I think it's fair to say that I've been slacking on the blog posts lately! And by lately I mean just about all of last year. But to be entirely fair (to me anyway), it isn't all my fault. Our one laptop computer took a dump late last year and we were out a blog posting machine for about two months! And then add in a long Thanksgiving Holiday week... and an even longer Christmas & New Year's Holiday vacation... and well, there just hasn't been any time to post, much less catch you up on all of our fun family activities you missed for all of the second half of last year!
As I'm sure you noticed by now, I did manage to get up another (super old!) Random Cuteness post... but that was only because I had it practically all done in my drafts folder for quite some time. So now that our computer is fixed, there's no more Holidays or vacations in the immediate future, and I have time to sit down with what feels like a million pictures... I found my dilemma to be how exactly do I catch everyone up from the middle of last year to now?!? Do I just pick up where I left off and be six months behind for pretty much forever? ...or do I just forget about the last six months and start fresh with all new 2015 pictures, posts, and happenings??? Well, I gave it a lot of thought... and realized there were just way too many fun moments, milestones, and happiness we had not to document and post about. So in a super duper abbreviated post (in two parts)... I'll do my best to try and fill you in on what you missed!
As I'm sure you noticed by now, I did manage to get up another (super old!) Random Cuteness post... but that was only because I had it practically all done in my drafts folder for quite some time. So now that our computer is fixed, there's no more Holidays or vacations in the immediate future, and I have time to sit down with what feels like a million pictures... I found my dilemma to be how exactly do I catch everyone up from the middle of last year to now?!? Do I just pick up where I left off and be six months behind for pretty much forever? ...or do I just forget about the last six months and start fresh with all new 2015 pictures, posts, and happenings??? Well, I gave it a lot of thought... and realized there were just way too many fun moments, milestones, and happiness we had not to document and post about. So in a super duper abbreviated post (in two parts)... I'll do my best to try and fill you in on what you missed!
Florida Beach Week
We visited Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh in Florida for a week in July...
Where we rented a condo by the beach and hung out by the pool.
Mandi & her family made the trip too...
and made sure Jason enjoyed the pool with the rest of us!
Jack has the sweetest (and coolest!) Cousin ever!
Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh loving it... wet sandy crotch and all!
Jack's first real beach experience... and although he had his fair share of sand in his mouth, he absolutely loved it (the beach that is, not the sand in his mouth)!
Beach Bums!
The seas were quite calm during our stay, but if there was a decent wave to be caught, Hamp & I were there to catch it!
Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh braving the waves
(and the sharks!) with their boys!
The Etheridge Boys... at our favorite eatery, The Garlic.
The whole gang after a very satisfying meal.
Our favorite place with our favorite people.
So glad we could all be together!
Aunt Moo celebrated a birthday during her stay, so we celebrated like any normal family would, with cake, presents...
And a fantastic family sparkler show on the beach of course!
Pro Kadima in the sand... or playing in the waves,
Allen & I took full advantage of all that the beach had to offer.
Jack enjoying a nap on what I can only assume
is the happiest Moe-Joe there could possibly be!
Playing at the beach wasn't the only thing we did while we were there. Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh treated us to a fun afternoon at the local Zoo one day... where we met a very happy & hungry goat.
They even had a small water park there... which we took full advantage of given the incredibly warm weather.
Between the Zoo, the Beach, and hanging-out playing at home, we couldn't ask for a better visit! Thank you Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh for so much fun!
Celebrating With Family
Jei's brother J.R. and his family, Idely, Sebastian, Anabella, and Joanna, all came to the house to visit one weekend in August.
While the kids played hopscotch, the men worked on the grill.
Cousins enjoying a good meal together.
Nani and the girls from L.A. came down to visit too!
Although it certainly wasn't their main reason for visiting, both Joanne & Joanna were both celebrating birthdays... so a birthday celebration we had!
Same wish (to be a Princess!)... two very different meanings!
Joanna got a new pretty pink scooter for her birthday (or was it Joanne?), and a cute little scooter gang quickly formed.
We had a delicious birthday dinner, cake, and even presents...
the only thing left to do was have a pool party!
Californian Surfer!
We absolutely love when our Cousins visit!
Thanks J.R. & Idely for making the drive.
Jack tried his best to blend in with all the luggage as J.R. & his family packed up to leave, but fortunately he was spotted just before they left and we snatched him back!
Free Shamu
SeaWorld in San Diego had a deal we just couldn't resist...
FREE TICKETS!!!
It was actually a promotion through work, but regardless, I got four free tickets... so we asked Momma Soch to tag along and we made our way to San Diego for a fun day of seeing some really amazing animals!
