The Beach Babes

I don't think there are enough pictures in this blog of my wife. Look at how hot she is.

Halloween 2006

Halloween started for us on Saturday when we went to our ward Trunk or Treat. We all passed out candy to the kids out of our car trunks. Ayden was a lady bug and has certainly gotten into Halloween this year. It has been a lot of fun because she enjoys it so much. She loves wearing her costume and trick-or-treating is the best thing that could have happened to her in her mind. Alex was a Tiger. It is kind of funny because she has recently started growling so it worked out perfectly that she was a tiger for Halloween. It is so cute hearing her growl in her costume. It is almost like she knows exactly what she is doing.
Today we went to the shopping area by our house for trick-or-treating. It was a lot of walking for Ayden but she still had a lot of fun. She was so good at saying trick-or-treat and she would always say thank you after they gave her candy. Many of the store employees who were passing out the candy commented on how she was one of the few children who said thank you. I was proud of her.

Our little tiger. Don't be fooled by he sweetness. Once swipe of the Alex paw...

Ayden taking a break from walking. She just plopped herself down and said she needed to rest.

Alex got tired too.

Brad and Ayden are carving the pumpkin. We asked Ayden what kind of face she wanted on the pumpkin and she told us that she wanted one like the pumpkins at Disney Land at the house. The "house" was the haunted mansion that was decorated for the upcoming holidays like The Nightmare Before Christmas and they had some pumpkins that sang on the ride.

At the ward Trunk or Treat. She just wanted to sit in the back of the car and eat all her candy.

Alex is trying to get some candy!

Mammen Family Reunion

We had a wonderful past week(October 18-24). My parents rented a beach house in Newport Beach, CA. The house was right on the beach on the Balboa Peninsula. My parents, my brothers Taylor and Kyle with their families, my family and my sister Hillary all got together and had a great week. Brad and Taylor both had to work some of it but we were all together on Saturday and Sunday. After so much fun vacationing (versus my constant not-as-fun vacationing) it has been hard to be back to normal life...well, almost normal life. Ayden really misses everyone and keeps asking me where her cousins are. It was a great trip that we'll always remember. THANK YOU Mom and Dad for such a wonderful week!!!

Thursday (Oct 19)- LA

Thursday we drove to LA to pick up Kayce and Axel because Taylor had to work. We went to the Westfield mall, the Los Angeles Temple, Hollywood and the Santa Monica Pier. It was the busiest day of the week. We were stuck in LA traffic a lot of the time and we got back very late but it was a great day.

Mom, Axel and Kayce on the grounds of the LA Temple. The grandparents with their five grandkids. This was really neat for me because the LA Temple is where Mom and Dad were married. This is the first time they have been back since they were married. Here they were some 30 years later with all of their grandchildren at this point. These five little ones would not be here and have the blessings they have if it weren't for the decision of their grandparents to get married and to live their lives the way they have. They have always been about family first. How symbolic to see them holding their posterity in their arms in front of this sacred building.
Laura and Janelle at Chinese Graumens theatre in Hollywood.

Friday (Oct 21)- Beach day

This was actually from a different day (Tuesday, Oct 24th). Grandma and grandpa rented a surrey and took the girls for a ride on the board walk. They loved it. Alex, Spencer and Axel got a ride too.
Hanging out at the beach. Alex learned quickly that eating sand isn't a good thing.
Grandma, Ayden, Janelle and Grandpa on a lifeguard stand.

Saturday (Oct 21)- Beach day

Saturday was a day at the beach. Brad spent as much time as possible in the water. After playing on the beach we went to Little Corona and had family pictures done (Brad was almost late because he was boogie boarding at Big Corona). In the evening the Grandparents watched all five grandkids while the rest of us had a nice queit dinner together at a nice Mexican restaurant. Grandma and Grandpa had some funny sorries to tell us when we got home. But it was sure nice to have a night off from putting the kids to bed. Horray for Grandparents!!Kyle and Brad getting pummeled by a wave. Hillary, Taylor and Grandpa also braved the turbulent water.
Aww... two cuties.
Ayden and Janelle had a blast playing in the sand. After burying Brad it was their turn to be buried. Laura got the job of cleaning them up afterwards. There was sand in places we did not know existed (probably still there too)!
The sand was mounded by the city in this location to prevent flooding from the high tides in the evenings. It made a nice place for the girls to play. There were times in the evenings when you could wake up and feel the house shaking from the impact of the waves hitting the beach.

Sunday (Oct 22) -Church/ Family Dinner

Sunday morning we went to church and then walked over to the Newport Beach Temple next door. It is a beautiful temple and it is unique because it has a pink tint to it. In the afternoon we had an extended family dinner. My Granddad Gil, aunt Kim, uncle Carl, uncle Keith, cousins Issac and Cousin Zach joined the crew. We had a great BBQ and then we went onto the beach and had smores. Ayden, as usual, pulled the gram-crackers apart and ate the chocholate only (see previous blog from Monday july 10th). We have many pictures of the little chocholate monster or monster-chocholate as she calls herself. One of the funniest things Ayden says, a lot, "Mom (or Dad), I need Chwockolate." She sounds so sincere when she says it.

Monday- Disneyland!!!

