Independence Day 2009 - Jelly Belly Factory

We headed to the Jelly Belly Factory in the morning on July 4th - since we came home early from camping. From our house - took about an hour to get there (it's in Fairfield). They have tours for free - so it was the right price!

We got (had) to wear these cool (!) hats. The boys are pretty cute in them, though!

Jacob got to be the tour guide's "helper" by pushing the button for the tour videos at each stage along the tour. He thought he was pretty special! After about a half hour tour - we all got a free bag of jelly beans (and Jacob got 2 for being a helper). Then they got to ride in this cool Jelly Belly car.

It didn't go too far though!

After the tour and shopping a lil - we ended our adventure at Fresh Choice in Vacaville on the way home. The boys did great at both stops. They do well at buffets - plus the ice cream bar is always a hit. We look forward to many more day trips as a family.

Camping Adventure - July 2009

We did a "trial" camping trip set for July 2 - 4, 2009 at Shirttail Creek Campground about 2 hours from Sacramento (above Auburn - east of Foresthill) considered in Tahoe National Forest. Here are the boys posing by our tent (a hand-me-down from Uncle Guy).

Although it has been in the mid-90s in Sacramento - it actually cooled down there in the evening - we were at about 4,000 feet - and got a lil chilly in the night and morning. Levi is sporting his flashlight - and a whole lotta dirt on his face. He was digging it!

Jim was quick to get a fire started (who doesn't like to play with fire!). There were lots of lil twigs to start the fire - as you see it was blazing at bit til the kindling burned through.

See Levi in the AM keeping mostly warm in his sweatshirt and pants. His lips are still a bit blue! EEK! Mommy and Daddy failed to put socks on him that night - and they were brrrr chilly in the morning.

Our spot saved for us - for the two nights.

Jacob being Joe Fisherman. He has a Spongebob fishing pole that he has been working on his casting. He still has not actually ever set it in water. But - he was prepared with his life vest on.

Casting some more - look out fish! He is also sporting his flip flops. There is a LONG story about his shoe wear for the trip. He tends to be VERY particular about his socks - and shoes - and somehow we lost one of his acceptable tennies on the morning we were leaving. EEK! Our guess - Levi loves to wear shoes around - so where could it be? We still haven't found it.

Levi - sporting some more dirt and grunge on his face. His hands were so dirty - and he was constantly touching his face - as you can see :) The dirt didn't bother him at all.

Here is a picturesque spot on the road near our campsite - with the lake down below.

A view from the road on the way out as we were leaving.....

We didn't quite make it the entire time we had scheduled to be there. We arrived at about 6pm on Thursday night - and intended to stay til Saturday morning. Well - we ended up leaving at about 8:30am on Friday morning - about 14 hours after we arrived. Our evening had gone fairly well - everyone slept reasonably well (for being on airbeds and all) - but the morning was a struggle. So - for Mommy and Daddy to keep our sanity - we packed it all up and headed home. We had a good day at home Friday - recouping from lack of sleep - everyone napped - and look forward to trying out our camping gear again next year.

1st Swim

The boys had their first swim of the year tonite - in their new pool Levi got for his birthday from Nana and Poppop. We weren't sure how Levi would do - he wasn't too keen on running through the sprinklers - sometimes balks at baths - but he jumped right in and had a blast.


They both had fun - it was new to be able to play in the water - and not get in trouble for splashing or making a mess!


There is a slide with a sprinkler at the top - and they both enjoyed going down it...

There was such a small amount of water in the pool - Mommy and Daddy aren't paranoid or anything! But - they didn't notice - they thought it was great.

They would have stayed out there much longer...but Jim thought the water was pretty cold...and then noticed that Levi's lips were starting to turn blue...EEK!

We look forward to more "water play" times - it was fun watching them have such fun.

Thank you - Nana and Poppop - we all think it was a fun gift!

Levi's 2nd Birthday Party - "Melmo" (AKA - Elmo) Theme

We celebrated Levi's 2nd birthday a week early - so that all our family in Sac could attend. It was a combined party - for Father's Day and my brother Joey's birthday also. It was at our house - and we decided to try to do a character cake - for the first time. The "Melmo" (what Levi calls Elmo) cake was a challenge.

