San Diego Day 3

Saturday, June 12, 2010
Dear Max,
Today mommy had meetings all day, you got to hang out with Grammie. You had a fun, relaxing and scary day (in Grammie's words). I'm personally so thankful that Grammie was able to come with me on this trip. This allowed you to be able to be with me. I would have missed your terribly had you not been able to come along. It was tough being away when you were a baby, I'll never forget my first business trip after returning from leave back to work. I went to Dallas, and it was so hard to leave you behind. It gets even harder as you get older, and it feel like you notice more when we are not with you. So I'm so grateful for Grammie. And it was a blast having her around!

You and Grammie stayed at the Resort and took advantage of all their is to do right there at the Resort. You went for walks along the ocean, went to visit the coi pond and ducks. Grammie was so good to take picture of you, it was fun to see what you were up to when I was away!

Meanwhile I attended my meetings. Part of my meeting was going with my customers to the San Diego Zoo on a back stage tour! How cool is that? That doesn't seem like much of a "meeting" does it? Truthfully the weekend was full of fun things for us to do with about 4 hours of meetings total. Just how I like it! I had the opportunity to pet and feed a rhinoceros, see a cheetah, feed Flamingo's, see a wolf, hawk, kangaroo and a hedgehog and lot's of other things. It was a way cool experience. I would have loved to take you, but they said that kids have to be at least 6 years old. Maybe when you are older we will get to go back and you can experience it too!

Mommy petting the Kangaroo

With the Cheetah

Feeding a Rhinoceros... it was gross!

Mommy with a Hawk

Mommy and her friend and co-worker Roma and a... I don't remember what this thing was called!

Petting a Rhinoceros

That animal that I can't remember it's name...

Mommy and her boss, I mean Donkey (he he he)

Feeding the Flamingo's

A hedgehog

All in all it was a really cool day. When I got back, I had a couple of hours until my evening event. I had brought some kettle corn back to Grammie to enjoy... it's her favorite. But, somebody helped themselves...

Which resulted in kettle corn EVERYWHERE!

Our dear Max... what a mess!

I decided to distract you out on the patio with some bubbles while Grammie cleaned up the kettle corn mess. Then it was in the show and getting ready for my dinner. I was excited to go, cause that meant when I got back that Daddy's plan would have arrived and we would all be back in the same state again!

Well, apparently shortly after I had left to go to my dinner, Grammie put you down for bed. As she sat back on her bed, I'm sure finally taking a deep breathe for the day, she started to feel the building sway and the ground to rumble. Yup! It was an earthquake. Grammie grabbed you, your sweatshirt, Binky, stroller and car keys. She was out of there! The two of you spent the next hour or so walking around outside, Grammie literally "shaken" I guess she figured you were safer outside if their was any aftershocks. Inside at our dinner, we didn't feel a thing. Their was a band playing, and if their was a rumble felt, I'm sure we all just shook it off that it was the vibrations of the music in the ballroom. Grammie was sure relieved when Daddy arrived. And he got there just in time for the three of you to watch the fireworks from the lawn at the Resort. That is certainly a better ending to the evening than Grammie was expecting!

Our earthquake survivors! You both are so brave!

San Diego Day 2

Friday, June 11, 2010
Dear Max,
Mommies conference didn't start until Friday evening, so we had the day to hang out in San Diego. We started with breakfast on the beach at our hotel. We decided to go to breakfast at the hotel and take advantage of the great restaurant and view! What better of a way to start a day!

It was so fun to see your reaction of looking at the ocean! Along with Grammies too!

Life is tough...

Taking in the view with Grammie

You enjoyed breakfast almost as much as feeding the birds!

I think you miss Cooper

Yup... just like dinner time at home

Those birds don't know how good they have it!

After breakfast we decided to head out to explore the city.... on our list, Coronado Island, Balboa Park, Seaport Village and then a late lunch in Old Town. We loaded up the car, and headed out. About 5 seconds after leaving the hotel, guess what happened...

Yup! You fell asleep. So we enjoyed our view of the city from the car...

