Worn out.....

Picture of Cruz this morning at 7:45....the flash went off and he didn't even flinch!! Usually at that time he has almost been up for an hour.....I didn't mind the sleep in time! :)

California

Cruz and I flew out to California last Tuesday March 24th with Grandma Raddon. I didn't take any pictures so this blog entry will be boring for most of you, but I wanted to document our trip for Cruz. Grandma R took some pictures so when she gets back into town I will borrow them from her.

Tuesday-Got into Orange County about 12:30 in the afternoon. Cruz did farely well on the plane, lucky the flight wasn't full so we had the seat between me and my mom for Cruz. He is an extremely busy child but I seemed to entertain him for most of the flight. Naomi picked us up and we ran some errands with her. We went to Fashion Island mall which is this beautiful mall in Newport Beach. We walked around with Cruz visiting the fountains and the pet store while Naomi did some last minute shopping for her trip! We picked the girls up from school and headed to Ryan and Naomi's house in San Clemente. Their home is beautiful, they just moved in about 4 months ago. The kids had fun playing outside with the bikes, scooters, balls, etc. We went to Chronic Taco for dinner. I do miss the amazing taco places they have in California. You can get the best shrimp and fish tacos EVER!!!

Wednesday- Ryan and Naomi left extremely early Wed. morning to catch their flight to Miami for the DJ convention that was taking place there. On Wednesday after my mom took the girls to school we went to visit Lindsey, Chloe, and Ella. Lindsey is an old college roommate and a very close friend. She and her husband have moved around alot, but about 3 months ago they were transferred to Ladera Ranch, which is about 15 minutes away from Ryan and Naomi. Cruz had a blast playing with Chloe who is 3. Little Ella is only about 8 months so she had fun watching! We played at their home and then took a walk to a little lunch and yogurt place close to their home. I had a blast being able to spend some time with Lindsey! After we picked the girls up from school we decided to try the pool that is in Ryan and Naomi's neighborhood. It was about 73 degrees and sunny and the pool was heated. Cruz was a crazy kid. He has no fear! I am a little worried about this summer. He was just swan diving off the side, he was giggling the whole time we were in the pool!

Thursday - Grandma R, Cruz, and I went to the Crowne Valley mall after we dropped the girls off at school. This is a beautiful mall with lots better shopping than SLC. Cruz did surprisingly well, and we bought him the cutest Easter outfit!! After the girls got home from school we went to the park. Again, Cruz is a crazy man! I don't know if it was being around Mia (5) and Sasha (3) that he thought he could do anything on the playground or what? He was daring before but now he is a little too daring. It scared me!!! :) It was so nice to play outside in the 70 degree sunny weather...Cruz and I were eating every second up!! That night we met up with my friends Jon and Maggie Hirt and their 2 kids Sayler and Owen. My other friend Emily was able to meet up with us at In & Out burger as well. It was kind of chaotic but it was so fun to hang out with everyone!

Friday- We took the girls to school and then headed to Huntington Beach. HB is about 40 minutes from Ryan and Naomi. I lived there for almost 4 years so I had a great time being back in my old stomping grounds. We drove by my old house I lived in, walked on the Pier, got a shake at Ruby's at the end of the pier, went to the farmers market that is right on the beach, played in the sand, walked on Main Street, Grandma bought Cruz a Huntington Surf and Sport t-shrit, ate lunch at Wahoos, and relished in the memories. Cruz didn't love this day, but I seriously still LOVE HB! We picked the girls up from school and right next to their school is a playground that overlooks the ocean. We played there for an hour and then crossed Pacific Coast Highway and went to the beach for a bit. There were dolphins jumping in the waves close to the beach. I was trying to point them out to Cruz, but I don't think he saw them. We were all exhausted by the end of Friday!

