Levi's 3!

Levi turned 3 last week!

It took him awhile to decide on a cake theme (he's not into just one thing these days), but he ended up choosing Dinosaur Train. It's a T.V. show about dinosaurs who travel all over on a train, learning about other dinosaurs.

It's not really that accurate, but at least it's a train with dinosaurs on it. Oh, and the train looks kinda like a dinosaur. He loves candy corns - they were his potty-training treats.

I baked the train cars in mini loaf pans. The volcano is made from 4 various sizes of pans and bowls.

We had my family over for dinner and cake on the Sunday before his birthday. He started blowing out the candles before we even starting singing. He's got this birthday thing down.

When we asked our boys what they thought we should give Levi for his birthday, Tyler suggested something to hit people with. Sadly, he's right. Levi does like to hit people.

So we got him Socker Boppers. The box said they're good for "soft, safe fun." That's what he needs.

His favorite present has been this little backpack filled with goodies: a flashlight, candy, gum and chapstick - all the things he loves but can't usually have.

On his birthday he had his first toddler class, which he'll have once a week for an hour with 8 other 2/3 year olds from church. Each week is a different theme, and all the moms take turns teaching. I'm one of the cooking moms. The first day was music and dance, and he was actually pretty shy. But he warmed up by the end and was eager to go back today for world exploration - they learned about fall and Halloween and decorated sugar cookies.

We had a little family party on his birthday with chicken tenders for dinner and pop rock cupcakes (yum!) for dessert. Then he opened his last present:

Toddler roller blades! He always wants to play hockey with the big boys.

It was a beautiful evening, and we stayed outside riding bikes and such for a long time.

He is now completely potty-trained! He learned very quickly, and he loves the independence. Tonight he got to go on his first date with dad. Our rule is that the kids have to be potty-trained first, and he was SO excited to go. They went to a candy shop and filled a bag with assorted candy. It's great to be 3! 

Camping in the Redwoods

Dave recently had a business trip (a sleep apnea conference in Reno) and got home so late Thursday night that they gave him off work Friday. We never got a chance to go camping this summer, so we figured this would be a good time. We got the kids out of school at lunch and drove up to Big Basin, which is that awesome place we went last year.

The timing was interesting because I had just potty-trained Levi. He was doing pretty well, but he could only go in his little potty. So we packed it up and had to pull over halfway there for a potty break. We put his potty seat on the ground next to the car so he could go. I also fed Chloe. We noticed some Thunderbirds doing some amazing stunts all around us, so we stayed awhile and watched them. Apparently there was a big air show in Salinas that weekend, and they were practicing. That was way cool.

After we set up camp, Dave and I made dinner while the boys played capture the flag and other fun games.

We grilled steak and veggie kabobs for dinner, which was simple and very yummy.  Before it got dark the raccoons aggressively invaded our campsite. The boys had a lot of fun chasing them away. Luckily they didn't open our tents while we were sleeping, which the signs warned us they could do.

It got quite chilly at night, and the fire felt great.

I always consider a camping trip successful if no one gets burned.

We thought about camping at Pinnacles, which is a little closer to home. But Dave heard we wouldn't be able to have campfires there because it's so dry. How can you go camping without roasting marshmallows and snake bread?

The nice thing about camping later in the season is that the sun sets early so we can convince our kids to go to bed sooner. 

Brrrr! It was a chilly morning

Dave very sweetly woke up early to make a fire and cook breakfast, and it was all ready by the time I woke up. That was lovely, especially after waking up so many times with Chloe.

Dave and his boys - totally in their element. They keep asking me when we can go back.

 I love sun shining between the trees through morning campfire smoke.

After we cleaned up breakfast and packed everything up, we set out on our hike. We did the same one as last year. It's about 3 miles long, it isn't too strenuous; there are tons of fun trees to climb, and it ends at a waterfall. 

Levi walked most of the way, but he did get a little tired and needed a ride on Spencer's shoulders. 

And dad's shoulders. 

I carried Chloe, and she doesn't weigh anything. She was much happier hiking than she was sleeping. 

The weather was SO perfect for hiking.

The waterfall is more like a trickle this time of year, but it was still a nice spot to stop and eat our snacks. There was another family there, and their little girls threw our boys' favorite walking stick over the edge. It's just as well, because I had told them they couldn't take it home. 

My boys like posing for pictures just as much as I like taking them. 

I noticed while I was taking pictures that Tyler's face was filthy (hot chocolate mixed with dirt).

So Dave squirted him with the water bottle to wash it off. But it immediately got dirty again. I guess there's no point in trying to stay clean when your camping/hiking.

After our big hike, we drove over to the park headquarters and found a picnic table for lunch.

Here's a banana slug. They help protect the redwood trees by eating pests, or something like that.

 Here's Levi enjoying the banana slug.

After lunch Dave and Chloe took a little nap in the car while I took the boys around for one last hike before heading home. It's a little 1-miler that has the oldest and tallest trees of the forest. I love how Tyler is admiring the immensity of this tree.

Spencer cracks me up. 

Posing in front of the mother of the forest, which is the tallest tree there. Overall, we had a great trip. I like to go camping because it's so beautiful, my boys love, love, love it, and I enjoy hiking and taking pictures. It's definitely worth doing once a year. 

Seven Months

Chloe is now seven months old. Highlights of this month include camping and pigtails.

Daddy gives Chloe a bath before church. Now that he's been released from serving in the bishopric, he gets to help us all get ready for church - yay!

Her uncle Ben was very happy to meet her a couple weeks ago when he was here for a friend's wedding. I love that she's still content to let everyone hold her.

Enjoying a good book with Tyler.

She loves to play with daddy after work.

Camping in the redwoods - Chloe was not a fan. It got too cold at night, and she just wanted to be held tight in my sleeping bag and nursed all night long. Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep. But she was happy in the morning - here she's laughing at her funny daddy. He was up all night with the boys.

Chloe's first pigtail! 

The boys were so excited to see her when they got home that day. Spencer said, "How am I supposed to do homework with this adorable baby here to distract me?"

 It's even cuter with a ribbon!

Levi has so much fun with her. He was wearing the goggles, and Chloe was just fascinated. She really notices when something is out of whack. She started grabbing the goggles, so he helped her put them on. He thought that was pretty funny!