Family Photo Shoot

Cooper, Mason holding Trevin, Tate

Chad, Trevin, Alisa

Chad, Trevin, Alisa

Back row: Coope, Mason, Tate
Front row: Trina, Eric, Kristen, Mike, Coralee, David, Kirk, Krystal, Alisa, Trevin, Chad

In mid-November we had family photos done. There is a 1939 Chevy Coupe and a 1946 Chevy dumptruck parked down at Chad's grandparent's house. Dave stored the vehicles over 30 years ago and they have been sitting in the field ever since. We used the vehicles as photo props. I admit I had my doubts, but I was wrong. The photos turned out great! The photographer, Carrie Mann, came up from Salina or Richfield. What a photogenic family!

Trick or Treat!

Thanks to Delta Airlines, we barely made it home in time for Trevin's first Halloween. Trevin was a little monkey. Trevin didn't care about the candy, so I had to eat most of his candy for him. Darn!

Khloe, Julie, Weston, Trevin

Kadie, Lexi, Porter, Averi, Kylie, Garrett

Trevin with Cookie and Poppy

Trevin, Tate, Cooper, and Mason

Trevin with Great-Grandma Gravis

Trevin with Great-Grandpa Gravis

Trevin's First Haircut

October 11, 2008 -- As you can see, Trevin has crazy hair and there is lots of it! Trevin has several cowlics and a double crown, which makes styling rather difficult. It was starting to get out of hand, so I reluctantly decided it was time to take action. I knew this day would come, I just wasn't ready. He looks so grown up with a haircut.

Last Days in California

On Wednesday, everyone but Chad, Trevin, and me began the long car ride back to California. Instead of being stuck in a car for 14 hours, we decided to go back to Disneyland. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun. We spent most of our time in Fantasyland because Trevin was allowed on most rides. I never realized how scary the Pinocchio ride was until I experienced it with Trevin. Holy cow! The part where Pinocchio and his friend go to Pleasure Island and turn into donkeys is terrifying. I kept thinking, "My parents let me watch this movie when I was little?" I felt like a horrible parent for taking Trevin on the ride. We just skipped Snow White's Scary Adventures.

My all-time favorite Disneyland ride is the Peter Pan ride. It was hard to tell if Trevin liked it because it was so dark inside, but he didn't cry or scream, so I like to think he wasn't terrified or emotionally scarred. I don't think I've ever been to Mickey's Toon Town until this trip. It was a lot of fun. Once Chad and I got there, we were pretty sad that we didn't take Tate to Mickey's Toon Town. Tate would have had so much fun and been able to go on all the rides. I don't think Tate enjoyed Disneyland because there weren't many rides for him. Oh well. I guess we know for next time.

Trevin was not too impressed with the Enchanted Tiki Room. I don't know if he was tired, hungry or both, but we ended up leaving half way through.

Our flight home was scheduled for Thursday around noon. As we were checking out of the condo at 10:00 a.m., Chad received a phone call from Delta that our flight was cancelled and they couldn't rebook us until the following morning. Actually, they told us we could fly stand-by that night at 6:00 p.m., but we wouldn't be seated near each other and they couldn't guarantee we could get on the flight. Not exactly the best circumstances with a 10 month old. Delta didn't offer us a meal or room vouchers. Their attitude was basically, "Sorry. It sucks to be you." Luckily, we were able to get a room at the condo for one more night. So, we opted to take a flight home the following day. Unfortunately, we had to pay an extra day on the rental car, pay an extra day of food, and pay an extra day for the condo--a couple hundred dollars we weren't expecting. I can't believe the airlines can just get a way with this stuff. There totally needs to be an airline passenger's Bill of Rights. Visit www.flyersrights.org to join the cause! Call your legislative representatives and tell them to pass a flyer's bill of rights. I will get off my soapbox now.