Saturday- We took it easy most of the morning. Rich, Katie, Nicholas (5), and Clara (almost 3) drove down from LA (a little over an hour) and spent the afternoon with us. We packed the car up and went down to the beach at San Clemente. I didn't know this but at San Clemente they have a playground on the beach. It was awesome for the kids. They played a little in the water, but the ocean water is still really cold in California. So most of the time we were on the swings and slides. It was a gorgeous day, close to 80 degrees! We packed up around dinner time and stopped at Chronic Taco to get some yummy tacos. The kids finished the day bathing together in Ryan and Naomi's large tub. Cruz just wanted to be like the big kids. He had to try everything they were doing.

Sunday - We went to church and then Cruz and I headed home. Unfortunately, the plane was full and I was flying by myself with Cruz. Lets just say I was happy to be in SLC and have the flight over with! :) Cruz and I both had a blast in California and it was so nice to have amazingly warm sunny weather. We returned to a snow storm and 30 degree weather. I know that isn't that bad, but we had a blast in the warmth! There will always be a place in my heart for California....and I think I made a little place in Cruz's heart with all the fun he had there!!!

Firsts for Cruz this trip-climbing out of the pack-n-play which made bedtime very interesting!!!! Cruz just got up from his nap so I gotta run....great trip, fun memories!!!

Happy Early Birthday Shawn!

Shawn opened up his presents from Cruz and I today since we (Cruz and I) will be out of town for Shawn's actual birthday. Cruz finger painted daddy a beautiful picture on foam cork board. We had a late lunch with the rest of the family that lives in Salt Lake and sang the "Happy Birthday" song to Shawn and ate some yummy cupcakes....sort of a lame birthday celebration, but I guess thats how it goes when you get older :)! We love you daddy!


Cruz really got into opening the gifts with daddy. I think he is starting to get the meaning of presents....that could be a good or bad thing! :)

We love Spring!

It was about 70 degrees today and beautiful...a little on the windy side, but that didn't interfere too much with all of our activities. We worked in the yard for a bit this morning and then the 3 of us decided to go on a hike. We hiked to a peak near our home...it isn't an official trail so we were following deer tracks most of the way up....about 2/3's of the way up we did hook into a small trail. It was nice to find that because it made getting down a little easier. Shawn did some skiing during nap time and then later in the day we met Fran, Steph, Wyatt, and Walker at Wheeler Farms. The 2 boys had a blast seeing all the animals and running around (Walker slept the whole time :)). We finished the day with some yummy food at Lonestar Taquira. A day doesn't get much better!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Shirt reads, "Not lucky just CUTE" ain't that true!

We have been enjoying beautiful spring weather the last few days! It has been so nice to be able to play outside without freezing!


The boys washing their vehicles after work last night! We love that it stays light later.


Working in the garden Sunday afternoon

Just couldn't help snapping pictures of my cutie this afternoon

Getting warm enough for the zoo

We had a beautiful day in Salt Lake City yesterday. It started out a bit chilly but it warmed up to high 50's. We decided to go to the zoo late in the afternoon. It was fun to be outside together. The zoo was closing in an hour so some of the animals were already in their cages, but it was still fun to walk around in the warm sun! Cruz had a marvelous time running around like crazy. We brought the wagon but he didn't want anything to do with it, unless it was to help push or pull it! We did see the giraffes and Cruz was trying to imitate their long necks and how one was walking, it was pretty funny! Cruz had a great time climbing on all the statues and running like crazy. There was one tiger that was pacing back and forth in front of the glass window and that was pretty cool! He would walk right in front of Cruz....Cruz kept trying to pet him!!!

After the zoo we met Marc, Tim, and Carrie at Este for some great NY style pizza....we love that place so when we are on that side of town we usually try to have some! Cruz was completely pooped by last night. I should have taken a picture of his pants and body. Dirty from head to toe, but I think he loved every minute of yesterday!!!


Look how close that tiger is!


Having fun climbing on the statues!


Helping mom push the wagon


Cruz trying to be funny by hanging off the back of the wagon when we were walking, he can be such a little turkey sometimes!


This water ball is at the entrance to the zoo. He was so excited to see and touch the water ball...he was totally giggling!

