Thursday, December 30, 2010

Park Days!


The week before Christmas, we were plagued by more rain than any little child could handle.  Washington County was in the flood mode with roads closed, tractors working full time to keep the debris from causing havoc,  and people sandbagging around houses and businesses.  But anyone who has a 3yr old and a 1 yr old know that the real disaster comes from having  two little kids cooped up in the house for days on end.  So the minute the sun broke through, we donned our coats and took the kids to the park.   Two days we went to the park that Lakie calls the “Blue Park” (Bloomington Park) because all of the swings and play toys are bright blue. 
They love to swing and Laken keeps saying  “Higher Gramma Kacky,  Higher!”  Sawyer is just happy to be in the swing and have everyone’s attention on her.
She also loves Laken taking her down the slide.

Laken is like his Uncle Bubba though -  He can’t pass any water without throwing rocks into it.  
We walked to the river, and took a look at water going down the Virgin River.
 
Not sure what Laken doesn't understand about the yellow caution tape.  He just bent right down and walked under it.  (Maybe if you don't touch it, it doesn't count?
'
 Sawyer thinks if Laken can do it, she can too.  Crawling works just as well to go under the tape.
 It looks like a river of chocolate milk, doesn't it?
 Sawyer likes being on my shoulders, but every once in a while, she has to lean down and say "Hi!" just make sure I'm still there.
The next day we brought Laken’s bike and went for a walk along the river.   Laken found some construction equipment and just had to climb on it.  He tried to get inside to drive it, but luckily it was locked.  Cousin Judd might have to hire him some day!
Tuesday we tried “Mean Duck Park” just below Stone Cliff.   It has all of the swings and toys, plus, you guessed it, mean ducks and geese in a huge pond. 
 Laken likes this park because there is a bike jump that is just his size.   He goes over it again and again  popping wheelies and catching air.

 "Laken Blaine Gardner Travis Pistrana Superhero "goes again!
 Laken had to keep checking to make sure the ducks weren't coming!
Pretty cool kid!
Unfortunately, Jaime got a package of crackers out and the geese and ducks heard the wrapper and came running – or waddling I guess.  They were not backing up and unfortunately, Sawyer stuck her finger out to point at one and got nipped.   
Her finger was hurt, her feeelings hurt, but she still wanted to get to the ducks!
Nothing like a swing to make a kid feel better!
Right next to the park are horses, and we usually stop and pet them just before we leave. We stand by the fence, and the horses come up and let us pet them.   
 Today however, I’m not sure if they were just hungry, or Laken looked like a good meal, but they tried to eat his hair.
 And then to add insult to injury, they bit his knees are he was sitting here. 
So, maybe this is going to be called “Mean Duck and Mean Horse” park now!


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Santa's visit

We had a "Seare" family party to get all of the cousins together and what do you know, Santa showed up!   (He looked a whole lot like  Uncle Kent, but most of the kids didn't seem to notice!) 
Laken ran and gave him a hug the minute he walked in.

Jeremy couldn't wait to get onto his lap

Destiny also told Santa what she wanted.


Doesn't Tustin's face tell it all?  The Magic of Christmas!

The youngest member of the family - Sakora.

Laken wanted Santa to know that he wanted a Gravedigger Monster Truck!



Sawyer wasn't sure about Santa, even though Lakie was there with her!





But then she decided that he was way too scarey!

Even with Grandma holding her, she isn't too sure about the man with the beard.


Korbyn loved Santa!
Makena is not too sure.
Kamryn was fine as long as she didn't see who was holding her!
The three sisters - Rene, Kathy and Jonette.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Usually it is the kids waking up the parents on Christmas morning, but this year, Grandpa and I beat Lakie to the punch and woke up Jaime at 7:45.  Laken wasn’t far behind as he came in to announce to his parents “There are presents under the tree!”

Let the unwrapping begin!
Laken loved the Gravediggers to go along with the Nitro Circus that Uncle Bubba and Aunt Summer gave him!
Sawyer liked her new play table.  (She better, since that is what Jaime and I spent early morning on Black Friday standing in line for!) 

Now that they are winning again, Grandma loves her Jazz Clock from Mike and Jaime.

Mike got busy making everyone fresh squeezed OJ
Sawyer LOVES it!
.   
Not sure who looks happier - the kids or Grandma and Grandpa!

Merry Chirstmas from the Gardner Family!
Then we moved on to Trav's family

At times we wondered who the toys were really for....  (Something he inherited from Dwight, I'm sure)

Korbyn and Makena are excited to see what Santa brought!


Kamryn's pigtails from last night gave her a wild hair style this morning!


Kena is happy with her I-Pod dog - it even sneezes!  (I think it caught Korbyn's cold!)

I think Kamryn's 4 wheeler is a little bit small for Korbyn.
So let's see what Trav and Ginny gave them...

You should have heard the squeals of delight!

Merry Christmas from the Travis Andrus Family!

Then out to the academy to ride all of the fun toys!

Kamryn is good to share with Sawyer!

Again we ask the question...Who are the toys really for?????

Brandon and Summer celebrating in Colorado!

Austin, Molly and Kids celebrated in SLC
We missed Brandon and Summer who were in Colorado with the in-laws (although they were with us part of the day through Skype) and Austin's family who were in SLC with the inlaws also.  But it was a wonderful day!   I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of my children's lives, and to be able to see most of them each and every day.  I feel so loved by all of them.  It doesn't get much better.  As Grandma and Grandpa Seare would say, "Just another day in paradise!"