Choo Choo Trains

Camden has loved to watch the trains go by ever since he could barely talk...

VIDEO: CHOO CHOO TRAIN SIGHTING FROM THE CAR

Since Camden had only seen the trains from the car, last week I took the kids to the train station after school so we could sit on the platform and watch the trains up close. Camden was really excited when we got there, but excitement turned to sheer terror and screams as the first train blew into the station. 

The rest of the week, he told me every day, "Mommy. Choo choo train. LOUD."

Tonight I decided to take them to Ruby's Diner, which is also at the train station, but has sound-dampening windows to prevent trauma to children. 

They have a couple little trains that go around the inside of the restaurant too.

VIDEO: CHOO CHOO TRAIN 1

VIDEO: CHOO CHOO TRAIN 2

Centerpiece

Camden decided that the rocks from my centerpiece needed to be removed (with a shovel).

Obviously the logical place for them was in Avery's water cup. But that pesky water was in the way so of course he had to get that out of there first.

File under: This is why we can't have nice things.

Diving Rockets

VIDEO: CAMDEN GETTING THE DIVING ROCKETS

VIDEO: AVERY GETTING A DIVING ROCKET AT 8 FEET

VIDEO: AVERY GETTING A DIVING ROCKET AT 9.5 FEET

These little fish were in the water for a long time yesterday. Avery made many attempts at getting her rockets, and in the process must have ingested a lot of pool water, which resulted in explosive diarrhea, and me blasting a pair of rapunzel underwear in the middle of the street with a garden hose whilst wondering how my life culminated to this point. 

Water Park

Last weekend we visited some friends in Ladera Ranch. Their Homeowner's Association has this amazing water park in the middle of all the homes. 

For Avery and Camden, it was pure joy for three straight hours. I'm sure it must be in the top five of their favorite days ever.

High above the center of the pool is this big red bucket, with a spout over it that fills it up continuously. When it is completely full (about every five or ten minutes), it tips over and dumps water out on all the kids below. Towards the end of the afternoon, Avery got up the courage to get underneath it, so Josh took her and Camden over near the group of kids waiting at the bottom.

Camden (now the master of two and three word sentences) was a little scared by the sound and the sudden rush of water, and has been reminding me all week, 

"Mommy, bucket. Loud."

Despite the lack of naps, uncontrollable shivering, blue lips and pruney fingers after three hours, there were lots of tears when I finally had to wrap them in their towels.  But two minutes into the drive home, the exhaustion of course won over...

Fourth of July

First year in many that I have missed the parade!  Something was going on with my eye, (Maybe scratched cornea? No one could figure it out...) so Josh dropped me off at the ER on his way to the parade.  

Meanwhile...

Camden slept through most of the parade last year, so this year was much more exciting for him. Everyone said that he was mesmerized by the firetrucks, tractors, and horses going by.  And most of all, loved his little American flag and was waving it like crazy! When Josh and the kids came to pick me up from the hospital, I handed Camden a string cheese in the backseat. A minute later I turned around and saw that he had taken one bite and then passed out. Poor boy! Lots of activity for him.

After the kids napped, my mom's siblings came over to celebrate her birthday and enjoy the pool for a little while.

We even snuck in a few fireworks...

At the end of the night, we took Avery across the street for real fireworks. Our neighbors let us borrow their backyard to enjoy their fantastic view of Tustin, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Orange, and Anaheim. We saw hundreds of fireworks, including the Angels Stadium show and the Disneyland show. Although Camden was sound asleep by that time, Avery watched the fireworks for a long time and had an all-around spectacular day.

Pictures from the Weekend

There are a lot of babies at the swim school who cry every week. They hate being in the water with a stranger and scream and reach for their parents for the duration of their lesson. It's pretty sad to watch.

Camden is the opposite of that. We arrived 15 minutes early, and he spent those 15 minutes sobbing pathetically because it wasn't his turn to get in the pool yet, and he couldn't understand why he had to wait.

Big sister got to jump in first. So by the time Camden's teacher came over to get him, he couldn't fling himself into the water fast enough.

Zoom in for that big grin...

We spent the rest of Saturday at the Zoo for my company picnic...

And enjoyed one last swim before bedtime...

Sunday morning, Avery was excited to get up and give Josh the cards she had made him for Father's Day. I tried to get a picture of the kids to send to their grandpas, but Camden was emotionally devastated by that idea.

Three verses of "Wheels on the Bus" allowed him to momentarily forget about his anguish.