I think walking through the shark tank
might have been Jack's favorite!
Seeing Shamu up close & personal was truly amazing.
As always... the show did not disappoint!
Allen loved the sharks, and definitely Shamu too...
but his favorite was the giant turtle tank!
With such great weather and clear blue skies,
there was no way we could've passed up the 'Bayside Skyride!'
Wela, Jei, & Jack all enjoying the ride
and taking in the magnificent view.
What a fun day! Even if it wasn't free, it still would've been worth the visit. On our way out, we stopped by the Bamboo Shark exhibit and Allen tried his best to touch one! That night when we got home, Allen spent hours going over and looking at his SeaWorld map that he took home from the park... and that is how we knew he had a good time and loved going to SeaWorld!
Birthday With Mickey
For Allen's 3rd Birthday,
we decided to celebrate at the happiest place on Earth!
Allen got his birthday pin and his Mickey ears...
And proceeded to meet, high-five, and hug his best friends.
One of the best moments of the day by far was when Mickey took it upon himself to get up close & personal with Jack. He must've spent a good two minutes playing with him... all while dozens of other kids waited in line behind us.
Jack of course loved it... both Mickey & all the attention he got!
But Jack wasn't the only one who got some good
one on one time with the boss man!
A pair of very happy brothers!
Ready to take on Main Street!
Wela, Jei & Jack enjoy Small World...
While Allen & I have fun on Dumbo.
Daddy accompanied the Birthday Boy
on his very first roller coaster ride... which he loved!
It was as if Mickey knew Allen was coming...
cake & balloons right there in Mickey's House!
Wela was in charge of nap time.
Of all the characters... it was Tigger who Allen refused to get close to and meet! But as you can see, Jack didn't have that problem.
The Birthday Boy & his cupcake!
Allen loved watching Mickey play the drums
as he floated on by in the parade.
Despite the smile for the camera here...
Allen took his driving very seriously!
With one holding his bottle and the other his Mickey balloon...
We shut the park down and said goodbye to Mickey and all of his friends, after what was one of the best days ever!
Since we got back from Disney so late,
we decided to have cake and open presents the following day.
Allen showing off his newly learned skill
of letting everyone know exactly how old he is now!
School Is Cool
After over a year of speech therapy and speech therapy related home-schooling, we were fortunate enough to get Allen into a real classroom at a real school with several teachers and a handful of other kids... who are all dealing with similar speech related issues like Allen is.
When I don't have to work or sleep...
I thoroughly enjoy taking Allen to school.
We weren't real sure how he was going to do or how he was going to like it, but much to our delight, he really seems to enjoy going to school... and according to his teachers, he's been doing really well too.
He certainly isn't Mr. Social, but to be fair,
neither are the other kids in his class. Maybe it's a speech thing.
Pajama Day! Best school day ever!!!
Allen & Olaf... after a very productive day at school.
Just Keep Swimming
After putting it off with Allen when he was a baby, we finally pulled the trigger on swim lessons for both boys...
And they're both really enjoying it!
Jack's really comfortable both floating above and under the water... but it's Allen who's shown the most progress lately! We're just glad they both really like swimming and are having fun while learning.
Playtime With Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh
Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh came to visit in early October...
And it was playtime with the boys
as soon as they walked through the door!
The timing of their visit worked out perfectly, for the Miramar Air Show was in town and we weren't about to let Allen miss seeing all those cool planes & helicopters!
We got there nice & early and staked our claim
on a good spot to take in all the action.
Although it was quite warm, it was a beautiful day to watch the show.
The highlight of the show of course
was the electrifying and amazing Blue Angels!
Allen found what little shade there was
to escape the hot sun and enjoy the rest of the show.
Dirty knees & a hot sun...
but that didn't stop these boys from having a great time.
Dad-Oh & Allen strap in for a wild ride.
It was a long hot day... but well worth the trip, for Allen loved seeing all the action up in the air and on the ground.
Back at home, Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh treat Jack like a spoiled rotten King!
Our other special outing during Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh's visit
was spending the day down by the Bay in San Diego.
With plenty of sunshine and warm weather,
it was a perfect day to play.
We spent the better part of the day there playing and riding our bikes around the Bay... and made sure we brought plenty of food to keep our boys happy.
While Moe-Joe took Allen to go monkey-around and climb some trees... Dad-Oh was left in charge of feeding Jack & putting him to sleep.
Probably the best part of the day...
just hanging out (napping!) and relaxing on the grass!
just hanging out (napping!) and relaxing on the grass!
