Catching up - Tanner meets the Beach

(Just a warning - this is kind of a long post with LOTS of pictures. I'm posting this mostly for Grandmas' benefit!)

Sometime last summer Nate commented on the fact that Tanner has never been to the beach, so we decided to go visit his brother and sister-in-law who live near San Diego over fall break in October. (Fall break is new to me to, but for whatever reason kids get a week off of school for Spring Break in March, and a week off for Fall Break in October.) It's so weird having to plan our trips around school breaks (both Nate's and Kiersten's!) and not being able to just pick up and go whenever we wanted.

We had so much fun with Michael, Julia and Maiya and Mira. Our first day we headed out to the beach - Tanner was in heaven! He loved the beach from the minute he got out of the car. Kiersten, on the other hand, wasn't so sure - it has been almost 3 years since she'd been to the beach and apparently we had to remind her that she liked it, too. She did ok as long as she could wear her flip flops and didn't have to actually get in the water! Both kids had a great time making sandcastles with Maiya and Mira while Dad (he's the mound under the BYU sweatshirt and animal towel) and Uncle Mike (he's the mound under the had and pink stripe towel) tried to sleep.

I have several friends who have kids close to Kiersten and Tanner's ages who told me that their kids LOVED the zoo, so we bought tickets and hoped ours would too! Our first stop was the snakes and reptiles, a stop I could have done without. However, Tanner was fascinated - we quickly fell behind everyone else because he wanted to stop and watch at each case. The snakes were really active and interesting, but not interesting enough to "open the windows" like Tanner wanted to do! After that was the turtles, which cracked Tanner up. If one turtle was walking and then just stopped (which they frequently did), any turtles behind him would just stop and wait for the first one to start moving again. Tanner thought it was so funny that the turtles wouldn't go around each other. When we finally managed to drag him away from the turtles, it was off to the petting zoo. A couple of times I caught Kiersten giving the animals a sideways look that seemed to say, "If I don't come near you, then you don't need to come near me either."

We were so busy all day that Tanner didn't get his normal afternoon nap, so as soon as we sat down on the bus Tanner fell asleep. Luckily Nate noticed and I could catch him before he fell off the seat and hit his head!

Our last day of fun found us at the Temecula Children's Museum, which was AWESOME!!! It isn't huge, but there had to be some sort of experiment the kids - and adults! - could do relating to every single law of physical science. Kiersten and Tanner are already asking when we can go back.












It's always sad when it is time to head home, although a week of Tanner not napping (there was too much to do and see each day!) made it not quite as sad as usual! We haven't planned our next trip to California yet, but I'm sure it won't be too far away - I think the only place we go more than California is Utah!

A Family Af"FAIR"

A couple of years ago Kiersten and I enjoyed our first county fair. Last year we didn't make it, since we planned our Disneyland trip at about the same time the fair came to town. Kiersten regularly brings up the fair and how much fun it was, so we decided to go again when it was in town this year. We picked Nate up from work and ate a picnic dinner in the car so we could get as early of a start as possible (because heaven forbid the kids go to bed late, and I have to deal with cranky kids the next day!).
Kiersten was obsessed that night with the Ferris Wheel. I didn't even know she knew what a ferris wheel was, but that was where she wanted to start the night. Thankfully we were able to talk her into going on the carousel first (another favorite), so that we could start the night out with everyone getting a ride.When we started our ride, Kiersten was a little nervous. Ok, I was nervous too! It was kind of freaky to be going backwards and up and just when you start to get a little momentum, you stop and wait for the next car to be loaded/unloaded. Once we made it around the first time, and we started moving continuously it was much more fun. Kiersten relaxed and was able to enjoy it, thankfully! For the rest of the evening that was all Kiersten talked about, and how she wants to go do it again!

Even though Tanner was technically too short to ride a lot of the rides without Mom or Dad, most of the operators (well, the 2 we asked!) were really nice and let him go anyway. We just had to assure them that he wouldn't try to climb out of the ride while it was moving or anything. Even though we assured the operators he wouldn't, I wasn't so sure! Thankfully he had such a great time on the rides that he didn't even come close to climbing out.
I was really impressed our little county fair this year. They had the things that I remembered from last time - the rides, games, animals (this year the kids even got to pet the pigs - they have really wirey/bristle-y hair), booths, and places to take our picture (after we tried to get one of the kids, Kiersten insisted on taking one of Nate and I),
but this year they seemed to have a lot more than I remembered - they had a fire dance show that I found fascinating (although I worried as I watched it that Kiersten and Tanner might get some crazy ideas. Thankfully so far we've been safe!),
and they even had a sea lion show with 3 sea lions who did all sorts of tricks. Tanner was completely fascinated. (Unfortunately it was getting dark - this was one of the last things we did - and none of the pictures turned out.)

