Utah Or Bust!!

There was a bowling tournament that Scott was in over this past weekend. His league that he plays in (that I use to play in) held its final tournament (hopefully we can get another one together with the same people). Although Vegas is a fun place, it is not meant for kids. So, I arranged a wonderful trip to drop Scott off in Vegas while Grant and I continued on to Enoch, Utah. We have some friends that live in Enoch, Stacey, Jeremy and their nearly 17 month old, Joshua!!

We arrived on Friday just in time for dinner. My friend Stacey is a WONDERFUL cook, so I was looking forward to her food!! She was so nice that she looked up a Weight Watchers recipe for me and made a meal around my diet!! Thank you and it was great!! In fact, I am making Taco Soup for Scott and Gman tomorrow!

We scrapped until our hearts could not scrap anymore...well, until I had to leave on Sunday. We only had four hours of sleep the first night, that is how obsessed we are with scrapping (especially when we get together...no one wants to be the "first to quit"). We didn't really know how it was going to go with the boys, so we were just going to play it by ear.

Well, as you can see in the pictures, the boys loved to play with one another. Joshua is not obsessed with cars (which is good b/c Grant is). The two played well together with little guidance from the Mommy's. I captured a few moments of shear bliss from the two (i.e. Sitting on the couch watching Nemo, chasing bubbles and dancing around about it, pushing each other on the "car," and sharing the Aquapro that Grant received from Joshua for his birthday...thanks again).

We had a great time in Utah and appreciate the hospitality of our friends. Thanks for the fun and I love the pictures of the boys!! Joshua is such a cutie!! I love his smile and beautiful eyes!! He and Grant share a kindered spirit...a love of life and bubbles!

Brushy, Brushy...Did Someone Say, Dentist?

Grant had his second dentist visit!! I think all things considered, he did well. If screaming you heart out for three (VERY LONG) minutes constitutes "doing well." Then, Grant was the perfect child.

It all started the day before when the dentist office called to remind us that Grant had his "six-month checkup." Okay, I say and then immediately find out from Scott am I going to have to take him?? I remember Scott telling me from the first visit that I wouldn't be able to handle the situation because Grant gets so upset. Okay, well Scott is still reroofing and working at the shop, so I couldn't get out of it.

I prepared Grant as best as I could (minus the short notice). I told him repeatedly that we (meaning him) were going to the dentist tomorrow and they were going to look at his beautiful teeth. They would even give him good tasting toothpaste (which he loves). I told him they would clean his teeth and if he was really good, I would buy him some more playdoh (the kids loves playdoh...actually he is quite obsessed with the stuff).

Well, throw all that out the door...as soon as we arrived they pretty much called us back. Therefore, Grant did not get to enjoy all the games and toys they have in the lobby. So, the first step of the negotiations goes on...I talk him into going with me because I had some "Cars" stickers. I had one of "Sally car" which is his favorite (well, the past two weeks, she has been his favorite...it changes often). So, we are not doing X-rays (per request by Grant...when I say request, just picture him going CRAZY on the chair). The nurses decide they can check when they are in his mouth.

Next, to the room with the chair. I was able to keep him entertained until the dentist showed up and he was great with the dentist. He let her look at every tooth and tap on them. She said he has zero cavities, great teeth, missing two molars, and she could tell we brush his teeth well.

NOW FOR THE CLEANING. I would say that at this point, I should have left the building. Grant instantly was done when the dentist was done. Either he understood her when she said his teeth look great and no cavities or he was just DONE with sitting in this chair. Probably the latter of the two, anyway, he was not happy about the cleaning. So, $75 later, he has clean teeth and it only took her three minutes. Now, the three minutes seemed pretty long for the fit he was throwing, but short for $75 worth of cleaning. All in all, a good experience and a great place to take your kid. The doc even let me take pictures of her while she was checking his teeth out (as you see above).

I took him for a Happy Meal and ice cream (of which he mostly wanted the "Hummer" car inside of the Happy Meal more than the food). We also went to play at the indoor play area in the mall.

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!!

Cousin Jeremy had another birthday!! He is now 25 years young!!! Wow! Okay, so we went to Taste of Texas. It is a Tejano-type restaurant. Scott doesn't like to say it is TexMex because we know TexMex. It is more like a Southwestern version of TexMex...no, more Tejano-type food. They are known for their small portions (hahaha, yeah right, see above picture of Eugena's Chicken Fried Steak), just kidding, their fajitas and chicken fried steak.

We had a blast and it was extra special because Cousins Doug and Eugena came out from Arkansas to celebrate their son's birthday (which we are all celebrating tomorrow night...shh, it's a surprise). So, we had the whole family there and we ate TOT, cake and watched Grant jump around. He can jump now, so he is pretty much into that. He likes to repeat what his Grandpa Gary taught him, "I'm a jumping bean." Grant was good to pose with Jeremy, Courtney (Jeremy's beau) and the rest of the family. Happy Birthday, Jeremy!!

Crocs!!! We Love Them!!! Thanks, Shannon!!

Okay, here is the deal...when I first saw them, I was not convinced. However, now that Grant has a pair of Crocs, thanks to Matt, Shannon and Chloe, I love them. Grant loves them too (which is more important). I have had a little bit of trouble with Grant and his shoes. He decided about six weeks ago that every shoe "huurted" his feet, except for his worn out Stride Rite sandals. I am glad he got the wear out of those ridiculously priced shoes, but none of the other shoes he has have been worn.

