Only in Utah

This was yesterday morning ...

... and this was yesterday evening.

From snow pants and hats to sun dresses and picnic blankets. My babies loved them both.

Where Fun Is!

This picture describes our Saturday PERFECTLY! After the week we had (I rear ended another car last Friday ... no injuries no damage to the other car totaled our car because it's old and it dented the frame), we were ready for some FUN. We headed up to Lagoon in our new to us Swagger Wagon (can I say how much I love the storage?). So glad we found a car before the weekend. We're a one car family so we definitely need something fast!

Anyways, back to the picture. I remember some fun Lagoon day trips. The senior year trip, many clogging competitions, the Scrollie day, etc., and, don't get me wrong - those were fabulous, but this day took the cake. And we didn't even make it to any of the new, big rides. We spent about six hours in kiddie land and loved every second of it. My girl Lily LOVES LOVES LOVES rides.

She's our little thrill seeker. This ride (above) is a smaller version of the one that shoots you straight up and then drops you. Lily saw the larger one and wanted to go on it. Johny said told her that she was too little, but she had no fear. She responded, "I WANT FEAR! I NEED FEAR!" I think she thought that was the name of the ride or a requirement to go on the ride.

Lily's day to drive a car finally came. The ride attendant had a fine time trying to get her out of it. She told him that it wasn't her stop. She is going to be tearing up the Autopia track at Disneyland soon.

Rides where she was in control were definitely her favorite. Her eyes lit up when she discovered that she controlled the going up and down. Bytheway - when did she get big enough to go on a ride by herself?

This little man had some fun, too. He made it on the ferris wheel (or Pharisee wheel as Lily calls it), the animal train, the carousel, and a lovely squirting water ride that his not so smart mommy put him on.

Doesn't he look ADORABLE? This is the one that I didn't notice you got wet on until it was too late and I had to steer our fish through crazy squirting sea animals. But he did look pretty adorable in his little seat belt and he liked it.

A ride where you get to drive a boat and ring a bell - now that is exciting!


The little boy behind me was crying and didn't like the ride. Notice how he is at least five years older than Lily. Lily was shouting "HIGHER! FASTER!"

One content little girl. Definitely the best Lagoon trip yet. It was too much fun to see her so happy. I couldn't stop grinning all day.

Discovery Gateway

This momma loves a deal! I was able to get discount tickets to Discovery Gateway, a delightful children's musuem downtown. It was a bit too crowded for my taste at first, but later in the afternoon it calmed down. My Lily loved learning about air and wind at the above exhibit. She would place a colorful ball in the tube and then shut it and watch in awe as it shot up the tube and across the way. Each time she would shout, "where are you going?" She did this for at least a half hour. I love the air blowing through her hair.

My little man knows just what to do with flowers. For him it is all about texture.
Often it is the softer the better!

I love the tenderness of little mommy Lily. She adores baby dolls. She feeds them, rocks them to sleep, takes them on walks, and loves them all over. Here is she putting five babies to bed while her daddy watches. It's lovely how the ability to mother is so innate and present in the littlest of ladies.

Fish for dinner anyone?

What a cute little mommy!

Yep, Cort loves textures. He was in heaven with in this cork sandbox with mommy making sure none made it to his mouth. Scooping, dropping, feeling.

And we cannot forget the balls. Every little boy loves balls and must have one for each hand.

Cortie also spent some time in the area just for the littlest people. He thought this rocking dog was pretty fun and a little too tasty ...

Spontaniety was a good lesson for this week as well. We were out looking at homes and drove by a dinosaur museum. Lily shrieked with joy and asked if we could go? Why not!

This was a good opportunity for me to practice letting her know the rules of the museum and then letting her explore and have fun within those parameters. Sometimes I think I am too quick to tell her what she should be playing or how she should do something. It was fun to watch what she was interested in and make it a fun experience for her.

And have I mentioned that my almost three year old is a budding artist! She loves anything to do with creating so I am try to provide her with more opportunities. I recently bought these fun bingo daubers which she is loving.

Happy Players

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
American writer
1803-1882

And play we did! We spent many hours outside in the rain and sunshine this week. Lily helped me plant squash, zucchini, and daisy seeds. She loves to dig. As I work, she skips, runs, jumps, twirls from one side of the yard to the other. And this darling little boy just peacefully sits and drinks it all in.

I've always loved being outside, but I guess in years past I've found myself more of an inside girl. But this year I can't give enough of the sunny skies and fresh air. Maybe it is because my little one likes to remind me so often ... and I am glad that she does!

As you can see our yard is far from perfect .... but I don't think that Lily cares. She'd explore for hours if I let her. Some days I spend lots of time trying to tame our wilderness, and other days we probably play a little more.

Long time, no blog!

Has it really been that long? Sigh, where did March go! Get ready for a lot of catch up posts .... Easter .... St. George .... Johnny's Man Weekend .... lots of fun!

In the meantime, I've started another new blog. It's to help me keep track of all my goals and fun projects for the year. You can check it out if you'd like here

Chocolate Bash 2010

I stumbled across an advertisement for Gardner Village's Chocolate Bash as part of their Queen of Hearts Event. Chocolate Fountain. Fashion Show. Diet Coke (for Cami). Shopping. Sounds perfect for a Girl's Night Out. So I called my mom, sister, and sister in law .... the rest is a new tradition for the ladies of our family!

I was expecting more of a vendor type event and was pleasantly surprised! The Gathering Place at Gardner Village was beautifully decorated. Each of the tables had gorgeous centerpieces from the Village's businesses.

But best of all - the chocolate fountain! It was surrounded by a myriad of yummy morsels - fresh strawberries, cantelope, pineapple, bananas, wafers, rice krispie treats, so many delicious things! They also had a hot chocolate bar complete with every topping you could thing of. Added to that their were cookies and cupcakes. Chocolate lovers heaven! Talk about a three course meal in chocolate! We will definitely be returning next year!

Afterward, we browsed the shops and I bought this cute hat. I also won the cute bracelet.

Loved my girl's night out!

The dentist, the double chin, and the sleeping beauties

Lily survived her first trip to the dentist. She actually really liked it, to say the least. What's not to like: a chair ride where they let you go up and down as much as you like, getting to try out the little scrubber tools on your fingers, and winning a balloon. She did fabulous and, best of all, no cavities! The dentist did not give her the sucker. She got that at the bank in Smith's. Apparently, she ran into a pillar because she was looking back at her balloon which "was chasing her." So the friendly cashier gave her a sucker. Later that day, Lily told me that she wanted to go back for another balloon.

This picture is proof I feed my children. See that double chin! Cort likes his new found mobility in the walker. Lily brings him an assortment of toys to try out.

And again, my favorite part of the day. The rare moment when they fall asleep at the exact same time. And I didn't even have to do anything. Now that is magic.