Since we were staying another day, the three of us went back to Disneyland to see the parade. We had a family photo taken with Mickey and Minnie. Trevin loved the lights and the characters. He is such a flirt. The three fairies from Sleeping Beauty were dancing in front of us and Trevin just smiled and waved at them. When the fairies would wave back, Trevin would get all shy and coy. It was so funny. The fairies loved Trevin!

It was a wonderful vacation. I think everyone had a great time. I think the anticipation was as much fun as the actual vacation. I hope we plan another vacation really soon.

Alisa, Chad, and Trevin at the castle.

Chad and Trevin

Alisa and Trevin on the Dumbo ride.

An attempted family photo on the Dumbo ride.

An attempted family photo on the Casey Junior train.

Alisa and Chad in Mickey's car.

Chad and Trevin on Mickey's hearth.

Alisa and Trevin in Mickey's house.

Trevin in his Mickey ears.

Chad and Trevin waiting for dinner before the parade.

Minnie, Alisa, Trevin, Mickey, and Chad.

The LA Shopping District and Seal Beach

Tuesday we all traveled into LA to visit the shopping district. Kristen and I had a great time in the bead stores, Coralee liked the fabric, and David and Chad loved the bargains. You couldn't take the stroller into most stores, so Chad cruised for bargains with Trevin while I went into the shops. I found some great fabric to recover my patio cushions and Chad and I found a new comforter set for our bed. Now I just need to repaint the bedroom!

After the shopping district, we headed out to Seal Beach to play in the Pacific Ocean. Trina met us at Seal Beach after she got off work. Unfortunately, Kirk and Krystal had already left for Utah, so they didn't get to participate in all of the fun!

Trevin and I played in the ocean. Chad stayed on the beach because he didn't have sandals. Trevin loved the beach. Every time I would stick his feet on the sand and the waves would come and erode the sand from beneath his feet, Trevin would just laugh. Mason and Eric went out in the surf and Cooper and Tate stayed closer to shore. Everyone had a good time.

Funny story: Coralee was helping Kristen get the boys rinsed off at the public showers. Coralee hit the button for what she thought was the water spout over Cooper. Unfortunately for Coralee, the button she hit was connected to the water spout directly over her head. Needless to say, Coralee got a bit of rinse herself!

While we were waiting for Coralee, Kristen, and the boys to dry off, Chad let Trevin "drive" the rental car. Trevin is now obsessed with steering wheels.

After Seal Beach, we all drove to Newport Beach to eat at The Crab Cooker. Chad has fond memories of going to The Crab Cooker when he was very young. Apparently, the clam chowder is fantastic! There is a big shark hanging from the ceiling, of which I did not get a picture. Sorry. We were such a large group that we had to separate into two tables.

Chad, Alisa, Trevin, Mason and Cooper at Seal Beach

Mason and Eric jumping waves!

Surf's up, Cooper!

Cooper and Tate. Fun in the sun!

Alisa, Trevin, and Chad. Sunset at Seal Beach.

Trina and Eric. Seal Beach.

Mason, Cooper, Kristen, Tate. Seal Beach.

Trevin's first driving lesson.

Disneyland

It's Halloween-time! Or, it was when the family visited Disneyland in October 2008. It was a beautiful day. Kind of hot, but not to bad. The Santa Ana winds were blowing and making it seem like July. It was shorts and t-shirt weather. Thanks to a good dose of self-tanner, I wasn't too pale. :)

The decorations at Disneyland were so cute. I will show better detail in a later post. Trina is the only family member that didn't make it to Disneyland. She had to work. We missed you Trina.

Trevin is such a good travel baby. He napped in the stroller and just seemed pleased to be along for the ride. Chad and I are so lucky! Mason, Cooper, and Tate were also great little travelers. They did such a good job. Other than Tate's episode at the zoo, (see previous post) there wasn't too much drama. It has been four months though, so the passage of time may have dulled my memory.

