San Diego Trip 2009!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on vacation with the Rutledge's? Now is your chance to experience it!

We went to San Diego to visit Legoland and Seaworld with Momo and Papa and we are sharing our pictures with you. Be warned! This is probably more pictures than you ever wanted to see of the Rutledge's. Shockingly I'm only sharing the "best" ones!

The trip was great. Johnny LOVED it. Legoland was the perfect place for him. He saw all his favorite Lego characters and got to go on rides and see different Lego exhibits and movies. He got brave towards the end and went on the Coastersaurus with Mommy, Daddy and Papa. After much discussion with him that we weren't sure he'd like it, he was very firm in his decision to attempt this ride. After the ride was complete he exclaimed "I thought I was going to die!". He has decided he never wants to ride a roller coaster again.

Johnny's favorite ride was the "Lost Kingdom Adventure". He took everyone on it many times! Personally I think he just enjoyed that you got to shoot a laser gun!

Maisy enjoyed the toddler areas of Legoland, but she isn't big enough for any of the rides. She liked walking around, but enjoyed riding in her stroller more. She was an excellent traveller, just going with the flow and taking LONG naps in her stroller or in her carrier. It was wonderful! (Her brother was not quite as adaptable at her age, so we were a little worried about what we were getting in to. Thankfully she far exceeded our expectations.)

Seaworld was by far Maisy's favorite. She LOVED the Shamu Show. They have you do something with your hands in the air called the "Sham Slam" to encourage the whale to slam it's tale on the water and splash the audience. Maisy picked it up very quickly and is still walking around the house making the hand motion. She laughed and clapped all through the performance.

Johnny also enjoyed the Shamu Show, but was a little disappointed. He thought he would get to get in the water and swim with the whales.

We were greeted by some rather rude dolphins during the Dolphin Discovery show which resulted in us being splashed and getting quite wet. Unfortunately the salt water got in Johnny's eyes and we had to leave the show early. Needless to say we don't care to see Bubbles the dolphin again.

Our favorite area of Seaworld was the Sesame Street Bay of Play. It was really neat! They had tons of Sesame Street themed rides and exhibits and Maisy, Momo and I got to watch a performance by Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Grover, and Abby Cadabby. After the performance we met the characters which made Maisy a little uncomfortable.

We are home and have recovered from our trip. The only downfall was that Maisy got sick on our trip and ended up at the dr with pneumonia. She got on some medicine and got better quickly and is back to normal now.

And now....too many pictures from our trip!

The Rutledge's....2009

Darth Vader is made out of Lego's
(or as Johnny calls him - Dark Vader)

A HUGE breakthrough for Johnny. He's been terrified of "dressed up" people for years!

The inauguration...in Lego's

Johnny's favorite - the Lego Bionicles

Maisy at the Sesame Street Bay of Play Water Fountain

Maisy, fast asleep with her new Shamu stuffed toy

Maisy doing the "Sham Slam"

In the hotel playing with Gameboy

Momo and Johnny on a river boat ride. Momo let Johnny steer. At one point they were going backwards. 7 boats passed them. Gabe was impressed with this feat!

Johnny and Papa in a helicopter

Johnny at the entrance to Legoland

Johnny posing with the Lego fish in our hotel

Maisy and Mommy on the airplane. It was her first flight! She slept throughout the entire trip. When we sat down the woman next to me did not look pleased to see a baby. She looked at Maisy, looked at me and said "she's looking at me". I honestly wasn't sure how to respond to that statement! At the end of the flight she said "well, she did pretty good".

Johnny has decided he's ready for Disneyland. His parents have decided they should start saving their money and hoping he'll be patient!

1 year and a few months...

Maisy is 16 months.

Johnny is almost 7.

And Kristi has been horrible at updating her blog!

The winter was filled with illness and ebay sales and it took up much of my extra time. Maisy and Johnny are both so much fun right now, to be honest, I've been enjoying them and haven't felt like writing about it!