Well, Shannon sent some Crocs to Grant and he can't stop wearing them. Now, the only problem is that they are red and don't match everything. Ask me if I care, because I don't. Two days ago, Scott asked me if I was going to let Grant out of the house wearing what he was wearing. It was an orange and yellow tye dye shirt (with a smiley face in the center, we bought it in Berkeley when we were visiting Christi and family in January), navy shorts and red Crocs. I said, "I am a changed woman. If he is clean, then we leave." Of course about that time, he poopied his pants, so we had to laugh a little.

Anyway, I was convinced that they were a "Godsend" because he can now put on his own shoes (and wants to). Now to some of you, you might be thinking, whoop-tee-do. Those of you who are parents understand the importance of this. He is one step closer to getting out of the house without a whole ordeal. Sometimes, I remember back BG (Before Grant) and think about how I could just walk out of the house and get in my car and go. Those were the days of fast pace living. Even on a good day, you're looking at fifteen minutes and that's with mismatched clothes and forgetting at least three things.

So, we went to the mall and bought some jibbitz to go on his Crocs. Nordie's only had a few on hand, so we bought the ones that suited Grant (i.e. basketball, smiley face, peace symbol and the letter "G"). I am going to the Internet for some more. I suggest to everyone out there...buy a pair (at least for your kids). They really do look cute on kids and they can put them on easily (of course the downside is when they figure out how to easily take them off). Thanks again, Shannon, Matt and Chloe!!

Grant rolling around in the sand!

Grant and Scott sharing some chips!

Mel and Dawn


Jerms and Sophia

How did the cheetos get sand in them??

Grant did you put sand in Mason's cheetos?

Camdon and Grant

Buddies for Life!!

My baby is growing up...look at how tall this ladder is to this slide.

He did it all by himself...and he kept doing it...and kept doing it.

The whole time, he would say, "Do it again, slide. Do it again!"

Grant crawled into his bike trailer and asked me to ride him around.

Five minutes later, he was asleep and stayed that way for about an hour.

Andie, April, Camdon, Mason working on their masterpiece.

They should have received first place...this picture doesn't do it justice!!

Grant's Angels!

Ashley, Laura, April, Andie, and Grant

This picture was taken right before the ice cream sundaes!!

See the smiles!!

Jerms and Scott singing 80's Ballads

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn"

Campland By the Bay

We went camping this past weekend!! Oh, it was so much fun. The four hour drive that should have only been two (at best) wasn't as pleasant as it may sound, but everything else was splendid!! We met up with some friends that were camping, too. Our friends, Jeremy (aka Jerms) and Sophia have four children and brought an extra two (why not?...haha). We all settled into our spots and met up the first night for a bike ride (or two). There was also an awesome band playing and Scott, Grant and I caught a few songs. They were really good.

Then, Saturday morning we made breakfast, drank coffee and headed to the beach! A day at the beach. As you can see in the pictures above, Grant loves the sand. He loves everything about sand. He loves the way it feels, tastes, and smells. The child had sand in every crack and cranny on his body. We even found sand in our cheetos (hum, I wonder who could have done that??...there is an incriminating photo of Gman eating cheetos with Mason).

Our friend Dawn met us at the beach and some of Sophia & Jerm's friends, Danny, Stephanie and their kids, met us there too. We were one big happy group. The guys went in the ocean (aka "bay") for a little while to throw the football around. I taped this on the videocamera and Grant is besides himself. Then, we finally packed up camp around 6ish. We headed for the showers and got cleaned up to go to Sophia & Jerm's campsite to grill. Dinner was great and we relaxed while Scott and Jerms played guitar and sang. We had to hurry to catch the fireworks that SeaWorld puts on...we watched and applauded!!

The next day, more of the same. We had decided on Saturday to stay another day. So, we made breakfast, went to the park, went swimming in one of their four pools and then headed for the beach. The kids entered a sandcastle building contest and certainly should have won. They were good sports about it and only knocked over first and second place (just kidding). We packed up for a second night of fun and festivities. We had planned on going to the Luau, but ended up having too much fun at the campsite...eating, making smores and eating ice cream sundaes!!

Unfortunately on Monday, we had to come home. The beach was nice. The Campland facilities are great! I would recommend it to anyone with a RV or tent and if you are going to be in San Diego! We had a terrific time and hope to go camping at Dana Point in September. We shall see.

If I Post It, It Will Come

First, let me thank Aunt Stephanie in advance. I posted a blog a few days ago about Guayabera shirts. Grant and I had gone to Olvera Street (downtown LA) with some former students of mine. We had seen some Guayabera shirts there for $17 and I posted a blog about how much I like these, but am too cheap to buy one for Grant (oh, and said the Internet was double the price). So, Aunt Stephanie goes and buys Grant two Guayabera shirts from the Internet and they were delivered today! So, my question is...if I post it, will it come??

Thanks again Stephanie, and as you can see it is super cute on Gman (you shouldn't have spent so much on him). You are too generous (as usual).

The Children's Museum With Some Friends

On Tuesday, Grant and I went to the Children's Museum with Socorro and Audry and their mom, Jennifer. I think that it is easy to say that the Carousel was everyone's favorite. However, Socorro was very good at dressing up and singing on stage. Audrey loved to try on Monkey costumes and well, Grant really loves the bus and trains at the museum. So, all children found a lot of fun and enjoyed one another's company, too.

Jennifer and I actually had a conversation for about five minutes, too. For some reason, I always present the Children's Museum to my friends as an "easy" afternoon for us as parents. But, I do seem to forget everytime how you still have to play with the kids and "regulate" their playing with others. So, all in all, I love the museum b/c we get to "get out," but it is a bit of a challenge (like all days). Thanks for coming with us!!