Doesn't that look like a boy having a great time?

We ended the evening with funnel cakes, something I remember and love from my teenage days working at, and going to, our local amusement park (Elitch's Gardens) - yummy! I thought one was plenty for us to share, but there was some sort of miscommunication between Nate and I and he thought I told him to order 2, so darn! We ended up with two! :)

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning came bright and LATE to our house! Our children must still be too little to get truly caught up in the Christmas morning anticipation because they slept the latest they did all of our Christmas vacation - Kiersten slept until 8:45 and Tanner woke up at 9. What a wonderful Christmas present they gave Nate and I - letting us sleep in, and wake up when we were ready to!

Kiersten was very excited over all the candy and presents (she was amazed that Santa gave each of us a different candy cane in our stocking. Thankfully she didn't notice that they all looked like candy canes from last year or the ones Santa gave them at our ward party!), but Tanner was pretty excited by the banana that Santa left in his stocking! He wouldn't let go of it until Nate put him in his high chair so he could eat it (which wasn't that much later!).


Back when I first started my Christmas shopping, I asked Kiersten what she wanted for Christmas, and she didn't have any ideas so I picked what I thought she'd like. As Christmas got closer, however, she found a set of princess dolls at Target that she really wanted and started telling everyone that is what she hoped Santa would bring her. A few days before Christmas I really started to worry that she was going to be disappointed by the Doctor kit Santa was bringing her. I even sent Nate to Target 2 days before to get the princesses, but no luck for us . . . Target was out (or, he may have been looking in the wrong spot, I don't know!). So I prayed really hard that she'd be happy with the 1 princess doll Tanner gave her and the Doctor kit Santa gave her.
And thankfully that prayer was answered - she was delighted that no longer did she have to find things to pretend to play doctor with her babies. She now had the "real" stuff! We decided that Santa must have known how much she liked to play doctor with her babies, and that Tanner was going to give her a Belle doll.

Tanner has the funniest look he gives us on a regular basis, but we've never been able to capture it on film. This still isn't quite the look, but it gives you a pretty good idea of what he looks like. (By the way, this was a random face - I was taking pictures because he was so excited sitting on Nate's lap opening the truck from his cousins Brooklyn and Savannah.)

I was a little worried that it would take about 15 minutes to open presents Christmas morning because it was just our small little family of 4, and we only got each person 4 presents (1 in their stocking, 1 from Santa, 1 from the kids/their sibling and 1 from Mom and Dad, and that was a combined present for the 2 of them). However, Grandparents, Aunts, and cousins came through and filled under our tree, and it took over an hour and a half to open presents Christmas morning. Of course, not all of that time was opening presents - we stopped and got Tanner a snack (his stocking banana and some Nutter Butters that Santa had left), and we'd stop opening presents and let the kids open the toys and play with them for a bit before going on.



After we finished opening presents and had breakfast, Kiersten organized another rendition of the Nativity. This time was different than the night before because we had different costumes (I've never known Mary to have such bling, have you? And Joseph has never looked so good in pink, don't you agree?)
Tanner really didn't have a role in this rendition of the Nativity - he just jumped in where he wanted. This time I got a little more for my shepherd's costume - instead of just a hair bow like I had the night before, this time I had a blanket to wrap around my shoulders.

After naps/quiet time Nate took the kids out back and set up the trampoline we got for them. I'm hoping to save my couches and mattresses from all the jumping they've seen over the last several months! Unfortunately our back yard isn't big enough to accommodate a large trampoline, so hopefully they won't mind sharing and taking turns until we move into a house with a bigger back yard (no, I'm not making an announcement - we don't have any plans to move, we'll get a bigger back yard "someday int he future!") and can get a bigger trampoline.

Later that evening Kiersten was so excited to set up her easel from Grandma and Grandpa and get to work. She's colored and painted so many pictures. Watch your mail - you may be the lucky recipient of some of her original artwork one of these days!