Maisy is silly, cranky, fussy, naughty, happy, spunky and just plain adorable. She's a little bit of a monster too! She bites, she hits, she kicks, she steals toys, she hits with the toys she steals, if you try and steal her toys she'll screech like a howler monkey. She's starting to talk and says Mama and Mommy, Daddy (day-yee), Johnny (Nonny), Don, Cat, Dog and all those other words kids start talking with. She also says Thank you, which is shocking and I'm never sure if I heard her right. She babbles alot and talks alot of trash as Papa would say. She walks around saying "dobby, dobby dobby dobby" all the time. We aren't entirely sure what it means. It has different inflections, different tones and different exclamations each time! (we equate this to Cassidy's saying "oh-ba-dah" as a toddler). Maisy loves to go outside and climbs everything. She's really strong and coordinated and fearless. We were spoiled with Johnny. He was far more interested in digging in the dirt then climbing to the sky.

Johnny is doing great in Kindergarten. He's made some very good friends and is learning to read and write. He LOVES to draw and will take any opportunity, and blank piece of paper, to draw an alien he's created. He's got his entire life planned. At 13 he'll be able to make youtube videos; 16 he can drive a car and begin learning animation; at 19 he can begin making his own toys and tv shows which he will make in his toy warehouse. He's going to sell some of the toys, but keep most for himself to play with. Alex just turned 13 and Johnny is very excited that he will now be able to create youtube videos on his own. Johnny started karate at Premier Martial Arts and LOVES it. He'd like to get a black belt someday, but REALLY wants a green belt. (it's his favorite color). His favorite part of karate is a game called dodge pad that they play at the end of each class. Johnny has decided when he gets older he wants to be in a band. He's going to pay the microphone.

I have sat down to write this post for months and months and get distracted and never finish. Most of these pictures are old, but if I don't post it now I never will.A year of Maisy in a stocking!

Maisy got this ladybug for christmas. She can barely touch the ground, but she loves it. Watch out when she drives by - she might run you over!Maisy's new carseat...the girliest print ever! Daisy Head Maisy It was time for a haircut! Her first!
Momo cut her hair

Maisy decided to do a taste test on the hairNot exactly a taste she enjoys!Finished product!If Johnny is sitting on the floor, Maisy will back herself up to him and sit on him. It's the cutest thing. Sometimes I find them sitting like this and can't resist a picture. If you leave the bathroom door open, Maisy will TP the house in seconds. She loves to wear her earmuffs around her neck while she works!


Here is Maisy's 1 year video that I never posted! It's long, get some popcorn, put your feet up and enjoy!

11 months

Maisy is 11 months!

(i know...she's almost 1, but sleep is rare around here and it actually takes brain power to type these and i find that i have very little when i don't have much sleep!)

Turn your back for a second and you are liable to find her like this

She got all bundled up in her snowman suit and watched me deck the halls!

She is donning her gay apparel, and her Grinch diaper cover in honor of the holiday spirit!

She visited Santa for the first time and was mostly very confused by him.

Her hair is getting longer and I am having a great time fixing it. I'm pretty sure she's enjoying it too!

Johnny and Maisy had a great time looking through all of our Christmas toys.

I'll admit it, I made her a new Santa hat!

We bundled up Maisy and Johnny and took them to get our Christmas tree.

Johnny got right to work decorating.

Maisy got right to work undecorating.

Don went to sleep.

Eventually we did get the task completed.

(with nothing on the bottom half of the tree)

Johnny posed on a tractor at the farm.

Johnny still enjoys taking many many baths. At least one a day, usually more. Bathing is not a quick activity, lasting sometimes for hours at a time.

Santa came on a firetruck to Grammie and Grandpa's house. Johnny was too nervous to go see him. Just as I snapped this photo, Maisy started to cry. I guess she finally decided she's had it with being passed to strange men with big white beards.

