Pismo Beach

This was our very first Casen free vacation! It was only a couple of days but so much fun! There is a lot to do in Pismo and we will definitely have to go back again sometime. We actually flew into Santa Maria since we got really cheap flights and then it was only a 30 minute drive. It was pretty cold but Marc still had fun running in the waves.

We also checked out the tide pools during low tide. That was always my favorite thing to do as a little girl so it was fun memories for me.

The sunset was so beautiful! We just enjoyed sitting on the beach and enjoying the view.


The highlight of the trip for both of us was riding the ATV's in the sand dunes. These sand dunes were so amazing. They went on for miles! We rode for 2 hours and had a blast. I would recommend it!

We had such a nice time and would definitely recommend a vacation to Pismo. There are so many things to do and the weather was nice and cool!

Easter 2011

Since Marc also got work off for my spring break we decided to go on a trip. We asked Casen where he wanted to go and he picked to visit his Grandma's in Utah. He loves is great Grandma Stone and Cox. We had a lot of fun driving up and making lots of stops. We stopped to tour Cove Fort, get some fudge and the Red Barn, and eat at the Creamery with my brother's family. When we got to our final destination we were able to just relax and enjoy. Since it was Easter weekend we got to participate in all the Easter fun. We decided to start a tradition in our family of the Easter Bunny coming on Saturday morning so here is a picture of Casen opening his Easter basket. This is his signature silly face that he makes all the time now. He thinks he is pretty cool most of the time.

Here is Casen as the Easter Bunny. This is a sign for Marc's grandma's annual Easter celebration that started back in 1917. Casen enjoyed running around the church and I enjoyed eating an endless supply of deviled eggs!

After the lunch we went back to Marc's grandma's and had a giant Easter egg hunt. There were almost 30 kids and Casen loved every minute. He was the last man standing at the Easter egg hunt. All the kids had gone and Casen was still walking around the yard trying to find more eggs and candy. He was convinced we had missed something. We finally had to drag him in the house.
Casen and his cousin who is only 3 days older!

Casen so excited to show us the candy he found!

On Sunday morning we drove back down to spend the morning and go to church with my brother and his family. Casen got to enjoy yet another Easter egg hunt. He was so overjoyed! He, of course, did not want to stop looking so my little niece kept taking eggs out of his basket and hiding them again. I think he would have done it all day if we would have obliged.

This is my newest little nephew who just turned 1. He was so cute picking up the eggs. They were searching for hardboiled eggs and he was throwing them down the hill in the backyard. It was so cute. I couldn't resist posting a picture of his cuteness!

We had a wonderful Easter and a relaxing time just visiting with family! Happy Easter everyone!

Train Ride

As part of my Spring Break we were able to go on a fun train ride in Boulder City with lots of friends. It is a 45 minute train ride with conductors dressed up and everything.

The whole family riding the train with the Nevada desert in the background.

Casen sitting with his buddies and one of the train conductors.

I think this one speaks for itself and it was Marc's idea not mine!

The whole family again in front of one of the train engines they have on display. It was neat to take the ride and then be able to check out a bunch of the cool old trains. Many of them were over 100 years old.

After the train ride we went into Boulder City and ate at The Coffee Cup it was featured on Diners Drivers and Dives so it is fun to check it out. It was a fun family outing and adventure!

Sea World Vacation!

The last time we went to Sea World Casen was in my tummy so we decided maybe he would like to actually see it this time. Sea World is running a special that your one day ticket is good for the rest of the year for the same price. I guess since last year was Disneyland, this year will be Sea World and San Diego.
The first day was cold and rainy but it just meant that not very many people were there. We were all bundled up and had ponchos so we stayed mostly warm and dry.

Here is Marc and Casen waiting to watch Shamu.

Shamu posing for my picture! So nice!

We let Casen feed the sea lions and he thought that was cool. Marc had to help him since I refused to touch raw fish.

Here is Marc helping Casen touch the sting rays. Casen really loved checking everything out and getting to see all the animals.

We went back the next day for a little bit and it was a much nicer day. We watched the dolphin show in the nice sunny weather. They changed the show up from the last time we saw it and it was really awesome.

We also got to spend some time at the beach before the rain came in on the weekend so it ended up being a really nice and relaxing weekend. We didn't have our regular camera at the beach so I don't have the pictures but Casen got to build a sand castle and play in the dirt. That is one of his favorite things to do. He keeps asking if he can build a sand castle at home. The sad part of the weekend is that Casen wasn't feeling all that well. He started coughing on our way there and by the end of the cold and rainy day he coughed all night. The poor kid ended up having a double ear infection and needed antibiotics and breathing treatments. I guess it was a good thing he was mainly being held or pushed the whole time. Hopefully we can pick a healthier weekend next time we go.

Christmas!

December has been a total blur! We spent the majority of the month being sick back and forth between mostly me and Casen and a little bit for Marc too. Casen and I had an upper respiratory infection and he had to have breathing treatments again. We always hate when he is sick and this was definitely not fun. It took about 2 weeks to really get over it! When we were finally getting better, we were able to have a little Christmas fun!

Here we are at the Ethel M Christmas lights with Santa. Casen has loved meeting Santa this time around because he really felt like he had to tell Santa everything he wanted or it wouldn't happen!

We went with Marc's brother's family so here is a picture of Casen and his cousin Brooklyn with Santa!

