Palm Springs

Our Annual Family Vacation was in Palm Springs again this year, at the Coyote Inn. The kids swam all day long and loved it. It was so much fun! We look forward to this vacation every year, no matter where we go!

The pool:








Finger Painting:




Crack can be Cute:



Gia and Hud locking themselves inside:


Cupcake Decorating:


Hangin':









The Couch:

El Capitan ~ UCSB 10 Year Reunion

I cannot believe I graduated from college 10 years ago. It feels like yesterday.... and yet at the same time, so much has happened that ten years must have gone by!

A few of us from UCSB's class of 2000 met up at El Capitan Canyon cabins for a weekend of fun. It was great to see everyone and it didnt feel like it had been so long since we all saw each other last.

We went onto Campus, the bookstore, and into Isla Vista for lunch. And then drove by my old apartments (what dumps!). The kids rode their plasmas and scooters around campus. It was pretty surreal to have all of our kids on campus since the last time we were there, kids were the furthest thing from our mind. It was also Move In Day for the new freshman. Pretty amazing that 14 years ago on that day, we moved into the dorms and met each other... time sure flies.

It was great to see everyone. I wish I took some more pictures and some more shots of the group. Next time. Go Gauchos!

"Tyrone Tyrannosaurus Rex"

Hudson has gone from loving Thomas the Train to Disney's Cars to Toy Story and is now obsessed with all things Dinosaur. I had no idea how many different types of dinosaur there were and am learning along with him. I am totally aware that I contribute to his obsession by taking him to the library for dinosaurs books, the Discovery Center for dinosaur digs, and making dinosaur art. I just see it as a learning opportunity. Why not pick something that he is already interested in and go with it? He has a great memory and is always saying "Mom, is that a Gastonia?" or "Does the Falcarius eat meat?" and "My favorite is the Tyrone Tyrannosaurus Rex" (not sure where 'Tyrone' came from!). I also learned from his teacher that they work on dinosaurs at the end of the year. Hope he doesnt burn out by then!

Dinosaur Art



Discovery Science Center
An Argentinosaurus.


The inside of the dinosaur.


Some fossils.


Riding a little dino.


Triceratops.


Checking out the triceratops' birdlike beak.


Cannon climbing toward a t-rex.


Going down the tail slide.


Excavation tunnel.


Hudson on a bed of nails... the rest of the discovery center is cool but maybe directed towards a little bit older child. We still found plenty to do.


Dinosaur Books
Reading on our way home from the library. Hudson memorized this book, 'I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur' including the page "Here is Sammy Stegosaurus, busy foraging for food." Haha.


Cannon picks his own books out too.

Hudson Says.... and Cannon Says!

Cannon Says

Hudson took one of Cannon's toys out of Cannon's hands and I told Hudson he needed to return the toy before I counted to three. I said "OOOONNNNEEEEE" and a little voice behind me said "TWOOOOOOOO, THEEEEEE!" It was Cannon making sure he got his toy back quickly!

Hudson Says

Jagger had to go to the vet to have his ears cleaned and Hudson was super interested in what was wrong with Jagger. When I was gone he told JR, "I think Jagger got a seashell in his ear when we were at the beach. Or maybe a crab." When I got home I told Hudson that he was right, it was a seashell that the doctor had to get out and I thanked Hudson for all his help in figuring the problem out (it wasnt really a shell). I told him that he was such a good animal doctor that he should go to school to be one when he grew up. He responded "No, I just want to be a pretend doctor right now."

Hudson and Cannon got goldfish at the fair (don't get me started on the fact that I dont think fish should be given away at the fair, especially since they dont give fish food with it). One fish lasted 7 days. We told Hudson that it was Cannon's fish that died simply because Cannon didnt know any better. JR told Hudson that he was going to flush it down the toilet because it died. And Hudson said: "Cannon peed on the fish so it died and we have to flush it?"

Hudson to his Grandma.
"I love you so much Grandma, but you have to give me back."

Hudson trying to explain his size.
"I'm a little bit little and a little bit big."

Hudson (July -2010): "Goodnight mamma. I love you more than bounce houses, cars and trains."

Cousin Fun

I love that these cousins are so close and will grow up together. They have so much fun and we are so lucky that they are such great friends.

Getting Old.


Getting their groove on.


Getting Big!


Getting ready.


Getting naked.


Getting picked up/hugged by a cousin.

More River Fun

I see a lot more river trips in our future!