Johnny is eagerly awaiting Christmas. This year he would like "The Ben 10 Alien Force Alien Creation Chamber and all of the 'Each Sold Separately's"

Johnny has been quite emotional recently and has many fears. We currently have an ongoing discussion, and crying session, around getting blood drawn and when you might need to have blood drawn. Johnny is terrified of the thought of having blood drawn and at any moment may breakdown over the issue. (Johnny has not had blood drawn since he was 12 months!)

The other day Johnny began crying because he was scared that he might have a beard when he is an adult and wouldn't be able to get rid of it and it might make his voice sound funny. After much discussion we realized that sometimes Daddy grows a Christmas beard and his voice sounds the same as when he has his shaved face.

At Bailey's birthday party Johnny announced to me that someone must have had gas because it smelled like "lots and lots of poop". I explained to him that it isn't polite to comment on smells. Weeks later we were in Target, browsing toys, and I became aware of an odor. Trying to figure out if I was going to need to change Maisy's diaper or take Johnny to the restroom, I asked Johnny if he'd had gas. He looked at me and said "remember mama, it isn't polite to comment on other people's smells". Lesson learned!

Johnny is really in the spirit of giving this year. High on his list to buy for...his blankets. Johnny has informed us that he would like to buy his blankets a Christmas present. What do blankets want for Christmas? Initially he thought they may enjoy something to snuggle with, like a stuffed animal. It quickly became clear to him that he loves snuggling with his blankets and why not buy his blankets something to snuggle with as well, like a blanket. So, he is shopping around to find the perfect blanket to give his blankets for Christmas. (I am confused by this on so many levels that I haven't even hit the point of being worried that my son wants to buy a present for his blankets!)

Maisy is doing great in every area, except sleeping. She still doesn't sleep well. She's sleeping better compared to the waking every 45 minutes, but I personally feel sleeping longer than 2 hours at a time sounds even better.

She's starting to talk and repeat what we say. This is all new to us. Johnny talked very very late (starting around 2½) and he never repeated us. He didn't say a word until he could actually say it and know exactly what he was saying and how to say it. Which is probably why we spent months upon months in speech therapy with Johnny never speaking to the therapist. (Finally she heard him talking to us in the waiting room and released us from therapy.) Johnny was about to jump off the couch onto Maisy and Gabe yelled "STOP!". Since then Maisy has been walking around yelling "OP!" very loudly. Anytime you say Johnny's name she begins saying "OP!". She also sat in front of his door one morning, while he was still sleeping, pointing to the door saying "don-ah" over and over again. I finally realized she was saying "Johnny" and I thinks he wanted to see him. It was very sweet.

Johnny and Maisy have a wonderful relationship. He has far exceeded my expectations as a big brother. He loves her so much and wants to spend as much time with her as he can. He can't wait to play with her and is always looking out for her. She lights up with excitement when she sees him. Honestly, this is probably my favorite part of having Maisy. The bond they share is something I had never expected to see and I feel like it's such a gift to have the opportunity to watch it develop.

On a sadder note, Don the hermit crab has passed on. I should clarify, Don, the larger of the 2 hermit crabs; the 2nd Don the hermit crab to join our family; who originally joined us in a rainbow colored shell and we called him "Rainbow Don" but quickly moved out of his shell becoming "Big Don" the hermit crab. He will be missed. Kind of. Actually probably not at all. He was like a pet rock that you have to put in water once a week. Don't worry, we still have our other hermit crab, also named Don. (not to be confused with Don the cat!)

Johnny has informed us that his teacher told him that hermit crabs get lonely and we need to get Don a new friend soon. Also to be named Don. (we have never really known exactly why Johnny likes the name Don so much. After we went to Hawaii in 2006 Johnny began naming everything Don. For a while he called our car Don)

Don the cat recently jumped in the car while I was loading up the kids. We were going to dinner at Grammie and Grandpa's. Almost to their house a small "meow!" comes from the back seat. Don the cat was in the car. Worried that he might jump out at Grammie and Grandpa's house I exited the freeway and took him home. Unfortunately he has not learned his lesson and still gets in the car every chance he has.