Celebrating Asher's 2nd Birthday!

Yesterday we celebrated Asher turning 2.  Because we are currently staying in a hotel on base my dear friend Mallory offered her house for the party.  It was a lot of fun and for Mommy's heart a little sad seeing my baby grow up :(

This was my second attempt at a fancy cake.  I was very pleased with the out come (and it tasted great too).

Thank you again Mallory for guiding me. 

We are just about to sing to my boy.  I instructed AJ that he might need to help Asher to blow out the candles because I never told him what to do.  

Well I was surprised.  He needed no assistance at all.  Once again he showed me we was all grown up :(  We had to light the candles twice because he didn't wait until we were done singing.  

His aim was much better than Alyssa's but still a little off.  But once he did it we all clapped and he had the biggest smile on his face and said "YEAH!"

(I was so bummed I missed the greatest photo shot.) 

He got a big piece and ate every drop.  He must like Mommy's cakes.  And yes it kept him up late!

All grown up!

Opening a couple of his gifts.  Cars was the theme.  I am going to be the mom with extra McQueens in her purse for back up. 

Wrest Park

Instead of seeing the Olympic torch run through our town we decided to go to Wrest Park.  The weather was a typical british day with clouds and spots of rain but we still had a good time.  Hope you enjoy our pictures of one of our last outings in England :(

We started the day off with the kids playing on the playground.  This was not a good idea because it was really hard to part them from it to see an "old house" as Alyssa calls it.   

It wasn't raining at the time but Alyssa loves her umbrella.  And she looks adorable posing with it :)

My handsome husband humoring me with my picture taking.  We couldn't get the kids to get in the shot.   

and this is why!  

I am sure glad we didn't have to pay for them to get SOAKING wet from a giant puddle.  They ran through this over and over again.  Asher even fell face first into it and was soaked top to bottom.  They couldn't have been happier.  

Alyssa asked when we walked up to the house "can we move into this house?"  

"Of course, honey.  Just call me Elizabeth Darcy"

In the middle of this gorgeous yard was a croquet match going on. I believe this moment was a true british moment.  Overcast skies, GREEN everywhere, and little old men in all white playing croquet.  Have you ever seen a cut-throat croquet game?!  It is like an oxymoron...lol.  

SWEETNESS!  

A family shot in front of the house.  Not the best angle but still a good family shot.  

This is actually one of my practice shots setting up the tripod but I just loved the view, and I am not just talking about my boys.  

Family shot looking away from the house.  

Could it get more perfect?!

I swear Alyssa tried to smell every one of these roses.  We had to bust out the "who wants to go back to the playground" card to get her to stop.  She just needed to soak up more sweetness (if that is even possible).  

4th of July Fun!

The only thing good about living in the hotel on base is that we didn't have to find parking when going to enjoy the 4th of July festival on base.  We had a great time but made for a long day for Asher and even longer day for Alyssa.  I hope you enjoy the cute faces of my babies having some 4th fun...

This is so an Asher (and grandpa) face.  This was the first ride the kids went on.  It doesn't look like it here but Asher loved this ride.  He ended up on this ride about 8 times.  The attendant even said he was going to be a pilot :)

This is practice for when we make it to Disneyland to the REAL spin cups.  Right now this was not Asher's favorite ride.  He will need some more practice as he gets older.  Alyssa enjoyed herself.  

Alyssa's face says it all.  They had a lot of fun on the rides and most the time they rode together.  It is great when the kids get along (doesn't happen often).  

Weeeeee!  We spent a good 30 mins watching Alyssa go down the "little" slide.  She was only suppose to be on for 5 mins but she was one of just 3 kids so the lady didn't pay much attention to them.  

Next to the "little" slide was the "mega" slide.  Asher was unable to go up the ladder of the "little" slide on his own and AJ was not aloud on it at all.  So AJ took Asher on the "mega" slide.  His face was priceless.  He didn't seem like he was enjoying himself but we couldn't get him off the slide.  

Next it was Mommy and Alyssa's turn.  Mommy made it down about three times before my legs started to die from the climb (I know I need to workout).  Alyssa kept on going and enjoyed every minute of it.  

The last ride we went on was a mirror maze.  All 4 of us went and you should have see us trying to do the spinning tunnel at the end!  Alyssa and I fell on top of each other.  I was laughing so hard I thought I would have to change my pants.  I wish someone was filming it.  Afterwards, they had spin disks to walk on and here is AJ helping Asher do them.  

