Day 3 & 4 Legoland and the Aquarium

Our last 2 days were spent at Legoland with all the cousins. Here we are before we went to the park in our cute American shirts from Grandma.

Logoland was really awesome....it is defiantly for kids 10 and under, which is perfect for my little family.   

Once again everyone was there to help with the kiddos and we had a great day. The park was big and we spent the whole day exploring. 

Regiane found a new man while she was there...tee hee...

My camera got left with my sister for a while, so I didn't get a chance to get some shots of the amazing details that were there at the park.

All the grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa

(notice cousin Curtis on the left with Grandma...he did not want to be in the picture!)

My Mom and Dad....don't you love their shirts? You couldn't miss them...

Thankfully our hotel was only about 5 minutes away, so Doug took the boys back to the hotel for an afternoon nap.

Once they came back they were ready to go play at the little play land.

On our last day there we went to the Legoland Aquarium in the morning and then drove home that day.

Audree and Abigail....silly girls.

The drive home was a long one to say the least. Clark was tired and cried most of the time. But we made it home safe and sound with another vacation under our belts. Vacationing with little ones can be a challenge but so worth it especially when you have family to help you out!

Day 2~The Sand and the Sea

On the second day of our trip we loaded up after the boys got a quick morning nap, and went to Carlsbad CA. We only had that day to spend at the beach and sadly if was overcast...(as a photographer I had big dreams of sunny beach pictures) but we went anyway. Let's just say the beach with 15 month old was interesting to say the least. We only stayed about 1.5 hours which was just enough.

This is how the day started out...

Followed by happy moments of this...

The girls loved making a sand castle with Uncle Ris

Eating on the beach should not be allowed....everything gets sand in it...

We ended our day burying the girls in sand and finding sea shells....I wish we lived closer to a beach!

 

Sea World~ Family Vacation Day One, July 4, 2010

We took a family trip this July with all of my siblings and parents. It was a whirlwind of fun and the best part of all was that we had so many helpers. The trip was a dream with 6 adults to help with the busy boys. The first day was spent at fun Sea World. We went to all the fun shows that Sea World had to offer and stayed the whole day and watched the fireworks.

Uncle Ris (Chris)

Grandma

My girls....and our Re'

He loved pushing the kids around....he said "I have to be useful somehow"

We started the day off at the Elmo's play land and the boys had a blast at this jump area. Look at the top right hand picture...this girl kept attacking and hugging every boy....so cute!

They only have a few rides at Sea World and Doug went on the little tea cups with the girls. He was going so fast....fun!

The bottom left hand picture is the girls with the souvenir's. They said the favorite part of their trip was getting new "teddy's"

Uncle Chris walked the brothers around and gave them a little 40 minute snoozer....so cute huh....

We ended the day watching the awesome fireworks that played along to music.

The 24 hour camping trip

A few weeks ago we had a Udall family reunion up north in the White Mountains. We were so excited to be with our family. Packing up with two 15 month old boys was almost laughable. These two busy boys are into everything. Climbing on the table, playing in the toilet water, playing with the computers...it's like they know when I open the door to my bedroom and they come running.

Anyways we got the truck loaded and hauled our little camper up the mountain. It was nice to be up in the cooler weather, but I was a nervous mommy. These little boys haven't been walking for very long so every rock, twig and dip in the dirt made me gasp and run behind them to help. 

Later that evening the girls danced for the family and sang "All the single ladies" Audree was quite the little performer....showing everyone her whistles, and singing other little diddies. I wish I had a picture...she was precious.

So you know how you never really sleep good the first night camping? I only slept 2 hours with Clark waking up at 5:15am. My stomach was feeling weird and cramping so I took it easy that morning. We went to breakfast that morning and Audree started throwing up.....uh oh. Maybe it was something we ate....

We went on a hike down the creek a little later. Audree was acting ok not really complaining...so I thought it was just a fluke.

Look at all these cute kiddos

Little girls exploring.

Sadly just moments after this photo Audree threw up again...we went back to our campsite where she slept and threw up the rest of the afternoon. At about 3:00pm we thought...why are we here? So we loaded everything up and came home. 

I was so sad to miss out on the games, the skits, and the memories with all my aunts, uncles and cousins.

So sad...what a post right?

A happier post coming soon...picture it....Amazing overcast skies, cool 65 degree weather....6 adults and 4 kiddos at Legoland and Sea World...ahh..

6 Years of Wedded Bliss

Sounds cheezy but it's true. Doug and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary last week. Our sweet Regaine watched the babies while we had an overnight date. Our first stop was here...

Then Here...with our awesome friends the Allen's. Who also celebrated their 10 year anniversary the same day as ours...

We then went here....(This just might be the fanciest hotel we have ever stayed in)

A Beautiful Spanish Themed Palace

And lastly our favorite spot here for breakfast the next day...Yumm. Where we stuffed our selves silly with bread pudding.

Doug is an amazing husband, companion, father and friend. I am so glad he is my husband and eternal companion. I love you!

You say FREE? I come running

Is this a sight or what? These are 3 moms each with 2 sets of twins. We braved the heat and chaos and went to the Phx Children's Museum. This cute mom Kathryn contacted us with some great news. The Museum was having a twins get in free day....at $9.00 a person, we all couldn't pass up loading up our crew and making the trip. 

All I can is that this museum is A-H-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Seriously...3 floors of fun...we were sad that we made it to the 3rd floor last because this was the best floor for little ones. If this place was closer and cheaper and not so spread out I would love to get a membership there. If you ever have the chance to go do!!!

They had a bike car wash...What fun!

Grantie Boy checking him self out in the mirror. In every room they had a little nook for babies, where you sit and play with your baby and watch your older child.

This might have been the girls favorite...a store and a kitchen. It was so fun to watch them play.

Audree is so Expressive....

Here are my sweet friends...What great examples they are to me.

No one like him

We have one awesome dad....here was our gift to him this year. We love our daddy!

Snapshots of Summer

We have been having fun despite the heat this summer. We have been to 3 museums in the past week, {More pics to come soon on that} and have been enjoying our time together.

Who doesn't love a good push around in the laundry basket? Audree LOVES to "Help" her brothers by picking them up and squeezing them...(and sometimes dropping them)

Looks who's walking now!! Big boy....

Olivia came out of her room like this on Sunday...

We love playing with cousins...

We love to swing after playing in the pool to cool off...

Another pick me up face...how can I resist?

The End

Enjoying the breezy weather last week

Joyful Mother of Children

I have the best job in the world. Staying at home with my 4 little munchkins has brought me so much joy...however 4 kids under 4 can also be challenging to say the least. After a L-O-N-G parenting day I vented on Facebook and spoke to some of my favorite mother's. My sweet Sister-in-law Christi inspires me and she recommended this bookA Joyful Mother a Children I promptly went to Amazon and bought it along with some other parenting books. I feel like this book came just at the right time. I wish I could share with you all of things I have learned from this book and the many notes I have written, but here are a few of the chapter titles.

Ten ways to become a joyful mother

The Best Secret Weapon is Praise

The Magic of Moments

She talks about so many relatable issues and I am already excited to read it again. I feel more at peace in my chaos...if that is even possible.

Here is a sweet motherhood moment....The girls had a restaurant for their stuffed animals. I know someday I will look back and wish they were little again...I am cherishing the adventures along the way.

Another sweet moment....this smart boy loves to be held...and is sad when I don't pick him up....see?