Great dad!

Shawn is such a good daddy to Cruz. On the weekends, Shawn really tries to spend as much time as possible with Cruz, and it is because he wants to! I don't have to push him to at all, Cruz is his best friend. Here the boys are reading a story before nap time yesterday....they are both looking a little tired!
I love seeing the 2 of them together

Toys

Cruz loves to play with his toys, especially his trucks, cars, horses, trailers, animals...does he sound like a boy to you?

Boys will be Boys

Shawn, Fran, Matt, Scott K., Tim, and Troy took the DNR out to the West Desert for its final farewell. As you can see from the pictures below, the boys spared no expense in having fun with the DNR! (to see more photos you can go to this link: http://timschaars.zenfolio.com/p468785323, for some reason I couldn't download the pictures)!

R.I.P. DNR

Shawn got the DNR on a trailer all ready to take her out for her final adventure before she gets put down!

Cruz's last play time in the DNR!

Shawn has a truck called the DNR (Department of Natural Resources). He bought it off the DNR agency when he was still living in Wisconsin. Shawn LOVES his truck. For about the past year the DNR has been struggling to run. At first Shawn thought it was an easy fix and he tried fixing it....the DNR worked for about a week and then it started having trouble all over again. Shawn didn't want to part with his favorite truck, he had visions of teaching Cruz to drive in it. The problem is, it was going to take a lot of money to fix the problem, and with so many miles on it (the odometer stopped working so we have no idea how many miles are on it, probably somewhere between 200,000 to 300,000 thousand) we weren't sure if we spent the money to fix it, if something else would break down soon too! So, after many months of contemplation, Shawn decided he would let go of the DNR. This was a very sad conclusion for Shawn. In fact, today he recalled a story that I had totally forgot about. We were in the early stages of dating and we were in the DNR. We went over some train tracks sort of fast and the muffler fell down and was scratching the road. Shawn was so embarrassed he hopped out and pulled the whole muffler off and flung it to the side of the road.

There are lots of great memories with the DNR, and Shawn will sorely miss his truck! Today Shawn rounded up a bunch of friends to have a final farewell with the DNR. The boys are out in the West Desert as we speak. The boys were planning on jumping it, shooting at it, etc...it is the only appropriate way for the DNR to go. Shawn wanted to take Cruz because this was a "boy thing" but he thought it would probably be a little safer for Cruz to sit this one out. So thank you DNR for all you have done for us, we will miss you....RIP!

Windy, windy, windy

It has been so windy in SLC the last 3 days, it is kinda crazy! It has also been unseasonably warm....like almost 60 degrees! Cruz and I have tried to do things outside because the temperatures are so nice, but the wind is pretty intense! Yesterday I pulled Cruz up the summer road at Alta with my friend Lindsey and her little boy William. It was a trek to pull our Chariots with the boys behind us up the road but it was also a blast. Once getting to the top of the snow covered road, we actually crossed over onto Alta's property and stopped for a snack at Alfs (a restaurant at Alta). Cruz slept on the way up but he didn't want to be confined on the way down....luckily it didn't take us too long to get back to our car.



A lot of times on Wednesday's we play with Grant and Walt. Ali is in a tennis league and her games are on Wednesday mornings. It has been fun having them close and to be able to trade kids. Cruz loves to hang out with Grant and Walt...Cruz especially has a thing for Grant, it is really cute. Today we went to Wheeler Farms, Grammy R met us there too! I wasn't sure we were going to be able to hang out long because the wind was blowing so hard, but that didn't stop the boys. They ran from one animal to the next. A farmer came out and took us on a little tour of the farm (maybe because we were the only ones crazy enough to be at the farm in a wind storm), he actually showed us a little lamb that was born an hour ago. It was so cute and the umbilical cord was still attached. That was really cool! I told the boys I am 34 years old and I have never seen that until now!!! I told them how lucky they were. We also saw a cow that was VERY pregnant....they said she was technically due today, so we will have to go back to the farm soon to see the new little calf.