

Two cute kids that are mine!!

Around and round they go, when they stop, I don't know!!

Here is our favorite friend the walrus, who scared Sarah last visit but this time Sarah thought he was a bit more interesting and we actually found out he is the walrus from the movie "50 First Dates," too bad he wasn't giving autographs.

It was great to have another adult to ride rides with the kids because I can only go in circles for so long and that motion sickness stuff kicks in, but Jay and the kids seem to spin all day.

What a magnificant animal. I am in awe how they can jump out of the water so high and they are so large. It was a very entertaining show!

The park had all the rides and all the animals, giraffs, lions tigers but no bears. Even so the kids enjoyed the wonders of all the rescued animals that reside their in the park.

We are truly fans of Discovery Kingdom and are very grateful to our friends for inviting us to join them on the adventure there. This adventure was our last big HOORA! for the summer. We have all started Kindergarten at different schools and we truly miss them, but are still keeping in touch and wish them the best.

Trip to Santa Cruz

We decided to go to the beach at least once this summer and chose Santa Cruz since we have never been. It was a fairly nice drive, not too long, and beautiful weather. We were all amazed at the sea lions that were swimming about and basking in the sun. They were oblivious to the people, just enjoying hanging out on the pier and docks. But the kids wanted to watch them all day.LOOK HOW CLOSE THEY ARE!! Colton, "YEA, COOL!" Sarah, "OH MY!"
We were even lucky enough to get a family picture on the end of the pier. Isn't the ocean beautiful! It is so vast and amazing.

So I think if your kids are driving you crazy, running around and you can't keep up with them, just bary them in the sand and then they can't go anywhere. HEE, HEE! Just kidding. But the kids do look quite cute with just their faces sticking out of the sand.

But the only downer to covering the kids in sand is that all the sand does not come off. In fact there is quite a bit that stays on and they do not enjoy the moments of going out in the cold ocean water and trying to get at least some of the sand off.

Sarah had so much fun playing!! that she was not up for pictures.

Sunscreened up and ready to hit the Beach!!

Doesn't it look like FUN?! So many people just enjoying themselves.

We all had a Great time, even Jay. He is not our beach bum dad (He likes the snow and mountains) but he still had a really good time and we will probably be able to get him to go back. It helps that the weather is simply gorgeous there!

Summer FUN swim and play

This summer Colton improved his swimming skills and confindence during his one on one swim lessons. I thought I was watching a fish. He loves the water and swimming. He got really good at diving for rings and different swim toys. We spent a day this summer at the local Children's Museum. We were supposed to meet some friends there but Mom got her days mixed up and went a day early. But the experience of playing on police cars, fire truck, slides, exploration activities and we can't forget the grocery store was still a ton of fun!Colton loved the pretend money and cash register. Sarah loved shopping for all the fun stuff and scanning her items at the register. Colton and Sarah made a fantastic team.

Another fun activity was the puppet area and I have to say Colton and Sarah put on an incredible puppet show, very animated and full of noises.

Sarah had fun sailing the ship and even remembered safety first.

We love all the FUN that summer brings!!

Precious Moments to Treasure

Sarah's hair has gotten long enough to put into pig tails, HOW CUTE!I don't know about other Moms but I can never get ready by myself.
I wanted a NICE picture of the kids in their church clothes obviously I got a picture of the kids in their usual mode not picture mode. So here are Colton and Sarah, as they are.
Brother and Sister love is the greatest treasure above anything!! Family is one the most beautiful gifts Heavenly Father has given us. I am so grateful for a loving, strong husband and two strong-willed precious children.

Oh, the moments in the car. Sarah is full of life and lots to say or sing when we are in the car.

Treasure children for they are the greatest gift the Lord has entrusted in us as parents.

4th of July in Stockton

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS and tried to find FUN ways to celebrate!

Well I have to admit that it was a interesting 4th of July. We decided to check out the Stockton City Parade and certainly will not do that again. Jay and I both grew up attending fantastic city parades and Stockton was not very good. The entire parade was 30min maybe 40 and not one float. Needless to say we were disappointed. But the kids enjoyed getting so much candy from the city officials. They were so cute in their RED, WHITE and BLUE!
The crowd was so sparce there was no one near by take a picture of the family so this was our family self-portrait.
But to make up for the bummer morning, we went to Lodi Lake for their city fireworks. Stockton canceled their fireworks due to budget. It is sad when we don't even have enough responsiblity to portect the celebrations that are honoring the freedom we have even to develop our state, and city governements.

But the fireworks were FANTASTIC. We were siting directly underneath the fireworks. Sarah had her hood on to protect her ears from the noise. She hid through some of the foreworks but peeped out for the PINK ones. That is her favorite color.

The kids also enjoyed their glow in the dark toys. Colton chose a blue sword and some blue bracelets and Sarah had PINK necklaces and multi-colored bracelets. It is amazing the joy that glow-in-the dark stuff creates for children.

Over all the day ended on a good note. We had a nice 4th of July. No matter how our celebration turned out I still stand strong and Proud to be an American. What a blessing it is to live in a land where we have so many choices: religion, education, paths in life, and so many Freedoms that our soldiers fight to protect for us. We have to continue to stand strong to protect everything that makes being an American such an amazing experience.

Folsom ProRodeo

So ever since we moved to California, Jay and I both have wanted to go to a Rodeo. Every time we see a billboard it seems as if we have missed the festivities. But as I was searching for the 4th of July events for the Rodeo. I came across the Folsom ProRodeo and Jay and I decided not to meet this moment. We got tickets the day before and were had an absolute BLAST!! We night was full of hot dogs, chips and soda along side some HOT sun in our faces. But we topped off the setting sun with Jambas and ice cream. All in all we were decked out for the occassion, boots and hats! COWBOY UP!!
What a wonderful moment!

This was one of my favorite moments as the diver manuevered his way to the arena the song

"I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN"

rang through the stands and there was a great sense of reverence and pride throughout the stands. Those are the moments that make me Proud to be an American.

The kids had fun during the Rodeo. They even got to go out into the arena to look for silver dollars in the dirt and be part of a dance contest hosted by the Rodeo Clowns(you can see me and Sarah in the arena, I have on a red shirt). Even now that I am older I still love the Rodeo Clowns! But the highlight of this Rodeo for the kids was watching the border collie nip at the heels of the bulls and chase them into the pins. It really was funny!

But we had a great time and the night ended with an impressive firework display right out of the arena. Sarah was a bit startled but I attribute it to her being tired.

I have to say to close that a California Rodeo is NOT the same as a Texas Rodeo or even a Utah rodeo. We miss those Rodeos most definitely!