Two Weeks Road Trip

3200 Miles &  3 States,

 1 Beach &  5 Perfect Sand Dollars,

 1 Wedding & 1 new Grandpa,

 1 Emergency Room Visit & 0 stitches (thankfully),

 1 Theme Park & 2 roller coasters,

 570 Pictures, 

 A great vacation!

 We started out our vacation with a trip  down south to Pismo Beach. It was a wonderful beach. The sand was super soft and the surf was gentle enough to let the little ones play. There were hundreds of sand fleas that kept the boys thoroughly entertained the entire time we were there. They would dig them up and put them into a bucket and let them go to watch them dig back down into the sand. The best part was that each time they found one it was just as exciting as the very first. There were also a lot of shells and Sand dollars all over the beach. We found lots of them and 5 perfect sand dollars. We even saw whales spouting off shore while we walked on the pier. We stayed in the very cozy Dolphin Cove Motel right on the beach and it was nice. We ate at a really good Pizza place for dinner one night and it was so good we went back for lunch the next day. We also rode a surrey around town for an hour or two. There is a great camp site there and we are definitely going to have to go and try it out. 

Building Sand Castles at Pismo, the sand was perfect for it.

All six of us in a surrey bike thing. Lots of fun and lots of peddling

Sand Fleas

Sand Dollars

After a couple nights there we headed out for the next adventure.

We stopped in Bakersfield and visited with some of Aaron’s Family. We stayed with his cousin Jeremy for a night. It was a great visit and Aaron and I are convinced that we ought to do it more often. Plus I didn't take any pictures. What was I thinking?

Then it was out of California and into Arizona. We headed into Casa Grande to see Jolene (Aaron’s mom) get remarried. We stayed in the only hotel in Casa Grande, it was also a golf course. Jolene was marred to John Price, it was a quiet little setting. It was great to see family we have not seen in a while and meeting all of John's family. Jared was so excited that his family just got so much bigger. We are too. 

With this ring . . .

John & Jolene 

Melissa, JJ and Jessica. 

Liam in his tie, He is so adorable!

Beautiful little girl. She is one of John's grandchildren, I can not remember her name. 

Then we headed to Las Vegas to spend some time with Grandma & Grandpa Price, Shaylee and Aunt Melissa and cousin Jessica. We had lots of fun in the pools at the resort and then took a walk down the strip. (Something I do not advise for parents of young boys) We did find a couple of wholesome things to do like the M&M store, the MGM Grand had a Lion in the lobby and a pretty good buffet, and if not for all the revealing pictures it was a pretty cool site to see. Aaron and I were convinced that we were done in Las Vegas so we headed out a day early to visit with my brother Sean and his wife Lisa. (Back in AZ)On our way we stopped and saw the Hoover Dam really quick. Just long enough to get a few pictures.

 

They are building a new bridge to by pass Hoover. It was really cool to see it in progress. We will have to go back in a couple years to see it again. 

The Family at Hoover Dam, the wind was really whipping, it almost blew Shane away!

In some Hotel in Vegas. Liam was passed out we walked a lot that day. 

We got the boys matching shirts to keep track of them, the greatest idea ever! 

 

The visit with Sean & Lisa and the cousins Carly, Ridge & Ty was great. All the kids got along great and had a wonderful time. Arizona is not green but it is beautiful in its own way. We hiked, swam, took pictures, visited with Family, Carly was baptized, I cut my hair and we all just loved it. Lisa has one of the best families that I know and they welcomed us in just like we were supposed to be there. If the lord sees fit to put us near them I would not complain, except on days when it is over 100 degrees outside.       

Liam in the backpack I got for Aaron when Jared was small enough to fit in it. 

My boy, growing up to be so handsome. 

Crazy Cousins

Arizona rocks 

Cousin's climbing rocks at Camelback mountain. It was a good thing we had those spray bottles, it was a life saver. 

      

I was able to observe Lisa’s sister Cindy take pictures for a wedding book and she was kind enough to show me a few tricks with my flash. She also took pictures of my boys and I am sooooo excited to see them. Cindy is a Great Photographer.

