Castle Air Museum

Today we ventured to Castle Air Base Museum with my grandma, parents, Caeden, and Maddix.  There are a ton of planes there on display and it was so fun to go around looking at all of them.  It was really hot but the kids did well and seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Everyone started off really interested in all the planes and gradually by the end only Lincoln was left.  Everyone else was in search of shade or somewhere to sit.  He had a great time looking at the different planes and asking questions about them or exclaiming the differences in each one.

 One of my favorite exclamations from Lincoln was, "Grandpa, Look at that big bullet!"  He was so cute.

 

 I love that I caught this picture of my grandma and Austin.  It was a precious moment.

 



After lunch at the museum, we decided to head back to grandma's house to relax.  Everyone just seemed to be tired and cranky.  I am so glad my mom suggested bringing one of our inflatable pools, it was just what the kids needed.  I am so excited with these shots of Lincoln in the pool.  He has the best expressions.

 

We had such a great time visiting and sharing traditions from when I was younger like grandma's pancakes and our mutual love of ice cream.  :O)  I hope we can do it again soon!

Gilroy Gardens

The kids were invited to a birthday party this evening in Gilroy.  We decided to head over to Gilroy Gardens for a little while before heading offer to the party.  This park is so awesome, it has something for each of the kids.  Plus there is lots of shade on those hot days plus these splash pads make being outside bearable.

Love the picture of little Austin in the splash pad.  He is so cute!

Somehow I didn't get any good pictures of Lincoln.  He spilt off to go with Daddy while I watched Austin at the splash pad and then spilt again when they got to pick their last ride.  But if you look carefully he is in the background of the bottom picture in the above collage.  He is wearing a blue rash guard.  :o)

Gilroy Gardens

I had the great idea to go to Gilroy Gardens between picking Payton up from her sleepover at Amma's house and going to our friend's birthday party.  I didn't realize when I first mentioned it that it was going to be 115 degrees outside.  Yikes!  Dave had the great idea to bring a spray bottle, it is amazing how much that spritz of water helped.



 

Thank goodness for the water features at the park.  It took being miserable to having fun in no time flat.  Even Baby Austin joined in on the fun. 

 I loved the action shots if you couldn't tell.  Haha!

Gilroy Gardens and Bernal Ward Fall Festival

My sister got us all together to see the Halloween decorations at Gilroy Gardens.  There were so many kids running around in costumes, including Caeden.  She was the cutest little cat I ever saw.  I wish I would have thought to dress Payton and Lincoln up.

I think we must have this same picture for every time we go to Gilroy Gardens.  :o)  They love this ride and go on it every time we come.  Today they went on it 3 or 4 times in a row.  It isn't the X from Six Flags but I guess it is an exciting ride for them.  Haha!

The plan was to leave Gilroy Gardens at 3 so that we could get back in time for the Fall Festival at 5.  We pulled out of the parking lot at 3:45.  I was so mad at myself for getting a late start for home.  And then I got frustrated when Dave wasn't able to bail me out because he hadn't left work when he thought he was going to.  As I drove home from Gilroy Gardens I figured that by the time I got home I would have about 40 minutes to prepare a pasta dish for the Fall Festival, get the kids in their costumes, and nurse the baby.  So as soon as we pulled into the driveway we hit the ground running.  I know Dave was just trying to help because he knew I was frustrated but kept calling at the most inopportune times...One time he called, I was nursing Austin while cooking the pasta dish.  After talking to a friend of mine, I realize that I shouldn't put so much on my plate and should have just went and bought a premade pasta dish.  Haha!  Probably should have.

The Festival turned out to be a lot of fun for the kiddos.  Payton was Jessie, Lincoln was Woody, and Austin was Buzz.  So cute!

 

The Pumpkin Walk.  Payton won several times and we ended up bringing home a lot of goodies.

 

 

Face painting and Wand making 

 

Oh and we can't forget about the donut on the string game.  Haha!  They totally used their hands.

Happy Hollow...again

This is actually our third trip to Happy Hollow this week!  It has been so nice outside we just couldn't stay inside.

Today was extra special because Dave got to come with us, as well as, Grandma Sandy, Great Grandma Vella, Auntie Jen, and Caeden and Maddix.

Today we started with the animals instead of the rides.  We haven't been over to the petting area since last year.  The goats didn't seem to scare the kiddos too much this time.  Both Lincoln and Payton brushed the goats but ran at the idea of feeding them.  Ha! Ha!  Oh well.

I love this picture of the kids waiting in line.  They were waiting to go on the Frog Hopper.  Payton and Caeden had been on it before but Lincoln had not and I wasn't sure he was tall enough.  He actually wasn't but the guy let him go anyway.  

Auntie Jen was brave and went on with the kids.  Lincoln didn't do too bad but I don't think it is or will be a favorite ride of Caeden or Payton's anytime soon!  :o)

The lady bug ride was more their speed.

