Dog Park or Cat Couch?

We have a local dog park that the dogs enjoy. These pictures are from May when we took the dogs, but we have been several times since. The dogs love it. Now, initially when we went (about a year or two ago), I envisioned something different. You know, it is called a dog "park." I am picturing slides and jungle gyms, etc. Well, I was wrong because it is just a huge gated area for dogs to play. It is separated into "small" dogs and "big" dogs. I am always curious about the dogs that are small but have a Napoleon complex....where do they go? I have seriously seen people that do put their little ankle-biters in with the big dogs (probably for this very reason).

Well, the alternative to the doggy park is the CAT COUCH. I think you will understand after you see the pictures! Who do you think is better friends? Waylon and Willie (the Tabby cats) or Lola, Maggie and Jerry (the dogs)?

Sea World in May

Wow!! Where to begin...well, I will just jump in after Arkansas. Well, the first thing that I noticed that I did not blog back in May was the special time we had at Sea World. We went to Sea World in San Diego. Tracy and Chris (and soon-to-be-born Baby Emily) live in San Diego, so the family decided to go visit. While visiting, we decided we would all go to Sea World. It was tons of fun.

Grant was the center of attention (as usual) and enjoyed all the shows. However, his favorite I believe was the Pet Show. This show had pets from the local animal shelter (dogs, cats, pigs, etc.) that could be adopted. Well, the point of the show is to get you to understand that all animals have the potential to have a unique "trick," but it is our job to find out what this "trick" is within our pets. Hmmm, I wonder what special "trick" our animals can do? Good question. LOL. Let's see, the cats could play like they are setting the World's record on sleeping in one spot. And well the dogs, Lola is good at swimming and chasing balls...Jerry is good at "playing dead," and Maggie is GREAT at running (like Forrest Gump-style).

We went to Tracy and Chris' afterwards to enjoy some really good homemade desserts! Yummy, Tracy, yummy!

WOW!!! School is out, so I might catch up...

Hi everyone,

I am sorry about the delay in our updates, but I have been going to graduate school and the last update was actually an assignment. I am earning my Masters degree in Educational Technology from APU. It ended (as well as me teaching summer school) last Saturday! I have been preparing for some friends to visit and SPRING CLEANING. Grant is learning to let go of a lot of old toys and clothes (and what better timing, then our church having a rummage sale).

Anyway, I have a lot to update you and plan to do so in the next few weeks. We had a birthday party for Grant and 30 of his friends at Pump It Up, Campland On the Bay in San Diego, SeaWorld in San Diego and much more. I hope I get back to you sooner than later.

Fireworks for the 4th or A Special Birthday?

Well, most of you know that my son's birthday was on the 4th of July. Although I have some blogs to catch up between the last entry and this one, I am going to move forward.

Grant turned three yesterday and he has made some great strides in development. First and foremost, we are officially potty-trained. We have not had an accident for nearly four days in a row. Knock on wood. My husband and I started this plan about six weeks ago. I was of the school of "sink or swim," you know "put him in underwear and he will catch on...eventually." My husband was from the school of "that is going to scar him, let's try pull-ups." Okay, we shall give the pull-ups a month. Well, Grant did well with MANY accidents (and I am thankful we did not do the underwear because some accidents were not right).

Grant seemed to catch on and at his party, he announced to everyone that he went "poopie" in the big potty. Oh, that is not how we started our day, but I thought it a good way to get the blog going.


We started our morning with a phone call from Aunt Phyllis in Arkansas and then my dad. We then had to decorate our cake. I had the notion that it would be cool to make a kid's cake for the BBQ and let Grant decorate it. Boy, that was fun!! He helped make the cake and then the morning of his birthday, he decorated it. He wanted to decorate it in "wed, ellow and bue." (a.k.a. red, yellow and blue).

Then we got ready and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. They had a BBQ/Pool party for Grant. He was showered with love from all of his family and friends. I am happy to say that Grant got in the water with a floatie-type bathing suit on and was swimming to the steps. I am hoping that his daily lessons are paying off. We had a blast swimming, eating, laughing, splashing, and enjoying each other's company. We feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family here and around the country. Grant's Grandpa Bill, Auntie Barbara, Uncle Paul, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Phyllis, Pastor Mary, Ms. Beverly (his Sunday school teacher), cousin Britney, and I can't remember everyone who called him to wish him a happy birthday!! That was very special and when he heard Pastor Mary sing happy birthday over the answering machine, he turned to Scott and I and said, "she singing the song to me, I love Pastor Mary." How cute!

Everyone wished Scott and I a happy anniversary. It is hard to believe that on the 4th of July, seven years ago at the same BBQ/Pool party we were wed. Time sure does fly when you are having fun being married to your best friend. What a wonderful day!! What a wonderful life!!

