Birthday Busy

Imagine another weekend of birthday parties.  Yes, it's true.  It seems like this school year has started out with a plethora of kids' birthday parties.  So this weekend Maxwell had parties to attend for two of his classmates.  I almost forgot to mention both were costume parties so Maxwell got to try out this years costume and break out last years for one more adventure.  Before the party on Saturday we went to Floyd Lamb State Park to do a little fishing.  Well, very little since we didn't catch anything.  But the kids had a good time and Annabel got to break in her new fishing pole.  Later while I took Maxwell to the first party, Art took Annabel and Gabrielle to the South Point Casino Arena to see the Budweiser Clydesdale's.  It was pretty amazing how huge horses and free Budweiser can fill an arena.  But Annabel loved seeing the horses up close and didn't complain once about the smell... or the droppings.  So that plus a little popcorn and she had a great time while Gabrielle loved people watching.  On Sunday, Art took Maxwell to the party while I got to spend some alone time with the girls.

Maxwell waiting patiently for a fish to come along

Annabel and her pink fishing pole

Maxwell trying to catch a peacock!  Peacock??

So cute!

Gabrielle wanted to be part of the fun!

Say cheese!

Mommy & Maxwell on the way to a Halloween party

Punk Zombie

No beer for Art

Horses!

I had to post this cute picture of Gabrielle.  This is for Grandma & Grammie!

Scary!

 

 

Mount Charleston

Over the weekend we went camping at Mt. Charleston which is about an hour away.  The low temperatures do not make you feel like you are anywhere near Las Vegas.  There is not a whole lot to do up there so we took our bikes and lots of games.  I thought Art and I would get to relax, sit back and watch the kids play, BUT that is not possible with an 18 month old!  We took turns chasing after her and taking the rocks, pine needles, ect. out of her mouth.  By the time we got home Sunday I was exhausted.  Maxwell and Annabel had a great time though!  They hiked, rode bikes, played Candyland and meet some new friends at the next campsite.  Here are some pictures that go along with our trip:

This was Annabel's own personal stage.

Maxwell and I hiked up this little mountain and saw a big buck!

Gabrielle enjoying the cool weather

Annabel & Daddy trying to keep warm

These kids love to ride their bikes!

Maxwell...riding his bike! 

Home away from home

Animals!!

We spent our Saturday at Maxwell's friend's birthday party.  The kids enjoyed swimming and they got to see and hold some exotic animals.  Here are a couple of pictures of the day:

Annabel and a toucan

Maxwell holding the toucan

Maxwell and the red-tailed boa constrictor
This was too heavy for Annabel to hold

Annabel and a caracal

Maxwell's turn

Annabel and a bush baby

Maxwell and some sort of monkey

The kids had fun jumping into the pool (10 feet deep!)

Smile!

End of the summer

The kids just finished their second week of school and it is going great!  Annabel's teachers have said that she is a very focused and hard worker.  She has adjusted to school life well.  For Maxwell, he loves being a first grader and has made lots of new friends.  He came home one day this past week and said they were studying the Big Bang Theory.  He told me he thought it was just a TV show.  As for Gabrielle, she is enjoying some one on one time with her mommy.

This free photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

1st day of school

Monday was their first day of school and they both had a great day!  Art took them because I knew I would be a blubbering mommy.  Maxwell was a little nervous that morning, but he did fine once he got to his classroom.  Annabel was so excited to go to her class she almost didn't say goodbye to Art.  When I picked her up at 12:15 she was so tired.  Although she was a bit cranky that afternoon she couldn't wait to go back the next morning.  Maxwell had a good day as well, which put his nerves to rest.

Newport Beach

Our second trip in the new RV was a longer one this time.  We "camped" at Newport Dunes which was set right on the bay.  Next to the campground was a Hyatt where they had a very delicious breakfast.  Really?!  Who goes camping and eats at a Hyatt?  We did not have a tow car yet (now we have a Jeep) so we rented an SUV for the couple of days we were there.  The weather was a little hotter than what we thought it was going to be...and oh, the humidity.  Something we are not used to anymore.  We stayed cool by meeting up with our friends at a beach in Laguna and eating Balboa Bars on Balboa Island.  We also went to Knott's Berry Farm amusement park for the first time and it was great!  It was a lot nicer than what we thought it was going to be and the best part was - it was not crowded at all.  Either we walked right up to a ride and got on or we had to wait maybe 1 or 2 turns.  Maxwell is now tall enough to ride some of the bigger rides and him and Art had a great time on the roller coasters.  Maxwell, Annabel and I rode the log ride and it was the scariest log ride I have ever been on (see facial expressions below).  About a quarter of the ride was pitch black.  Was not expecting that at all.  Overall, we had a great trip.  I can't speak for Gabrielle though.  She was not too fond of sitting in her car seat to and from CA while everyone else could walk around when they wanted to.  Only a matter of time she'll be able to walk around too.

Annabel loved playing in the sand!

Maxwell trying to run from the waves!

Daddy & Gabrielle

Mommy & Gabrielle

Maxwell catching sand crabs

Having fun with friends!

Annabel kept her arms up the whole time!

Good thing I was seated on the outside of this ride!

They laughed the whole time they were on this ride!

Famous hot dogs!  Yummy!!

Daddy & kiddos

Taken in front of a very cool house made of bottles.  

This picture speaks for itself!

Annabel playing with the ipad.  I'm not sure how she can see anything with all that hair in her face.

Gabrielle was happy at this moment.

These two were exhausted on the way home.

Captain Art