The Force is strong with this one

On two previous trips to Disneyland, Alec had wanted to be part of the 'Jedi Training Academy' and has developed a fascination with Darth Vader (we haven't yet let him watch any of the films, read: he doesn't really comprehend Darth's evil character).

So, on our recent trip to Disneyland (27 August) I was determined to get him in this time. Since the announcer always picks the children in Star Wars merchandise, I purposefully brought Alec's Halloween costume (bought last November on Halloween clearance) of Darth Vader. It worked like a charm! The announcer called to Alec, "and the mini Vader in front, we'll try to turn you from your dark path."

I filmed all 20 minutes of it and we bought the Disney photographer's picture of him-it was definitely the highlight of this trip!

Also, huge thanks to my cousin Colin who got us in FREE!

Li'l Kickers Soccer

Alec loves soccer, so when my friend Hilary mentioned putting the kids in an indoor practice, I was all for it! No sitting in the sun, Alec gets to (happily) burn off energy and I get to regularly sit and chat with my buddy. It's a win-win situation.

Alec & Catherine

James & TP

I went upstairs to put away a load of laundry. In the meantime James discovered the bathroom door had been left open...

Canning Peaches

This summer brought some super juicy peaches, so Alec and I (under the strict tutelage of my mother) canned ours. He loves helping me in the kitchen.

More Beach!

We have made it to the beach three times this summer and I won't bore you with individual posts, but here are some cute photos we got there:

James's Cyst 7.11.11

James had been running a fever for a while and acting super-fussy. I felt like it was more than just teething (little man's molars were coming in) and well..point for mother's intuition. He had a cyst at the back of his throat.

Back up. The pediatrician was confused when he saw it & described it as an "alien in the back of his throat!" Thanks Dr. Santos...just what every mom wants to hear...

Luckily, a specialist recognized it as an inflamed salivary gland. Very common in adults (not kiddos though), so poor little man had surgery to remove it.

He was pretty stinkin' cute in the mini hospital gown and charmed all the nurses. He went down screaming (making me cry), but woke up happy and recovered well. Just clingy and feverish the rest of the day.

Nothing extra cuddles and infants' Advil couldn't help.

Hiking

We hiked up to Little Falls on July 4th with my sisters (and Ben and baby Ben) :).
We're thinking of putting a massage chair in the hiking backpack for James's comfort... ;)

Alec enjoys hiking on his own, but usually requires some carrying along the way.

Patriotic Pirates

At a friend's home to watch fireworks, the boys decided to get pirate themed face paint. Nothing says patriotism like an eye patch! :)

Bottom Snack

I'm sure if he could talk, he'd say he was saving them for later.

He's just clever like that.

What brothers are for...

Alec has proven to be an incredible big brother. I was worried, as his 'all boy' nature tends more towards tackling & roughness, but he has such a sweet & tender spirit to balance it out. Luckily the tender side comes out for James.

We went to meet Paul for lunch (kids eat free day at Chili's) and James (Mr. Independent) wanted to walk, but not hold mommy's hand. He was thrilled to hold Alec's though! Too cute.

Going Green

Paul and I started to try and eat healthy once we got married, which has made it much easier to teach the boys to eat healthy from the start. We've been on a health kick lately-trying to step it up a notch & involve the boys.

We'd been reading about 'green smoothies' for a few months and finally worked up the courage to try it.

We're hooked! 4 mornings a week we have smoothies with breakfast. Alec LOVES helping me put it together (the spinach & spirulina make it green) & both boys drink it happily. Yes, it looks like sludge, but what do brownies look like? ;)
I also decided to plant an indoor herb garden (I've been put off planting in the desert, but we're going to try it inside anyway).

So, Alec picked out rocks from our backyard for drainage at the bottom, then (handful by little handful) he put in the soil.

We've loved having fresh herbs for meals & Alec's pretty proud of the job he did-as he should be!

Chopped

I LOVE James's curls. So much, in fact, that I've put off this moment for WAY too long. Yes, it looks like he has a mullet; yes, he has been mistaken for a girl and OF COURSE, I saved all his little curls in a ziploc bag.

He does still look pretty stinkin' cute without them.

Maybe now they'll grow in evenly and I can let them all grow out the same length. That would be ok, right?

Alec is Swimming

We haven't put Alec in swim lessons since last summer. Last summer he snuck around the pool & jumped in the shallow end and nearly drowned. I had been waiting in the deep end for him to come down the slide. Luckily a little girl noticed and screamed, so I got to him in plenty of time. Scared me to death, so I was determined to have him swimming this summer.

