Slip-n-Slide

Target was having a clearance on alot of their summer stuff so I purchased a slip-n-slide for $4.98. It was the best five dollars that I've ever spent we had so much fun! I even went down the slide and enjoyed every second. It was so cute, Ryan was belly flopping on it and Dylan was crawling down it.

Columbia

Last week we decided to go to Columbia. We spent the whole afternoon there and had a blast! We panned for gold, made a candle, fed some chickens, and climbed on all of the rocks. So fun!

Handsome Boys

I love these little boys so much! They are just so handsome and fun- the whole package!

Activities Director

For some reason my boys are so bored this summer. It's been too hot to go outside during the day so we've been staying inside and doing craft projects. I swear I feel like an activities director for a camp. Everyday we've been doing something. It's been fun, and definitely a little messy. Here are the boys making their catepillars.

Micke's Grove Zoo

Daniel decided that he wanted to go to Micke's Grove Zoo in Lodi. I reluctantly agreed to go(the last time we went Ryan wasn't even 1 and I remembered it being lame.) Well, I still kind of think it was lame, but the boys had fun. Plus, there was a really cool park that Ryan had a lot of fun playing on.

The Bat Tunnel

Ryan got a Batman yesterday and has not let it leave his side since. Batman even slept in his room! I had already gotten him a smaller Batman so that is Dylan's now. We brought out his tunnel and they had tunnels going from one boys room to the other. Dylan can say Batman, by the way. He says "Batba"- it's pretty cute listening to him put his own twist on words!

Boys love forts!

Trying to think of things to do, the boys and I decided to build a fort. We drapped blankets over the dining room table and made a "Boys Only" fort. They loved it and played cars in there and just had a ton of fun!

Which Disney Princess Are You?

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Two Little Daddies

One year for Christmas Joel and Rachel drew us for the gift exchange and we got a Baby Emma doll (It was the Christmas right after our "baby Emma" turned out to be baby Ryan. We laughed and thought, what could we do with this and our little boy? Now having two little boys you would think we would need it even less. Well, Ryan and Dylan were actually fighting over who got to push the doll in the dolly stroller. I decided that we would get another baby and stroller. Off we went to Toys-r-us. Unfornately for Dylan there were no manly looking dolls or strollers so we got a very pink stroller and doll. That's alright, real men can push pink strollers! Now Ryan and Dylan push their strollers all over the house and Ryan says that they are the daddies and that they are taking their babies for a walk. Their babies do everything with them right now, I have no doubt that they are going to be great daddies someday- probably because their daddy is such a great example!

Fun in the Sun

Upon returning home we went out and got a little pool, just the right size for our yard and our little guys. We were in it all day! We had so much fun! Ever since swim lessons Ryan has turned into such a little fish and Dylan likes to put his head under water. The best part of the day was being together (oh and the hour massage I got durning the afternoon).

To Nana's House We Go

Over the grapevine and through LA to Nana's house we went! I loaded up the boys and took them myself- very brave! The drive wasn't so bad and it only took me about 7 hours both times. On Thursday we woke up and Mom took the boys on a walk to the park while I got ready, then I picked them up and we went to "Treehouse Mc Donalds" (which is McDonald's with a playplace that looks like a treehouse). After that we went to my favorite store Home Goods. Then we went home and took a nap. After naps the sun came out and we went swimming. Both Ryan and Dylan loved swimming! Friday, the fourth, we went out to breakfast. After breakfast we went to the beach. It was so crowded- everyone had the same idea. All I can say about the beach is sand, sand, sand! We had sand everywhere. We built sandcastles and I forced Ryan to play in the water. He screamed the whole time, I swear it looks like I was abducting him! After naps we ate dinner and then went a walk down the 101. It was so beautiful! We did see some interesting characters on our walk. There was a lady riding a horse down the street and pulling another one. She was riding barefooted and bareback. I think there was horse poop on her feet too! Not to mention the horses were spooked by the crashing of the waves! I was spooked to, horses make me nervous. We also saw some people doing circus acts. Some were doing a tight rope, and some were doing all sorts of things with hula hoops. The next day we went to La Jolla and Mira Mesa shopping and I showed the boys where Daniel and I used to live. That evening we ate at Miyaba, one of those Japanese restaurants that cook right in front of you. Dylan loved it! Ryan was so terrified of the fire! I finally told him if he would be brave we would go and buy him a Batman at Target after dinner. On our last full day Mom and the boys and I went shopping at the outlets and then we went on a picnic at the view spot right by their house. If your thinking that we did a lot you are right. It was exhausting, but the boys are crazy at my mom's house and the best thing to do is get out of the house and exhaust them!

Knights Ferry

We decided to take the boys on a little adventure to Knights Ferry. We had a great time! We skipped rocks in the river, climbed rocks, trekked across the covered bridge, and had a picnic in the shade. On our way back from our picnic we crossed the covered bridge and we let Ryan drop some pennies down through the cracks. He was laying on the bridge and ended up getting a sliver in his hand. We got it out, but later on that day quite frustratingly he asked Daniel, "Daddy, why'd you let me do that?" After our adventure we went to the general store and got popsicles to cool off. It was so fun and I was thinking how nice it is that our children are getting older and we can go on little family outings and not half to pack half the house and watch both of the boys genuinely enjoying themselves.

Don Valk's 50th Birthday

Recently we attended Don Valk's 50th birthday party. As soon as we got there Ryan jumped into the pool. Just one week of swim lessons and he was confident enough to go on in!