Lincoln like the police car and firetruck ride the best...at least for today.  Look at that smile.

So cute!  I love it!

Happy Hollow

We met up with a couple of friends at Happy Hollow today.

It is always a fun day when we go to Happy Hollow.  From the time we get there the kids run and run.  Right now they love the rides, the puppet shows, the animals, the jungle gym, etc.  I am not looking forward to the day that they outgrow this place.

Today we had a special treat, the kids got to meet Danny the Dragon.  I was surprised when Lincoln went running up to meet him and then not so surprised to see him turn tail and run when Danny turned around to give him a high five.  :o)

On our way home we stopped by McDonald's for milkshakes.  Can you believe this is Payton and Lincoln's first milkshake experience!  In a mile and a half they both finished their milkshakes.  Ha! Ha!

Happy Hollow

Jen and I headed over to Happy Hollow today. 

There were lots of fun parts to the day like Payton going on the Jumping Frog for the first time.  She liked it when watching it from the ground but not so much while riding on it.  Ha!  Ha!  This picture was actually taken before it dropped the first time.

Then there was Lincoln who all of a sudden has extreme separation anxiety and cried the whole time he was on the car ride.    He has the best sad face.  Ha!  Ha!

But I really loved watching Payton on the playground.  She walks up to random kids, asks their name, and starts playing with them.  It makes me remember not that long ago when I was so worried about her being so shy.  That is totally not the case anymore.  She met a girl named Claire and they played together for a good 45 minutes running around, climbing, jumping off of equipment, etc.  I am surprised they didn’t hug when we left.

The other thing that I thought was super funny was when Payton, Caeden, and Lincoln were in the little cave looking at the Meerkats.  Payton turned around to come out and said, “Mom, can we go look for another cave of wonders?”  So cute! 

Gilroy Gardens

Met my mom, my sister with her kids, and a family friend with her kids at Gilroy Gardens.  We had so much fun!  It is such a great place to go with young kids, there were so many rides perfect for Lincoln and Payton.

They had a cool dinosaur exhibit there.  Lincoln thought it was really cool, he LOVES dinosaurs.  He calls them "Saurs".  Ha! Ha!  It is so cute.  The dinosaurs had motion sensors that triggered the different dinosaurs to move when you walked in front of them.  Payton wasn't such a fan at first, it took a little convincing for her to believe that they were not real.

Because we had swim lessons in the morning we didn't get to the park until about 1:30 in the afternoon.  We were able to go on a few rides with everyone but before long everyone else had to leave.  So for the later part of the day it was just us and my mom.  Payton and Lincoln ran from ride to ride until the park closed.  Where do they get their energy?
  

I love Lincoln's face in this picture.

Happy Hollow

Payton has been wanting to go to Happy Hollow (a.k.a. the Park Zoo) for a very long time.  We thought it would be fun to invite everyone from her playgroup to join us for the day to help celebrate her birthday.

We had so much fun!  People from our church playgroup kind of arrived in shifts.  We were able to visit a little with everybody as we all were running in different directions chasing kiddos.  We rode on some rides, had a picnic, played on the playground, visited with friends, and rode on some more rides.  Payton even decided she wanted to ride the roller coaster!  I took a video, I am probably a horrible mother but I think it is hilarious.  Oh well.

I wasn't sure how long we were going to last but everyone was in good spirits the entire time we were there we got there (10:00 am to 4:30 pm).  Yay!



Gilroy Gardens

We went with Grandma and Grandpa to Gilroy Gardens for Grandparent's Day.

We were able to meet up with our friends Cassy, Rayne, and Dylan.  I am so glad they were able to meet us there, not only because it was so nice to see them but because I think Payton and Caeden had so much more fun with Rayne there.  They went on so many rides that I do not think they would even have dared to try.  It was so fun to see the smiles on their faces. 

Poor Caeden takes after her mommy and is a little accident prone.  She ended up tripping in line and face planting on the cement.  Ouch!

The whole day was a blast with exception of the short few minutes when Payton disappeared.  It happened so fast.  She was standing right in front of both my mom and I.  It was lunch time and my mom handed me a paper that showed all the restaraunts in the park and what they served.  I looked down at the paper for a minute and when I looked up she was gone.  I asked my mom where she was and my mom looked around with a panicked look on her face.  I just kept telling myself to stay calm because everytime I saw the look on my mom's face I wanted to burst into tears.  We were all walking around calling her name, it seemed like every little girl there was in pig tails and a bright pink shirt.  Just as I was on the verge on losing it I looked up and saw my brother-in-law, Anthony, walking toward me following Payton.  He had seen her wonder off and followed her.  He said, "I thought I should have told someone I was following her..."  Thank goodness he saw her.