Summer Vacation

Our Summer Vacation this year was a drive up the Pacific Coast highway from Newport Beach to San Francisco and then over to Lake Tahoe. It was a wonderful trip with beautiful scenery, good food, good company, and A LOT of time in the car (Russ' GPS tracked us at 40 hours in the car).

What we liked about our vacation:

Trent
- Going on vacation
- Watching movies in the car
- Swimming in the pools
- Keira being silly at the pool
- Digging for clams at Pismo Beach
- Cable Car ride at Squaw Valley (near Lake Tahoe)

Ryan
- Playing with Keira
- Cable Car ride
- Swimming in the pools

Mom
- Watching Trent make friends at all the pools and beaches
- Watching Ryan be a good friend and brother to Keira
- Pier 39 and the Harbor Bay cruise in San Francisco
- Keira seeing the Ocean for the first time
- Womack's BBQ in South Lake Tahoe

Dad
- Using his new GPS
- The scenery along Pacific Coast Highway
- BLT's at Dana Point Harbor with Jeff, Jen and Lexi
- Womack's BBQ in South Lake Tahoe

I am going to give a daily itinerary for our own family history.

Day 1: Saturday, July 11, 2009
- Drove to California
- Stopped at the Addidas store in the outlet malls at Cabazon, CA for some new running shoes
- Ate and Pat & Oscar's in Newport
- Swam in Jeff and Jen's pool

Day 2: Sunday, July 12, 2009
- Went to Sacrament Mtg. at the chapel across from the Newport Beach LDS Temple
- Had a picnic of BLT's on marble rye at Dana Point Harbor
- Trent and Ryan rode their scooters around the Harbor while Keira took a nap
- Saw crabs in the water by the boat slips
- Went to Yogurtland for some frozen yogurt
- Went swimming and ate Pat & Oscar's left-overs for dinner

Day 3: Monday, July 13, 2009
- Packed up and cleaned Jeff and Jen's apt. (Thanks for the hospitality!)
- Drove to San Luis Obispo by way of Pacific Coast Highway
- Hit lots of traffic in LA
- Ate lunch on the beach along the highway
- Got to our hotel, unloaded our stuff and went to Pismo Beach to play and dig clams
- Ate at a restaurant by the Pier (Trent got the clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl that he had been wanting and Dad and Ryan had shrimp and chips)

Day 4: Tuesday, July 14, 2009
- Ate breakfast at Pismo beach (O.J., nutrigrain bars and pop tarts)
- Played at the ocean (it was chilly!)
- Drove to San Franciso via Pacific Coast Highway with a detour through Santa Barbara
- Ate at Black Bear Diner somewhere along the way
- Arrived at San Francisco Marriott at 11 pm

Day 5: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
- Ate breakfast (muffins, danishes, hot chocolate) at a cafe near our hotel
- Rode the F-line to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
- Aquarium of the Bay
- Bay Cruise Adventure under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz (It was COLD!)
- Ate Pretzels for lunch and bought some salt water taffy
- Rode the Trolley back to our hotel
- Walked around looking for a place to eat
- Ate at Tad's Steakhouse
- Dad and the boys went swimming after dinner
- Mom wished she could have participated in all the shopping available

Day 6: Thursday, July 16, 2009
- We all slept in until 10:15 am (Darn hotel curtains! I hate sleeping in that late)
- Ate breakfast at Tad's Steakhouse
- Packed up and loaded the car
- Drove through China Town and over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out of San Francisco
- Arrived at South Lake Tahoe, CA
- Unpacked and settled into our villa at Marriott's Timberlodge (we started a load of laundry right away)
- Dad and the kids went swimming while Mom went grocery shopping
- Trent and Ryan loved the pool and the four hot tubs and sat in each one
- Ate microwave pizza for dinner
- Fell asleep watching a movie

