Max's First Flight

Since I've blogged about Jack's first flight and now Gus's first flight, I thought it would be a good idea to write down what I remember about Max's first flight. Max's first flight was on February 17, 2006 from OAK to PHX. I remember that I was so, so worried about his little ears popping that I nursed him almost the entire flight. But instead of sharing that picture, here is Max's obligatory "cockpit shot." Please note, each of my boys have worn the same outfit on their first flight. I'm kind of a nut like that... And why were we going to Arizona? For Ashley's mission farewell and some quality family time.
Max's second flight was just as exciting. He didn't fly back to OAK, but on to SLC to drop Ashley off at the MTC. All I remember about that flight is that Max had the biggest diaper explosion ever and it didn't help that I was a novice mother who was fumbling all over trying to clean it up.
While we were in Utah, Max spent his first night in a hotel. (I don't count Asilomar as a hotel.) He shared a room with me and Ashley and I don't remember at all if he was good or not...I'm sure he was. :)
And then there was the culminating event, saying goodbye to Ashley at the MTC. Good thing it was more like "See ya later" since we got to see her so much. And isn't it right that they don't let families go into the MTC anymore? If that's the case, this may be my only time inside the MTC with Max...and he was only a few months old. Good thing I have a picture.

Goodbye Honda Accord

On February 15, Blake came out to move our car that was parked on the street, only to find the car totally smashed in on the side. The mirror part of the sideview mirror was gone, the front lights crunched, and the driver's door wouldn't open all the way. And the best part about it--NO NOTE! Nothing. While Blake was out taking pictures some people who live in the building that our car was parked in front of said that a similar thing had happened to a car parked in that same spot a few months earlier. Apparently, the people across the street backed out of their driveway and crunched right into the parked car. And the people were going to just drive away, but a garbage man saw the whole thing and chased the car down. Blake went and asked those people who live across the street if they saw anything, but they didn't know a thing. So, what can you do?
For the past few weeks we've been cruising around the Bay Area in our fancy rental cars while the insurance was deciding what they wanted to do. Today they decided to total the car and that it wasn't worth fixing. So, we went up to say our good-byes. It was hard seeing our beloved car all torn to pieces, but we know it's in Car Heaven now and that makes things a bit easier.
But really, this couldn't have come at a worse time. I always hoped we could gift this car to Max on his 16th birthday, but I never thought it wouldn't make it to the end of our San Francisco days. About two years ago, Max lovingly named our car "Rocket" after the rocket on Little Einsteins and we would "Pat! Pat! Pat!" to get its engine running. And the name just stuck. Now sometimes the only way I can get the kids to the car is by saying, "Who can find where Rocket is parked first?" and they just take off running. I love the looks we get when we call our super sporty, super fast car "Rocket!"

It really is sad to say good-bye to the first car Blake and I bought together, the car we had at BYU (it still had the yellow Y-pass parking sticker in the window), the car that brought us to San Francisco, the car that took us on many adventures, the car whose heater didn't work so we'd always travel with a big blanket to keep warm, the car Blake got several of tickets in, the car that carried everything from Christmas trees to a baby crib on top of it, the car whose calming vibrations put the kids to sleep, the car that fit up to 8 people (6 adults plus 2 car seats) once when we had visitors, the car with no CD player so we'd either get to listen to the radio or my awesome high school mix tapes (if you're familiar with my high school mix tapes, the Marshmallow Mix and Best of Peppiness were right at the top), the car with the license plate that had "FHE" in it, the car that Blake tried to make no eating in a rule, and the car that brought all three of our babies home from the hospital.

Bringing home Max--December 12, 2005
Nanny and Grandma sat on either side of him in the back as his head bobbled around the whole ride home.

Bringing home Jack--October 14, 2007

Grandma sat in between the two boys and we met Nanny at the house.
If I remember right, Jack cried almost the entire ride home

Bringing home Gus--February 1, 2010
I can't believe we could squish all three carseats in the back of the car. Poor Gus didn't stand a chance sitting in between his two brothers. On the way home Jack said Gus's seat was dirty. I asked him where and he pointed to something I couldn't see and said, "It's dirty right here--right where I wiped all my boogers."

Goodbye Rocket! Thanks for the good times!

My Birthday and More!

My mom was so nice to come and watch Max and Jack while we went to Texas. And she brought along an extra surprise--DAWNA! I'm so happy she could come meet Baby Gus and help out with the two little rascals.

And in between all their playing they put together a birthday party for me. I came home to presents, birthday cards, balloons with faces drawn on them, a beautiful sign, and even a cake. I love really, really good cheesecake!
Thank you, thank you Grandma and Dawna for being so willing to come help us out. I tried to take a picture of them with the boys, but Jack didn't want to participate. I told him he could choose to either be in the picture or sit in time out. He marched right over to time out.
I finally coaxed him into changing his mind, but he sure wasn't happy about it. He is such a stinker.
We love you Grandma and Dawna!

