California Bucket List

We've been busily working on our California Bucket List.  I'm not sure where next summer will take us.  If it is Rancho Cucamonga I would definitely be happy, but right now it is up in the air and we're trying to get our fill of this place.  

Already done:

Travel town

LA Shopping District

Dana Point Tide Pools

Griffith Park

Hollywood stars

Angel's game

Pinks Chilidogs

This was the first time in my life I've eaten a chili dog.  It was actually really good.  I think their tactic is the long line.  After waiting 45 minutes to order...any chili dog would taste good.  Our friend advised us to skip the fries and next time we will.  Just go for the dogs.

Orange County Great Park:

Bryce was all for this until it started moving.  Then he held on to me like his horse was going to go stampeding.

Still to do:

Beach camping

Tito's Tacos

 LA temple visitor's center

What else am I missing?

Fourth Year

Three down....

One more to go.

Number 2... the best of all the game.

I've been thinking that being child number 2 might be the best spot to have in a family. You are still new enough that being a baby is a novel thing in the family, plus your parents have already been through one kid, so they have a better idea what their doing. But on the other hand, you have one older sibling to entertain you, take care of you, and feed you ice cream when you couldn't get any from mom or dad.

Yes, being child number 2 definitely has its benefits.

4 (for reals)

Caden had his "real" fourth birthday last week.  After explaining to him at least 16 times that he was not turning 5, I finally gave up.  He did have a pretty good argument--"You said everybody only gets one birthday and I already had Star Wars party."    This day was much more low-key.  I just wanted to have a fun, relaxed time with my now 4 year old.

We spent the morning at the park...

And swam all afternoon. This boy loves swimming.  It's the first thing he asks for each morning and every 5 minutes throughout the day until it is time to go.  I have no idea where or when I got this swimming suit, but he insists on wearing it every day.  He calls it his diver suit.

 For dinner I told Caden we could have whatever he wanted...until he said hot dogs.  

I talked him into pork tacos instead.

Some funny things Caden is doing/saying now:

He hears things on movies and tries to say them, but ends up doing it incorrectly.  For example, "Face it, dad!".... and then storms off.   Or "I swear pancakes!!" (or Target or pants or socks or picking up...)

He gave his first talk in Primary and made a sound effect (he was telling the story of Jonah and the whale and made a gulping noise when the whale swallowed Jonah).  He wanted to re-live that moment over and over...he was so excited the kids thought he was funny.

Some times he leaves me wondering who is in charge.  For example, at lunch if Chad takes a bite of my sandwich and I say, "Hey!" Caden feels the need to jump in and referee, "Mom, you need to share, and dad--get your own sandwich."

I don't know how many times we've driven home to Utah---counting Christmases, missionaries, family pictures, just-becauses---it's been quite a few.  And every time we are on I-15 near St. George, I tell Chad that I want to stop at Zion's National Park, since I've never been there.  So we finally planned a stop on our latest trip.  The problem was it was at the end of our trip to Utah, on our way home, and when I was packing days earlier, it was the farthest thing on my mind.

 It quickly became apparent that we were not prepared.  We were all in flip flops, with no hats, strollers, baby carriers and in whatever clothes we'd worn that morning.  But I was determined, and Chad was an incredibly helpful hiking partner.  We hiked all over that park, taking turns carrying Bryce and alternating between piggy-backs with Caden and bribing with skittles to keep him moving.  And I'm so glad we did.

 

Caden really was a good sport.  He stopped to talk to whoever would listen.  On our last hike of the day some lady called out to us, "Hey!  Spiderman!"  She recognized him from earlier in the day when Caden had described to her how to tell if a spider is poisonous.

All day, Chad and I talked about coming back just the two of us and what hikes we'd do, and how fast and far we could go. Someday that will be nice, but these days, I'm happy to pack extra skittles.