Day 7: Friday, July 17, 2009
- Ate cereal for breakfast
- Mom got to go running all the way to Nevada (The state line was a block from our Hotel)
- Left to go hiking thinking we would be back for lunch
- Hiked one mile down to Emerald Bay
- Took a tour of Vikingsholm
- Dad and boys hiked to Eagle Falls
- Hiked the (steep) mile back up to our car
- Ate snacks for lunch
- Rode the Cable Car in Sqaw Valley up to high camp
- Played on the play ground at High Camp where the 1960 Winter Olympics were held
- Drove back to the hotel along Lake Tahoe's coast line
- Swam at the hotel
- Ate at Womack's BBQ (The BEST BBQ we have ever eaten!)
- Fell asleep watching movies

Day 8: Saturday, July 18, 2009
- Mom got to go running again
- Cinnamon rolls and O.J. for breakfast
- Went to Marriott's private beach at Lake Tahoe and played
- Snacked on grapes, crackers and string cheese for lunch
- Swam at the hotel pool
- Ate Baja Fresh for dinner
- Mom and Keira walked around the city looking sight-seeing and looking for souvenirs
- Did some laundry and packed our bags

Day 9: Sunday, July 19, 2009
- Woke up at 4:30 am and left the hotel at 6:00 am
- Ate bagels and cream cheese in the car for breakfast (not recommended)
- Ate lunch at a questionable Subway in Ridgecrest
- Ate dinner at an even more questionable Denny's in Blythe, CA
- Hit a monsoon storm as we drive into PHX (beautiful!)
- Arrived home at 10:00 pm (almost to the minute that the GPS predicted)

Pomp and Circumstance

Ryan's First Day (August 2009)

Ryan's Last Day (18 May 2009)

Ryan and his Teacher

Ryan in his Cap

Ryan in his Cap with in Diploma

Ryan 'graduated' from his first year of pre-school today. It might be more fitting to say he was promoted to his second year of pre-school, but the event held all of the Pomp and Circumstance of a real graduation (No, President Obama did not speak at his graduation).

Ryan's teacher said that all of the students worked very hard this year and learned so much. We definitely noticed how much Ryan learned about the alphabet, numbers, colors and even some writing skills. Ryan's teacher also said that Ryan was her 'smiley boy' as he arrived at pre-school each day with a grin from ear to ear. She said he was always the first one to help pick up and put toys away and left preschool with the same grin. I have to agree that he was always smiling and happy when I picked him up each day.

Ryan made some great friends and learned a lot. It is amazing to see how much he has grown in nine short months. Congratulations, Ryan!

Happy Easter

Happy Birthday Ryan!

In just over three months, we have come to the end of the birthday line-up for our 'Little' family. After waiting patiently through Keira's, Trent's, mine and Russell's birthdays, Ryan finally got to celebrate his special day. He turned 4 on the 6th of April. I think that he had a wonderful day. He actually got to start celebrating the night before at Grandpa and Grandma Checketts' house where he received what he had been asking for most - an Umbrella! Then on Monday morning, his actual birthday, his dad made the family a breakfast of cinnamon rolls, orange juice, sausage and eggs. He received a new razor scooter (different from Trent's, but the same as Trent's) and lots of money from his Aunt's and Uncles. Grandma and Grandpa Little also sent money to go buy a Star Wars video game.

Ryan got the take the snack bag to pre-school, and then from 3:30 - 4:30 that afternoon, he had his first 'friend' birthday party at the park. He invited his friends from pre-school as well as some of our neighbors. They played on the playground, had a tug-of-war, opened presents, ate cupcakes and swung at a pinata. They had a blast! Then it was home to jump on our new trampoline and eat pizza for dinner, per Ryan's request. He was a tired 4-year-old at the end of the day, but a very happy and content one.

