Brad's New Obsession

Well...here it is!!! 

 Brad got a salt water fish tank. 

 He kept buying fish for his brother's tank & then he finally got one himself.  As much as I wish he wouldn't have spent the $$ on this I'm warming up to it.  We've only had it for 4 days but everyone has to sit & watch what's going on.  Kind of like a new TV.  So...I've been able to shut the TV off more during the day & that's nice.  Bryan gave us the starfish & the crab & then Brad bought the snail & clown fish.  It's actually really cool to watch the whole world in there.  The crab has major personality & it's cool to watch him switch from shell to shell.  He always picks the one that's too heavy but has lots of points on it & then I suppose he gets tired & switches to the lighter one.  All in all I think this is pretty cool.  I am a fan of animals that I don't necessarily have to touch but can watch from a distance so this is perfect for me.  And Brad spends a lot of time going to the pet stores to figure out what's best for our new tank & the creatures inside.

(do you like how the remote control is sitting right next to the tank...hahaha)

~Shannon

Opening Day for Little League

It's official!! 

The Little League Season has begun!!

Blake is on a Coach Pitch team this year & as far as I can tell he's doing great!!  He's already hadHe's on the Red Sox.  He's been on a different team every year.  Opening day was this last Saturday where they announce all the teams & then they have bounce houses & slides & little carnival games to raise $$ for the league.  I had to supervise the bounce house for a little bit & that was kinda fun but glad I didn't have to do it for very long.  Time passes so slow when you are waiting for 4 minutes to go by to let the next group in.

It was a nice day & we even ran into a couple of kids from Blake's class & I finally met their mom. 

I hope Blake does great this season!!  1st game is this Thursday!!

The backside of the team.

Blake & his good buddy Nolan.  He's always been a head taller than him.

Grandpa, Blake & Naunie

Grandpa, Blake, Sonny & Naunie

Sonny was decked out in A's gear because that was Blake's team last year.  Eventually I will get

out to get him his own Red Sox shirt & hat & maybe I'll get a coordinating shirt too!!

~Shannon

St. Patty's Day Cupcakes

Blake & Colby

Last week was St' Patrick's Day...just in case you forgot. 

 I made sure the kids had some green on & every year I wonder...why can't they just wear the all green shirts that I pick out for them...why oh why?  Oh well.

I thought it would be fun to make cupcakes & decorate them with green sprinkles from the Christmas stash & green Mike & Ikes.  Actually my idea was to make shamrocks with green frosting but I decided to go the easier route for the kids.  I made the cupcakes with my fabulous Demarle flexible bakeware while Blake was at school & then when we got home we decorated them.  Kylie's was gone before I even gave her the frosting & Sonny only got a little frosting on before he decided it was easier to just eat the frosting & cupcake by themselves.  Blake & Colby had a really fun time making their special cupcakes & then decorating the rest.  It was fun to watch.  It's not a holiday that we do much for so it was fun to make a sweet treat & the kids enjoyed it too.

~Shannon

Our Trip to Monterey

We decided we needed to get away with the boys. 

 I mentioned to Brad that I really wanted to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium...so that's where we decided to go.  We got our tax refund & Brad booked us a hotel in Monterey & we left on a Saturday morning.  It was quite the adventure driving there because it was sooo stormy!!  I'm am definitely a passenger driver....especially when it's raining & I'm not in control.  Now let me just say that Brad is a really good driver....I just have a harder time in the rain.  It poured so hard in some areas.  It was CrAzY!!  We saw at least 3 accidents going in the opposite direction.  It was a little scary...but we made it safe & sound.  We stayed in this really nice hotel.  I loved the simplicity of the colors & the furnishings in the room.  The bed was just a little bit small for us but it was only 1 night so we survived.   The 1st night we checked out the Fisherman's Wharf & walked around & ate dinner.  It was sooo good.  I loved my Shrimp Louie salad with fresh shrimp & crab.  Delicious & Brad liked his selection too (can't remember what he got because I would never order it).  And then we got some ice cream.  The boys loved that!!  After ice cream Brad took the boys to the "hot" pool for a little bit while I relaxed by myself.

On Sunday morning we got up & got ready, went to "Red's Donuts" (they were good) & headed over to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We got there early so there was plenty of time to look out at the ocean.  While we were taking in the ocean we saw some sea lions & there was even a girl there that was observing them for her job & was telling me about them.  It was so cool & I REALLY actually saw them out in the water.  For whatever reason I never see cool stuff like that & just say "oh yeah...I saw it" even if I didn't.  I think Brad's catching on that I'm not exactly telling the truth.  But I did in fact see them & there was one swimming close enough that I was able to get a semi-decent picture.  The weather was amazing too...not like the day before!! 

Then we were off to get in line & boy were we glad that we bought tickets in advance. 

There was soo much to see & the boys had a blast!!  I think Brad & I enjoyed ourselves just as much as they did.  There was so much to see & do.  Fish, jellyfish, sea lions, sharks, manta rays, penguins & whatever else you can think of.  We went to the "petting" area & I actually touched a mantaray.  I say this because I have this weirdness with touching strange things.  I was lucky to touch one because I think they know that we are all trying to touch them & stay in the corners away from everybody as long as they can.  Blake's arms just weren't long enough but later on he did hold a crab & he thought that was really cool.

It was really a lot of fun!!

After lunch we went outside for a bit to take in the beautiful scenery.  There were all these seagulls outside so Brad & Sonny were feeding them their oyster crackers leftover from lunch.  All of a sudden out of nowhere a pelican flew overhead & all the other birds scattered like crazy & then all of a sudden (again) it landed!!  Like so close...it was crazy!!!  Now these are not the prettiest of birds but it was awesome to be that close so I took some pictures of this crazy bird.

It's like he was posing for us!!  It was cool that I got a picture of him in flight & then standing right there in front of us.  I'm so glad we were outside to witness this.  Who knows if we'll ever see a pelican that close again.  We had a wonderful day at the aquarium & I'm so glad we went even if it was just for 2 days.  We really needed to get away for some fun "Family Time".  Then we headed back home to meet up with Brad's dad for another Birthday dinner.  I can't wait to go back to Monterey when the weather is just a bit warmer & we can spend some time at the beach.

~Shannon~

Happy 30th Birthday Brad!!

Happy BiRtHdAy BrAd!!!  We ♥ you!!!

Above is the card Blake made for his dad.

Doesn't he look sooo Happy!!!

He wonders why I put up pictures that aren't the best....Well.....whenever I take your picture

you make these faces & this is the best one I've got.

Love you!!!

Brad's 30th Birthday was a few weeks ago & we had fun celebrating.

I know, I know...you can sooo tell by the look on his face.

We started off the week by doing some more bowling.

The boys are really loving this new pastime.

Then we celebrated his "real" Birthday at the Outback Steakhouse.

Dinner with his mom, & Bryan & Kimi the next night.

Then we took a little weekend vacation to Monterey (pics in next post).

When we got back from our little trip we then met up with his Dad & Bryan & Kimi

at the Olive Garden & had a very nice dinner with them as well.  Our food was really good too.

Glad I had leftovers!!  Well it was fun celebrating the week with Brad.

Welcome to your 30's babe!!  Let the gray hairs begin...hehehe.

♥Shannon