We went inside around 8 to put Asher to bed (to young to hang all night).  When the Grover's made it to base to enjoy the rides, Alyssa and I joined them.  Alyssa got to do one ride on the bumper boats with Carson before the fireworks started.  

Alyssa and I after we saw the fireworks.  We really enjoyed them but had to stay up until 11pm to see them.  Can you see it in my babies eyes?  She was SOOO tired.  

Sea Life - Meet THE OCTONAUTS

While looking on the internet for things to do before we left England we came across the website for Sea Life.  That's where we discovered that the two main characters from the show THE OCTONAUTS were going to be there.  Alyssa and Asher have been crazy for this show the moment we moved here.  AJ was able to take Friday off and we drove down there to meet them.  A little girl in our car could NOT wait to get there an meet Kwazii and Captain Barnacles (oh and see all the fish too).  

Starting the aquarium tour looking at some fish in a mini tide pool.  

The shark aquarium.  Asher was very into this...

Still there.  We had to bribe him to leave the sharks.  It was cute though, every time a shark swam by him on the side he was not looking he would jump a little.  See the shark behind him, two seconds later he jumped.  But still we looked and looked and LOOKED.  

Do you think we found his passion?  I can see him in a little scuba outfit.  I think if we left him and came back a couple hours later he would have still been there.  

Alyssa got to relax a little while as well.  

Oh boy, the big shark tank.  Asher was in love once again.  The only thing that got us through faster was half of it was the see through floor and he was not a fan of that.  Every time he took a step he acted as if he was going to fall.  

THE BIG MOMENT!

First we got to meet Kwazii.  He is a pirate cat and Alyssa went right up to him and gave him a hug.  Later on Asher came to meet him but he wasn't so sure.  Alyssa helped out buy introducing Asher to him.  It was such a big sister thing to do.  

 Actually Asher wasn't scared of him and kept talking to him but didn't feel up to a hug.  Here is a good shot of the three of us.  Asher gave him a high-5 at the end.  

Next was Captain Barnacles, the polar bear.  Once again, Alyssa was very excited and gave him a big hug.  Asher gave out high-5's and was excited to see him.  It was a great day!

Audley End House

With the recommendation from a dear friend, Mallory Grover, we went to Audley End house today.  The weather was perfect and the kids were great (for the most part).  It was a great day to be outside and with the family.  Hope you enjoy our pictures...

This was one of the many great views of the property.  Here AJ and Alyssa are enjoying the river that runs through most of the property.  

Alyssa and Asher are enjoying the fishies of the pond.  Asher just loves fishies (I think because it is one of the few words he knows how to say). 

Meet Alyssa from 1880.  

She had a blast dressing up in their costumes.  

Surprise, Surprise!

We found their horseys.  A day out is not complete without visiting the horseys.  I sure hope they have them in Japan:)

More dressing up.  Here Alyssa got to wear a real crown.  It was SOOO heavy and was made from real silver.  I don't know how you would wear it all day.   

The kids loved going through the servants rooms because you could play with everything.  Here was the dairy room.  

Asher was not willing to go through the rest of the house, so AJ and I took turns.   Here Asher and I are playing around with the camera while we wait for AJ and Alyssa.  He was so into it. 

This was the front of the house.  I have changed the title page of this blog to the family picture taken in front of it (check it out).  

The kids were done taking family photos so we let them play while AJ and I got a shot it.  It turned out really good.  

After the Audley End house we went across the street to a mini-train station and play area.  Here the kids are enjoying the bounce house while we wait for our train ride.  I am so surprised that they are both still going, especially Asher.  They were SOOO tired.  

My cute family waiting for the train to get going.  Asher's face doesn't show it but he was so excited.  

"Hey, Mom!"

Whoever thought of this idea was a genius!  They put teddy bears in the forrest throughout the train ride.  Alyssa screamed "Teddy Bears!" every time she saw them.  

LOL LOL LOL!!

I seriously laugh so hard at this picture.  I shouldn't though because she is genuinely scared here.  There were two tunnels that were actually pretty long where there were a couple minutes of complete darkness.  I knew Alyssa was scared and I wanted to see her face so I took this shot (in the dark).  The camera was on my lap and I just pointed it in the direction I knew she was and hit the button.  Because I couldn't see what she was doing at the time, I about peed my pants when I hit preview on my camera.  She was completely fine when the tunnels were over so I can really enjoy this picture.  Once again, LOL!