Beach Day

In late July, my parents came to visit for the weekend. On Saturday we prepared for a Pampered Chef party at the house and Sunday we went to Camarillo and Ventura. We had a great time shopping at the outlets in Camarillo. After a long day of shopping we headed west toward the beach. It was a lot chillier there than it was in Camarillo.

Tyler doesn't love the cold.

As we got up and wandered closer to the water, Collin noticed a hole someone had dug. He hoped in and that definitely cheered up. He couldn't wait to reach Daddy and jump in! Grandpa thought it was pretty funny too!

Hoppin' in the hole!
It's the perfect size!
Trying to climb out...
Making it out!
The boys - checking out the water!
Cuddling with Daddy, watching the surf.
Grandma Betsy and Grandpa JohnTrying to get a good shot - not really working

The best we could do.

As always, it was a fun weekend that went way too quickly with my parents. We enjoy spending time with them and wished we all lived closer together.

More, more, more!

We officially have another word - more. He has been able to sign the word for a few weeks but now he not only signs it, he says it. In no time at all he is going to be talking up a storm. There is a part of me that cannot wait for that day and then another part of me that doesn't want him to start talking more then the few words he has because it means he is growing up. It has gone sooo fast! I'll try to capture him signing and saying more soon and post it here.

Build a Bear

My mommy group took the kiddos to Build-a-Bear. The kids weren't quite sure when we first started but figured it out quickly. Tyler chose a dog we named Dawg. He had fun stuffing Dawg, adding a giggle sound and kissing the heart that went into it. Dawg didn't have many clothing options available so he got a collar and a leash. Tyler just loves pulling his own dog around the house and Mongo appreciates that Tyler has something else to pull on other than him!

Checking out the options for Dawg

Braden and Tyler with their animals, ready to go!

It was a fun outing for the boys and I'm sure it won't be our last trip there. Before long we'll have so many Build-A-Bears we won't know what to do with them all.

Two New Signs

I've been trying to teach Tyler sign language for a LONG time now. It didn't seem to be working until now! He has two new signs - bear and bird! Bear will come in handy for sure as he is roaming the forest and coming across them so often! =) Oh well, it's cute none-the-less. I wonder what his next sign will be? I'm hoping for Mommy and Daddy!

Underwood Farms

Last week our Mom's group went to Underwood Farms in Moorpark. I've wanted to go there for a while now so I was glad I could join them. In the end there were just three of us, but it was a perfect day to go out and explore the crops. They had over 20 fruits and vegetables available to pick. There were many animals to look at and some fun things to play on! Tyler hung out in the stroller while we wandered through the crops. We picked some radishes and raspberries from the fields! It was fun. Before we headed home, I let Tyler have some play time. He and his buddy Braden enjoyed the play structure and the mini tractors! I cannot wait to go back with Daddy another day!

Something caught their eye!

I'll race ya!
Enough...time for something new!

The Knock on the Door

It is amazing how children develop. Tyler has become aware of everything. When the phone rings he yells and runs to one of the phone bases as if we couldn't hear the ringing ourselves. Now, when he hears the garage door or a knock on the front door he just about explodes with excitement! He cracks me up when he does it. I was finally able to capture it on video one day last week. He heard a noise and thought Daddy might be home. He wasn't, but here is his reaction.


A little while later though, Daddy really was home. Here was his reaction to that. As you can probably tell, Mongo adds to the excitement of these moments too! They both love when people come over to visit!

New Lovey

Tyler is just now discovering objects as loveys. Since Keaton has been coming over with his blanket and duck, Tyler has taken a liking to his Aden & Anais blankets. He carries them around the house and has to have one in the car. He is also big into sleeping with his sippy cup. He just doesn't want to let it go when I put him down in the crib. His most sleepful nights are when he has his blanket under one arm, his sippy cup under another arm and a book under his belly. But now the newest item - an oven mitt. It has to be in his lap in the car for every trip now. My, oh, my! What a silly, silly little boy!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrated 4th of July here in Santa Clarita for the first time in the three years we've lived here. We did not make any plans until the last minute but it turned out to be a great afternoon and evening. Grandpa Jerry (Collin's dad) came up on Sunday morning. We hung around the house and after Tyler's nap we went to our friend's, the Simcoxs, house. We then headed up to the park in Stevenson Ranch for a picnic dinner and fireworks show. We got there at 5:00 and found a perfect place on the lawn. The kids had fun playing all evening. Emma had fun stealing Tyler's sippy cup of juice and Tyler loved chasing after her. They read books together, played with a ball and just explored! They are two little buddies - sooo cute together!

Snacktime!

Running, running!

Um, she has my juice.
Cuteness!!!
Reading books

As the sun went down, the breezes kicked up and it got downright chilly! Luckily the mamas were smart and brought warm clothes for the kiddos. Little did we know we were supposed to pack stuff for the daddies too! Grandpa Jerry was the first pansy and stole the first towel to cuddle up with.

Grandpa Jerry cuddled in a towel

Then Andy stole the last two towels and ended up with one of the three blankets too!

Pansy #2 aka Andy

In the end, Collin got one baby blanket, Grandpa Jerry had a towel and a baby blanket, Kim had a towel and Andy had two towels and a blanket. Tyler and I shared his cuddle blanket - one thin little baby blanket. In the end it was the mamas who were the tough ones!!!

Share with your wife! Poor Kim!

Emma and Kim

Emma
More Emma cuteness!

The fireworks were WONDERFUL! The show was very long and the finale was the best I think I've ever seen. In future years, this is where we will spend our 4th of July when we are in town. Thanks Simcox Family for sharing the day with us!!!

The Simcox Family!
The Gang all cuddled up!!!

My Father the Dog

For Father's Day, Tyler got Daddy the book My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle. The book is about the things that Daddy does that are just like the dog (fetching the paper, stretching when waking, peeing outside sometimes, scratching). It's a cute book. Lately though, it's Tyler who is behaving more like the dog! Check out my silly boy...

Stairs

Tyler has become very fast at climbing stairs. His new game is to climb the stairs and lay on them where the railing stops and the wall starts! He giggles every time you catch him there! Too cute!

First Swim Lessons

Growing up as a swimmer it was important to me to get Tyler into the pool and loving the water as soon as possible. I signed him up for some city Mommy and Me swim lessons this summer. Since I used to work at the pool teaching these lessons I knew he'd have a good time and it would be fun for Daddy too! Unfortunately the lessons are not what we expected them to be. Luckily Tyler still loves going! We are enjoying the time in the pool with him even if they aren't formal lessons provided by the teacher. He splashes the moment he gets in and loves to kick, splash his hands and dunk his face! Going under is fun!! Hurray, I have a water baby!!!

Scoop, scoop, scoop!
Bubbles with Mommy!
I love the pool!
Scooping and kicking!

Splashing and scooping away!

Summer Fun

I've wanted to get a water table for Tyler for quite a while now. He loves being outside and playing in the water. I found a really great table but it was of course one of the most expensive ones around so I waited for a few weeks and finally gave in! I got him the Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate water table! While we were in Roseville, Daddy set it up. Upon arriving home, Tyler couldn't wait to splash around. Check it out!

Testing the waters!Trying out the squirt gun!

Playing in the water!

He also loves his sandbox from Great Grandpa Elton (a 1st birthday present)! His backyard is a kid's heaven now - grassy area, turtle sandbox filled with sand toys, a pirate water table and a little pool! What a lucky, lucky little guy. So sorry he is not spoiled or anything!

So many toys, so little time!
What?
Splash, splash, splash!
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
The boys love the pool! All three of them - Mongo, Tyler and Keaton!