Trip to Rocklin

This past week we took a trip down to Rocklin California for a few days to relax and visit Matt's sister Karreen and her family. It was soo much fun! We went to the Jelly Belly factory, the Zoo, some parks, and did some shopping and just had fun spending time with the Pedro's. Sadi warmed right up to Auntie Karreen,Who wouldn't love someone who gave you ice cream and lollipops and all kinds of goodies?We even got to see Andrea one night for dinner. She looks so cute with her little belly, you could not even tell she is due in only 2 weeks! Here she is with the Grandparents to be.Chase was glued to Cameron the whole time and could not get enough of him. The first night we were there those two stayed up and partied all night till 5:30 (or so I heard) in the morning. They were always playing something. Not sure what this game was but they were having fun.The girls also had a great time and were playing dress up one afternoon. Sadi was Minnie Mouse,and Meghan and Kelsey were princesses.I snapped this picture before we left of Susan's old house across the street. It was really weird to see someone else living there. Just not the same. It was a great trip, thanks for having us Pedro's!

What's your flavor?

While down in California we took a trip over to Fairfield to the JELLY BELLY FACTORY, I have been there before a few times but not since Kelsey was about 5. I knew Chase and Sadi would love it. They give you a free tour of their factory and you get to see how they make all the famous jelly beans. I wasn't able to take to many pictures because they don't allow you to take pictures inside.On this particular day they were making bubble gum flavor jelly beans, I think by the end of the tour no one was wanting to eat a bubble gum flavor jelly bean, it felt like you had been eating one for about a half hour. It was a really strong smell!You had to sport one of their cool hats while on the tour which was easier said than done with this one! It is really interesting to see how they make their jelly beans and how long it actually takes. Of course the best part for the kids is at the end of the tour when they give everyone a free bag of Jelly Bellies. But we didn't stop there, oh no.....10 lbs of jelly bellies and extras later we left. We let the kids eat jelly beans the whole way home! It was a delicious day!

Sacramento Zoo & Fairytale Land

While in Sacramento I knew we had to go to the zoo, Sadi has never been to a real zoo and I knew she would love it. So we spent a day at the zoo and Fairytale land. Doesn't she make a cute zoo keeper?All the kids loved watching the animals. Chase was mesmerized by all the animals, he was really excited to see the Lion.

He also had to see how he measured up the baby giraffe.

We all loved watching the chimpanzees...they were very entertaining and kept us laughing till we cried (literally).

They were so cute Kelsey had to steal a kiss from the Gorilla.

After the zoo we headed across the street to Fairytale land. It is a park that has all kinds of slides and play areas and every one of them is themed around a story. The kids loved being able to run around and explore. Here are my cuties cuddling up to Mother Goose.

Chase loved this huge shoe slide (from the little old lady who lived in this shoe).

Sadi becoming toe jam in between Jack's toes (from Jack and his bean stock). Kelsey climbed on top of this little tortoise (from the tortoise and the hare). I have a picture somewhere of her on this same tortoise from when she was about 6 years old. I will have to look for it. They all wished they were going to the ball here in Cinderella's pumpkin carriage.

Not sure which royalty this throne belonged to but they all thought it could be there's.

It was a fun but very exhausting day!

Icecream!!

For my birthday this year I bought myself an ice cream maker. I have been wanting one for a couple of years now just hadn't done it. Making ice cream was one of my best memories growing up. My mom would make us whatever kind of ice cream we wanted for our birthday and we would make it alot on hot summer nights. Of course they always had fresh raspberries from the garden to add, Yumm. I remember the anticipation of waiting for the ice cream maker to stop and we would all cheer. Well, here are my kids waiting for their peach ice cream to finish churning. I like to think we are making memories and not just ice cream.

Squeels for Scheels

Today we took a trip up to Sparks to check out the new outdoor mall-"The Legends". The main store there, Scheels is the biggest sporting goods store I have ever been in. It is every outdoors mans dream store. Kelsey was off for girls camp so we just had Chase and Sadi with us. They have a Ferris wheel right in the middle-yes I said a Ferris wheel...It is a huge store! Chase and Daddy rode it-Sadi was to small they said. She had fun watching all the fish in their aquariums that are archways to the entrance and exit. My favorite part of the store was on the second floor where they have a huge display of all kinds of taxidermy animals all displayed on a huge Mountain. They have all kinds of animals all the way around it.

And they have them all perfectly posed so it looks like a scene from the wild. Like this photo of a white tail deer about to be attacked by wolves...check out the posture of all of these.

Sadi loved looking at them, Chase was afraid to get to close he thought they were still alive. Look at that huge moose and elk.

Matt's favorite was the bears,

and the virtual shooting range he was trying to teach Chase to shoot at.