Anyway, we hit both California Adventure and Disneyland. Tate was kind of mad that there weren't many rides for him. Unfortunately, we didn't spend much time in Fantasyland or Mickey's Toon Town, which are geared more towards the preschool age kids. Mason and Cooper were troopers and went on every ride possible. There were a few rides with height restrictions that we couldn't sneak the boys into, but for the most part we rode all the good rides. Even Space Mountain and Splash Mountain! Notice that I, stupidly wearing a white t-shirt, was stuck in the front seat on the Splash Mountain ride. I got very wet and had to wear Trevin's blanket until I dried off. I think my favorite ride was the jungle cruise. I love the old school feel of the jungle cruise. Plus, we were all sitting together and could watch the kids' reactions.

I only had two disappointments at Disneyland. One, the fact that they replaced the Country Bear Jamboree. I loved the Country Bear Jamboree! Two, the fact that the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is now the Tarzan Treehouse. I am sorry, but the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was SO MUCH COOLER than the Tarzan Treehouse. I mean, come on, there wasn't evey the water system that brought fresh water to the top of the treehouse like they had on Swiss Family Robinson. Ridiculous!

Overall, I really enjoyed Disneyland and I can't wait to go back when Trevin is a bit older!

Cute family portrait!


Trevin's First Ride on the AstroBlaster


What a great looking bunch!


Kristen, Mason, Cooper, and Tate

Aladdin, Mason, Cooper, Tate, and Trevin

Yay! Splash Mountain.

Trevin with Grandpa and Grandma Roskelley

Alisa, Chad, and Trevin at Tarzan's Treehouse.

Anaheim or Bust!

October 27, 2008. We are headed to Anaheim, home of the Mouses (Mickey and Minnie). Don't bother emailing me that the correct plural of mouse is mice, because Mouse is the last name so Mouses is the correct plural possesive (I think)!

Sunday was a "free" day. Some folks went to Universal Studios; some took the day off. Chad, Trevin, and I headed to Newhall to visit my Uncle John and Aunt Jeanine. It was a beautiful day.

We arrived at Jeanine and John's house late afternoon. Chad, John, and I went for a nice moped ride and Trevin hung out with Jeanine. I was a bit timid on the moped at first, but after a quick jaunt, I loosened up immensley. I was quite comfortable as long as I didn't have to turn. Turning on the moped makes me nervous. I feel like I am going to tip over.

After the ride, we went to the Stonefire Grill for dinner. The weather was nice enough that we ate dinner on the restaurant patio. Mmmmmm! Tri-tip and nutty coleslaw!

Sea World Splash!

Saturday, October 26th, we all went to Sea World. Personally, I had more fun at the zoo, but my feelings may be related to the fact that Trevin was an absolute walrus most of the time we were at Sea World. (Do you like the marine reference? Walrus instead of Bear? Hehe!) Anyway, I spent a lot of time pushing Trevin around in the stroller while everyone else enjoyed the Sea World exhibits.

We saw Shammu and the dolphins. We even visited the Shark Encounter, which allows you to walk through the 280,000-gallon shark habitat featuring sand tiger, bonnethead, blacktip and whitetip sharks via a nifty acrylic tube. My pictures from the Shark Encounter weren't that great, but check out Chad's dolphin show photo. Wow!

San Diego Zoo

I am trying to get caught up on my blog, now that my computer is working (sort of). I still need to document the Roskelley Family Southern Californa trip, so here goes.

Our first full day in San Diego was spent at the San Diego Zoo. The zoo is amazing! There are so many animals and habitat exhibits. Our first excursion was a bus tour of the zoo, which was very informative and saved us a lot of walking. As the tour bus passed the tiger enclosure, Tate shouted, "Hi, Tiger! I am right here!" It was so cute!

Everyone had a good time (most of the time). The boys got a little hungry and Tate had a bit of a break down (probably due to hunger and exhaustion from the car ride to San Diego). Overall, it was a great first day. Not to hot, very interesting, and we all got along! Yay!

In the picture of the 3 boys with Mason in the stroller, be sure to notice the rice cake stored for later just to the right of Mason's head!