All in all it was a wonderful Christmas day. We really enjoyed being able to spend time as a family. While we missed our family and friends, we were also glad we couldn't share our sicknesses with you (Kiersten had pink eye, Tanner had a fever, and Nate and I had colds!). And, Kiersten has done a wonderful job of keeping the Nativity story in the forefront of our thoughts, as we've now had to act it out 4 times in the past week (and that's only because we've put her off several times! If she had her way it would have been at least daily!)

Christmas Lights

There have been a lot of things that I would have liked to do with Kiersten and Tanner this Christmas, but decided that they were still a little too young. One of these years we're going to ride the Polar Express, and I think next year I'm going to let them decorate cookies (I'm sure they would have loved that this year, but I just wasn't ready for the mess! Next year, though . . . !) But, one thing they have both really enjoyed are the Christmas lights. Every time either one sees lights anywhere they squeal, and then usually the other joins in as well!

So we started the Christmas season by going to see the lights at the Mesa Temple with Nate's family who was here for Thanksgiving. Everyone loved it. It's not Temple Square in Salt Lake, but it is quite impressive, and it's a whole lot warmer!
(Tanner didn't care who held him that evening, as long as they cuddled him and kept him warm, so Grandma Larsen and Aunt Kathryn fought over him!)

A Tucson holiday tradition we hear about every year, but hadn't actually tried yet, is going to see the lights at Winterhaven, a community in Tucson. Their light displays are amazing - it's as though each house is trying to be bigger and better than the next. I'm really glad we don't live there, because the pressure to compete must be pretty strong!) We figured that this was something the kids would appreciate and enjoy, so we bundled up (ok, so it wasn't snowing and frigid cold like we're used to braving in Utah, but it still was cold, especially for our Tucsonian children . . . and their mom!).


(Kiersten dressed herself that night. We suggested they wear their warm "snuggle" footed pj's, and we told her she needed a hat to keep her head warm. This wasn't quite what we had in mind, but she was adament that this is what she was wearing. )

One house not only had their lights timed to music, but also had water jets synchronized. Here's a short video - but they seemed to be encountering technical difficulties as we got there, because everything went black and quiet, and stayed that way!




The kids loved it, as did Nate and I, and even though we only made it through a fraction of the houses, we felt it well worth the drive. (Tanner could have stayed longer, it was Kiersten who was done first, and very vocal about it!) We've decided to make it one of our family traditions every year - to go check out another part of the lights at Winterhaven.

Father's Day . . . in September

For Father's Day one of the things we gave Nate was a family camping trip. Now, those of you who know me, know that camping is pretty far down on my list of 101 favorite things to do. It's not that I hate camping, it's just that there are so many other things I would rather do, that we never make it far enough down the list to go camping!

However, Nate really enjoys it, and hasn't gotten to do much since he was released as the Young Men's president a couple of years ago, so I figured it was about time to brave it! Thankfully the kids really enjoy camping, even if they don't sleep all that well! Unfortunately with how busy we've been we had to settle for an over night trip in Madera Canyon (and no, we didn't see any illegals and yes we felt perfectly safe.) in September.

Kiersten felt like a pretty big girl because we put Tanner to bed and she got to stay up and watch Dad build a campfire (for roasting s'mores). And, while we waited for the campfire to get just right (I learned you don't roast marshmallows over the flames but rather over the red hot coals that come after the fire has been going a while. Who knew?) she got to play a card game with Mom and Dad by lantern.

As soon as Tanner woke up the next morning, he went straight for his shoes - he was ready to start exploring again!

The view from our tent!

Kiersten and Tanner enjoying Dad's yummy breakfast of blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage and hot chocolate. Why is it ok to eat like that when you're camping? I'd never make that much at home on a regular Saturday!

After we cleaned up camp we decided to hike a little bit before heading back home. However, things weren't looking good for our hike when we had to stop for our first break after hiking from the car to the trail head! To keep Kiersten entertained and willing to go on (she wanted to stop about every 50 feet!), we stopped at each and every sign posted along the way and had her read the letters and try to sound out the words. She didn't get too many of the words, especially when there are abbreviations, but she did a fantastic job with the letters.

After completing this "rigerous" 1/3 mile we decided we had had all the fun we could handle. The trail was supposed to get quite a bit steeper from this point on, and Kiersten just didn't think she could make it any farther, she was just so tired (oh the drama!). So we turned around and headed home.

It was fun, and VERY nice to spend some time as a family before Nate started back to school! Kiersten is already trying to plan our next trip, so I doubt I'll make it another 5 years before I go again!