Day Two San Diego

Well as I noted in the last post, Cooper was having some trouble.  It had started Sunday night, with his complaining his ear hurt. He was having a hard time going to sleep, and was whining, but shocking when we gave him the iPad to calm him down, it was now fine. So we just thought he was tired. We gave him some pain meds at the zoo and he made it fine thought out the day. Well Monday night, he again complained of ear pain, and again seem to calm down once he had a video going. So we were not sure we needed to get him help or not. Well we just sit down at the Shamu show , and he starts again complaining about his ear. So we have to have the discussion on whether he can make it or we needed to go to the Dr right then.  His pain meds had kicked in by then and he decided he could make it. I must say once he decided to stay he was a good kid.

                                     Jill, Joel and Lauren waiting for the show to start

The rest of the gang ready to get the show started

Lauren also decided she needed to loose her mind as well and she cried for about 15/20 mins until she  pasted out and had a power nap. Which also seem to change her attitude. We were able to check out a few show and ride a few rides. By late in the afternoon we knew that Cooper was going to need help. 

We just finished watching the Madagascar show, which everyone enjoyed, and we headed out to find an urgent care for him.

                                          Was a trooper, waiting for the show to start

We had to skip the group dinner and Joel headed out with Cooper to the urgent care, and confirmed that Cooper did indeed have an ear ache. I must say he did sleep much better that night after the antibiotics were given... so much so that Lauren was able to tackle him a few times and he did not move:). Well, I think this trip has changed Joel mind about any more trip for the next few years, so I guess we will just keep it to local jaunts around Colorado. I had a good time and we glad we were able to make it. I may not get a chance to travel again for a while.....traveling with kids is fun... is that the word I am looking for......maybe not.

  We woke up the next morning and everyone was in much better moods. We grabbed some breakfast and headed to a park to play a few minutes before we had to put two toddlers on a airplane for a few hours. Getting home was pretty painless and we got home and everyone except for Cooper came down with Strep throat. So I guess maybe Joel is right and traveling is just not worth it, but I do hope he forgets how frustrated he was and we can travel more soon. I also have a feeling that traveling with teenagers will be just as frustrating as toddlers.

San Diego, here we come

Traveling with young ones is fun and frustrating at the same time, so we decided to have a Christmas trip to someplace warm. We flew out on Sunday afternoon, making our afternoon timing a little off. By the time we had our rental car, and the hotel, it was too early for dinner but too late for lunch. We decided we all needed food anyway. We were staying in the downtown area which has a nice boardwalk area. We found a restaurant and had a good meal. Afterward we took the kids swimming, which may have been our downfall.

                              View from our rooms - Coronado Bay Bridge

Monday morning we woke up and headed to the zoo. We had been years before, but zoo's are always much more fun with little ones.
                                                          Looking at the flamingos

First thing we did was the bus. They have a cool double decker bus that will drive you around most of the park. You can see many of the animals and get to enjoy the beautiful day.

On the bus

After the bus ride, we started walking around. The area is beautiful, and several of the animals were still out and active. We were not able to see the panda's due to a long line, but the polar bears were cute, They had a small play area near the exhibit that the kids thought was cool.

Cooper and Reese swimming with the seals

Lauren's turn

Finally we were able to get on to the arial tram to see the animals from above. We had a great day.

Lauren and Dad riding on the arial tram

We had a great day, and ended it with nice dinner on Coronado bay. And walking around the Coronado Bay hotel. Kids getting to run around on the sand for a little bit.

Cooper on the beach near Coronado Bay Hotel

Cooper and Reese near the Christmas tree

That night Cooper had a hard time sleeping.... so we were in for a tough day on Tuesday.......

Christmas Time

Again, I have been really bad about posting the happenings of our life....so here we go again trying to catch up.
 We had a great Christmas time. Our thanksgiving went really fast and the weather took a turn, making getting out and doing anything tough. My folks were able to come out and spend a week with us.  So here are some pics from over the holidays.

Lauren had a fun time with Mom and Grammie shopping, I had taken a pic of her trying on shoes, and then she wanted me to take pics of her in different hats.  ( and note to others Sonic Slushes help make shopping more fun)

Getting a picture of the kids is really hard, but this one turned out all right, and I am glad that Clifford made it in the shot

Lauren was very interested in the sprinkles that Grammie gave us

Picture of Mom and Dad with Grandkids

Of course after all the presents were opened the wrapping paper was what the kids wanted to play with... and make a HUGE mess :)

We had a wonderful holiday, and are so grateful for all our blessing. 

Happy Halloween!

In the past we have had great weather, and have been able to get some good pics of the kids in there costumes. ( I was just commenting that Joel still has up Cooper 2 yr photo on facebook.) So, becuase we live in Colorado we were due a cold Halloween, and sadly it was not just cold, but really windy. So We were only out Trick or Treating for about 15/20 mins. Joel and Cooper did go back out after Lauren and I decided we could hand out candy in the warm house. Lauren also found it it was just as fun to put candy in her bucket from Mom's candy bowl.
Here are a few pics. again sadly we did not get any great ones...but there are still good to have.

  

As you can see the wind was blowing us away, but it was still Halloween, so we all had fun.

Still a good time for a Pumpkin Patch

As I said last post, we really like the pumpkin patches. We found Anderson farm last year with the Turners, and were excited to go back this year. They have lots to do, and we again we had a beautiful day to enjoy all the offerings. The big trick is to show up early. So we hit the doors when they opened. Cooper of course had to go on the peddle cars. He must of gone about 50 laps. The most entertaining part, was if he had no one to race he would slow down until someone caught up with him.

                                                                      Go, Go, Go.......

Lauren on the other hand was content to have Dad push her around the course. Which is not easy.

                                               Mom and Lauren racing around...

                                                                 Go faster, Daddy!

After the cars, we headed over the pumpkin chunckin.... which is really cool. They have sling shots where you can launch smaller squash at some targets. Both the kids enjoyed it, but you really had to pay attention or one of the kids would be hitting each other , accidentally of course.

                                                           Cooper is ready to take aim

One, two, three..... go

Waiting for some big pumpkin smashing

After the chunkin, we tried the corn maze. Cooper was more interested in it, then the rest of us, but Lauren was riding in a wagon, and we made it through the first 12 check points. We had a great time, and are thankful to live in such a beautiful place.