Mission Beach

On Wednesday, we took a little break from Legoland and went to Mission Beach. Every time we have gone to the beach/ocean, Isaac has cried. He doesn't like putting his feet in the sand and likes the waves even less. This time, he walked right across the sand and didn't even muster a tear. Then he went right up to the water. As soon as the first wave came in, Isaac lost his balance and fell right in to the cold ocean water. The poor little guy started wailing!!! After calming him down, he wanted to stick his feet back in the water, but only when he was holding someones hand...can't blame him there! He actually loved it!!! He was laughing and giggling and didn't want to leave! Every day after that, he asked if we could go back to the beach!

The boys getting ready to stick their feet in the water

Poor Isaac was not a happy camper after he fell in the water

The boys collecting shells

Daddy and Isaac giving the water another try

"Hey, this isn't too bad!!!"

Isaac learning to love the ocean

Brothers

Legoland Splash Pad

Legoland has a big pirate ship splash pad called Soak-N-Sail. The boys had fun run through all the water and going down the slides.

The boys at the top of the stairs waiting to go down the slide

A.J. going down the slide

Isaac going down the slide

The boys playing in the water

More playing

Isaac having a blast!

The boys going down the slide together

Legoland Water Park

Legoland has a new water park, which the kids loved! Unfortunately, we are spoiled by the hot air and warm pool water here in Arizona (our pool temp is currently about 93), that the boys thought the water park was too cold (even with the heated water). We only went there a couple of times, but both times only stayed an hour or two, as the boys were freezing!

The boys in the kiddie pool

The water slides for the bigger kids

A.J. going down the water slide

Isaac and Daddy on the lazy river

Legoland

We asked the boys what they wanted to do while we were on vacation and they said Legoland!!! We've been there a couple of times before, and we found a really great deal on tickets of 5 days for less than the price of one day. So we went to Legoland everyday (Andy and I were a little tired of it by the end of the week, but the kids were still having a good time). The park had a new Star Wars display in Miniland, so A.J. was super excited. Both kids rode all the rides...Isaac even rode the roller coaster (and he giggled the entire time)!

The boys at Legoland

A.J. in front of the Star Wars sand sculpture

Daddy and Isaac on the Sky Cruiser

Daddy and Isaac on the Flight Squadron (A.J. is on the blue plane)

A.J. getting eaten by the shark

Daddy and Isaac on Treasure Falls

A.J. and Isaac in front of one of the Star Wars scenes

Isaac and A.J. with the Millennium Falcon

The boys with R2-D2 and Chewbacca

Getting ready to see the 3D movie!

This was one of Isaac's favorite rides...Beetle Bounce

All the boys on the Cargo Ace!!!

Andy and A.J. on the Wave Racer (although I have never actually rode this, it is my favorite ride as spectators can control water canons to soak the riders)!!!

All the boys on Splash Battle...another ride where the spectators can soak the riders!!!

A.J. and Darth Vader

Vacation 2011

This year for vacation, we went to California...AGAIN! It's so easy to go there, especially when the car ride is only 6-hours and the weather is always perfect (it was around 70 the entire trip, much cooler than our 118 here). One of the perks of Andy traveling so much is we always have a ton of hotel points, so we stayed right on the beach the entire week for free! This was the view from our room.

View from our hotel room

Love staying on the ocean!!!

Good News!

On Monday, we took A.J. to the dermatologist to have a place on his head examined. Long story short, A.J. has had this little spot on his left temple that just kind of looks like a reddened, dry patch of skin. He has had it for well over a year. At his 5-year-old well-check, the doctor didn't seem too concerned about it, so we just had the mentality that eventually we would make an appointment to have it checked. Finally, on Monday, we went to the dermatologist. The doctor came in and started looking at his head. Then she got a real funny look on her face, like she was puzzled, and started asking me a ton of questions (do we use sunscreen, what kind of sunscreen, do we have a history of skin cancer, has he ever had a really bad burn that blistered). Then she brought in a special camera and started taking all kinds of pictures. She talked with another doctor to get a second opinion, but they both agreed that A.J. needed a skin biopsy. A.J. was definitely scared, but did great throughout the whole procedure. The doctor said they would have the results in 7-10 days. Needless to say, Andy and I were on pins and needles the whole week. We tried not to show it, but the way the doctor reacted, we were freaked out! So, we decided not to tell any family or friends, as not to worry anyone until we found out more information. On Friday, we got the call...NO CANCER!!! They called his spot a compound nevus atypia or a dysplastic compound nevus. That basically means that the cells are growing abnormally, but they have not yet (and may never) advanced to cancer. Now, we have to go to the dermatologist every 6 months, but we are so thankful that nothing is seriously wrong with A.J.!!!

White Trash Waterslide

Isaac got a slide for his 2nd birthday this past year. It has been in the house ever since, but the boys got a bright idea to move it to the pool area and have a makeshift waterslide. Yes, we are white trash! The boys don't seem to mind...they have a great time on it and will go on it over and over!

A.J. going down the slide

Isaac going down...Abby really wanted in on the action

Abby Attacks...AGAIN!!!

Abby and A.J. were playing the other day, and Abby jumped up on the chair that A.J. was sitting in. The two were wrestling and playing, then Abby decided to jump down. Unfortunately, she used A.J.'s face as a launching pad! She got him right across the eyes...poor boy!

Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center

Saturday, we decided to beat the heat and go down the road to the public pool. The kids have fun here, as there are water slides, lazy rivers, a children's area, and diving boards. Isaac was so funny...he kept putting his face in the water and actually used his arms and legs to swim in the 2.5 feet water! A.J. loved the water slides and discovered the diving boards as well. This was his first time to go off the diving boards and he had absolutely no reservations! He ran down the board and jumped right in...I remember being scared the first time I went off the boards!!! Both boys also liked the lazy river...it was a fun way to spend the morning!

Isaac in the children's area

A.J. getting the water dumped on his head

Getting ready to jump off the diving board

And he's off!

Whee!!!

Isaac liked the lazy river