Max at Balboa Park

Grammie at Balboa Park

Grammie, Max and Mommy driving on Coronado Island

As we left Balboa park and headed to Seaport village we went down Laurel street, near the airport. Suddenly an airplane came right above our vehicle. I turned around to see if it woke you up, and sure enough... You're eye's were as big as saucers... the rest of your body was absolutely stiff, just your eyes open so wide. I don't think any of us were expecting that! We decided to pull over to the side of the road, you love seeing planes and this was REALLY seeing planes. You were going to love this... right!?

So here we go...

Still loving it...

Woah! What was that!?!

That was a little to close for you...


Yeah this is a little too close for my liking too!

Not a fan of big jets flying right over your head!

Momma's here to save you!

After scaring you half to death we decided to go a tamer route and headed to seaport village for a calm stroll along the ocean. Within moments of our arrival you had spotted your next favorite thing to airplanes these days... Birds!

You and the bird had quite a conversation

Apparently someone said something that didn't agree with either of you!

Oh... your back on speaking terms!

After our visit with the bird man and stroll down the ocean we drove up to old town for a late lunch of Mexican food. Guess what?! Their were birds at this outdoor restaurant too! You didn't have an opportunity to miss Cooper with all these animals waiting for your left overs.

A fan of the tortilla chip! I just love you Max. You always have some silly face to pull

Oh look - another silly face!

Max and Mommy at the restaurant

Your bird friends are back!

Enjoying some fresh tortilla's on the street. It was pretty funny walking around old town, you were like the ambassador of the area. Waving and blowing kisses to everyone that passed your way, it was really funny. Of course they all stop to comment on how cute they think you are, I think it only encourages you!

When we got back to the hotel, mommy got ready for her conference. Meanwhile you enjoyed a fun night in with Grammie, trying on her new hat and seeing if you could fit in the dresser drawers at the hotel. You know, Grammie and Pappa had Uncle Geary sleep in a dresser drawer one time when they were staying at a hotel when he was a baby. Thank goodness for the invention of the pack n' play.

That's you under Grammies big ol' hat

Ta Da!

I'm sure you ran into a few walls, trying to walk around with that hat on

On the move!

Yup! That could have been where you slept!

We're Back!

Monday, June 14, 2010
Dear Max
We're Back! We made it back from San Diego tonight! It's great to be home, Grammie just left to drive the rest of the way back to St. George and I thought I would take a moment to catch you up on our vacation....

Thursday, June 10, 2010
Day 1
We left around 3:00 to drive to San Diego. I was glad that we got to leave a little early to begin our drive. You did well on the drive down, we made just one stop for dinner and to stretch our legs. When we arrived to the Hilton San Diego Resort, it was just as beautiful as I remember it from last time. Daddy and I had the chance to stay here last year for our 10 year wedding anniversary, so it was fun to come back and be able to show you and Grammie.

At Subway to stretch our legs

Our road warrior!

The entire resort is "open" this is us in the lobby

It's pretty cool that they take advantage of the perfect San Diego weather. We took advantage of it too - and went for a late night stroll. I couldn't wait to show Grammie and you how close we were to the water!

Hanging out on a beach chair

We have arrived and looking forward to a fun 5 days!

We're Off!

Thursday, June 10, 2010
Dear Max
We are off on another adventure! Mommy has a conference in San Diego, so Grammie and you are coming with me! We are leaving in just a few minutes. Our bags are packed and we are ready to go. Daddy is flying down on Saturday and flying home on Monday. We will miss him till we see him in a couple of days...I can't wait to tell you all about our trip!

What's Wrong?

