Visit from WA, Getaway, Mother's Day

Mom and Dad came down from WA for a week.  It was a great visit.  It was especially great, because Wes and I got to leave for 3 nights without kids!  We got a hotel on priceline that put us in Redondo Beach.  We drove down Monday night.  Collected shells for the kids on a beach in Malibu, at sunrise.  Walked the Santa Monica pier and had one of my favorites, coconut shrimp, at lunch time.  Did some touristy stuff (drove through Bel Air, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood) and a little shopping before dinner.  Rode around and to dinner on beach cruisers the hotel had available to use.  Wednesday we spend at Newport Beach, playing in the waves.  It was so fun to not have anyone to worry about, but us!  It was especially nice to drive as long as we wanted and not worry about having to hurry and stop, so the kids could get some movement.  We did miss them, but they were in good hands and it was a short trip.  It was just what we needed.  Westin and Jade did great with Grandma and Grandpa.  They all kept eachother very busy.  They were also here for Mother's Day, which made the day extra nice.       

We decided to go see the Forest Hill Bridge, and the Sacramento Train Museum. 

See the mannequins in the background?  The freaked out Jade.  She had fun playing with the trains upstairs though.

It was really nice spending time with Mom and Dad, and sad to see them go.  Love, love, love them. 

Ready for Swim Season

Westin's 4th Bday

Westin's birthday was pretty low key.  We went to Bounce U, had cake, he got CARS toys, and we just tried to make it a good day for him.

Westin

This little guy is the best!  Today he came in my room after quiet time and said, "Mom, I love you.  You're terrific."  He is a little tricky though, because the other day in the car he said, "Dad, I you are the best, but not Mom.  She is ridiculous (he pronounced it re dic a lus)."  Last month he said, "Good job on your running skills Mom."  He is a funny boy.  He is ooooozing with energy, but so much fun.  His sister loves the heck out of him and so do we, of course.  Jade often tells Westin, "I love you, Westin."  He is so sweet about expressing his love to us randomly and often, that I'm pretty sure he taught her to do the same.  He loves animals of all kinds.  I often play the role of mother animals of his choosing.  I have heard, "Goodnight mommy white crane, mommy poison dart frog, mommy penguin, mommy cameleon, mommy t-rex, mommy sperm whale, mommy dolphin, mommy orca..." and I haven't even got to insects!  He loves to sing, shoot his bow and arrow, shoot his dart gun, play baseball, collect snails and slugs and frogs, play with his sister, the park, walks with Dad, being read to and looking at books, and of course watch movies and TV.  He now weighs 33 lbs and is 101 inches tall.  We have a hard time containing this one at times and I have been frustrated beyond what I prefer, but that is a parent, and he is worth it.      

The Light, The Life, and the Hope of the World & An Easter Resolution

"...Jesus is the living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

Wes's Aunt Ann and Uncle Daryl came over tonight with Whitny, Bruce, and Aidan. They are visiting from UT. We got to see another of Wes's aunts, Judy, and his cousin Kelsey, last week. It was so nice to see all of them! Ann left me a little flip book with "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles," by the First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I read the quote above, on the last page, I was again reminded of how our Savior has made it possible for us to feel peace when everything is a mess around us. I get off track so fast, but Jesus Christ really did give us the perfect example of how to love each other and remember that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. So, I take from this the need to be more loving and more faithful. I decided that I am going to make a resolution out of this...my Easter resolution.

Our Valentine Baby is 2!

We started the morning with chocolate chip heart pancakes and did the usual birthday pancake with candles. I let Westin have a turn to and started singing the birthday song to him. He quickly stopped me, reminded me that it was Jade's birthday, and then he sang, "Happy birthday to Jadey, happy birthday to Jadey..."

After Wes got home from work we went to Bounce U. Fortunately we've been able to get cheap passes through Groupon and Living Social, so instead of it being $7 a child it is $3. Jade was free before she turned 2, so that was awesome...$3 for 2 kids! Anyway, they love this place and Wes and I tend to end up having a good time too.

This climbing wall is between 2 giant slides (2 stories tall). Westin climbs it pretty easily, and this time Jade made it up pretty much all by herself.

. The kids get a little scared on the slide and sometimes sit facing us, on our laps. You have to catch yourself at the bottom, because you get going to fast.

This is Westin buried in his "worm hole." Below, he is emerging from his "worm hole."

When we got home, we had dinner, baths, and then we had the purple cupcakes that we made earlier in the day. Jade liked licking the frosting.

Then a few presents. Wes and I like to take advantage of the fact that they are so young and unaware of all that a birthday can entail. A friend of mine found the princess tent and accessories on clearance (75% off), hoping one of her friends with a little girl could use it. The timing was perfect. Jade got some money from grandparents and Auntie Lairen, and some cute dresses from Auntie Whitny. She did get to use some of her grandparents' birthday money for some jewelry to go with her princess stuff.

We had an extra police car that we had bought Westin for Christmas, but decided not to give to him. He got to open it after Jade opened her presents.

Jade was so cute admiring herself in the mirror, while brushing her teeth. I guess this was the first time she's had real dress up stuff and not just my shoes and Westin's hero cape.