I had to post this picture because Casen looked so darn handsome in it. Don't mind the look on his face. He likes to make weird faces when posing for pictures. Since I don't have a little girl to put in Christmas dresses, I went for the Christmas sweater. This was Casen's little church outfit on the Sunday before Christmas.

Christmas Eve at the Cox house. This was actually Casen's first time holding his new cousin Emmitt because he wasn't interested in holding him before. He asked to hold him this time and he loved it.

Casen with his Christmas morning loot. I think he is probably a little spoiled but in my defense he is an only child and most of them were small things. He was so excited to come down and see what Santa brought. It was also so much fun for us to see his face. He ran straight for his Santa presents and just started opening everything. The one funny thing was that I got him a clock when we were together and I didn't think he was paying attention. I had it wrapped with his Santa presents and as soon as he opened it he said "It's the clock me and mommy bought". Good thing he can't read that the tag said Santa. I will have to be more careful next year.

The main gift...his Buzz Lightyear bike. He didn't do too great the first time but the second time we went riding he took off so fast, I had to jog to catch up. He loves riding it so much.

Our family on Christmas day...yes we even let Sasha be a part of it. She wore her little Santa outfit the whole day. We had a wonderful Christmas splitting the day between both families and even catching a movie in the middle.

We have had a great year and once again I can't believe it has gone so fast. Every time I look at Casen, I am in awe at how big he has gotten. Sometimes I just wish it would slow down a little. We hope everyone else has had a great year too! Happy New Year 2011!

Halloween and Disneyland!

Casen really loved Halloween this year because he really got the concept. He was so excited to dress up as Buzz and he was especially excited for the candy. As much as we didn't want him to eat too many sweets he loves candy so much. He asks for candy for breakfast all the time. Since we went to Disneyland for Halloween, Casen's only trick or treating was my in-laws Trunk or Treat. He got to go with his cousin, Brooklyn the Bumblebee. They got to go around 3 or 4 times and got plenty of candy. They also had a little cupcake walk.

This year we also decided to carve pumpkins. Casen didn't like sticking his hand inside to get the gunk out (I didn't either). We tried to make one that looked like Mickey and then Casen picked the scary face one that I carved. My sister in law made a UNLV that was pretty cool but doesn't show in the picture! Casen liked going out every night and lighting the pumpkins.

For Halloween, we used the final 2 days of our annual passes to Disneyland. It was such a great year of Disney. I highly recommend trying annual passes sometime. This time we got a sweet deal at a hotel that had a full breakfast every morning and a full kitchen in our room so we saved a lot on food. Our system for Disneyland is to get there right when it opens because it isn't very crowded. Then we go back to the hotel for a nap in the afternoon and then stay at the park until 11. On our last night we stayed until midnight and Casen kept asking to go on just one more ride. It was pretty cute.
Here is a picture of Daddy and Buzz Lightyear going on the Buzz ride. That is one of Casen's favorites. We go on it multiple times on every trip.

We had to make sure and get a picture of our whole family this time it is only fitting that Mickey Mouse join us. If I get around to making a Christmas card this will probably be the picture.

Since Casen is so fond of LIghtning McQueen and Cars right now, we also had to make sure and get a picture with him. He literally watches at least part of the Cars movie every day. He has some of the small Cars that he has to take with him everywhere including tucked in with him in bed at night.

Before heading home, we stopped at Newport beach to play for a little. We were just planning on walking around and playing in the sand, but Casen had other plans. We were chasing the water and he tripped and got completely soaked! Here he is before getting all wet.

Marc had to go to the car and get his swimming suit and a change of clothes since he was so wet. He had so much fun after that. It was such a wonderful moment of parenthood to watch him play. He was so utterly happy and free just running around in the sand and throwing it and rolling in it and running on it. We also chased the water a lot as well which was fun for me as well.

He let me bury him in the sand a little bit to get warm after he fell in the water.

The only bad part about the beach is the sand that got everywhere. Casen was not happy about taking a shower at the beach so he drove home with sand in lots of places =) When we got home we let Casen hand out candy to the trick or treaters. He had just as much fun giving candy as he did getting it. He was so sad when we ran out of candy and had to turn the lights off. I would say it was a wonderful Halloween this year.

Back to Blogging...Finally

Since our computer broke a few months ago, I have been very behind in blogging. It has also been a pretty busy few months with Marc's brother getting married in August and then going back to work and being stressed out, etc... I am going to update on a few things in this post.

In August, Shane and Hannah got married up in Utah. Here is a lovely picture of the couple. We are so excited to have Hannah in the family. Casen loves her so much! He has tried to steal her from Shane on occasion!

Casen got to wear a little suit at the wedding and he loved it! He thought he looked so cool and he did!


On October 1st, Casen turned 3!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. We decided to have a friend party for him this year since he was so excited about his birthday and really wanted his friends and a frosting cake.

Here is a picture of mommy, daddy, and Casen at the party. We went to the park and had pizza, soccer goals, and the kids could make their own visors. I didn't think about getting a picture of Casen with all of his little friends but there was a great turn out. We really appreciate everyone coming and having fun with us. We are grateful to have lots of friends and family here!

Casen opening some presents and also a shot of the toy story cake. The party was Toy Story themed of course.

We let Casen open his presents from us on his actual birthday. He got one of the super cool Buzz Lightyears that makes all the noise.

I will make another post to finish the update with Disneyland and Halloween!