Underwood Family Farms

So this was our last family outing before I had my tonsillectomy.  Sooooo glad we did it because now that I am stuck in the house, feeling like crud, I get to look back on our fun day.  We have a local farm around us, called Underwood Family Farms.  Every year they have this event called the Harvest Festival which lasts the whole month of October.  We have been many times on the weekdays but had never been on the weekends when it is much pricier.  It was really fun.  We didn't really get many good pics because the kids were not wanting to cooperate with that, but we did have a fun time.  We rode the tractor around the property, Avery rode the ponies, we looked at the animals, and waited in line for a long time for a really cool balloon animal.  Anyways, just a a few cute ones.  I am excited for both of them to experience Halloween this year.  

Kinley loves pumpkins and calls them balls, so cute.

Avery loving her pony.

Showing off

Sweet baby with her perfect sized pumpkin for her

The final product after waiting 30 minutes in the heat....a horse riding on grass.  This lady is really amazing, you should have seen the ones she did.  

Our usual attempt at a family shot.  

Avery's first day of School and 4th Birthday

So all in the same week, Avery stated school and had a birthday!  Fun week for us!  I can't believe she is old enough to be in Pre-K.  I am not one of the people who feel their kids HAVE to go to preschool, but Avery was really ready and it was a wonderful decision for us!!  Wes' Aunt Amy owns the school and it just happens to be a wonderful school.  She has a small class, only 10 kids and a wonderful teacher.  She just goes two days a week and is already learning so much.  We celebrated her birthday with Wes' family and with a lunch with a couple of her friends.  I also brought a treat to her friends at school.  Here are some of the fun pictures of the events.  

The official door picture

So excited for her first day.  

We decorated the house for her morning breakfast

Opening her gifts from mom and dad...Angelina Ballerina Doll

Leapster!!  

Just had to share her cheese picture

Avery with her birthday cake, made by Miss Heidi, she really saved the day.  I really messed it up to start :)

Avery and Abby, best buddies 

Avery at her birthday dinner at Islands

Daddy and Lie-Lie

Loves the birthday song

Popsicles for the class. She was excited I was there for this.  

San Diego Vacation

It has been a year since we took a vacation as a family and Kinley was so little for that, it was hard to enjoy.  We decided to plan a fun family vacation and decided on San Diego because of Sea World and it is nice and close for us.  We stayed at a Courtyard Marriott which was located on the bay, near and park, close to food, and a few minutes from Sea World.  The girls really enjoyed being in the hotel and besides the first night of sleep, the girls did great.  We got a two day pass to Sea World, so we got to take our time and do some of the little things there instead of cramming it all in one day.  We stayed for 6 hours both days and that was plenty for us and the girls.  The highlight of our Sea World trip was Breakfast with Shamu.  We did this for Avery and I's birthday and it was a real treat.  We sat soooo close to them, I was in awe of their beauty.  The trainers were there to have them show off some tricks and to answer any questions we had about them.  We were then full the whole day, so no need to buy anything when we were there, which was a plus.  I highly recommend this experience, so much fun.  Other than Sea World we went swimming, played at the park and of course ate.  We haven't spent that much time the four of us in a long time.  Such great memories.  I can't wait to do it again.  

Love these cheese balls

Avery was a little nervous to pet the alligator but did it after all

The polar bear is huge!

Kinley and daddy on the Skyline

She was so tired from not really napping, she actually fell asleep like this!

Playing in the Polar Bear cave, she heard the growl from the bear that was playing on the speaker.  I love this picture.  

Such a happy girl

Meeting Abby with her Abby doll

Loved watching them swim underwater

This is how close we were to the whales

The girls and I at the Shamu show

The 4th of July

For the fourth of July this year we did our traditional going to a bbq at my sister-in-law's mom's house.  She lives right near the fire works which makes it so nice.  There are a ton of kids there so of course my kids have a blast.  Such fun memories.  I was a little afraid that Kinley might be scared, but she loved the fireworks and clapped for each one of them.  She kept pointing and talking.  It has been two years since Avery has seen fireworks, so she was def. in awe as well.  So fun.  

Playing in the playroom

Sparklers!

Eating with daddy on the blanket

Trying our best to get a good pic of us

Our precious girl

Clapping

Most of the kids in there red,white and blue

Glow sticks!

Daddy and Kinley watching  before the fireworks

Watching the fireworks

Kinley excited for them

Avery in awe

VBS

Last week we had VBS ( vacation bible school).  It was the first time in six years that our church has had it.  Avery wasn't quite old enough to attend the main VBS but they had a modified version for the two and three year olds, I just had to be serving at VBS in order for her to attend.  They got to do so many fun things: sing songs, do crafts, bible lessons, snack and games.  Avery had a great time and was a good listener (yah).  Kinley went to the nursery and was perfect.  All of the girls loved her and said she was the best baby.  It made me feel so good knowing she did well and had fun.  I was also blessed by serving the other kids there.  I got to participate in games and helping a crew who needed some extra attention.  I can't wait for next year.  What a fun week for the kids.  

Just because she has the cutest teeth...oh I love her.  

Such my grown-up girl in her crew shirt.  

Disneyland For Wes' Birthday

So we had scheduled our second visit to Disneyland with our two day pass for Wes' birthday.  It was a Monday and what I thought would be a good day to go.  Well, I was a bit wrong, it was a madhouse.  We went to go use our passes and they told us that they weren't valid!!  This has always been a fear of mine.   It was the last day to use the So. Cal Annual Pass for the summer and thus, all of So. Cal was there that day.  We pleaded our case that we never checked the blackout days (I had seen the days, just for some reason skipped over this one).  They were nice enough to allow us to upgrade the tickets for 20 dollars more each for the day.  Soooo much better than the $87 it costs to get into the park.  RELIEF.  With that came a park hopper as well so we got to experience the new Ariel ride we have been wanting to go on.  Anyways, enough about the getting in part, now on to the best part, the fun times.  We met my sister-in-law, her sister and my brother-in-law and their kids.  Such a fun experience for the kids to be able to have together.  The weather was beautiful I think it was like a high of 70 that day.  Even though the park was crowded, we just took our time and did some different things from last time we went.  Overall it was a great day and I have to say the kids did great.  We will be back next year as long as they do the two day pass again.  Avery had been begging to go back again. Let's hope soon.  

Kinley loving Small World

Roan and Tess on Small World

Mommy and Kinley inside Small World

Meeting the princess'.  They were so excited

Avert adores Ariel and this was a dream come true for her.  She was in awe.  They really do treat each kid so special.  What a sweet moment.  

Snow White

Finally, Cinderella.  Brook waited in line for us, 45 minutes so the kids could meet them.  So nice of her.  

Avery and Maeve, sweet cousins.  These two didn't want to ride the roller coaster so they opted for the play area instead

My super sweet nephew, Foss.  He was perfect all day!  

Spinning in the teacups

B and her girls 

Us on Winnie the Pooh, another well done ride and a first ride for us.  

Charlotte and Avery skipping around the park

At Wes' birthday dinner the kids got special balloon animals.  Mickey, Minnie and Repunzel

Avery with her Minnie Balloon.