Here are the lil cousins all intrigued by Levi's presents.

Big brother helping Levi open the presents. Levi wasn't too interested in opening them all - he was OK with brother helping. He started getting distracted by a few presents.

Thought I got a picture with them both - and then Levi turned - and Jacob has the "fake" smile. Oh well - see they are wearing their Sesame Street garb - Jacob in Cookie Monster - and Levi's shirt had Elmo and Grover.

Levi needed a little help blowing out the candle. He tried once - and then Mommy helped.

Levi had a pitiful face while we sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He didn't know what to think - and I thought he might start crying. There were about 12 of us singing - and I guess my brothers can be a little scary! :D

The cake.....after several hours.....a few jars of red dye.....gobs of money and realizing after returning to the store for more potent dye that it would have been cheaper to buy it.....the taste of black frosting (mmmmmm.....not so much).....but the sound of Levi saying "Melmo"..........priceless!

Memorial Day 2009 - Sacramento Zoo

We decided to go to the Sacramento Zoo on Memorial Day. It was a beautiful day - almost chilly in the morning. We had fun walking through the zoo. A much smaller zoo than Wichita - which has some positives - much less walking for Mommy and Daddy :) Here is Daddy kangaroo and his lil Joey -

The giraffes in their space - our giraffe's in Wichita have so much more space to roam about.

Here is our lil explorer!

Here are the chimpanzees - which are kinda hard to see. They are sitting on the ground by the wood poles.

After the zoo - we went to Mommy & Daddy's favorite store - Lowe's. The boys were enjoying being in the car cart - and being silly together. We look forward to future giggly boys just playing and having fun as brothers.

Mother's Day - 2009

We celebrated Mother's Day at Joey's house. The water was too cold to swim - but the kids had fun outside anyway. Here is Jacob and Salma - being oh-so-cute cousins together on the "4 wheeler."


Levi - just being his cutie lil self!

Antonio chillin in the shade. He was itchin' to go swimming - but had to wait another week or so.

Cute lil Salma - cruising down in her sweet little dress!

Levi - zooming down so fast - had to be braced for the landing!

Although there are no Mom pics here - Mom was at the party too! We had a good time - enjoying fried chicken and tasty treats together. I am ready for next year!

Hillary Joy Kell Got Married!

We traveled to Fresno on May 9, 2009 to attend Hillary Joy Kell's wedding. Hillary is now Hillary Belmont. She looks gorgeous - and all grown up!


I babysat the Kell girls for several years - I think I started when I was 15 - babysitting often until I began working for the State when I was 20 - and when they moved away to Fresno when I was 21. I was trusted with caring for Hill when she was 4 months old - and saw her almost every day til she was a little over 2. When she was just learning to talk - she would greet me by calling me "Ho...ho...ho...ho". I have fond memories of the Kell family - and Hillary still holds a special place in my heart. Out of the 4 girls - she has a hint of red in her hair (like me) - that her Dad often said that I must have dyed.

Here are the 4 girls - they are all so beautiful - inside and out. Amanda was 1 when I started hanging out at her house; then Ashley - who was about 3 - and could get into trouble (nail polish in the clothes hamper, crayons on the piano keys); lil Hillary; and Melissa. I remember playing with the girls - taking the cushions off of the couches and place them upon the floor - that we needed to balance on so as not to fall in the "water" below - I loved to braid and "do" their hair - I loved getting them dressed in fun clothes for the day. Those were fun times.

Here's Hillary - looking beautiful in her dress with her hair just so - and holding a football. This is how I remember Hillary - she is THE athlete.

My friends Michelle Crowley and Debbie Kell. Both great women - and special women in my life. Michelle led me to Christ, discipled me, and was a wonderful friend and leader to me in the youth group at El Camino Baptist Church. Debbie Kell - along with being the mother of those great girls I babysat - she is an awesome game player (cards, board games, anything - kicks my booty at!) - and a truly kindred spirit. When I have the opportunity to spend time with either of them - they are still sweet bosom friends that you can start right where you left off. I regret not keeping in closer contact with them over the last 15 years. Life has taken us all to different places - but it is amazing how God continues to tie us all together with that bond that never changes and endures forever.