Cali Trip

Overall, Easton and I had a great trip to Cali. I wish I could have documented the trip while I was in Cali because I know I am going to miss a lot of stuff, but unfortunately I couldn’t figure out how to download the pictures off my camera onto my sisters computer, so basically this will be a small glimpse (probably a long post) of what we were up to the last three weeks. Easton got to experience a couple of fun and not so fun firsts.

Easton’s first Jamba. We also rode a trolley around Victoria Garden’s (first trolley ride for Easton).

Easton and Aaron playing at a park.

Aaron ice skating. He is only three and is already playing ice hockey.

Easton’s first Birthday Party (besides his own). Happy 3rd Birthday Aaron! I got to help prepare the week before for Aaron’s party. My sister, Jana, goes way out when it comes to birthday parties. It was cars theme. For the kids there were balloon animals, football toss (cardboard with lightning mcqueen drawn and painted on it- this took me several hours to make and only several minutes for the kids to play with. What you don’t do for your nephew. I wish I had a picture of it because I’m pretty proud of it and how it turned out.), races (race cars made from cardboard and painted different colors. Again took several hours but fortunately my sister helped out with these.), cars piñata full of goodie bags, and goodie bags for the kids to take home with them. Jana made two lightning mcqueen cakes that turned out great. She did all this a week before she was due. How crazy is that?

Easton’s first real train ride (he has been on the metro but I don’t really count that). Jana and I were going to take the boys to see Thomas train but because my sister had baby Aiden the day before we were scheduled to do this, my mom filled in for her. Overall, we had a great time. There were several fun activities for the kids to do along with riding Thomas. There were tattoos, imagination station (several Thomas tracks with trains to play with, Thomas stamps, Thomas coloring, etc.), petting zoo, jump houses, video and story house, trolley rides, etc. The boys really seemed to enjoy themselves minus the petting zoo-some of those animals were scary. They constantly thought you had food for them so they would run up to you (some of them were taller than Easton) and basically stock you.

Me, Easton, my Mom, and Aaron on the trolley.

Me and Aaron feeding the animals. Aaron very timid.

Grandma and Aaron

Easton and Aaron waiting for Thomas Train.

Easton very excited about the train ride.

We also took the boys to see Santa. At the Bass Pro shop they were offering free pictures with Santa. Lets just say the picture tells it all of how much Easton enjoyed sitting on Santa’s lap. Ms. Claus was also there reading stories to the kids and singing Christmas songs. If you can't tell Easton is definitely crying like he did last year on Santa's lap. I guess Easton hasn't figured it out yet that Santa is the one who brings toys and goodies. To him Santa is just a scary old man.

Ms. Claus reading stories to the children.

Easton’s first and hopefully last time getting stitches. Last Sunday we went to visit Jana’s dad (Nate). While we were there Easton ran into the other room and must have tripped over the rug where he ended up hitting his head on the coffee table. Needless to say, I heard crying and screaming and ran into the other room to find blood coming from his forehead. I rushed him to the kitchen to get a towel to apply pressure. Candy (Nate’s girlfriend) took one look at it and told me he needed stitches. Nate took us to the ER and Easton ended up with four internal stitches and seven external stitches. It was really sad and hard to see Easton go through this, but luckily I had Jana’s Dad there to guide me through the whole thing. They say it is harder on the mother than the patient which is probably true, but still it is hard to be just a couple of feet away watching your son strapped down crying and screaming in what you think is pain (the doctors claimed he couldn’t feel anything-but I’m not entirely sure that was the case) and you can’t do anything but watch. That has got to be the worst feeling in the world- to not be able to hold and comfort your child when they are in pain.