Halloween

The boys had a lot of fun this year picking out their pumpkins (we actually only went to the grocery store). Andrew didn't want to cut his this year...just do stickers. He had a lot of fun putting stickers ALL over it! Ben got to help daddy clean out his pumpkin. He wasn't to keen on sticking his hands in, but he did want to make sure that it was good and clean!!

After cleaning out the little pumkin which we actually made dinner in later. The boys helped daddy clean out the BIG pumpkin!

Ben got a little more adventurous this time and actually used his hands to help clean.

He even got to help carve the pumpkin! He thought that was pretty cool!

I guess watching the knife go in and out is pretty fascinating.

After only a few days of sitting on our table, out poor pumpkin began to grow mold! I couldn't believe it only lasted 2 days, it wasn't even outside in the heat!

Our ward had a trunk-or-treat and the boys helped decorate the car. Andrew had a blast running around from car to car and running from friend to friend. Every time I saw him he was with a different group of kids. Then he wanted to just sit and hand out candy.

Air show

We took the boys to a local airforce base to see an airshow. We let Andrew bring his friend Davin. Although we went in Oct. it turned out to be 105!!!! That day!! Of course we were in the middle of the desert.

This airplane is the plane they use to haul the space shuttle. We were at Edwards Airforce base. The shuttle lands here sometimes and there's a big NASA influence.

They had a lot of fun!!! Even though it was SO HOT!

Sequoia National Park

Bob and I love getting out and enjoying what there is to do around where we're living. Thankfully, so do the boys. So, for our anniversary this year Bob took a few days off of work and we headed to Sequoia National Park, about an hour from Bakersfield. We had a BLAST! The scenery was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! While driving there we couldn't even fathom where the giant trees could be! It was still really deserty all the way into the park. Not at all like the National Parks in WA we used to visit. Little did we know that the giant Sequoias only grow at a certain elevation and so we still had to get high enough up. Andrew got car sick on the way back down, you drop several thousand feet in about 45 min. and it takes that long because of the switch backs. Then, Ben got sick the next day....BEFORE we even got to the switch backs! I think Bob had a little too much fun. Here are the boys and I on a BIG giant rock.

This is how big the base of the Sentinel is.

And here are the boys at what would be the tip if it were laying down.

And here are the boys infront of the Sentinel. That's one BIG tree. But not the biggest!!!

Here they are getting a chance to check out the bark of a Sequoia. It's actually really soft.

Bob and the boys infront of a fallen down tree, you can get an idea of how big the trees can get.

We had walked a LONG way and Ben decided it was time for a nap. I think by this point we had walked just over a mile.....a LONG way for a 2 year old!

Me and the boys infront of the largest Sequoia in the world!!

Just another view of the General Sherman.

Andrew decided he was EXHAUSTED. Remember the mile we had walked before, we that was jsut to get DOWN to the tree. Now we had to walk back UP! 1 mile up hill. They're standing on a 'footprint' of the General Sherman.

The second day we decided to do the Crystal Caves. I was a little hesitant, I didn't know how Andrew would react, but he was really excited to go in! He listened VERY intently to what our guide had to say. Especially about the bats. And how I believe about 60% of the parks bats live in this cave.

The boys being cute with daddy.

This was the only room Andrew didn't like, this is where they turned off all the lights and had everyone be REALLY quiet so you could see how DARK it really was in the cave. Andrew stayed REALLY quiet but didn't let go of me and later said he didn't like how dark it was. What a trooper for staying quiet and not crying!

This was his favorite room. They call it the Jaba the Hut room. Can you see why?

On our way out.

Andrew thought that since it was our anniversary, we needed a picture of us together. So, we let him take this one. Not too bad!

They saw this waterfall on the way down to the caves and couldn't wait to go over and see it and get their picture taken. Did I mention that it was a mile down to the cave and this was on our mile hike back out. I'm still amazed at how well our boys do when we take them hiking. Once they hit 2, they're not carried they get to walk. Not because we're mean, it's because it's what they want. And they LOVE it!

Bob and Andrew standing on the Auto Log. You used to be able to drive on it, but after so many driving on it and several years, it's starting to rot.

Bob and the boys standing in a random grove of giant Sequoias. I was surprised that once we got up to the giant trees, I was reminded of WA. I'm glad we bought a pass so that we can go back this summer and go camping.

Driving through the log that has fallen over and is now a tunnel.

We had a great anniversary and can't wait to get back to the Sequoias. I know we missed a lot and will have to do some more exploring this summer when it's 115 here and we can escape to some cooler weather.

Happy Anniversary! What a GREAT 7 years it's been!

Ben's finger....a few weeks later

I finally got around to posting how Bens finger is healing. I took these pictures a few weeks after the accident. It looks even better now!

A moment to remember

This morning I decided that I would actually vacuum our room. I had the energy so decided to just get to it. The living room is what REALLY needed to be vacuumed but the boys were playing and I didn't feel like fighting them to clean up so had decided I would just do it later. Well, as I was vacuuming the hall, heading to the living room. Andrew ran up to me and told me to stop because not all the toys were cleaned up yet! He asked me to help them finish up....Well, YES!! I'd be happy to help finish. They had already done most of it and just wanted the last few things off of the floor so that I wouldn't vacuum them up. I was SO HAPPY!! I congratulated him and told him I was so proud of him for cleaning up without being asked. He said "Yeah, I learned that in church on Sunday!"

Poor Ben

About a week and a half ago...Conference Sunday, we were getting ready to take the boys for a walk, and Ben got his finger pinched in the door of the car. OUCH!! I've been meaning to take a picture of it for a while now, and decided we really should document it for posterity sake. This is what it looks like now. Bob went ahead and cut the nail back. We're wondering if it's going to fall off all together. He tells me several times a day that his finger doesn't hurt anymore. Which is good I guess...He does have a tendency to play with it. Which of course grosses me OUT!!! I have a hard time just looking at his finger, it all looks so painful!

More Colorado

After spending a few days with my parents, we headed to Grammy and Grandpa's to play!!! Andrew enjoyed getting wet in the little pool. ( as well as trying to get Uncle David wet with that hose)
Ben decided his favorite activity was jumping on the trampoline. Pure Joy!!!


They ALWAYS enjoy playing with their cousins. Isn't Tinsley ADORABLE!!!