We spent most of the time at Scheels looking at everything then checked out the other stores. It was fun until someone started whining they were hungry....Matt! Once one kid says they're hungry then everyone is hungry. So Chase and Sadi had to chime in that they were hungry. So, I could have spent alot more time there shopping but had to cut it short for the non-shoppers! Next time I will leave the whiners at home!

Life's a beach!

We have been spending some beautiful days up at Lake Tahoe this summer. We really have to take advantage of it especially since it is only about a 40 minute drive from our house to the beach. I love it, I could live there if I just had a few millions maybe we could make it happen. Anyone want to chip in? Sadi really loves it this year...when she gets in, she gets ALL the way in! Here she is hanging with Barbie on the shore.Chase is getting more and more brave, loves to pretend he knows how to snorkel. And he has seen a few little minnows that he says are sharks.

Kelsey took a friend (Casey) which always makes it more fun for her.

They spent many hours fishing for crawdads and caught one. Here he is in the beach bucket. Not sure what they decided on for a name. Casey wanted to take him home so bad, so... I let her! Bet her parents are really happy with me. What cha think they will say next time we invite her?

Chase found the perfect sitting rock and spent most of his time on this rock when he was not in the water.

I hope to get a few more trips in up there before summer is over, it makes it hard to swim in any other lake when you have been in this crystal clear water.

Song in my head

Ever have a song in your head you just couldn't stop singing? Well have I got a new one for you! This song was cute when Uncle David first taught it to my kids, now it is just one I can't seem to get Chase (and Sadi now) to STOP singing!! Here is Chase singing it. If you can't get the words I wrote them below so you can all have this song in your head.

A peanut sat on a railroad track, His heart was all a flutter. Down the line came number 9, Toot Toot peanut butter!!!

First Pedicure.

Kelsey has been asking me for awhile now to let her paint Sadi's toes...I had been reluctant to let her only for the fact that Sadi puts EVERYTHING in her mouth still and I really didn't want her sucking her toes in public thinking it was some luscious candy. Sadi has now been asking so I let her do it. She had the most fun just picking out a color. Look at the excitement....After choosing just about every color twice she settled on pink. Here is the cutest little pedi you ever saw...

And here she is admiring her cute piggies. I'm sure this is just the first of many pedicures to come. How long till she takes a lick? Any guesses???

Fun on the 4th....

We had a fun, busy fourth of July. We got up and headed up to Virginia City to watch the parade. Matt's parents and brother David spent the day with us. Chase discovered very quickly how much fun parades are...they have lots of candy!!They also handed out hats and flags and the army even threw little green army men which Chase also loved.

We came home ate some lunch, I put Sadi down for a nap and Matt left for work. Later we went to Matt's work to watch a free outdoor concert. It was a tribute band to Journey. It was alot of fun. We also had the perfect spot for watching the fireworks. Grandma and Grandpa Denning before the concert...

Kyle and Kelsey getting a taste of some different music.....not really sure they liked it. And Uncle David of course like always covered with kids...hey that's what you get when you are so darn fun!

Matt was even able to slip out and watch some fireworks with us.

Hope you all had nice fourth, and your fireworks were fantastic!!

Family Camping!

4 days camping....we survived! We went up to D.L. Bliss State park up by Lake Tahoe with some of Matt's family. We only encountered one bear...well Grandma and Grandpa saw it up close...the rest just a bear butt! We had lots of fun at the beach, hiking, sitting around the campfire telling stories, Uncle David helped the kids do some skits, and just spending time away with family. We all loved having Aunt Karreen around because she packed everything....I mean everything. Who else do you know has a crock pot, Quesadilla maker, coffee maker, etc. with them camping? I have alot of pictures, but still feel like I didn't get very many. I was to busy...I decided camping is more fun when you are a kid, adults have to do alot of work. The second day we went down to the lake...it was cold!Sadi loved the water and was unafraid of well....jumping head first in. I had to entice her to play in the sand because it was to cold for me.

Pedros brought their inflatable trampoline which was really fun for the kids. Here is Cameron trying it out.

Meghan was just dipping her toes in the water, that was close enough for her.

Kelsey was the brave one and spent most of the time in the freezing water.

Chase had fun just hanging on the beach with his sharks.

Uncle Roy catching some sun!

Great Grandpa Dick and Matt's uncle Rick made it up for an afternoon. Didn't get to stay to long because of the rain, but it was fun to visit for a little while. Grandpa with just a handful of great grand kids.

Uncle Rick with his nieces and nephews and spouses. Roy, Matt, Karen, Uncle Rick, Karreen, and David.

And Grandma and Grandpa Denning with 6 of I think 24? grand kids.

The one family photo I got, thank you whoever took this one. Poor Sadi was sleeping.

We had so much fun and so many things to do, I don't think we got to do all of them. Grandpa did crafts with all the kids one morning. Painting rocks, figurines, coloring, and making book marks.

He showed off his painting skills by painting Cameron into a warrior.

It was a fun trip hope more Dennings can make it on the next trip!