Sunset at the farm that Cindy took pictures at. See there is some green in Arizona!

All in all our visit with the Rieman’s was too short. We had to leave on Tuesday.

We stopped short of LA on the way home and on Wednesday morning Aaron had a crazy idea to go to a theme park. We chose Knott’s Berry Farm. The boys loved it. It made for a very long day driving home in time for Aaron to be at work by 6:00 in the morning Thursday, but worth it. We got home around 3:00 am. Jared and Dallin loved the rollercoasters and Shane is looking forward to the day he is 46 inches tall so he can ride with his brothers.

Shane went on this ride 5 times before I had to pull him away. He loved it! All it did was go all the way up and then jump up and down a few times. 

Notice Dallin's one tooth that is still hanging on for dear life. It fell out a couple days after we got home. 

The Sidewinder roller coaster, Jared, Dallin and Dad went on this while Shane, Liam and I were riding Shane's favorite ride. 

The log ride, the boys loved it. 

Another kiddie ride. Jared was too tall to ride it.

There is a stage coach ride that takes you for a ride around the park. It was a lot of fun but very smelly as you can see from Jared's pose. 

This is the kind of picture you get from hanging your camera out the window on a stage coach ride. 

And here is the more handsome side of the horse. 

As far as being home we are glad to be here. Along the way I picked up a stomach bug. So recovery from this vacation will take a few more days then normal. I sure hope that we did not share it with the Riemans. Lisa I am really sorry if we did.

Thanks to a great friend here at home the house was sound and the animals happy to see us. My garden took over the back yard, I guess the drip system worked. Now I have another mountain of Laundry to do and Dinners to make.

It was fun, now back to reality.

 

School's Out

Today was the last day of school for my boys. I can not believe this school year is done already. Time has gone by so quickly. 

We were able to go and see Dallin graduate Kindergarten, they were so cute singing their songs. Dallin loved Kindergarten and will miss it, however he kept saying that today was the best day of his life. We had the very best Kindergarten  teacher, Jared had her also, Mrs. Young is the most patient and loving people you can ever meet. I hope that we can stay here for another 6 years so that all my boys can be in her Kindergarten class. I will be posting some of Dallin's most wonderful artwork. I need to scan and take pictures of it. 

Jared is also happy to be out of school for the summer. He had a great teacher also with Mrs. Basler, she was sweet and understanding of his needs. I had to tease him for a minute when he came home with his yearbook. He had at least 10 phone numbers of different girls written in the back of it. He  was so nonchalant about it and just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at me. "its just in case we want to have a play date Mom" 

Now we are off for our summer of fun! To start it out we are going on a two week road trip. It promises to produce many pictures and memories. I am looking forward to it. 

Photo's of Boys as promised

Jared in his handsome scouts uniform. He loves going to scouts and his leaders are so nice and patient with him. I need to brag about Jared for a minute. Jared is now reading the last book in the Series of Unfortunate Events books, that is a 13 book series. I love how he just loves to read. At least he gets that from me if everything else is from his Daddy. 

Dallin my sweet Dallin, who is now 6 will be graduating Kindergarten this month. I can't believe it. We will very much miss Mrs. Young. Who knows if we stay here for another couple years Shane will be going to her class. 

Dallin is so cute sometimes. Here he is being his normal dramatic self. 

Shane my birthday boy, will be 3 this Sunday on Mothers Day. And oh he is so 3. He loves to help with all our projects, here he is helping us tile the laundry room sink. Pictures of that coming soon. Shane continues to deny his growing up and becoming a big boy. He does not want to use the toilet and reminds me daily that I have two babies, him and Liam. I try to convince him that he is a big boy but to no avail. I am sure we will have him toilet trained by the time Kindergarten starts in 2011. Hopefully. 

Liam loves his play toy, it is like a big mushroom with toys on top and a chair that lets him walk all the way around. He scoots around that thing a lot. 

*A Note on the job application to Colorado. It looks like it won't be happening this time. Aaron and I belive that that Lord still wants us here in Folsom, so we will stay. There are much worse places to be stuck if you ask me. I love our ward and our friends here in Folsom. So perhaps we will keep looking for places to go but ultimately we will go where the Lord wants us. 

