The Happiest Birthday on Earth

Kate suggested I add photos from her real birthday. Now that was a party! She, Emily and I went to California for a long weekend. We visited Grandma Berkline and on Kate's birthday, we went to Disneyland because she got in for free. It was so fun! Kate and Emily are Disneyland die-hards so it's great going with them. We were there from open until close. And it was extra special because the park was Halloween-themed.
(P.S. I stole these from Kate's Facebook. I didn't have a purse-sized camera so Em and Kate have all the photos. I would have stolen some from Em, too, but I didn't see hers on her Facebook.)

Here we are on the tram ride into the park.

I think this is in line for the Haunted Mansion. (One of these things is not like the others ...)


This was on Small World. Thank goodness Grandma gave us her fans to use that day. It was HOT!

This is Mullet Man and his woman. We enjoyed laughing at his expense.

Here is Kate, so scared of the pirates!

Here is Kate's birthday button. We kept track of how many times people told her "Happy Birthday." I think it was close to 50.

This is right before the BEST Star Tours ride EVER!
(If you get a chance, sit on the back row and lift up your feet and arms. Let the craziness take your body where it will!)

The Buzz Lightyear ride.

We got to eat dessert at the Blue Bayou. (Yes, dessert only. It's too pricey.) Little did we know that they were about to close down for good. We were lucky to even get a reservation ... and it was at 9:30PM, if I remember right.

The Blue Bayou.

On my favorite (NOT) ride, Splash Mountain.

Heading home in the deep abyss of LAX.

Fall Birthdays

We celebrated both Casey's and Kate's birthdays back in ... oh, a few months ago. Does it really matter anymore? I'm still so far behind. That's okay. I'm catching up and that's what's important. Right???

Here is Casey opening a present from me (a picture of a new office chair b/c I knew he wanted one for painting but he's picky so I didn't bother with the hassle of buying one because I knew I would be returning it--I was right).

Owen with the candy that Kate gave to Casey.

A cute picture of Kate.

Casey opening a present from Evan: Lego Star Wars Wii game--just what Daddy (read: Evan) always wanted!

Oh, look ... Owen still has the candy.

I made a Mountain Dew cake for Casey since that is his favorite beverage. It wasn't that great, but I'm pretty sure Owen would have been happy with any cake sitting on that plate.

This was right before the spit ...

This was right after.

Owen and Kate playing before her birthday party.

I'm not sure what they're doing here, but it's cute.

Kate is really excited for her party. And her dessert--chocolate peanut butter bonbons.


Oh, look--Owen is joining in.

And Owen is right where the treats are. I think he likes them. They were pretty good. We had fun parties.

Family Photo Session

I have tried no less than 5 times to upload pictures from our latest family portrait session (clear back in the beginning of October), but I just can't get it to work. So let me just direct you here:

http://webblisa.blogspot.com/2009/11/childs-family_26.html

or here to see all 40 photos we chose:
http://www.facebook.com/amandamchilds?ref=profile#!/album.php?aid=34720&id=1655324036

Casey's cousin, Lisa, was kind and patient enough to do our photos. I think she is incredible. I told her morning would probably be best because the kids would not be tired and cranky. Hmmm ... well, you just never know when kids will be in one of their moods. Owen would not crack even a hint of a smile for anyone. Especially Lisa. So the photos started out with a pouty Owen and a stoic Evan. After various attempts at making Owen smile, we finally succeeded. I just remember all of us looking like crazy people, which somehow ended in Owen being chased around and laughing and smiling. Success!

Lisa took our photos in Casey's art studio first. Then we piled everyone in the car and drove up American Fork Canyon. We found a beautiful spot with all the gorgeous fall leaves and the mountains in the background. Some photos look like we are in front of a fake backdrop because it's that perfect. At that point it was a little cool, but we made one more stop by the river and the kids nearly froze to death. (All for the cause, people!) I guess I didn't plan our outfits very well, as the kids were dressed in shorts and short-sleeved shirts. But we did it and got some great photos that I am so pleased with. Lisa, I can't thank you enough.
I love them!