Gus's First Flight

On March 8, 2010, Gus took his first flight. He traveled from SFO to LAX on to ELP. He was an exhausted little baby and was nice enough to let his mom and dad sleep since they had gotten back from So Cal late the night before and then had to leave for the airport at 5:00 am to make their flight.
But the real excitement came on the way home. As we waited in line at the empty airport, with only one person in front of us at security, we just happened to notice that this person looked like someone we'd seen before. I mouthed to the security guard who had just taken this person's ID and he confirmed that it was in fact the political celebrity we thought. We watched as his belt set off the buzzer and I quickly rushed up to him to ask if we could take his picture with our baby. What politician can refuse that? We waited patiently for him to put back on his belt while I stuttered something totally awkward and then got this picture.
Gus has had a big week--first Mickey Mouse and now Rudy Giuliani!

So Cal

The real reason we got to go to Disneyland so much is thanks to Blake and all his conferences in Southern California. He is so nice to let us come with him. And we {I} especially love all the nice hotels we get to stay in thanks to these conferences and also thanks to Blake's classmates who decide not to come so he doesn't have a roommate. This time was no exception. We stayed in the newly renovated Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa. And when I say newly renovated, I mean NEWLY renovated. Our room was completed 1 hour before we checked in and we were the first ones EVER to sleep in the bed. The pool had just been completed that week and the kid area was so much fun.
And the other good thing about So Cal is I know exactly what to do with my little monsters while Blake is at his conferences--head to San Diego for some reinforcement. We stopped by the temple, the children's museum, and met up with April and played for a good 2.5 hours at McDonald's Playland.
These conferences are one thing I'm definitely going to miss about student life.

Till We Meet Again Mickey!

We made the trek down to Disneyland one last time before our passes expire next week. I guess it's time to say goodbye to Disneyland at least for a while since Max is more interested in the hotel we'll be staying at rather than Disneyland itself. It's so weird to think that on our first trip to D-land, Jack wasn't even walking and now, I already have another little baby who, like Jack, will not remember one thing about his Disneyland experience. Good thing their mommy will. So, for the record, sweet baby Gus rode on Dumbo, Teacups, It's A Small World, Pirates, Toy Story, Jungle Cruise, and the train on his first trip to the Magic Kingdom and was a perfect little angel most of the time (which says a lot for my very gassy baby).
So after 14 days this past year and a half spent at Disneyland, we bid farewell...

Goodbye to the tram that takes us to and from the parking lot.
Goodbye to the Mickey in the grass that I always make my family stop and take a picture in front of.
Goodbye to the carousel that Blake or I always take the boys on while the other one of us waits in the long line for Dumbo.
Goodbye Dumbo, Jack's hands down favorite ride, that he usually ends up crying on because Max picks the color of Dumbo first.
Goodbye Blake waiting a few people back in line so he can get on the next set of Dumbos with the boys and Jack can ride in his favorite color, orange. We are so, so sneaky.Goodbye teacups that I'm getting much, much, much too weak in the stomach for.
Goodbye It's A Small World that always breaks down when we're on it.
Goodbye to my favorite restaurant that serves the tastiest pulled pork sandwiches, pasta salad, and baked beans.
Goodbye California Adventure and the long, long walk and long, long wait to the only ride in the entire park that the boys really like--Toy Story.
Goodbye to the Toon Town rollercoaster that Jack is finally tall enough to ride. Remember the first time we came he couldn't even walk. He is so big. Sigh.
Goodbye Blue Bayou restaurant in Pirate's of the Caribbean that I've always wanted to try and finally planned ahead enough to make reservations. Their Monte Cristo has nothing on Mama's.
Goodbye to all the big rides that Max so kindly goes on with me and Blake. He is such a good sport to hold his hands up in the air on Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain Railroad and Soarin' Over California with us. And he usually even says he likes the rides. For the last ride on this trip, Blake took Max on Space Mountain for the first time. Max said it was too fast, too dark, and too scary. But I know one day he's going to love it.
Goodbye to the train that we always take to the front of Main Street before leaving the park.
Honorable mention goodbyes go to the Jungle Cruise where the boys are scared to death of the piranhas that shoot water, the Nemo ride that I absolutely hate due to the longest line ever, and the super yummy pineapple ice cream.

And last, but not least, goodbye to Mickey. We will miss you.
Or at least most of us will...Jack may be big enough to ride on a rollercoaster, but that doesn't mean he's still not terrified of the big mouse.

Miis

We finally decided to introduce Max to the Wii and he's actually pretty good. He likes bowling and Rayman, but his favorite "game" is definitely making Miis. This is a picture of his work so far. Can you guess whose likenesses these are? He thinks it's pretty funny to grab the people in the plaza and change their shirts to colors that aren't their favorite. He is such a silly boy.

Miis: Andy, Blake, Grandma, Jack, Max, and Addi

One Month

Oh sweet little baby, where did the month go? It seems like you joined our family so long ago, but then again, you are still this little man that I'm trying to get used to. I love your ticklish feet, your rumbly tummy, your healthy lungs, your gassy half-smiles, your stiff back, your mousy squeaks and manly grunts, your curious eyes, and your warm cuddles. I love everything about you Gus, so, so much!

THENNOW