Monterey, Santa Cruz, SF, SLC and Bear Lake 2009

WARNING:  SUPER LONG POST!!! 

So this year I talked Chris into taking our little family on a vacation.  Since neither one of us had been there, we decided to go to Monterey Bay and the surrounding sites.  We drove the 5 hrs through Vacaville (for some fun outlet shopping) on the way there and then drove along the coast on our way home hitting up San Francisco's famous Pier 39.  We also took a day to visit Santa Cruz and let Tracen and Logan ride the super fun rides!   We had a blast and it was nice to be able to spend 4 days with Chris without school or major tests bogging him down!

YAY!!  We're going on VACATION!!

Riding Thomas the Train at the outlets in Vacaville

At the Aquarium in Monterey they have a wave simulator that rushes over you.  We could hardly get Tracen to leave it.

Daddy and the boys!  Dang..they are CUTE!!!

Our family at the aquarium

Finding NEMO Logie style

Sitting in a giant clam

The Ocean was absolutely beautiful.  It was way too cold to get our our suits and swim, but it was a nice activity in the evening. 

Tracen riding the rides at SANTA CRUZ's BOARDWALK

ALL the guys

The pepsi train!  CHOOO!!! CHOOO!!

In our hotel room, Chris taught Tracen how to climb onto the desk and jump to the bed!  I could've died!  Now he always wants to jump off things that are super HIGH!

In Monterey we found a super fun park called the Dennis the Menice park!  It was so much fun!  This was our favorite!  The old fashioned rolly slide!

Mommy and Logan on our favorite slide!  Because I weigh a bit more than Tracen, we really got movin' down the hill!

At the park they also had a huge Locomotive and of course Tracen was obsessed!

The stinky sea lions of Pier 39

After Monterey, in July I packed up the boys and we headed to SLC for some fun family time.  Chris started rotations (which suck) so he had to stay home.  We spent the first couple of days with my bro Jason, Jessica and Miles.  Then went to Bear Lake for some fun Layton family time!  We had an absolute blast.  By the end I was ready to be home!  It was exhausting!  But so much fun!!!  I guess I will have to do it again next year...maybe Chris will even get to come!

Jess and Miles at the zoo

This is the best picture I could get of all the boys together.  They weren't very cooperative.  Especially my two!

This was my favorite guy!  Isn't he cute?  He was hiding under this canvas the entire time!!!

While we were in SLC, Logan found his best friend.  Him and MILES were the cutest things.  They loved to play together and give each other hugs!  SO CUTE!!

BEST FRIENDS

Lisa, Logan and Laurie on the boat at BEAR LAKE

Sorry, Christin, but Kent's face is too funny to pass up =)

SISTERS!  Thanks for coming and helping AMANDA

UH...what's going on?

Captain of the boat!

Tracen LOVED jumping into the ice-cold water and splashing uncle Kenton

The boys feeding the yucky fish with Grandma Maree

Me and Christin...at least Christin looks cute =(

Logie swimming with Grandma

Driving the boat!

Per Chris' request, Tracen got out on a tube ride with uncle Kent!   He had so much fun!

So that's what's been going on!  We are having a super fun summer.  I am just depressed that I only have 3 more weeks before I go back to school!  Sad day =(

Chris and I at the Reno Ace's game...many a days ago, but I thought it was cute =)

Happy Fourth

I know that I am a bit late, but I wanted to wish everyone a happy fourth!  Chris got Friday the 3rd off so we went to Christin and Kent's for some fun Karrasch fam swimming!  It was a blast.  On the 4th we packed the kids into our NEW MINI VAN (not really new-a bit of a hand-me-down treasure) and headed up to Tahoe with Amanda and Chad.  We stayed all day and the boys LOVED it.  We played in the water and in the sand and got some great sun!  Enjoy the pictures because there are definitely a bunch!

Me and the boys.  Check out the floaty we found for the boys!  It is so cool, it looks like a little Waverunner!!!

Amanda and Chad the love birds!!!

Chris and the boys!

The Logie bear and daddy!