And There you go, Pictures of my boys as promised.

~Christina

Life continues as normal

Things in the Picker house has been pretty normal for the past little while. We are gearing up for a road trip to Arizona in June, so I am sure we will have lots of pictures to post from that trip. Everyone is excited that school will be out soon. I am not sure what we will be doing with the rest of summer vacation after our road trip but I am sure it will involve a lot of water play, and I hope to go camping as a family at least once this summer. And in case you have not heard, Aaron has applied for  a job in Colorado. If we can get that job we think it would be a great move for us. If the Lord is willing then we will be moving before school starts again in August. So keep us in your prayers. The only down side to moving would be leaving Folsom and the wonderful family of friends I have here. Good thing there is the internet and things like blogs and facebook. :o) 

I am making progress in my photography dreams. I am now on Unit #3 in my classes and learning a lot. I love having professional feedback on my photo's I am learning so much.  I have a friend making a website for my business and getting that going. I am loving every minute of it. 

My boys are growing so big. I will try to get photo's up of them this week. 

Family Ears

Dallin Picker

Clarence Rieman 

Dallin's Great-Great Grandfather

So my Dallin for sure doesn't have my ears and he doesn't have Aaron's Ears. I was wondering where in the family he got them from. I was starting to think that my question would never be answered then, one day I got an email from a distant relative saying she had some pictures of the Rieman family. Our question was finally answered. He got them from his Great-great grandfather Clarence Rieman. 

Then here are the other photos that Jill sent me. 

Sarah Emiline Vance & Henry E. Rieman

(Frank A. Rieman's parents)

Frank & Cora Rieman's Family

Children : Avis Irene Rieman oldest girl

Clarence W. Rieman oldest boy

Alva L. Rieman youngest boy

Frank A. Rieman & Cora Belle Price (Clarence Rieman's parents)

Bill & Avis Randolph

Frank A. Rieman & Cora Belle Price Wedding picture 1893

Dancing

Today while I was making dinner I had my headphones on. Liam was sitting his his high chair and feeling very left out so I took him out and danced with him. I often dance with the boys when they come to see me while making dinner or washing the dishes. This time thought came to me that I only have a few more years that the boys will even want to dance with Mom in the Kitchen. I am feeling that time is flying by a little too quickly these days, what with my 9 going on 19 son and the baby growing so fast. I was just thinking I need to write down a few of those little things more often. 

Like last night (I think it was last night) While laying on our bed. I think I burped and said "excuse me I burped" we must have sat on the bed for the next 20 minutes playing and saying "Excuse me I burped" Shane thought it was the funniest thing to say.  

Today it was "What's wrong with pink? Slap it on down." (Pixar Short Boundin)

A Happy Easter

We had a very happy Easter considering we were all sick. We had some great plans that we had to cancel due to the fact that we are all coughing and have runny noses. Instead of going to a friends house we stayed home. We had one big easter basket for the family ( I rather liked this and will probably continue it in later years) and a very small easter egg hunt. After we died eggs of  course. It was a very small thing but I think the boys enjoyed it, and we were able to more fully focus on the Savior and the resurrection. I made crepes for breakfast and as we all sat down we talked a little about what the Lord has given to us and about the real reason for this great holiday. I think the older two kind of got it. 

Shane is almost 3 and in the height of his Two-ness, How much more needs to be said? 

Here is Liam, He is now almost 4 months old. He is wearing 9 month clothes and is so much fun. However he has recently switched his cry from a newborn quiet sweet cry to a piercing and Loud cry. The first couple days I thought there was something seriously wrong with him. 

My sweet Jared. I think he thinks he is all grown up now, I suppose he would be right. He is thinking he wants to start Karate in the summer, it would be a great idea for him we think. 

Dallin is Dallin, I don't know what to say, he is 6 and loves to get into everything so he can sweetly say "Here Mom I made this for you, don't you love it?"  He is very artistic. 

Thats all for now. We love you all! Hope your Holiday was at least as exciting as ours.