Bachelorette Madness

Last weekend we had a fun dinner with The Dannels Family at El Coyote.

We braved the Saturday night crowds and went to the Grove.  The Nordstrom sale had just started and I've never seen so many people shopping.  Los Angeles never ceases to amaze me.

It was the night before the Bachelorette finale and we saw this big poster of Emily.....hahah every guy loves Emily.  

Aerial view of the grove.....craziness. 

Jenny and I saw a big line coming out of Abercrombie and found out you could get a picture with the male model at the front door....lol   Of course we took one and they give your very own Polaroid to keep.

Enjoying snacks in Sacrament, both of us that is :)

Anytime Alex eats a piece of fruit he either gives me the skin or I find an apple laying on the bench at church like this.

That night my friend Jenny had a Bachelorette party at her house.  We all brought a snack to share.  Amber brought her Soda machine so we could make Italian sodas.

The instructions.

and the final result, so yummy.

Jenny's fantastic decorating and we all got a rose to take home.

The group of girls.

Team Arie

and then there were 3 girls that were team Jef.   I still can't believe he won,  but then again stranger things have happened.  Bachelor Pad started last week and it's way better anyway :)

First Time Camper

Last weekend we had a ward camp out in Brea which is about 30 minutes from us.  Al had to put up signs before everyone got there so we left during Alex's nap time.  This is proof to everyone that he does in fact cry and get mad.  

We camped at the Boy Scouts of America Campground.

Alex was loving the whole tent thing.  

Another tantrum because I wouldn't let him get in the car.  This is his new thing to put his head on the ground and cry.

Camping in California is a little different than Utah.  No fires, no cool weather, no rivers, unless you drive 6 hours to Yosemite.  We wanted Tin Foil dinners but settled for Jersey Mikes since there were no fires allowed.

The highlight of the evening was the kids that found a tarantula, ewwww.  I freaked out when I heard about this, so gross.

When Alex gets really tired he can't stop hugging and kissing you, so sweet. Love that squishy face.  I swear I don't have an Adams apple like it appears in the picture.

When it got dark the kids found another tarantula, seriously?   How gross and big is this.  I took Alex in the tent after I saw it and zipped us in.  I should have slept in the car. We bought an air mattress for our tent which worked out pretty good.  Alex likes to inch over on me when he sleeps so I was on the edge the entire night.  He was up bright and early at 6am when it was light outside, but other than that we might just take him camping again.

Al was in charge of helping with breakfast so here he is.  He has tried to tell me for 4 years that he doesn't cook, but I saw him cooking bacon and pancakes.  I knew he had it in him :)

Alex enjoying the scenery at our amazing campground.

Breakfast with the big kids.

Alex has become a pretty good eater and has been more willing to try new things which makes me happy.

After breakfast there was a bunch of activities at the scout camp including gold panning which was really rocks spray painted gold.

A successful camping trip.

In Honor

We don't get to go to Wal Mart that much these days and when we do it's not that great because it's not a Super Wal Mart.  A couple weeks ago we were there and they had a Dr Pepper tent set up.  Al's Grandma that passed away a few months ago loved Wal Mart and Dr Pepper.  So in honor of Grandma The Fifth, cheers with a Dr Pepper.  We miss you.

Last Week

The last couple weeks have been busy busy. I celebrated my friend Ashley's Birthday with a bunch of girls at Tokyo Wako.  

I've been debating about taking Alex to get his first hair cut, but can't bear to see his one curl gone.  Maybe that's the piece I should put in his baby book :)

His new obsession is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  He loves it and I think we are finally over the Baby Einstein phase.   He loves to do the Hot Dog Dance at the end of the show and then I have the song stuck in my head for the rest of the day.  I can't wait to take him to Disneyland next month to meet Mickey Mouse, he is going to freak out!!

We invested in a new "outdoor toy" that is currently sitting in our living room.  He goes down the slide at least 20 times a day and loves it.  I feel like I live in a daycare.... our little living quarters have been taken over by a 1 year old.

I celebrated my friend Paige's Birthday at Gale's, the best Italian restaurant.

I made a frozen lemonade pie which is the perfect summer treat.  Al refuses to eat anything lemon and that includes my pie, lemon bars, lemon poppy seed muffins, etc :(

Alex learning how to fish in church with his quiet book.

A pool day at our house.  Al came out to entertain the boys and this picture of Crew is my favorite.

Just watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  

I made granola with some friends.  This is the Great Harvest recipe and it's amazing, so yummy.

A new snack that Alex loves, roasted seaweed from Trader Joe's.  I was nervous to let him try it, but he shoves it in like it's going out of style.  That means I will have a sushi buddy!!

A Beach Day with some girls from church at El Porto Beach.  It was 80 and perfect, plus we stopped at Cafe Rio on the way, yum.

My new Maternity swimsuit that is as bright as the Lifeguard flags.

The best thing about living in LA, my friends and the beach.

Annenberg Beach House

Last week we went to the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica.

The shallow end was a little crowded and thinking about all the germs floating around freaked me out a little bit, but Alex loved it.

Snack time

We ordered lunch and went to the beach after the pool

It was a great day at the beach.

Enjoying the sand between his toes.

All the kids.  

Alex passed out after about 5 minutes in the car.

We stopped at Diddy Reise on the way home for ice cream sandwiches, sno cones, and cookies.

Fabulous Day!!

15 Months

When you motion Alex to come here he does the same thing back to you.

He loves cliff bars and protein bars.  He gets really excited if you have a Kids Z Bar for him.  He has been trying more fruits and vegetables which makes me happy.  

Learned to shake his head no.

It takes him a few minutes to wake up like Al, so he gets mad if you look or talk to him.

He will randomly grab your neck and hug you and then he gives you a big kiss.

He has a tent that he got for his 1st birthday and he loves it.

Still no words, but he did just start saying ma ma ma ma ma.

Likes to close doors and knock on them.

If we are upstairs and Al is downstairs he will stand at the top of the stairs and babble.  

Every time Al hugs me he wants us to pick him up and hug him too.

Learning to use a spoon and has gotten pretty good with it.

Loves the dishwasher and thankfully we just learned about the child lock.

Wants to always be on the go and loves to go to the store. 

Loves the pool.

Just learned to spin in circles.

Has a ton of teeth

One of his favorite things to eat is pasta.  The bathtub had a red ring after I washed him off.

His cute new summer pajamas I'm obsessed with.

Chowing down on an apple.  He will eat it all the way to the seeds, but he hands you the skin.