Tray-bug and dad!

All the wonderful floaters!

Look at the cute Logie-bears smile!!!

Splish, splash!!!

Sexy Mama and Daddy!!

I love the floatie!

I really wanted to get some really cute family pictures on the fourth not everyone would cooperate at the same time!  Here Logan has decided to beat up his brother.

This may be the best one we got, so we will take it!

Well at least I look cute right?

CAN I JUST GET A SINGLE PICTURE PLEASE???

These are the boys that I love!  One day I will get some cute family pictures!

We headed down to Sparks for the fireworks.  The kids were exhausted and actually slept through most of the show.

Me and the sister!

Tracen loves Chadly.  He loves to snuggle!  We will miss you tons While you are gone Chad!  Have fun in VEGAS!!!

Playing, Playing, Playing and BOARDS

So you must be proud because this is the second post within 10 days. And if all works well, there will be pictures! For the past couple of weeks, we had our friends, the Thoreson's, come play with us. I work with their mom and they both go to daycare with my boys. Their mom had to work through June so I watch the boys two days each week. We had a lot of fun, but it was definitely a handful. I had 4 kids, (3, 2 1/2, 1, and 11 months) each day and now I am grateful that babies can't be born that close together.

Tracen and his good buddie Jake

On Thursday we decided to go down and watch the Cattle drive, getting ready for the RENO RODEO.  It was so funny to be there, but the kids loved seeing the horses, donkeys and cows.  I think that it is the most "kid friendly" part of the rodeo.

Here are the kiddos...Tracen, Ally, Logan and Zack

Thursday we also ventured to the fountains in front of the Sparks Movie Theater.  Ally and Zack loved it and Tracen and Logan had a rough time, but it was still worth the trip.  3 of the 4 trouble makers at the water park...the picture with Zack didn't turn out the best, but he was there having a TON of FUN too!

Also this week, Logie Bear had his first popcicle and he LOVED it...he did a good job too...he kept his hand in the right spot the entire time.  By the end his face was a lovely green!

BOARDS!!!!  So today was the day that we have been waiting for...the dreaded BOARD EXAM and Chris is now DONE!!!  He won't get his scores until mid July, but I am so thankful that the test has arrived.  This is a huge stepping block in his medical education because he must score in a certain range in order to be considered for a Residency Program in Orthopedic Surgery.  I hope that he did well, and I know that he did!  

Now we are off for a fun FATHER's DAY WEEKEND and then our little family is going to Monterey for a few days before 3rd year and rotations begin!  Oh and the boys and I got Chris the most fun present...that he already got because it arrived early.  It is the Spinmaster Air Hog Battling Havoc R/C Helicopters and he LOVES them.  Good job us!   Every now and then I get him things that I think he will love and he doesn't and sometimes I hit a home run!  This is one of those occasions!  Now I just need him to not play with them so much! 

Are you ALIVE over there?

This question has been asked numerous times and the answer is YES!!!  Just a bit busy.  The last couple of months are crazy for me at school with graduations, prom, end of the year events...and even crazier for Chris.  He finished school at the beginning of May, but has been studying for the past 6 weeks, 6 days a week for about 8 - 10 hours a day!  DRAINING!!!  He is getting ready for his National Boards Exam this Friday...wish him luck!

Since I last updated, Tracen turned THREE and we are just now getting around to the potty training thing.  So if you have any advice, I will gladly accept it ALL!  However, having said that, I have NEVER met a more stubborn child in all of my life.  He must take after his MOM.  We had a fun birthday party for the boys and we have just been hanging out.

Last Monday was my last day of school and now I am just hanging out at home with the boys.  It is hard to get used to not being so busy.  What I used to do just in the evenings after work I feel like I have all day to do and that at times can get a little boring, but I will get used to it.  Hopefully we will have some play dates in the near future and some much needed time at the lake, if it ever stops raining.  

So, this is especially for the Grandmas out there, we are alive and well and will be much better about updating and sharing our many fun adventures.  **pictures to come if my computer ever cooperates =(**