In April, my sister Cynthia called and asked if my boys and I would fly to California for a couple of weeks and stay at her home if she flew us out. Easy answer of YES!!! Such a tender mercy given to us. With my mother on the other side of the veil, I feel so incredibly blessed to have a wonderful sister to fill in for mom and give us a summer getaway filled with help. True help! Here is Laura who was the lead babysitter the entire time. She was such a HUGE help!
Emilee and Austin. They each found their match of endless energy. I do have to note that Austin even made Emilee tired....we are in trouble aren't we?!
While visiting, Axel had his first birthday on July 19th. Aunt Keri threw an awesome party! She made dinner and some yummy chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter/chocolate frosting. Axel cried for almost a complete hour (which he doesn't usually do) right before dinner and luckily calmed down when he ate an entire container of Keri's homemade applesauce. Thank you Keri!
This picture was taken right before Axel grabbed the plate that dropped the cupcake. Luckily the candle did not light Keri's place on fire. And amazingly stayed lit when the plate was picked up:) Austin helped blow out the candle.
Do you think Axel liked the cupcake? Aunt Jenny gave him a bath in Keri's sink when he was done.
The crew headed out to Mormon Night at Dodger stadium. We had the all you can eat tickets:) All the Dodger Dogs and nachos my heart has ever dreamed of. Axel stayed awake until 11:30 that night so he didn't miss anything. Austin fell asleep on me around 10pm. Ran into a couple of Long Beach friends which was fun. We made it on the Jumbo Tron!! I think Tera did that with her crazy dancing!! Funnest Dodger game ever-even if they lost:)
The day after the Dodger game we headed to Newport Beach where Emilee taught Austin how to boogy board. The smile says it all! He LOVED the waves this year!
Emilee and her friend Lin held Austin's hands while jumping waves. Laura is next to them. Austin was screaming and squealing like a little girl having a blast!
Axel loved the sand. Not sure how much he ate that day. This was taken right after he threw his face directly in the sand and moved side to side. I've never seen a little kid love sand like that! Zack Hancock promised he will never bring his baby to the beach after seeing that. It grossed him out. Maybe when it is his child, he will experience joy instead of grossing out:)
Emilee kept burying Austin's legs and Austin liked kicking through the sand and rediscovering his legs every time. We miss everyone so much! Can't wait to do it again next summer!
Austin went into the heart of the water storm! Axel was up for a good time too. Axel is usually cautious but not today. He just went for it!
Looks like he is going to fall over......
but he didn't! We picked up McDonald's and Austin fell asleep in the car. We woke him up when we got home to eat. We sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed his gifts and Baskin Robbins cake. 
In April, my sister Cynthia called and asked if my boys and I would fly to California for a couple of weeks and stay at her home if she flew us out. Easy answer of YES!!! Such a tender mercy given to us. With my mother on the other side of the veil, I feel so incredibly blessed to have a wonderful sister to fill in for mom and give us a summer getaway filled with help. True help! Here is Laura who was the lead babysitter the entire time. She was such a HUGE help!
Emilee and Austin. They each found their match of endless energy. I do have to note that Austin even made Emilee tired....we are in trouble aren't we?!
While visiting, Axel had his first birthday on July 19th. Aunt Keri threw an awesome party! She made dinner and some yummy chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter/chocolate frosting. Axel cried for almost a complete hour (which he doesn't usually do) right before dinner and luckily calmed down when he ate an entire container of Keri's homemade applesauce. Thank you Keri!
This picture was taken right before Axel grabbed the plate that dropped the cupcake. Luckily the candle did not light Keri's place on fire. And amazingly stayed lit when the plate was picked up:) Austin helped blow out the candle.
Do you think Axel liked the cupcake? Aunt Jenny gave him a bath in Keri's sink when he was done.
The crew headed out to Mormon Night at Dodger stadium. We had the all you can eat tickets:) All the Dodger Dogs and nachos my heart has ever dreamed of. Axel stayed awake until 11:30 that night so he didn't miss anything. Austin fell asleep on me around 10pm. Ran into a couple of Long Beach friends which was fun. We made it on the Jumbo Tron!! I think Tera did that with her crazy dancing!! Funnest Dodger game ever-even if they lost:)
The day after the Dodger game we headed to Newport Beach where Emilee taught Austin how to boogy board. The smile says it all! He LOVED the waves this year!
Emilee and her friend Lin held Austin's hands while jumping waves. Laura is next to them. Austin was screaming and squealing like a little girl having a blast!
Axel loved the sand. Not sure how much he ate that day. This was taken right after he threw his face directly in the sand and moved side to side. I've never seen a little kid love sand like that! Zack Hancock promised he will never bring his baby to the beach after seeing that. It grossed him out. Maybe when it is his child, he will experience joy instead of grossing out:)
Emilee kept burying Austin's legs and Austin liked kicking through the sand and rediscovering his legs every time. We miss everyone so much! Can't wait to do it again next summer!
