Sweet Sixteen

My sister Sabrina is 16 today! We are 10 years apart but it feels like yesterday that I was in her shoes, man time flies.

I loved when you and Parker came to visit us Utards and celebrate your 12th birthday with us. Since then, I have enjoyed watching you become a young woman.

Being her sister is so much fun! She is into everything girly and I love to hear about her crushes, oh to be young again.

We are goofy and scary looking and it doesn't even matter.

She is the "favorite" aunt

Happy Birthday! We Love You!

Six Flags

We went to Six Flags and had the greatest time! We were hesitant to even go because Carson has been going through a "high maintenance" stage in that he screams at the top of his lungs if he is in the car for more than 30-40 minutes, and once we get somewhere he has been super clingy and whiny, but with that said, he was much better than I expected and was an angel all day. The first thing we did was see the sea otter show that was entertaining but the jokes about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears sprinkled throughout were a little awkward.

From there we hustled to see Shouka the Whale. I have the fondest memories of this show from when I was little because we would make sure to get to the show early to ensure front row seats and then we would get soaked-oh, it was a blast!

Although we didn't sit close enough to get splashed, Carson was so into all of the animals.
Apparently it made a big impression on Andrew because he tried to ride Shouka!

Carson slept through the dolphin show but it was my favorite. Dolphins are super smart and they can do some pretty cool tricks.

I think this daycation was Carson's favorite so far. He got to go on his very first "roller coaster" that didn't look too scary but was like the Tea Cups on caffeine...he loved it! He rode on a choo-choo (he'll even make the accompanying hand movements),

went on his first merry-go-round and when it would stop going up and down he would "giffy up" to try to make it move.

We sat so close that Carson got to pet Alice the elephant.
At the Butterfly Pavilion Carson was mesmerized.


He almost touched a butterfly. There was so much to look at in fact that he wouldn't hold still for a photo op.

The Coi swarmed to him wherever he went, I am assuming that they liked his bright colors.
I think the best part of the day was when Andrew got to meet the "real" Super Woman. Besides her looks, she doesn't have anything on me.

Splash!

Carson is very comfortable in the water. By comfortable I don't mean that he can swim or anything. I am referring to his state of mind. Apparently, the water makes him relaxed. He has pooped in the bath tub three times in one week and he usually poops right after swimming as well.

Usually I only share the cute things that Carson has done or accomplished and choose to leave out experiences like crying all night long while camping at a family reunion making us pack and come home early. But with the theme of keeping it real comes "real life".

I too have my own "water experience" where I gained the nickname splash. It was early spring, the air was crisp, snow capped the mountains, and the sun was shining bright. I was 14 years old and going away for the weekend with my friend Chelsie and her family to their cabin in Arnold, CA.

Soon after arriving my friend Chelsie, her brother Korbe and I decided to take a leisurely drive to a nearby lake. The placid lake was beautiful and half frozen. I thought it would be fun to test my "ice skating skills", but without the appropriate gear, it became just a walk on the ice. In the meantime, Chelsie and Korbe began tossing a heavy stick to each other across the ice. With each toss, Chelsie would back up, venturing closer towards the thawing ice. In the distance, I saw a tennis ball, and, being naive, I decided to retrieve the tennis ball, and liven the game a little. Not realizing that not all of the lake was frozen, I made my way into the middle.


I started cautiously walking towards the tennis ball. With each step, I became nervous because of slushy sounds that I was hearing, but I was getting so close to the ball and I did not want to give up now. Nevertheless, I heard the ice crack beneath my feet. It was too late!!

Before I could turn around, I fell into the freezing cold water. Despite my best efforts to pull myself out of the ice, I could not. Each time I would try to raise myself, the ice would break. Chelsie and Korbe wanted to help, but I yelled, "Stop! If you come closer, you'll fall too!"

A nearby onlooker offered to call the fire department. Did I need the fire department? What should I do? I couldn't think straight. All I knew was that I was soaking my brand new camera, I had lost my favorite shoe, and I needed to get out this hole. Only seconds past, and I started to lose feeling in my legs. I finally managed to roll sideways on top of the ice. I was freezing, but out of harms way.

Walking was not an option. Without asking, Korbe hoisted me into his arms and carried me to the car. With heater blasting, we speedily drove to the cabin. Back at the cabin I knew I was in good hands, Chelsie's mother is a nurse and she knew just what to do. After a warm bath to thaw me out, I was grateful to be alive.

The trip I took to my friends cabin will stay in my mind forever, it was the day I learned an important lesson the hard way; life is only as easy as a walk on thin ice.