When we go for fun, he refuses to swim properly, so I was worried he'd regressed and we were starting from scratch. I was wrong, the second day of lessons with Miss Sandi & he did it!!

At the end of week 2 he can swim about 20 feet (across the narrowest point of her pool) by himself, coming up for breath, etc. Now he's begun on the backstroke.

This doesn't mean I don't make him wear arm floaties or his life vest when we swim for fun…I'm not THAT comfortable yet…or uncontrolling-take your pick.

Emma's wedding

One of my best buddies was getting sealed in Salt Lake City & I volunteered to make the cake. I'm getting to be an old hand at this, so I had a good schedule & plan laid out. Baked the cakes Friday & froze them. Leveled them Saturday. I debated over filling & frosting BEFORE the 6 hour drive & decided in the end it was too risky. So, Paul & I set our Monday sans the boys. My mom offered to watch the boys & kept telling me to "have a fun, relaxing time with just your husband." My mom has clearly never made a wedding cake.

We arrived in Utah Monday night (staying at my sister's in-laws:Mary & Tom-awesome!) & filled, frosted & fondant-ed. I got to bed around 1.40am. That cancelled out the morning run I was hoping to take to keep me relaxed throughout the wedding day. :(

We headed for the temple Tuesday morning and my heart rate increased. Paul chuckled when he realized I was re-living the anxiety from our own sealing! Apparently I looked so nervous, my best friend (Sabrena) was worried, so she sat near the door to tackle me and hold me down if I bolted (sigh). Good friends. Nearly 7 years ago now…(Oh, she didn't have to tackle me, I made it through. Just barely.)

Anyway, the sealing was gorgeous and after wedding photos, Paul and I had a chance to wander around Temple Square and take some of our own photos. I LOVE this one he took & it's being blown up onto canvas for us to hang up soon:It was really nice outside & catching up with Justin (one of my 'big bro's) was wonderful. Then we headed to the luncheon/ring ceremony.

Afterwards I had a nice little 3 hour window to transport the cake & set it up.The largest one did slide a little off the platter at one point, but I was able to fix it and it all turned out well. The reception was gorgeous, at Le Jardin. With the cake sorted out, I finally relaxed & enjoyed being childless for an evening.Ems, me, Paul & Justin-some of our Brummie buddies! Paul & I met in Birmingham almost 9 years ago. Being with some of our old friends from that time made it feel like nothing had changed.
Paul and I left around 5.30 am so he could get to work by noon. I don't know if it was the fun of seeing old friends, the beautiful wedding, etc., but Paul and I LOVED Utah.

Malibu Beach

If Paul had his way we would live on the beach. Back in England he used to surf & now with two young boys-playing in the sand & waves is the joy of his life. Luckily my grandmother lives a windy 20 minute drive through the canyon to Malibu Beach, so the occasional weekend beach trip is easy to manage.

I can't complain, a relaxing day playing in the sun is great. There's so much for the boys to run around and do-we always have fun.

James is proving to be my sporty baby. He loves throwing & kicking balls, even putting them on the t-ball stand to knock down with a bat.

Alec was convinced he was surfing when the water pooled round his feet. He kept shouting, "this is off the hoozle!" (sp?). (It was from a preview for 'G-Force'-a Disney film with guinea pigs.)

Alec's first date

Alec & I went with Hilary & Catherine to see 'Rio'. While he was dressing, he picked out a shirt and told me, "Catherine will like this one." Such a funny little guy!

Easter

We started celebrating Easter on Palm Sunday, following the schedule of Jesus' last week (as suggested in The Friend). So, on Palm Sunday Alec painted palm fronds & cut a picture of Jesus out & glued it to a donkey, then told the story at FHE with my family. We did little crafts like that all week to help him visualize it all better-it was really nice.

We also did a lot of the American traditions:

Putting together a LEGO set from his Easter basket with daddy (he's become a big LEGO fan lately). We tried to get little things for his basket that would be fun to do with family members:

Paul, however, got a load of chocolate (some of it was recycled). After 3 Easter parties Alec had more candy than he had at Halloween! So, Paul got the chocolates, Alec got to pick 4 & we gave the rest away.

Alec just saw me posting these pictures and shouted, "That was me when I was a little boy!"
Me-"Alec that was 2 weeks ago!"
Alec-"Yeah, when I was little, but now I'm growed up!"