At 4, Ryan can:

- Ride a bike with training wheels

- Ride a Razor Scooter

- Climb the rock wall at the park

- Count to 20

- Recognize his letters and their sounds

- Make his little sister laugh

- Play games on the computer

- Tell jokes

- TEASE

Ryan likes:

- To play at the park

- To look at books

- To play or work with his dad

- To play with Grandma's and Grandpa's

- To play with his brother and sister

- 'Sunbeams' at church

- His big pants (jeans), his hooded sweatshirt, socks and his New Balance running shoes

- Star Wars

- Scooby-Doo

- Dora and Diego

- Sugar

- Pizza

- Pre-school

Ryan does not like:

- To be told what to do (I am sensing a theme here with my children)

- To be told 'No'

- When Mom and Dad don't listen intently to him

- When Trent won't share with him

Happy Birthday Trent!

Trent turned 6 years old on Monday, February 16th. He was so excited that he had a day off school for his birthday. He had a fun time helping me make cupcakes for his party, playing with his friends at the park, and then eating at Pita Jungle with us, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Matthew, and Robin, Justin and Shelby. He even got an ice cream cone after that at Cold Stone!

The next day, he got to celebrate his birthday with his Kindergarten class. I took cupcakes to his class and they sang to him. Then his teacher played a birthday party CD that has the Holey Pokey, Hot Potato, and other fun games they get to play. The video is of his class doing the Hokey Pokey. It was so much fun to watch them.

At 6, Trent Likes:
- School
- Primary
- Riding his Bike and Scooter (he got a new 18" bike for his birthday)
- Playing at the park (I think this is his absolute favorite thing to do)
- Watching PBS kids and Noggin
- Bakugans
- Wii Sports
- Stuffed animals (He takes really good care of them. His favorite right now is Rocky the Racoon. He takes Rocky wherever he goes - in his pocket or even under his bike helmet)
- Cinnamon Toast
- Cream of Wheat
- Ice Cream

Trent Can:
- Read very well
- Write his letters and numbers
- Ride a two-wheel bike
- Cross ALL the monkey bars at the park by our house and at school
- Play soccer
- Make his own PB&J sandwich

Trent does not like:
- To be told what to do
- To be teased by Ryan
- To brush his teeth
- To leave the park

Trent is a wonderful boy and I love being his mom. I hope that your 6th birthday was as special as you are, Trent!

Life is Hard

Keira is at that age where she likes to follow me around all day pulling on my proverbial 'apron strings' and saying 'Ma'. She was especially so today because she is teething. Well, I had been trying to clean the house all day long and then was trying to get showered and dressed so that I could pick Trent up from the bus stop(yes, PICK UP, not DROP OFF) and Keira was so devastated that I could not pick her up, she just collapsed into a little ball and started crying. Ryan came over and started patting her and hugging her and said to her, 'Little Keira, Life is Hard, Honey...Life is Hard...It will all be okay...' It was so sweet the way he said that to her. I asked him where he learned that, and he said that Dad told him that. I think what Russ actually said to him is that life can be hard sometimes when you are three, but it is amazing what kids learn from watching us.

Wind Cave

Russ and I took the kids to Usery Park to go hiking on Saturday; and Uncle Matthew joined us as well. The boys have been wanting to go hiking with Russ for such a long time and they have also been wanting some 'Camera Packs' (What Ryan calls Camel Backs) like the one Russ has so they didn't have to carry a bottle of water with them. So, we finally found some kid-size Camel Backs (they have the CUTEST kids' hiking gear out there) and headed to the beautful Arizona mountains.

I was going to take Keira as far up the trail as I could with the jogging stroller, but a couple of hikers on their way down said the stroller would never make it. So, Keira and I parted ways with Russ, Matt, Trent and Ryan and found a smoother trail that we could walk on while enjoying the gorgeous weather.

Russ said that Trent and Ryan did a great job hiking and that all the hikers at the top were so impressed that such "Little" boys had made it that far. It was 1 1/2 miles to the top where they stopped and ate the trail mix and granola bars they had packed up, and then another 1 1/2 miles down. It took them about 3 1/2 hours to complete the hike.

On the way down when they were about 100 meters from the parking lot, Ryan said, "I had wanted to go with Mom!" because he was so tired. You'd have thought that they were worn out for the rest of the day, but when we finally got home, they wanted to go to the park! So off we went....