September Staycation and Stuff

Well, this past September brought some fun into our early Fall season. It began with ...

... a new bike! A big thanks to my cousin Jenny for this incredible, barely-used kid bike. We put some training wheels on and bought Evan a helmet and such. He was pretty unsure about it. I think once he gets better at it he'll like it more. It's a very hefty, heavy-duty bike, which is great, but I'm afraid if he ever falls it might do some damage on such a skinny kid.

Of course Owen had to have his turn on the bike.

We took a little "staycation" over Labor Day. We spent the night at a really nice extended-stay hotel in SLC. It had a little kitchenette with a front room and an extra bedroom. Em came along. We swam when we got there. Well, most of us. Owen is deathly afraid of the water. He still hates laying down in the bath. He says the water hurts his ears. I think the pressure freaks him out or something. Anyway, the next day we went to the Planetarium (again, Owen didn't appreciate the awesome little movie in the domed theater). Then we helped my cousin Holly and her hubby George move into their new apartment. It was fun to hang out with them for awhile. Apparently I didn't get any pictures during the actual staycation itself, but I got these of the boys trying on their new (cheap) goggles I bought them for the pool.

Owen has quite the healthy appetite. Especially when it comes to corn on the cob. He loves it. He can down 2 ears in one sitting. His polar opposite, Evan, hates corn.

Evan has started writing letters in preschool. I love that he loves to write now and draw, too. He draws the cutest people now, which I need to take pictures of, too. Here is one of his very first attempts at his name. So cute!

Random Stuff from August

Evan started his second year of preschool with Miss Janae, who is quite possibly the best preschool teacher around. Of course, Owen could not be left out of the "1st day of school" pictures.

A rare capture of Evan's silly side.

A not-so-rare capture of Owen's silly side.

This was one of those zucchinis that went unnoticed under the plant's foliage. It got almost as big as Owen.

It was a little heavy, even for Evan.

Time for a Change

I hate to admit it, especially to someone who shall remain nameless right now, but I'm ready for a blog design change. I never wanted to be "one of those people" who had a cutesy background that they got from some free blog template Web site (no offense, please), but I need a change. I tried to hint to this person who shall remain nameless (it starts with C and rhymes with "lacy") to design me an original blog. After all, "he" was the one who detested my black blog with the bright words so very much. But we won't. So until I can convince him that this would benefit him as well, or until I can figure out how to design something on my own, I will be "one of those people" (no offense, please) with the free blog template that you will probably see on several other blogs you view today. Don't be surprised if it changes quite a bit in the next little while. I have to try things on before I settle on something semi-permanent. Thank you for your patience.

A Gray and Beautiful Summer Day in August

One Sunday in August, we went for a drive up Provo Canyon. Our first stop was the ever-beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. There was a break in the rain when we first started up the trail, but I was glad we came prepared with rain gear for everyone because on the way back to the car, it POURED. And poured, and poured and poured.

This is when Evan was obsessed with the binoculars Pata Jones had given him.

It was something cool, I'm sure.

They could not pass up an opportunity to throw rocks in the water.

It was a fun little hike. Even in the rain. Or, with the boys having so much fun, I should say especially in the rain.



We then headed up the Canyon and began the drive around the Alpine Loop. The next stop was Sundance. We thought about taking a ride on the ski lifts, but two things stopped us: the thought of being on those lifts in the pouring rain, and the fact that the kids would probably be scared to death the entire ride.

We did enjoy checking out the fish, walking around, and the use of Sundance's pristine bathrooms, however.

Next stop: Cascade Springs--an area full of beautiful natural springs with trails to walk around them on. The boys had a blast on our little outdoor journey, and we tired them out plenty for a nice nap for the drive home.