California

We've had a ton of fun in California the last couple weeks. So many things have happened, so many good memories. Here's Dad playing the mandolin by the fire we had last night.

Samuel our cousin spent the night with us. He did pretty good! Just a couple times he cried. They made their own personal pan pizzas then we had a fire outside & roasted marshmallows. Then we watched The Incredibles and went to bed.
Here's Dad playing with Trayton listening. He was really fascinated by the guitar & mandolin. He was bobbing his head here to the beat of Dad's music.

When I saw Dad bring out the guitar & mandolin I told my boys that eventually one of them would learn to play guitar. So Tustin blurts out matter-of-factly "I already know how to play!" Silly kid, he's so much like his dad!!

Here Travis is working on Mom's chicken coop. It's got vents and built in feeder & nesting box.

Timmy can play the guitar too! The boys were all enjoying trying the mandolin, good size for little hands.

The boys watching the Incredibles.

We went to the Mormon Battalion on Tuesday. Mary was planning on coming, but her kiddos were sick.

Here we are standing in front of the statue. This building was just redone & reopened and is so neat. It gives the history of the Mormon Battalion & shows a movie of actors, acting as members of the battalion. Very entertaining & neat! After the presentation we went outside and panned for gold (and found gold nuggets-not real though!), saw how they made bricks, pumped water out of a well, and got our picture taken by an old camera. You can find info at mormon.org/mb

We went and met with the Belisarios, a family Travis stayed with while on his mission.

We were able to attend a temple session last week, and also had the boys get their picture taken. They'll go inside someday.

We went to Seaworld on Friday last week, I think. This picture is taken from the show Blue Horizons. It was pretty cool. Lots of acrobatics too.

Here's the Beluga whale.

This dolphin came right up to my boys while they were the only ones there and just looked at them. Here it is looking at them.

Watching the "Dream" show featuring Shamu. No one got in the water with the orcas. I guess it's not allowed after the terrible accident. I guess an orca dragged one of the trainers below and drowned him during a show. Scary.

Cousins watching a movie

The Lowells came over the first week we were here & had dinner. Mom had frosting & Halloween goodies to decorate sugar cookies with. Good stuff.

Tray's cookie. He made a smily face.

Tracker & Samuel playing. They're good friends.

Naomi in the exersaucer that Rachel let us borrow. She really looks like a Keller in this picture.

While we were waiting for Travis to get our rental car when we arrived in Salt Lake City, the boys fell asleep. Travis brought all the fish boxes into the "foyer" of the airport and barricaded us in so the kids wouldn't attempt to run away. I'm sure glad he did, because it took him an HOUR to come back with the van. I can't believe Tustin fell asleep like this! He climbed on as he was trying to escape, and fell asleep!

Trayton sleeping on the floor by the outside window. Naomi happy as can be.

I should mention Travis was sick for the first week and a half or so. We've all gotten sick, whether it's coughing, puking... um you get the picture. Hopefully Idaho air will get us well again. :) We'll be there next week.