Our Fun-filled family weekend . . .

About a week ago Cory came home from work and told me not to plan anything Friday night and told me that I needed to be ready by 2 with an over-night bag. Of course I love surprises so I was really excited. At first I asked, "without kids?" and he said "no" so it instantly got my mind going as to where we could be going. The day before we left he asked me if I wanted to know what we were doing. I had a good idea that we may be going to a resort with an indoor water park because we had talked about it so many times before. He tried to act like I didn't guess what we were doing but I had guessed right.

As we got on the road to leave the next day he said, "well, actually we have a little stop to make on our way." I had no idea where we were going as we were literally in the country passing farms and houses every few miles; I was definitely curious. About 30 minutes later we pull up to Ye Olde Mill ice cream factory. It was a hot and humid day, and anyone who knows me . . . actually, anyone that knows Cory and our boys knows that we LOVE ice cream; so I was definitely surprised and excited. This ice cream factory was literally in the middle of no where. We went on a little tour and then of course we enjoyed some rather large scoops of the best pralines and cream and cookies and cream that I've had in a long time. As you will see from the photos below the boys clearly enjoyed their ice cream as well and our little Ethan kept asking for "more, more."









Before we got to the resort Cory took me to see the biggest basket-building ever. Kathryn, if you are reading this, and if my memory serves me right, I think these are the famous baskets that your mother-in-law gets for you. Anyway, we had fun trying to shoot a photo of Cory trying to hold onto the top of the basket and reach in.



These last photos are of the indoor splash park. It was absolutely perfect for kids our kids' age. Briggs suprised us by going down the slides all by himself and he had a ball. I also took some rides down the slides; hey, I may be a few weeks from having a baby but I figured if my 3-year old boy can do it, it must be safe enough for a 9-month pregnant lady to ride-and . . . I had a great time! The boys also enjoyed playing basketball and the lazy river.




The evening was perfect; we really had a great time together as a family! When we got back from dinner we took a walk around the resort pond; it was so beautiful and the boys enjoyed feeding the ducks. After that we got ready for bed and watched Willy Wonka for a little bit and then the boys were out like a light. This morning we woke up and went swimming in the pool and took off for home. We've had some serious cranky and tired boys today and sometimes you find yourself about to go crazy and you wonder if it was all worth it . . . and . . . it was! Thanks hun for such a great weekend! We love you!

Which Disney Princess are you?

So, my friend had this on her link on her blog and I was curious to see what character it said I would be . . . I guess I'm most like Pocahantas . . . hmmmm . . . I can see some points of truth . . . Who are you most like?


You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

It takes a secure man . . .

So last night Cory and Briggs we out running some errands together and I had called and asked if they could pick up some tomatoes and bread on their way home. They were gone for quite a while and dinner was quickly approaching so I decided to give them a call. When Cory answered the phone I asked where they were at and he replied, "Briggs and I just finished riding the motorized shopping cart at Krogers." Oh, boy . . . I was instantly taken back to the time that Cory and I were in the Walmart in Rexburg a few years back and he insisted on driving the cart around, all the while following me and making honking sounds. Although I was laughing hard at the time it was also quite embarrassing; it is definitely something I wouldn't be brave enough to do.

So when I heard that Briggs got the chance to ride the "special" cart I had to laugh. I asked Cory if people were looking at him weird and he said that he got a lot of smiles as he would roll up to the isle and pluck his groceries from the shelves from the comfort of his seat and plop them into the basket in front of him. He even rode it through the check out line . . . he said he may have had some funny stares as he went to park the cart, stand up, grab his groceries and walk to his car but they had a good time.

Like I say, it takes a secure man . . . I definitely had a good laugh as he was telling me about it and I had to make sure to emphasize to our impressionable son that when mommy goes to the store we won't be using those special carts.

Zoo Time Fun

Today was a beautiful day, not too hot, not very humid . . . it was just right, so the boys and I ventured to the Columbus zoo. They especially liked watching the Rhino run all over the place as he would splash in the mud. They also enjoyed watching the anxious lioness pace back and forth and roar quite loudly; I especially loved how Briggs kept imitating her as we walked through the zoo and as he called daddy to tell him about the animals. They had a great time pushing the stroller, running from animal cage to animal cage and feeding the ducks. Of course we missed Cory and would have loved to have him there, but It was a fun morning.



Below: The boys enjoyed brushing the goats. . .




Being silly on the warthogs . . . Ethan our little expressionate-faced little boy.




