Wild Rivers

Carson wanted to go to Wild Rivers for his birthday this year. I think we probably went on the coldest day of the summer! Granted, it was early summer, but Burrrrr...it was freezing. We actually spent a lot of time warming up in the "hot tubs". The kids did have a fun time in the kid section going down the slides and playing in the pools.

All Aboard

Every time I talked of going down to San Diego to Sea World or the zoo, I always said that we should take the train. It sounded like so much fun. Then I would check out the price and realize that I could drive a car load of people a lot cheaper than one person's ride on the train. Needless to say, I have never taken the train to San Diego.
Recently, Amy looked into taking the kids to San Juan Capistrano by train and the price wasn't bad, so we decided to do it. It was a great trip. The kids loved the idea of being able to walk around while we were moving, and of course, they all had to try out the bathroom. While in Capistrano, we found a fun cafe for a quick muffin, a cool park, and a really neat petting zoo. They even had a two story Ruby's for lunch. All in all, it was a great experience.

Happy Birthday Todd

It wasn't planned that way, but my two kids birthdays are two weeks apart. I just get done with Amy's and it's time for Todd's. He was born on a Monday after only 7 hours of labor. It was pretty easy, even without any drugs, but I was surprised by having to push for an hour. I thought they just popped right out.

One of my favorite memories of Todd is being in Washington DC and going to my cousins house for dinner. In the evening, all of these fire flies came out. Todd collected some in a jar and released then in our hotel room that night. We had such a great "light show". But the next morning, we found their little dead bodies all over the room. Where ever Todd goes, he brings fun and laughter. What an awesome man he is becoming. Happy birthday, Todd. I sure love you.

Pool Time

Due to scheduling conflicts, our annual Palm Springs Spring Break trip happened in May this year. The family is getting big enough, that we had to stay in a suite, and this year, we looked for a fun pool. We found a hotel that had both, and we had a blast.

Happy Birthday Amy

I can't believe it was 32 years ago when this little "munchkin" was born. It was an easy pregnancy and an even easier delivery. Life with her was always fun. I especially enjoy my memories of our camping trips and vacations. No matter where we were, she always found something fun to do. Amy is also one of the sweetest, most caring people I know and she has been that way from birth. She was a joy to raise and it is wonderful to watch her raise her own family. I couldn't be prouder of who she has become. I love you, Amy. Happy Birthday.

Owen's blessing

Owen Thomas Mortensen was blessed on Sunday by his dad. It was a beautiful blessing with family and friends helping. Afterwards, we went to Amy and Todd's for a lunch. It was nice to be around so much family and see so much support for this new, little spirit. He is loved.

Easter Vacation

Todd, Kathy, and the kids came for Spring break, and we made the most of our time together. The weather cooperated, and it was beautiful. We actually made it to the beach for some fun. The kids loved playing in the water on boogie boards and building sand castles.

On Saturday, we had our annual Easter Breakfast at the park. This tradition started before I can remember. We cook ham, hash brown potatoes, and eggs. We used to play volleyball, but as the adults have aged, it has evolved to a more sedate game of croquette. Still, it's a fun way to spend a morning. The kids always look forward to the Easter egg hunt. Instead of candy, we hide snacks and boxed drinks. This year, however, I think the highlight was the egg tossing contest held between the two Todds. They threw the eggs high up in the air, and tried to catch them in their mouths. It was very entertaining and pretty messy.

On Sunday, Owen was blessed. It was a great opportunity to get a picture of the kids.