I can't believe it's been 2 weeks already! Our family set out for California on August 20th to help celebrate GG's ("great-grandma's") 80th birthday in Paso Robles with "my side" of the family. We had originally planned to leave on the 21st, fly into Los Angeles and then drive to our rental house, but when we discovered that the drive from LA to Paso would take over 3 hours, we decided that a four-hour flight followed by a drive that long didn't sound fun for anyone. We changed our airline tickets last minute and booked a hotel near the LA airport for Thursday night.
Our plane ride to Cali was better than expected. Sitting for 4 and 1/2 hours is hard for an adult, even harder for a 3 and 4-year-old who can actually occupy themselves for brief periods of time....and nearly impossible for poor Bray.

Here we are on the plane. Brian was a total trooper and ended up with all three boys on his side about 75% of the time. Here, Brady and Aiden are watching some Baby Einstein. Brian's headphones didn't quite fit Bray so he rolled up a little thing to keep them in place.
The hotel in Los Angeles. We had 2 rooms because we weren't sure how Brady would do sleeping in a room with everyone else. It was a funny game of musical beds all night long as the boys woke up & wanted to sleep in other places. First it was Logan and Aiden together, Brady in the other room. Then it was me and Brady, Brian in the other room. Then it was Brady, me and Aiden together, Logan in the other bed and Brian in the other room. Finally, it was me, Aiden & Brady together, Logan & Brian in the other room.
taking a ride on the luggage cart

Nana and GG picked us up from the hotel in a giant, rented, Suburban while Papa and GGpa took Nana's car to Paso. Denay and Tom drove up from San Fran and met us there. I don't know why, but I'm compelled to take pictures like this (of road signs and other pretty boring stuff....but after over 3 hours in the car, it was a celebration and I had to dig out the camera...it says "Paso Robles")

Look at this car! 3 car seats and it still comfortable fits 2 more adults in the back. The only problem is that it's quite high up off the ground.

This is the road (Circle B drive) leading up to the house we rented.

And here's the front porch! This is "The House of Lauren".

We took over the master bedroom which had a beautiful bathroom and this giant tub...perfect for washing 4 little boys! Denay did the shampooing the first night and said it was like washing a bunch of puppies.

Nana reads to Ryan and Logan

Papa brought his guitar along. He, Brian and Tom took turns entertaining us all. Looks like Brady would like daddy to stop and play ball with him.

Here is the view of the back yard from the patio door. The lawn leads to a really pretty gazebo and a duck pond.

Another photography compulsion...pictures of food! We spent a LOT of time cooking and eating at the house. Denay did some shopping before hand and then we went and got a bunch of supplies the Friday we arrived. After all that, we still had to go out 5 or 6 more times. I joked that we should only rent houses within a mile of the nearest (and largest) grocery store. This is french toast and breakfast caserole.

Ryan and Brady spent some quality cousin time together.

Feeding the ducks down by the pond. I was helping for a while and trying hard to get one piece of bread strategically placed for each duck, one at a time, while announcing (to the ducks) who should be eating it. Logan started doing the same thing saying "here white duck...this one is for you! Here black duck...your turn!"

Brady takes a break and sits for a spell after the bread was gone.

On Saturday, the town was having an olive fest with free olive oil tastings (um...yes please!!). They even had olive oil ice cream which is, amazingly, pretty good! More Brady/Ryan love at the festival. Me and my little men!!

I told my mom that I seriously never get in shots with my boys and desperately need to update my facebook picture because it's from last summer when Bray was like 8 months old! We tried a few times to get a real good one. There were a couple decent ones. Logan looks like he's being tortured though :) I'm holding Brady's foot because he wanted OFF my lap (we were sitting next to a water fountain which they all SO badly wanted to play in, but it was gated off - oh cruel world!)

We packed a picnic lunch and ate on the lawn at the festival.

What a cute little family: Tom, Ry and Denna

Sweetie pie! My boys gave Ry that shirt for his birthday along with a few kid's music CDs (the shirt has little boom boxes all over it)

Along with GG's 80th birthday milestone, we also celebrated Ryan's FIRST birthday! Brady was happy to show him how to make a mess with cake (not like Ryan needed any help that is...he did a fine job covering himself in chocolate) Another photo rarity (like me with my kids): a good sister pic!

And who has time to get a picture with your husband when you're busy chasing the kids, trying to document their every move?! That substance, in my wine glass, by the way, is not wine. It's gazpacho. We couldn't find enough bowls so Nana had the brilliant idea to use some of the wine glasses in the house (of which there were plenty....we WERE in a town with like 100 wineries)

Denay and Tom did some centerpieces for GG's celebration dinner. Brian took this cool picture of the flowers.

The beautiful matron of our family! Happy 80th birthday GG!

Sunday we flew kites outside on the lawn and then took the boys to a near-by water park. Brian and I had a flight to Hawaii, leaving from LA, the next morning at 10:45. We really didn't want to get up to make the 3 hour drive back and risk missing our flight so we left late Sunday and spent the night in yet another Marriott. Logan was pretty upset that we were leaving. He was hiding in the bedroom refusing to come out. He turned a corner though and was.....

....our most enthusiastic waver!! It's my family's habit to stand outside and wave to anyone departing until you can't see their car anymore. We left our babies in the extremely capable hands of Nana and Papa (and, for a few days, GG and GGpa) and drove off into the sunset (haha...come to think of it, the sun actually WAS setting. funny).

Last Friday was Aiden's actual birthday. After the whole party the week before, I didn't want to do too much, but still wanted to give him a special day. I took the boys to Chuck E Cheese for some games and pizza that morning/afternoon. We all had a great time!

Here, we're sitting right by the prize counter so that's what Aiden is looking at. Brady.....is hungry I guess :)
YEAH!

This is the greatest game for a baby! 1. It's the perfect height 2. All you have to do is hit one of two big buttons to make balls pop up and fly into a bunch of holes. Brady was cracking up! Whenever I lost track of him, I would go straight to the ski-ball machines...he would be there, trying to reach his hands inside the empty ball ramps saying "ball ball!!"

That night, after Brian got home, we let Aiden open his gifts from us. We got him more magnetic tiles which are his FAVORITE (and so now he can build even bigger stuff), a set of balloon powered race cars and helicopters which are super fun and....

....and a big bag of nonsense! This was my favorite gift! I took the boys to Michael's craft store (where there are tons of $1 toys). EVERY time we go to Michael's, Aiden shows me things he wants "for his birthday". So...I just followed behind him grabbing stuff (some of the stuff anyway) that he was pointing out. This bag chock full of toys that last a day and make Aiden one HAPPY kid.

Some of the items included: "magic beans" (the capsules that you put in water to create sponge animals or whatever), a basketball decal that I'll put on his wall, a wooden painted fish, a wooden painted rainbow, Swedish fish and a balloon animal set....funny!

Happy Birthday baby boy!!!!