Monday, July 28, 2008

Home Sweet Home

Two straight days of no sleep, and I got this place from boxes to kinda settled - whew. It's still very apartmenty, but feels homey enough. The boys seem happy, comfortable and content.

Living room - the tv is on a cart next to the fireplace.


The boys' room is pretty crammed too. But, it works.


Anyway, here we are. And I believe... the blog is all updated! Just one more photo... how flippin' cute is this shot? (If I do say so myself?) I am hitting Ebay again to earn some supplemental income, and I just loved this little group shot of the Blue's Clues characters I found today. Cute, cute. Looks like a little meeting of the minds hah. (ps - they sold for $50... I paid $4. Woot!)


Sunday, July 20, 2008

And then finally...

After we left the desert, we headed to San Bernardino to see my dad and grandmother. My dad works at a factory where they make train wheels, so the boys got a great tour while the boss was away. I still have the black dirt grease all over my backseat from their shoes hah.






Friday, July 18, 2008

From the beach to the desert

After we left the beach, we headed to my grandmother's house in Hemet, and went to visit my aunt in Banning (and got to meet her horses).





I have no idea what kind of flower this is but I was struck by the brilliant colors.


Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The REAL vacation

After all that Disneyland fun, I needed somewhere beachy to escape from life for a bit and enjoy my boys. We spent the night in Newport Beach in a hotel across the street from the sand. It was so much fun. Jake didn't step a toe into the water, and Matthew couldn't keep out of it for more than a minute or two. I love the ocean - I miss it.
















Two days in Disney bliss

Disneyland was, of course, so much fun but very, very challenging as I was the sole adult with a 2- and 5-yr-old. Matthew really got cheated out of alot of rides he was tall enough for, but not old enough to go on alone. Jake perpetually had his hand over his mouth - his comfort during times of anxiety and uncertainty. Funny dude.


Pirates was our first ride, complete with the obligatory cheese pose.

After torturing Jake on Pirates and the Haunted Mansion (hey, there were no lines and you HAVE to do those first... who needs to ease a baby into the concept of water falls and scary ghosts riding in cars with you?), we went on the Pooh ride - a little more Jake-style. It was my first time on this ride. Thought it was new, but the lady said it has been there for 5 or 8 years or something. heh. Disney is such a different experience when you are a parent...


Matthew scared the crap out of Jake and I on this... but he wanted to go so badly, we had to suck it up. I have never been on the rockets - for a very good reason. Man. Too high. Too fast. Too circley. But I managed to snap this before we launched.

Matthew got to ride Star Tours with a foster family since Jake was too short to ride, and when we finished we got a Fast Pass to the new premiere ride Buzz Lightyear... hard to shoot pics in there, but it was a cool ride. Jake was of course covering his mouth the whole time.

I know she is just a normal person... but, there is just something about a princess, eh? :)
Yes, he even covered his mouth during the parade. haha.
From all these photos, you would think Jake was not happy most of the time... but I promise, he liked Disneyland. Kinda. :) The boys on the train... (disguised as adventure, but really it was a rest break)

Cool new submarine ride. Also my first time on them. I have a terrible time with tiny enclosed things that go under water... but again, that parent thing... it's amazing what you can push through. Jake of course covered his mouth the whole time...


Tried to get shots of the three of us whenever I could


Splash Mountain at sunset. Matthew wanted to ride this so badly, but I just couldn't do that to Jake.
Awww. The magical castle. :)


My first time in California Adventure. This is where they have the Electrical Parade now. The boys absolutely adored it. :) But really? How could anyone not?

The boys and I just before the Playhouse Disney show. This was the first time Jake really let go and relaxed. He waved to all the characters and was so excited to see them - very cute.


My first time in Toon Town also... the boys had a blast, but this was day two and we were homeless until 4pm when we could check into the hotel, and dying in the hot, yucky sun. Poor Matthew had no stroller so he had to hoof it with me everywhere.

I took over 500 pictures of Disneyland alone, but you'd be amazed how hard it is to get pictures of the kids doing things when you are managing and keeping them alive and in sight the whole time. It was an exhausting, but fun, trip.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Disneyland... here we come!

I loaded the boys in the car about 6am and we drove 8 hrs from Corning to Anaheim and really, they did fantastic. I could not have asked for better behavior from either of them.


We arrived with enough time to enjoy the sunshine and the pool at the hotel


After a swim, we headed to dinner and then grabbed a shuttle to Downtown Disney (the free Disney marketplace outside the gates)


Thursday, July 10, 2008

Grab a filter

The fires in Northern California are absolutely insane. These were taken at about 4:30pm in Corning, Ca on a totally clear, sunny day. They are untouched and straight from the camera. Crazy, huh? You could actually see ash falling like snow.



Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sunset at the midpoint

The boys and I are heading to California and have chosen Bend, Or., as our midway stopping point. After all... they have a Red Robin and a pretty little river trail. :)


Matthew found a cool rock to climb with a few friends