My Birthday

So the last few years there really hasn't been too much focus on my birthday, not that I am complaining, but that's that way it's been since the boys came along.  I've been more than happy with the cake with dinner or breakfast form the hubby and kids.

This year however, I decided that I would treat myself to having the day to be an adult and do adult things.  I rarely get any time to myself so I had asked for the off to do whatever I wanted.  The kids went to my mother's house and enjoyed their day as usual.  The hubby took the boys over and allowed me to sleep in until 8:30 am. 8:30!!!! I couldn't believe it.  It's rare now a days to sleep until that time so I was completely shocked when I woke up and realized what time it was.

I enjoyed taking my time getting ready and then headed to a new little place called Bacon N Butter that I had been wanting to try for breakfast.  Oh, it was AWESOME!!! They had great crispy thick sliced bacon.....my mouth waters thinking about it now.  We sat by a window and chatted and watched the morning go by.

 

 

 The biscuits and gravy (with bacon and then 

an egg on top) and the "simple man" breakfast

We enjoyed a little stroll downtown after breakfast and headed to meet up with Blia and Kong, where we ate some more.  It was nice to not have to be anywhere by a certain time.  We even caught a movie in the middle of the day.  We saw Pitch Perfect.  It was a great funny little flick, nothing too serious.  It was a good laugh.

What I loved best was that I decided to make it a day for me.  Having those kind of days are good because they help to keep me sane and therefore better to take care if my family.  It was a good day.

Fairytale Town

So I hadn't seen my friend, Jenn, in some time and we figured we meet on one of my Fridays off....and her's too (well in her case she has every Friday off).  To get some time to catch up and allow the kids to have some fun we decided to meet up at Fairytale Town.  Miles and Caleb had a blast....and Jenn and I got some catching-up done.

 At the gate under Humpty Dumpty - ready to go inside

 Sitting in King Arthur's chair with the knights of the round table

(I have no clue who this kid is with Miles...he just decided he liked Miles

and wanted to sit in the picture with Miles...yes his mother was in the room)

 The Old Women in the Shoe Slide

 Inside the Indian Teepee with Jenn

 This was the sign next to the goats.  I got a laugh out of the sign

Miles driving his tractor

 Caleb cheering and laughing up a storm as Miles tries to 

climb his way around in Sherwood Forest

 Visiting with the goats

 Riding the horse that pulled the pumpkin carriage

 Caleb playing in the Swiss Cheese

 And then following the chicken around. If I had let him he 

would have followed this chicken around all day

 Trying to be pirates

 Ready for the crooked mile?

 Making our way through the crooked mile

SMILE!!

Thanks so much to Jenn for allowing my kids to dictate where we were going to meet up.  They could care less what the reason for going to Fairytale Town was, just that they got to go.  Sometimes my days are filled with kid talk and talking to myself (this is how I end up talking about myself in third person - which drives my husband crazy) so it's always nice to be able to have the chance to have some adult conversation and allow my kids the ability to let out some energy at the same time.

Moua Family Reunion 2012

This year the Moua Family Reunion almost didn't happen....there were some unexpected events that had to be adjusted for but in the end things were moved around and we all meet up in August for the reunion. It was a day full of fun for the kids, seeing faces (old and new - lots of additions recently), sharing stories and laughs, and overall just enjoying each other.  My husband always said he loved that he married into such a large family...I just think my family is crazy, but whose isn't?  Here are some shoots from the reunion.

  With our shirts on and ready for the days activities 

 Still lots of shirts left...not everyone is here yet

 helping prepare fixings for the noodles 

 Taking a rest.....I think they are pooped out

And at the end of the day...Miles and Lily...BFF's

Caleb's 1st Birthday!!!

So I know this is waaaayyyy late but I haven't had much time to myself he past month and a half so, here it is finally....Caleb's 1st birthday party pictures.  Since his birthday was in August and it was HOT HOT HOT we had a swimming party.  It was fun had by all.  Who wouldn't love a swimming party?

 

 The Birthday Boy in his birthday shirt

 

 Getting ready for the party to start

 Kids enjoying the pool

 Caleb and Amelia saying "let us in, let us in" 

They had to wait for their mommies before the could get in the pool

 

 All changed...now let's get wet

 Birthday cake before Caleb got to it

 He couldn't wait until the birthday song was done.  

He was ready to dive in and get some of that frosting.

 MMMM....Frosting

 Caleb's first taste of cake......

 and he loved it...wouldn't share with anyone....

 This is how the cake ended up

I couldn't believe my baby Caleb is now one years old. Boy, did that year fly by.  He's walking around and I'm busy chasing after him.  You just don't realize how all those little moments each day add up to year's worth of time. 

Big Trees

My father has been asking for some time (okay, maybe 4-5 months) if we could all take a trip to Big Trees. The hardest part has been trying to figure out a weekend where we were available as well as parents.  Now that my mother is retired and my father more active in some of the Hmong community events, there is always something going on every weekend therefore making it more difficult to schedule.   So my father finally stated at the end of July that he had the first two weekends of August free and wanted to go to Big Trees....so we did.  And it was great. 

Miles was so excited about going to Big Trees even though he had no idea what it was.  We got up early that Saturday morning and prepared for the drive down to Calaveras Big Trees State Park.  Miles was so excited that he stayed awake the entire drive there and kept asking the proverbial question  "are we there yet" in his own manner.  When we finally arrived he was jumping for joy yelling "Mommy, big trees, big trees." My sweet Caleb slept the entire car ride and woke up in a daze surrounded by huge Sequoias. 

We only hiked the North Grove Trail as it as was a 1.7 mile loop which was not too rough and generally "paved" path so it wouldn't bee too hard for the toddlers.  We also brought our little umbrella stroller along just in case and it did great.  The trail took us about 2 hours to walk, this included taking rests, allowing for time to enjoy the scenery, and for Miles to run around.

 Caleb just having woken up 

Miles at the beginning of the trail...he can't wait for us to get started

 Miles and grandma by a fallen tree stump

 Checking out The Old Stump.  The stump is part of the Discovery Tree and this is what 

is left when the large Sequoia fell in 1853.  It measured 24 feet in diameter and was 

said to have been 1,244n years old when it fell.

A part of the Discovery Tree.  The Old Stump is behind this section of the tree.

 Miles and grandma next to a Sequoia

 Strolling through Big Trees by himself....

oh how it makes me think of the path ahead of him and what is to come

 taking a break

 The roots of a fallen Sequoia 

Us in relation to the Sequoias

 Tim and Miles between two trees

(I was hoping to get a shot of me and Miles in front of this set of trees as 

it was noted to be the Mother and Son Trees, but that didn't happen)

 A fallen tree along the path

 Inside of that fallen tree along the path. You could walk all the way through it

 At Pioneer Cabin Tree

 Caleb enjoying his nectarine during lunch

After a nice leisurely hike through the forest we enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the picnic area.  It's so amazing the things that make you stop and take a look at your life.  This little trip made me think about how old some of these trees are and how small I feel next to them (not literally just size). The massiveness of the Sequoias and yet how fragile they can be and that what we do now really can effect how long they will last and if they will be here for my children to enjoy as adults and for my grandchildren to see.  I was glad to be able to share such a wonderful day with my family.