Day 2

Well, it happened again, and I can't believe it. Barf. You may or may not remember that when we took this trip a year ago, we all had the flu just before, and for the first 24 hours of our trip. It was quite a time, and one I never wanted to experience again. But, we did.

Just about an hour after getting the boys to sleep last night, our first night here, Lennox got the heaves and took care of our linens on the hide a bed the boys were using. Not fun. About 3 hours later, Oliver woke up and took care of the other bed for us. So we have become pretty good friends (enemies) with the laundry service folks here at the Marriott. Though they may resent us, I am sure grateful for them.

So, that slowed things down for us today, but I am happy to report that as of right now, the boys are both o.k. Just seemed to have a stomach bug, maybe something we ate in the way of too many treats on the plane ride.

Our big adventures today were limited to walking the grounds, hitting the playground and basketball court (with an ocean view) and taking a short drive for some pizza. We slept, watched some good pixar flicks, and cleaned up a lot.

I promise the pictures will improve. As will our activities.

Back to California, Day 1

It's our favorite time of year, the time we get away to Newport Beach and enjoy the air of Southern California on our skin.

We'll try and keep a daily account of our adventures this week, and post photos that may help tell our little stories.

Today we just used up on the journey from Oak Circle in Sandy to back here at the Marriott on the Newport Coast. It's always so nice to see the ocean.

We had a pretty good and tragedy-free (of the toddler variety) trip this morning. We hitched a ride with Pa to the airport, got help from a friendly sky cap with the three checked bags, two car seats, 3 carry-ons, and one stroller.

Once through the check in we made our way up to the terminal where we found our flight was 30 minutes late. We were banking on very minimal wait, time so we had to come up with 40 minutes of "keep the boys entertained." This is where we insert our two photos from the day:





Lennox and the green apple sucker that he held on to with an iron fist through the 40 minute wait and the ENTIRE 1 hour and 40 minute flight. He licked it once in a while, but mostly he just waived it around like a scepter. He was pretty good on the plane, for Lennox, but he did kick the chair in front of him enough to get the guy sitting in said chair to turn around and give him a bit of a talking to. Finally Lex moved over and say on Dad's lap for the majority of the flight. But no real tantrums or flip outs.

Oliver is there spotting planes out the window. Both boys love anything with wheels or that goes in the sky. The airport has many of those things. Baggage carts, helicopters, planes, etc. Oliver was as good as gold for the entire journey to our villa. He told the folks on the plane we were going up in the sky, to Califonia, and to the Ocean and to Disneyland. I had a nice couple from Ogden comment how well Oliver was behaving when we were standing in line for a short eternity for our rental car.

We got in the car, headed to pop-eyes chicken and mcdonalds for a healthy start to our holiday, and made it toward the coast. Our only real mishap was that we left one bag on the carousel so dad had to make a trip back to the airport to pick it up later, but fortunately they had it waiting for us.

Tonight the boys fell asleep on mom watching Disney's Rob Hood. Man, they are beautiful when they are asleep.

So we are all geared up for the big week. We have very little planned other than Wednesday at D-land, so we will see where we end up.

T-H-R-E-E !

Oliver loves: DADDY, his SILKY, Grandpa, books, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, Lightning McQueen, wearing shoes, "Daddy's red car," his bike, being "cozy"--wrapping up in too many blankets and sweating himself to sleep, chasing our dog, jumping on the trampoline, swinging, "working hard" at the retaurant and in the yard with Daddy, shows, cars & trucks, dancing, fries, holding the sprayer in the shower, going to church, the alphabet, Bob the Builder, Shaun the Sheep, talking about the cabin, sugary treats, delaying bedtime, and sunglasses.

Dislikes: Daddy leaving the house, having his hair combed, getting buckled in his carseat, when Brother breaks the rules, and being upside down.

Oliver is funny, sweet, polite, cool, agreeable, convincing, coordinated, cautious, a lefty, and BELOVED. He brings joy to our family everyday. We can't believe how fast he is growing and how deeply we love him.

96 reasons we love the cabin!

- be sure to watch in 480p, it's much better.

Oliver and Lennox Trampoline

The Sink

Everyone loves the pump sink that X got for his 2nd birthday from Grandpa and Grandma Morley. The boys' best pal, Coen, who shares his fun grandma with us, brought some nuggets and fries and came to play. Hear the squeals, screams, and laughter. Smell the sunblock mingled with McDonald's grease. See the gleeful faces. Wish that Summer would quit faking us out--and keep giving us days like June 7th.



I lost my sunglasses, and X broke my back-ups. So I've been sporting this glamorous pair from the costume box--my Mom's from decades past. After sink fun, I caught Xy (pronounced: Ecksie) nonchalantly puttering in the dirt, having perched the shades on his own little nose. Best face ever.

Chez Morley

Welcome to Chez Morley, where the soup du jour is Kibble. The activity pictured here combines many of Lennox's favorites: water, "cooking," no pants, dog food, outdoors and Pim (the name he gave his pet yellow rubber spatula). X can't help snarfing any stray nugget of kibble that Maudie overlooks. It putrefies his sweet breath and makes me ill. He really scored this evening as Maudie's dishes were left half-full and within reach. Combining their contents, he stirred and stirred an appetizing Science Diet Soup. Bon apetit!