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Grant's favorite thing about Disneyland: marching band (the parade down Main St)

Favorite ride: space shuttles (followed by him saying, "BLASTOFF!!!")

Favorite rollercoaster: Matterhorn  (the last time he rode this rollercoaster it actually closed down while they were on it and the workers had to come get them out!)

Disneyland, you rock!

Disneyland, you were awesome, thank you!  We had a blast spending a day at Disneyland with our boys and Grandma R.  We were fortunate to have a rather overcast and cool, 70 degree day to spend in the park and the crowds were manageable.  Let me also make mention of how great it was having a 3 year old scared of costumes and masks, therefore, he could have cared less about standing in the ridiculously long lines to get any photos or autographs of characters!  No princess or fairy business either, we were ALL ABOUT the roller coasters & rides!

Dumbo was one of the few rides Mr. Parker could go on.  He flapped his arms and squealed most of the ride so we decided he liked it :)

Grant and Frank riding in the front of a roller coaster in Toon Town, I think between all of us Grant got to ride that one 5 or 6 times!

Grant was a rather crazy driver in Autopia!

Parker finally gave up in the middle of the afternoon but only for about 30 minutes, what a trooper...or stinker, I'm not sure which :)  My very own sleeping beauty!

Will he really be that tall someday?  Frank assures me Grant could be even taller than his own 6'6" frame?!  Yikes!

The spaceships and rockets were one of Grant's favorites, he's still talking about BLASTOFF!

Lastly, we were able to spend our last afternoon riding the ferry over to Balboa Island. We had a grand time on the pier, playing in the sand and on the play structures, swinging, riding the ferris wheel, eating pizza, etc.  A great way to enjoy the California sunshine!  (Frank and Grant are in the yellow seat on the left)

sunny california

Here sits the reason we traveled so far.  Parker got to meet his Great-Grandmother & Great-Granddad for the very first time in Southern California last week.  It is almost unbelievable to see four generations together in one photo!  (Yes, Parker is teething and almost always has one hand in his mouth!)

We made it to the kiddie beach our first day and the boys had an absolute ball kicking and splashing in the water and playing in the sand!

I love this shot, Parker is obsessed with my sunglasses and Frank managed to capture this attempt on them! 

Our little Parker Bear, looking quite pleased with himself after having eaten a fistful of sand, not the first and certainly not his last!

My boys, I love this view and could look at them all day long on a sunny sandy beach!

My next post will be sure to share the rest of our trip photos...none of Snow White or Pluto, I promise! :)

to the bank

Grant was so very excited to take his piggy bank money to the bank for the very first time and open his first savings account.  Actually, I'm not sure who was the most excited, Grant or Frank :)  Frank continues to lament the lame interest rate!

I'm finally convinced that Parker actually means Momma when he says it, I love it!!

Grant started Diamond Dreams last week, a cute little t-ball class and you can see him in the background in the green shirt clapping his hands with his neighbor looking at him.  What a character, always entertaining!  He's been wearing a hand-me-down baseball glove which is for a lefty and the verdict is still out on what he'll be.  He writes/colors with his right hand but dribbles a ball, sometimes swings a bat and throws with his left?!  Only time will tell!

A quick hint as to what we've been up to as of recent....Grant kept telling me last week he did NOT want to see Snow White but only Pluto!!!!

crawler

And today we have a crawler.  Parker's been "crawling" for awhile but with one leg tucked under him and he never went very far, usually just a foot or two and would end up on his belly and rolling.  Today something clicked and he's crawling all over the place.  So far we love it and not too much chaos has been created and Grant keeps telling him what a big boy he is for learning how to crawl by himself! 

See, told you he's noisy!!  And how about Grant calling his name trying to get him to crawl towards us, ha!

puppy love

And so it has begun...this week I was driving with both boys in the car and Grant said, "Mommy, I want a puppy."  We are doomed.  He's always LOVED dogs and of course his all-time #1 is his dog-dog but he's never actually asked for a real dog before.  Now he's been asking about every other day for a puppy!  Someday little buddy, someday...maybe when you can scoop poop and be responsible for a few of the other doggie duties!

biblical virtue #2

31 BIBLICAL VIRTUES to pray for your kids

2. Growth in grace. "I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18).