I started the blog with describing some milestones that Grant has reached....I will have to keep you posted on the others. Oh, just a sneak preview...do you know the phrase, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?" Well, turns out that Grant is a talker!!! Is this a shocker or what? LOL I'll have to YouTube some cute things I caught him doing (i.e. singing Video Killed the Radio Star)....funny stuff.

After Arkansas in April...yes, I am a little behind

Lisa, Courtney and Grant at Disneyland. A Bug's Life has a bumper car type ride! Look at Grant's squinting eyes when I said, "Say Cheese."

When Grant and I returned back from Arkansas in April (after Easter), we jumped right back into LIFE. Our life was going back to school for me and starting a Masters program at a local, private university (Azusa Pacific University). I am getting my Masters in Educational Technology. All of my classes are online and thus why I am so behind. I started my first class the day after we got back from Arkansas.

Well, as a reward for getting all of my homework done for the first week, Grant and I went to Disneyland with Lisa, Courtney, Sarah, and many more of Lisa's friends. We had fun going to the area of A Bug's Life and the carousel and many other rides. We had a great time and loved hanging out with everyone. We love Arkansas, but it was good to be back in "sunny California."

The next day after Disneyland, the family and I went to the Home Tour of Pasadena while Grant stayed with Grandpa and hung out. Here are some great photos!

Our Last Full Day and we went to The Wonder Place and a Japanese restaurant

Well, Dad and I set out to entertain that beautiful boy, Grant. We took him to The Wonder Place. We set out to go to this really cool place that we had heard about because it was an indoor play center (and it was raining). So, we drove about 40 minutes to get there because there were a few accidents. We were happy once we finally got there. We went in and the first thing Grant saw was a train set...well, needless to say it took us at least one hour before we could even walk around to see what else the place had in its facility. Well, we shortly discovered that it was really neat. It had an arean where kids could put on waterproof smocks and play in water. It had a sand table (separate from the water area...for obvious reasons). It had a rockclimbing/slide type thing with musical instruments at the top. It had a vet place, grocery store, pretend restaurant, reading room and a craft room.

Grant tried a little bit of everything...once we got him to leave the train for a little bit. We had done everything at least once. Dad even went at the top of the slide/rockclimbing contraption and played musical instruments with Grant. It was cute, but not such a beautiful sound . LOL Anyway, after about three hours, I asked my dad if we could grab a bite to eat and come back. He agreed that he was starving too. Luckily, there was a McDonald's next to the place. We had to do some negotiating with Grant (because he DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE), but we promised to come back very quickly to optimize his playtime. He agreed. When we were at McDonald's he was all business...he ate and said, "no thanks" on the offering of dessert/ice cream...that is a first. I guess he was serious about returning quickly...of course, just to play with the trains.

We closed down the place and went back home. We had dinner plans with Barb, Brittney and Marv. So, we went to dinner to a Japenese restaurant and say the cook chop up veggies and cook in front of us. This was a first for Grant, too. He was a little intimidated by the flames, but interested nonetheless. He did not eat anything, but his goldfish. We all enjoyed our dinner. Thanks, Barb and Marv! On the way home, we dropped off Brittney and visited with her mom, Trish and brother, Christian. We had fun and went home pretty late...little man was tired.

Which Burger King? Boy, those babies look alike! Hello, Betty!

Continuing on my slow discription of Arkansas...well, we did a lot the next day too. We were to meet my longtime, close friend Leslie for lunch. She was bringing her daughter and her niece to Burger King playland in a neighboring city. Well, I say city, but everyone that knows Arkansas is laughing because there are mostly towns! Okay, so we go to the Burger King playland...where is she? She had already called me and told me that she was there. Was that Leslie? That lady over there? NO! I hadn't seen Leslie in a few years but really...how much could a person change and we do exchange pictures via mail and email. So, it wasn't like I didn't know her. Okay, I have to call her. Oh, there are two Burger King playlands in this town...there are none in NLR, but this town of 19,000 has two! Okay, whatever! She brings her daughter and niece over to our BK and the kids play, we "catch up" and my Dad has fun being the parent of a girl-child that is giggling like old times with her friend.

Then, we are off to visit my neighbor Betty and her mother, Peggy. Betty has lived next door to me since before I was born. She now lives with her mother. I had to take Brittney with me because I was definitely afraid of Betty's house. Betty's house has so many nicknacks that I thought Grant would damage some things by entering. I prepared by buying G a new coloring book and some new crayons. I also filled up a new sippie and we went in. It was okay, but a little close a couple of times.

Thankfully, our stay at Betty's was cut short to go to see Auntie Barbara's new twin nephew and niece. They are too cute (as you can see). We all went over to hold the babies. Grant found himself a new girlfriend (as you can see). We had a great time just hanging out with old and new friends.