Kiddos' Goings On

 Lydia's first day of preschool and Russell's second birthday fell on the same day.  I think my kids orchestrated that so they could make sure I knew just how grown up they were getting.

She was so EXCITED!  And call me rotten if you want to, but I didn't choke up in the slightest as I dropped her off.  I knew she would love it (and that I would too).

I picked her up two hours later and we headed to the park to meet with friends and eat cupcakes.  It was a hot, sticky mess, but we have fantastic friends and neighbors.  And after Daddy got home, we did one our favorite family activities:  ice cream cones at Macey's.

We had his actual birthday party on Saturday so we could accommodate family.

 I decided to forgo the crazy cake in the shape of an animal, steamboat, or tank and just did a simple (but delicious) chocolate peanut butter cake.  He doesn't care, right?

Russell was not going to blow out his candles, and I must say that I was very pathetic in attempting to help him.  Not sure he will get his wish this year.

 Yes, I put the kid in a girl bib to eat his cake and ice cream and then I took a picture of it.  I didn't even think about it being a girl bib until the picture was snapped.  Oh well.  Call me a politically incorrect mom if you must.

Russell was in boy HEAVEN after he opened all his gifts.  He might as well have been in some magical place where every toy is a different kind of truck.  What more could a boy ask for?

As his mother, I could ask that he be a little more fearful of my disciplinary tactics, wasn't quite so messy with absolutely everything he ate, and that he not pick up on so many of his older sister's sass.  But then he flashes that dimple at me, asks for "choc nupe" which is his word for milk, says "thanks, Mommy" or "lub you, Mommy" and he knows he's got me right where he wants me.  I might be in trouble with this one.

Phoenix

I mentioned in my last post that we were going to Phoenix.  We went, we had tons of fun, and we came home.  The End.  Just kidding.  I was worried about the drive.  What mom wouldn't be worried about twelve hours in the car with her two endearing children?  And that is one way, folks!  But they amazed me and did incredibly well.

Day one we drove to Mesquite later at night and they just watched a movie and then fell asleep.  Once we got to the house though, they went a little nuts.  I forgot how excited kids get when they find a new place that is kind of "theirs."  It took hours for them to calm down.  I think they finally fell asleep at 2 a.m.  I wasn't too worried though because I knew they could sleep in the car the next day.

Day two we finished up the rest of our drive.  We had to stop at Hoover Dam though and see that new bridge.  It is phenomenal!  We were hiking in 100 degree weather at like ten a.m., but it was worth it.

 This picture doesn't do justice to how red the kids' faces were.  It was HOT!

We arrived in Phoenix later that night and got to visit with our family finally.  Of course, one of the first things we did was go to the grocery store and buy Blue Bell ice cream.  Oh my!  Seriously one of the highlights of my trip.  We should all sign a petition and get that stuff shipped to Utah!  It would be worth the hassle.  Trust. Me.

We spent the rest of the weekend playing and eating and preparing for the baby blessing which was the main reason for our trip.  We went to the Antique Mall, go carting, swimming, out to eat, and swam some more.  It is incredibly hot there.  Being outside feels like you are inside a hot car on a really hot day.  So stuffy and hot you can hardly breathe.  Yuck!  The kids loved being in a hotel.  I thought they would give me a hard time, but they slept like rocks and it was AWESOME!  Maybe vacation with children is possible after all!

 Lydia found a copy of the Bible in the drawer and laid down to "read her scriptures".  Very cute.

On Monday we headed for Vegas to spend the night.  The drive there was so easy we were wishing we had booked rooms in St. George or something to take advantage of the kids being so good.  But we had already booked a room in Sin City so we stayed there anyway.  I must say we got a sweet deal.  Our room was less than $40 and it was huge!  It had a couch and chair and a dining area with a full kitchenette and table, two beds, and a huge bathroom with a stand up shower and a tub.  Loved it!  

We drove the strip for a bit, not really knowing where we were going.  We finally parked at the Bellagio and watched their water show.  Then we started walking.  And we walked and walked and walked.  Lydia was a trooper since we didn't have stroller for her.  We finally made it to M&M World which is the only place I could think of that I thought the kids would enjoy.  We saw the race car and watched the free 3D movie and then of course, got stuck spending $20 on specially colored candies and a souvenir for the kids.  But it was worth it.  We made sure we found  the tram to get back to our car.  A fun night.

 The next day was a long 7 hour drive to get ourselves home. Russell was done with the car by then, but they still did amazingly well.  We stopped once at a gas station to let them run around and then stopped 20 minutes from home to get dinner.

Now we just need more money so we can go on vacation again!