Disneyland Trip

We took our very first family trip to Disneyland. We went with Mimi and Pa and had a great time using our two day park hopper passes. We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn just two blocks away from the park and walked each morning to Disneyland. We only lasted a few hours each day before heading back to the hotel for lunch and a much needed nap. After a rest, it was back to the park again for an afternoon of more rides and characters.

In case its not obvious, Carson is a huge fan of Lightning McQueen!!

He cried and cried when we tried to make him take this hat off at the store, so we caved in and let him have it. Now he wears it proudly all around the house.




We went to California Adventure and spent just one afternoon there. Most of that time was at "Bugs Life" rides. Eric was a good sport to ride on the flea circus bumper cars with Tate and Pa rode with Carson.

We waited patiently for the Pixar parade to begin. It was well worth the wait! The boys loved seeing characters from Nemo, Toy Story and Monsters Inc. When the show started, Carson wanted to run out into the parade path and I had to hold onto the back of his shirt to keep him on the sidelines. As the parade characters passed by, they sprayed us with water and bubbles which added to the kids excitement. It really was a great parade!

The big hit of the parade and the grand finale was Lightning McQueen. This was the most exciting thing that Tate and Carson could have ever hoped to see, they could hardly believe their eyes!

Toon Town was really fun for the boys since most things in this part of the park are perfect for their age group. They ran around Donald's boat, went into Mickey's house and Mini's house and were lucky enough to meet Mickey Mouse, Mini Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto.

In fantasy land we also had a great time on the carousel, Peter Pan ride (which Tate says was his favorite ride at Disneyland), and Dumbo. Even being 8 months pregnant, I was able to go on every ride that the boys wanted to try. Only a few rides would I not have been allowed on, and luckily they were the ones that the kids were still too little to go on anyway.

Carson loves to watch Dumbo whenever he goes to RahRah's house, so he was extra excited to actually ride on Dumbo. This was the only ride that we made time to go back to three different times because he loved it so much.

Tate's 4th birthday- September 20, 2009

Tate celebrated his 4th birthday at Top This Yogurt with Mimi, Pa, RahRah, PaPa, mommy, daddy, Carson and our neighbor friends. We kept the party small because next weekend is Tate's big birthday trip to Disneyland!

Tate got some unappreciated help opening his gifts from his brother.

Tate was thrilled to get this tractor from RahRah and Papa. He also got a new Lightning McQueen overnight bag from Mimi and Pa to take on his big Disneyland trip.

Fun at Funderland- Aug. 2009

The morning started on the Bulgie fish ride. When the boys went on Bulgie last March, Carson loved it so much that he asked for more and more!! He was not such a bit fan of it today, and was definitely ready to move onto the next ride.

Tate and Mimi went on the Krazy Kups ride next.... you know it's crazy when they spell it with a "K"!! This ride could make anyone feel sick eventually, but I really would have been in trouble.

The car driving ride was just perfect for Carson, he loved it. In fact, he squealed and cried each time the ride was over.




Mimi and Tate rode together...Tate is a very good driver!

We had to stop for a snow cone, cherry flavor!!

We rode the carousel, which Carson was not quite sure if he liked or not.

Tate had no trouble deciding that he liked riding the carousel and even tried to help convince Carson that it was really fun.

Up up in the sky they pretended to go!!

Tate can be such a ham with his facial expressions.

Tate and Mimi rode on the airplanes while Carson and I watched them go around and around. Carson decided that it looked like a lot of fun and decided that he wanted a turn too.

Mimi was a good sport to go on most of the rides with the boys since I was not allowed to go on because I'm pregnant.

Carson seemed to be really excited to ride the pony until it was actually time to get on Blackie. As I walked with them around the pony trail, he did warm up to Blackie a bit more and actually enjoyed the ride.

Mimi helped lead Tate around the pony trail while riding Dusty. Tate really liked his ride so much that he went around the trail twice.

Finally at the end of our morning we had a picnic lunch at the park! The boys were so exhausted that they were asleep within minutes of being in the car for the drive home.

Carson's 2nd Birthday- July 31, 2009

The birthday boy loves cupcakes, but usually just licks off the frosting and leaves the cake part behind.

Mimi and Pa gave Carson new Wall-E sheets for his big boy bed that he will be sleeping in soon. He and Tate will be sharing a room together in a few months, and are both excited about their new bunk-bed.

Carson also got a Toy Story backpack, Thomas the Train Golden book, and a Richard Scarry Busytown DVD.

I took Carson to Toy R Us the week before his birthday and let him pick out something for his special day. He picked out "Mac" from Disney's Cars movie.

The birthday dinner was pizza (always a kid favorite), watermelon, and salad. Carson currently would rather eat salad, really just the lettuce, more then anything else. He LOVES lettuce. Go figure, just my luck, the one vegetable that he will actually eat is only one that has no nutritional value.

Mimi and Pa joined us for the birthday dinner on our back patio.

Earlier in the day, Tate helped me make the cupcakes. He likes to be a helper in the kitchen when I'm cooking these days. He just drags his little step stool over to the counter and his job is to pour in the ingredients. While assisting today though, I think he ate more candies then he put on the cupcakes.

For Carson's birthday day event, we took the boys to Fairfield to the Jelly Belly factory. While taking the tour, these hats are required to be worn at all times.

We didn't realize that the wait for the tour would be so long on a Friday morning. The boys waited patiently for our turn, and the promise of jelly beans at the tours end helped ensure good behavior while waiting in line.

The kids thought this giant jelly belly guy was really cool, and overall had a really fun day. They ate more jelly beans then any kid needs to ever eat in one day, but they went home happy!

swim lessons

Carson and I have been taking the "mommy and me" swim class with my step sister Mary and her little boy. We have been going every Friday afternoon since June to the Sea Otters Swim School in Loomis.

The pool is indoors, so the water is always just the right temperature. Carson really loves splashing in the pool, but does not really love getting his head or face wet under the water.

While Carson and I do our class, Tate takes his lesson with his very own teacher.

Tate's teacher is great at helping him practice his swimming skills. He has now started to really build his confidence. His teacher loaned him some goggles, which he thinks are very cool, because he still hates to have water anywhere near his face or eyes.

Carson is practicing his "kicks and scoops" swimming.

The Davis cousins

The Davis cousins are having fun in RahRah's back yard

Taylor, Tate and Carson sporting their capes made by RahRah, a davis kid tradition!

Backyard summer fun

My sweet boys!

I was trying out a new setting on my camera that gave this picture of Carson a cool fluorescent green color. Carson loves the water and will hop in even before he gets on his swim shorts. So, on this morning he did some skinny dipping.

The boys have already had hours of fun in this pool and I only bought it last week! Tate loves it too, but decided to be shy by the time I got out the camera. I bought this pool for the boys a Wallmart for only $10.00.....the best 10 bucks I've spent in a long time!