Happy Birthday Keira!

I can hardly believe that a whole year has gone by since our baby girl was born. It literally seems a moment ago that I held her in my arms for the first time. At that moment, I never would have guessed that in one short year that baby girl would be walking, speaking a few words, wanting to wear shoes and a purse before she leaves the house and trying to do everything that her big brothers can do.

Keira has never really wanted to be a baby and she has loved reaching each new milestone as it means she is turning into a big girl. She LOVES to wear shoes and got a gorgeous pair of glittery Buster Browns for her first birthday. She learned at an early age that fashion and beauty don't come without a price as she had little blisters on her ankles from wearing her new shoes around at her party.

Keira has brought so much joy to our home this past year. She loves to give hugs and kisses and is always laughing and smiling. Her brothers love her and protect her (and tease her) and she thinks they are the greatest brothers in the world. Whenver Russ gets home from work, Keira will squeal, “Daddy” with delight and run to the door as fast as her little legs will carry her to give him a big hug and a kiss.

Keira loves to:
•Play with her Daddy and her brothers
•Follow mom around the house and help her with everything
•Put on her shoes and her purse and wave “Bye Bye”
•Eat anything that is not baby food
- Yogurt
- French Fries
- Pizza
- Cinnamon Toast
- Bananas
- Cookies
- Applesauce
•Ride on the ‘Big Red Car'
•Go to the park and play in the sand
•Slide down the slide at the park
•Ride in the jogging stroller and take a nap while mom runs
•Play in the toy room
•Sit in the forward-facing car seat
•Ride on the Rocking Dog from Ikea that Grandma Little gave us

Keira Says:
•Daddy
•Ma
•Dee Dee (Binki)
•Doll-ee
•Dogg-ee

Keira does not like:
•When mom tries to work on the computer
•When Ryan teases her too much
•Going to bed without being rocked
•To have pony tails in her hair

We love you so much, Keira, and hope that you had a wonderful Birthday!

What the Heck?

Ryan came home from pre-school the other day with the cutest little three-sided house. One side had straw colored on it, another had sticks and the last side had bricks colored on it. Then, he also had a 'Big, Bad, Wolf' puppet on a popsicle stick. They had been learning about the story of the 'Three Little Pigs' at preschool, and Ryan said he would share the story with me.

H e proceeded to tell me that the Big, Bad Wolf knocked on the door of the Little Pig who lived in the straw house and said, "Little Pig, Little Pig, Let Me In!". Then I asked, "What Happened?", and he told me that the Little Pig rseponded to the wolf by saying, "Not by the HECK of my chinny- chin -chin".

I almost died laughing, and appearantly the pigs who lived in the wood house as well as the brick house responded to the Big, Bad Wolf in exactly the same way, "Not by the HECK of my chinny-chin-chin".

The Lord Even Cares About Laundry

Although my mother would probably be appalled to learn this and claim she taught me better, I ususally throw ALL my boys' clothing in the wash together - colors and whites alike. However, yesterday as I was putting their clothes in the washer, I had just a small thought to put the whites in separately. Many times, I will ignore those little thoughts and push them aside as just that: a little thought. Thankfully, I didn't this time! When I went to take that particular load of darks out of the dryer, I noticed some blue ink spots on some of the clothing, and then noticed one of those tiny, key-chain sized store club cards at the bottom of the dryer. It was blue, and it had melted in the dryer leaving a residue of blue ink in the dryer and on many of the clothes (as mentioned previously). I had given the little card to Trent, and he had put it in his pants' pocket. In my haste to get the laundry done, I forgot to check the pockets (a MUST when washing little boy's pants), and thus the card ended up in the load of laundry.

I realized then that if I had put the whites in that load, they would have been covered in blue ink! Thank goodness most of the clothes with blue ink on them were already blue and are now play clothes anyway. I am glad I took the time to listen to the still, small voice, and I am so grateful to have that in my life. Now, if only I can have the faith and wisdom to listen all the time!