Saturday, June 5, 2010
Dear Max,
Life with Max has been so difficult the last two weeks. I'm so very certain that you "mood" has everything to do with the change in your daily routine. However, as parents we are lost. I hate this feeling! The daily crying after being dropped off at School, the daily silence treatments on the drive home and non stop crying the moment we walk in the house. We've been hosting mini experiments this week, we've tried coming home and having some quiet moments together reading books, rocking and snuggling, having a cool drink, playing trucks, but all activities have eventually turn into a tantrum of non stop crying, until we've surrendered to bath then bed time. Our instincts are letting us down. So yesterday Daddy did some spying. Yup, we spied on you! We've been convinced that you must be just miserable at your new school. And if that is the case, how long do we give it for you to adjust? And if you are... we've got to find a new school for you. But guess what Daddy found? A happy little boy playing, laughing and learning. He dropped by unannounced 3 times yesterday and watched you without you ever seeing him. I will admit I'm very relieved to have this knowledge, but that doesn't change how you've been acting at home! I'm so grateful for you Max, and so grateful for the daily lessons I get to learn being your mom. I just wish I could figure this one out, and bring back my happy, smiling little boy. Where have you gone? Why are you so sad? Daddy and I are determined to figure this out! My next suggestion for solution... Build your stamina on getting through the day, I think you may just be EXHAUSTED! I'm off for more parental experiments! I love you Max!

Mommy and Daddy's 11 Year Anniversary

Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Dear Max,
Today is Mommy and Daddy's 11 year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that it has been 11 years since we were married. Since we just returned back into town from the Memorial Day weekend, we decided to have a special night out to celebrate. Tanier was happy to babysit you, she missed you while we were all gone for the weekend. Daddy and I had the opportunity to go for a couples massage and then out to dinner. It was so nice to spend the evening together. One thing I have noticed with the arrival of you, is my love for "date night" it's funny before you, every night was a "date night" we would go out to dinner, movies, bowling, shows anything we wanted. While I loved these times together with Daddy, I really took for granted how few and far between they would become when our family expanded. So it's with all the sincerity in the world that I say, I love date night! During dinner, Daddy and I reminisced about all the fun things surrounding our wedding day... for example...

On our wedding day, Grammie's dear friends were such a big help. Each of them had a special task. Our very dear friend Daryl was in charge of our "swan" ice sculpture. I know, a ice sculpture in June, it seems crazy. Well, as Daryl was carrying it to it's final destination the head broke off! We all thought he was going to die, until he found out you could just place it back in place and it would remelt together...it looked as good as new! He still had a slight melt down of his own...

Or how Daryl haunted us in our honeymoon suite, with notes of "I've been here, am I still here?" Am I under the bed?" We would run and check under the bed to find another note "Am I in the closet?" Checked the closet to find another note "Am I on the balcony" you can see how this went...

Or how Daryl haunted us for at least a good 4 years into marriage. Our gift from Daryl was a garbage can (you know the big ones you keep in your garage and take to your curb each week for the garbage man) filled with can goods. You would think...what an amazing gift! All that food storage! However, EVERY and I mean EVERY label was taken off the cans. It was "pot luck surprise" for a good 4 years of our marriage opening those cans! I did get smart a few weeks in and started saving the can lids that had the stamped identity codes on them and would write with a sharpie on the other side what the contents were.

We talked about how beautiful of a day it was. Everything from our perspective was perfect. We talked about how shocked we were when both our childhood dentists showed up at the wedding, it was the same guy, and we both hated him! Talk about finding out something about your future spouse that we hadn't discussed.

Or how mommy forgot her birth control pills after we had left the reception and had to run back...how EMBARRASSING! If we knew then what we know now, we wouldn't have bothered! :)

We talked about how many things we have done since we have been married.... We talked about our favorite vacations... Daddy's choice, Cancun, he said because it was the first place we went as a couple that neither of us had ever been. We spent the whole week on our own adventure, discovering, enjoying and exploring the area. Mommy's choice, Niagara Falls, I loved that trip, because it was a combination of meeting some of daddy's family for the first time, the romance (i know yucky) of Niagara Falls, the spirituality of the Sacred Grove and the high energy of New York City. To me... it was the trip that had it all.

Favorite meal I've made your daddy over the years...is his mom chicken and stuffing dish. She makes a mean chicken with stuffing, but I've tried to replicate to the best of my ability.

Favorite memory, kneeling across the alter having our son sealed to us for time and all eternity. Next to that, walking into the hospital room on Sunday, December 7th and meeting you for the first time. Daddy and I have experienced a lot over the course of 11 years, but by far, you are the greatest of those! I love your Daddy and I love you very much!