And last but not least, Ethan hanging on anything he could find to hang on to. This is his new-found pleasure.

A Fun Family evening

Last night the boys and I made pizza and yummy breadsticks, and it was such a beautiful night that we took a long 2-hour walk together. It was a perfect evening.




There are few pregnancy pictures of me and for good reason, but Cory took this one of Briggs and me and it reminds me of a photo that was taken exactly one month before I had Ethan (2 years ago) and we were at the zoo in Idaho Falls and Briggs was little Ethan's size. Now I am exactly another month away from another little one coming to our family and we feel so blessed.


Briggs loved rolling the dough out until it was paper thin and Ethan just liked taste-testing the dough. It certainly keeps them busy while I'm trying to get dinner on the table.

The Dentist

This morning I took Briggs for a dental check-up. I took him around his third birthday in Kansas City and it didn't go all that well, so all week long I had been prepping him for today. He was really excited all week as we read some books on going to the dentist and we talked about what would happen, and that when he was done he would get a toy, and who can forget the ice-cream bribe I offered if he let them look at his teeth.


So all week long he has been going around the house saying "I LOVE the dentist!" So this morning dawned and I reminded him what today was and his response was surprisingly, "I don't want to go to the dentist, their going to cut me." I'm not sure where he got that idea but I assured him that the wouldn't cut him and that it was a really FUN place.

When we arrived I told the hygienist that perhaps it would be better if she just took him back and hopefully he would be better with just her. I didn't hear any crying so Ethan and I decided to go back and watch and he was absolutely perfect sitting there in the chair with his little bib on. He not only let her count his teeth (which I thought would be a miracle in and of itself) but he let her use the pick, the electric toothbrush, floss, take pictures, the water pick and vacuum and the whole time he would say over and over, "I'm doing soooo good!" (He was so proud of himself, and I was so happy!)

He got to pick out a little green car, and of course Ethan picked out a toy for himself as well (a white monster truck; after all he was also a good boy). On the way home he called daddy to tell him all about it and after lunch he got his bowl of ice cream with strawberry syrup on top and he was the happiest little boy!


Below: They had this fun little dinosaur who had enormous teeth and a huge toothbrush that Ethan loved playing with. Here are some photos of him.

Fun Loving Boys!

Last sunday we drove to the Columbus Temple and walked around. There is a small creek and park area that runs by the temple and the boys had fun throwing rocks into the water and then playing chase with daddy.




Here is a photo of Ethan trying on Cory's boots . . . Funny boy!



Briggs is so much fun. Some of the funny things he has said lately are:
When I ask him to do something he'll respond with "okay baby" (which he says to me all the time; I'm not sure where he got that from or if I should be too concerned, but it is pretty funny :)

"I am sooo excited for me!" (After he reached a goal that he had been working on)

Another time Briggs says to me: "Can I have some chocolate chips?"
Me: "not right now"
Briggs: "oooohhh, come on . . . just give me some chocolate chips."

One day Ethan hit my leg and I told him not to hit and this was Briggs response:
"Mom, let me talk to him for a minute, (turning to ethan and pointing his finger) Ethan, NO HITTING!"

He is always asking "what time is it?" and if he can have money (Oh, no!)

He is always randomly telling us "mommy . . . I love you" or "daddy . . . I love you."

He is always hugging my tummy and giving it kisses saying, "my baby sister, my baby sister" and Ethan usually follows suit.

He is just a sweet and fun-loving boy. Oh, their little personalities can be so much fun! Here are some photos of him playing in the water fountains across from our apartment. The boys love playing over there!




Here are some photos of the Cory and the boys swimming at our complex. It was a little chilly but surprisingly it was Ethan who wanted to be in the water the whole time. (that was a first for him on that) and then the boys warmed up by laying on the warm cement.

Rain Rain . . .

This photo I took a while ago from our window of our apartment. I love the intensity and colors of the sky during a storm and since we had a horrific rain/thunder/lightning storm last night I thought this photo was fitting.

Soccer and feeding ducks

Briggs is so proud of his trophy! These photos were so fun to take of him!



Ethan came up behind Briggs and gave him a big hug. Surprisingly they sat there for a good minute like that; they are such good buddies!



Ethan just being super cute! He loved sitting in our camping chairs even though he had a chair of his own


Playing with daddy after his game


Feeding the ducks


This is how Ethan fed the ducks :)


And as is so true to his character; always willing to share! What fun little boys!