Mystery Date

So, after having Amy, and when life started settling down, I realized a little weekend getaway would do us good! I wanted to do something fun, and something that Brian wouldn't guess. I got guest passes to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and planned to spend the night in L.A. and sneak in a temple trip as well. Well as I started planning, things just kept getting in the way and we had to cancel our date twice! But last weekend we made it. We dropped off the kids at Grandma Jeannie's house (THANK YOU!!!!) and went to the temple. Then we checked into our hotel and got ready....all of this being a surprise to Brian. Finally we headed to the Magic Castle and Brian finally figured it out about a mile away! For those who don't know, the Magic Castle is an old mansion in Hollywood, that is a private club to Magicians. It is formal attire, with a dress code, and you go have a very nice dinner and then there are various magic shows and acts throughout the castle! We stayed until 1:30 in the morning and then slept in until 10:00am without kids! :-) That may have been the best part! It was an awesome weekend with my husband!

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My Kids

I don't have pictures for this one, but wanted to tell everyone about my adorable kids...first there is Max! We recently lost our grnadfather Max Bell who our son is named after. We had been visiting Papa Max quite often in his last months, so when he passed we just explained to our son, Max, that Papa Max was now with Heavenly Father. With an almost 3 year old you never now how much they take in or if they even need to take things in. A few weeks later however, Max chose to watch Bambi for the first time (I don't like the movie, but being a Disney fan we own it). After Bambi's mother dies, I was watching Max for a reaction....he just looked kind of sad and then looked at me and said "Bambi's mother is with Heavenly Father now, just like Papa Max" Well if the movie didn't have me crying, my son sure did!
Then there is Amy! Being the second child she has been dragged aroung doing everything along with her brother. Well I must brag about what she is up to... In the last week she has
> Learned to roll over, not just on to her back, but if she gets really mad about it can now get on her front too!
> She laughs! This is one of my favorite moments for kids, however Max is the only one that can get her to do it!
> She sits up...well almost. She does flop forward, but can push herself back in an almost upright position!

So that is the update on my kids. They make me laugh, cry and everything in between, and my life is not complete without them!
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Where have we been ?!?!?!

Wow!! Time has flown by! Here is what we have been doing in July/Aug!!!We went to the water park with our cousins Caitlyn and Jared and our friend Logan and Nellie (we couldn't ever get all the kids together :)

Max and Amy went to their first Dodger game! We left at the beginning of the 9th inning, tired kids and the Dodgers were down by 2, and of course bottom of the 9th there was a great hit and Dodger took the game...too bad we missed it :(

The boys eating ice cream in Santa Barbara after going on a pirate cruise!

Amy and Nana at the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum.

And our yearly tradition of going to the X Games!

So that about sums it up. We are also in the process of moving and trying to buy a house...so our posts may be scattered, but I will try and get an update here and there!

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More Adventures

We went to the aquatic center with our cousins, Caitlyn, Jared and Vicki. Max continues to improve in the water once he warms up and had a blast running around with his cousins.

Playing in the water with Jared

Our cousin Laura came to Ventura with her adorable little red head Abby. Max loves Abby and Always asks about her after we see them. Here is a cousin picture from the left : Max, Amy, Abby, Tyler and Payton. we are so lucky to have so many cousins nearby to play with!

Today (July 18) was the Ventura Annual Pirate days at the harbor. We enjoyed some pirate shows and walking around. Here is Max showing off his tattoo! So manly!

Max starting a sword fight with Capt Jack Sparrow!

...And now I am all caught up with the blog...for now! Hopefully next time I won't have to do 5 posts all at once :-)

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San Diego Part 2

Part 2! So of couse knowing that I was going to San Diego and being around family and many adventures do you think I packed the battery charger for our camera....NO! So here are the limited pictures from our day at my Uncle Jim's party and Sea World. Luckily my family took lots of pictures that I will have :) Touching sting rays at Sea World. Max was so excited to see the sharks at Sea World.If you ask him about our trip all he would say was, "Go to San Diego to see SHARKS!!!"

Amy and I waiting for the dolphin show. She did great on the trip. She hung out in the carrier all around Sea World, taking a nap here and there and really just going with the flow over our busy weekend!

Max, Daddy and our cousin Brandon, waiting for the show.

At the birthday party with cousins Caitlyn and Jared. We joined them at Sea World!

The birthday boy, Uncle Jim (the one in the colorful shirt) with my Aunt Pam and Brandon.

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San Diego Part 1

Last weekend we went to San Diego with my family for my great uncle's 75th Birthday! We had a great time staying at an awesome beach house where we could walk down to the beach and watch fireworks every night from the roof. We had one day where we hung out at the beach and Brian, my Uncle John and cousins went boogie boarding. Amy, Aunt Sue and I hung out on the beach! My Uncle John catching a wave.

Aunt Sue hanging out of the sun with Amy!

Amy's first trip to the beach!

Brian catching a wave!

Max giving Dad a hand!

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La Brea Tar Pits

I managed my first busy public place with my two kids by myself! We enjoyed the free Tues at La Brea Tar Pits. We almost didn't go because the Tar Pits are located in downtown LA and that was the same day as Michael Jackson's funeral. But we braved the traffic and actually didn't hit any problems. Here are some key points from our trip... Max was seeing how hard it is to get out of tar!

In front of the museum. There is actually a hill to our left and Max thought that was the best part of the day, just rolling down the hill!

Max is too interested in the waterfall for a family picture.

SOOOOO BIG!!!!!!!

Lots and lots of bones!

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