CA: Backyard Fun

Where did we spend the most time on this trip to California?  We didn't go to Disneyland this time.  Didn't visit Legoland.  Didn't do many tourist-y things.  We've done them all before and we'll do them again.  This trip was all about seeing family, and we wanted to spend the most time we could with them.  So we spent the majority of our vacation in the homes of our family.  And Charlie's playtime was primarily in the backyard with his relatives.  One day I took the camera outside while he and Brinly were playing.  That night the event included flower picking, sprinkler fun and swinging.

CA: Ephram Loves Cousins

Ephram met six of his cousins while we were in California.  All of his cousins were very good with him.  Brinly kept asking if she could play with him and told me that she needed to practice because she's going to be a big sister soon.  (Brinly's baby brother is expected in October.)  Evin kept telling me that he just loves babies, and he wants another baby brother.  (Evin already has two little brothers and a little sister.)  Braxton and Quinlan both played with him nicely.  And when Dustin, who's one, could stop long enough he played well with Ephram too.  Ephram loved all of the attention!

CA: Charlie Sleeps

Charlie had constant opportunity to play when we were in California.  No matter where we were, it was pretty much a guarantee that a parent, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle or grandparent would be readily available for interaction.  Charlie ate it up and was on the move pretty much the whole trip.  But, after our drive down to visit Grandma Hayman I caught him like this for a moment:

He had worn down so much that he curled up on my Grandma's living room chair and went to sleep.  He looked so innocent and serene that I just had to take a few pictures.  We don't often get to see this side of Charlie.

He woke up a little grouchy and confused.  So I showed him the pictures that I took of him.  And then he was just happy.  We sat together for about ten minutes... and then he was off.

CA: Grandpa Kovar Time

We also were able to spend quite a bit of time with Andy's dad.  The kids really like their Grandpa Kovar!  We went over to his house quite a few times, and didn't get out as much as we would have liked because it was so hot while we were there!  Charlie also got to go to the train museum with Grandpa Kovar, but that's a post for another day.

The boys really enjoyed their time with Grandpa Kovar.  Charlie's cousin Quinlan even came to visit one day!

CA: Meeting Grandpa Boyce

This trip marked the first time that Ephram got to meet both his grandfathers.  I was excited to see him with my dad.  Ephram's middle name, William, was given because it is my father's first name.  Ephram really liked his Grandpa - and I'm pretty sure Grandpa liked him too!

CA: Cousins

My parents now have eight grandchildren, with a ninth set to arrive this fall.  Lots of cousins for my boys.  The catch?  The cousins live in Washington, Arizona and Tennessee, so playtime is very limited for them!  It is too bad that we don't all live closer, because these cousins get along well.

These kids all have one thing in common - they are all quite silly!  Just look at what happens when I try to take a group picture of them!  (Only Dustin is missing, he was taking a nap.)

Charlie has two cousins his age on this side.  I think that makes him pretty lucky!  Just one catch... they're both girls.  And, they happen to be at the age where gender starts to matter.  Still, they did a pretty good job playing together.  Charlie just wasn't too interested in some of the girly things they wanted to do... Like playing pigtails and ponytails. 

So he started latching on to some of his older boy cousins.  So he joined in with Adam and Braxton on their game instead of playing with the girls. 

Charlie idolized Adam, who turned seven a few days after our vacation ended.  My first indication that Charlie liked Adam was when he started to imitate him.  Adam knows all the words to the Phineas and Ferb theme song.  Charlie now knows about half of it as well.  Good thing I like that show!  Adam was also very helpful at teaching Charlie all about his new Leapster.

Charlie also really liked Braxton (9) and Evin (11).  Braxton made lots of paper airplanes for him, and Evin made him a really cool arm cannon.  Charlie still has one of the planes and the arm cannon in his room.  I think he wishes that they were here and they could make more things for him!

Dustin is a year and a half and very cute.  Ephram couldn't keep his eyes off of him.  Neither could I... kind of starting to worry about what mayhem we are headed for with Ephram in the next year!  Dustin was constantly on the move, and almost always very happy!

Quinlan and Charlie got to spend some time at Grandma Hayman's house... they really did play together well.  They both really liked all of the fruit Grandma had!

Charlie and Ephram also got to meet one of their second cousins - Isabel - while we were at Grandma Hayman's.  Isabel is one as well, just a little younger than Dustin.  And was also all over the place.  Ah, I hope I have a little more time until Ephram is that mobile!

I did manage to take a couple of good pictures of almost all of the Boyce cousins together...  Too bad Dustin was napping.  I guess we will have to all get together soon to try again!

The boys: Charlie, Evin, Ephram, Braxton, Adam

Braxton, Ephram, Brinly, Quinlan, Charlie, Evin and Adam

CA: Random Pictures of Andy and Ephram

One of my most favorite things in the world is to sit back and watch Andy being a dad.  Our boys had two and a half weeks with their dad for this vacation.  It was clear that they both loved the extra daddy time, and equally as obvious that Andy enjoyed his time with them.  Here are some random pictures of Ephram and Andy from the time that we spent in California.