Boy was Disneyland fun! The grandkids/grandpa all had unbelievably fun time, as well as all of the adults. Ayden could not believe all the fun things to see and do. She loved the peter pan ride, the haunted mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean. She loved telling people that pirates say "Arrr Matey". Alex was in stimulation heaven, especially during the parade. Axel was in the best mood of everyone at the end of the day. We were all exhausted but Axel could have kept going for a few more hours. He could not believe that his parents had been keeping places like Disneyland a secret for the whole 13 months of his life. Janelle had a great time because she was old enough and big enough to go on the fun rides. I took her on a little roller coaster in toon town and when we finished she said "I want one that goes faster." I guess splash mountain was more her style.

Brad, Hillary, Janelle, Laura, Kyle and Bill (Dad/Grandpa) on Splash mountain. Brad and Kayce were the only ones who got wet. Serves them right for sitting in the front.
Grandma and Ayden on the carousel.
Ayden, Brad and Micky Mouse.

If you ask Ayden what her favorite part of Disneyland was she will tell you that it was seeing Mickey Mouse in his house even though she does not look too thrilled here. Brad actually stood in line while she slept so she had only been awake for a short period of time when she met Mickey. She'll tell you that Mickey Mouse gave her a kiss on the cheek. At the end of the day Brad bought her a little Mickey Mouse doll and she has not let go of it since.

Tuesday (Oct 24)- La Jolla Cove / San Diego

On Tuesday the family drove the girls and I back to San Diego because Brad had to leave earlier that morning to go to work. We all went to La Jolla Cove to see the harbor seals, play in the tide pools and hang out on the grass.

We had such a great week with out any blow-ups so one was bound to happen... Then, came the Axel hugging ordeal. Ayden was jealous because Axel and Janelle kept hugging so in order to stop it she jumped on top of Axel and started pushing Janelle away. Ayden full on tackeled Axel from behind. I was not fortunate enough to see it but I hear it was hilarious. Axel was fine through the whole thing thank goodness!
Grandma to the rescue!

Disneyland Treat

Do you think Alex likes frozen Banana's?

Check out this video of Ayden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEvroLAWfKc

A fun and busy day.

Last Saturday we had a very fun filled day. In the afternoon, we went to the Miramar Air Show and saw the Blue Angels! I can honestly say that I think it was one of the neatest experiences I have ever had. Being so close to such amazing air crafts doing unbelievable tricks is too great for words, it just did something to my veins. Both Brad and I were really emotional, we both had tears come to our eyes during the incredible show. I kept looking around thinking we could not have been the only ones, but I did not notice anyone else crying so I felt a little silly.
After the airshow we went to Sea World to watch the evening Shamu show called The House of Douse. It was really cool because it is night so it is dark but they light up the water in the pool and have other spot lights that make it really neat. It was a fun show. We sat in the soak zone even though we really did not want to get wet but they were better seats. We were a little worried about getting wet but we devised a plan that if we were to get soaked by Shamu, Brad and I would take it all and protect Alex and Ayden. Fortunately for us, it seemed Shamu was being thoughtful and soaked the people on either side of us and in front of us missing us completely!

We were on our way to the show and Ayden wanted to stop for a picture. This is her little pose.

Photo op by the dolphin area.

We went underneath the killer whale pool and watched them from under the water through the glass. Alex loved it!! She was so excited and couldn't stop smiling and oohing. Those are the moments that make parenting the best thing on earth.

 

Bath Time

As usual, Alex is watching her crazy sister Ayden.

Rubber Ducky your the one. You make bath time so much fun. Rubber Ducky I am awfuly fond of you!

Alex: Mmm, Ayden's hair looks yummy.
Ayden: Mmmm, this water looks yummy.

 

Welcome to the world baby Allie!!!

Grandma Jen with baby Allie.

The new and tired mother, Amber, with Allie.

What a beautiful baby!!

After many many hours of labor on October 14, 2006 Amber Pethtel, Brad's niece, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Allie Joe was born at 11:44 a.m and weighted 6 lbs 13 oz and was 19" long. Can you believe that Brad is a Great Uncle and I am a Great Aunt!!! WOW, and my Uncle Keith thinks it is crazy that he is a Great Uncle?? :)
Congratulations Amber and Jen and the rest of the family. Brad and I are really excited to be able to meet Allie. We look foreword to December.

Last night at about 3:00 a.m I hear Ayden crawling into bed with us. I asked her what she was doing and she told me that she did not want to sleep in her bed anymore. I told her that she had to sleep in her bed and took her back to her room and tucked her in. About 15 minutes later right as I was falling back asleep she was back in our room trying to get on the bed by her dad because she knows he is the push over in the family. So I told Brad that he had to go put her back into bed or else she would keep coming into our room with the thought that her dad would eventually give in (which is often what happens). So Brad took her back to her room and we did not hear a peap out of her the rest of the night. But then we woke up to this. . .

Ayden is so stubborn. If she can't get her way the first time, she will find a different way to get it. She brought her pillow, her blanket, Alex's blanket, her cup of water and a ball from her room and made herself comfortable on the couch. It wasn't her bed, so in her mind she won. What a STINKER!!!!

Ayden is pointing to a star fish on a beach in Newport Beach. We met Taylor, Kayce and Axel halfway and had a great time on a hike, hanging out at the beach and getting balboa bars.

Just some recent pictures

One night we took a drive to see the San Diego Temple. Ayden loved it.

While my mom was here she got some things for Ayden to help me keep her entertained. The finger paints are a big hit!

This is Alex's new favorite place to play (with close supervision of cource). She loves looking at herself in the mirror.

Don't you wish you were here!!!!