Dinosaur Park Museum

Mason went to a birthday party for a neighborhood friend his age a couple of months ago, and ever since then he has been so excited for a party of his own. The idea of any kind of party has always been pretty thrilling. Whenever he sees a picture of balloons or cake or anything else party-themed he has to point them out and he is just so enthusiastic about the greatness of parties. Sometimes he will pack toys in a box or backpack tell us they are for the party later. He is big on parties, is what I am saying.

Tim decided that Mason should have a pirate-themed party and go on a scavenger hunt and had this whole idea about how it should go. I pulled a total wife-fail/mom-win and let Mason choose what kind of party he wanted. He said dinosaurs. Sorry, Tim!

So. Yesterday, in preparation for Mason's birthday on Friday, Nana treated the kiddos and I to a trip to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden and we all liked it so much! Maybe if your kids are a little on the easily-scared side you should walk through the park and see the dinosaur statues before you go inside to the dinosaur robots. We did not do that.

One of my favorite things about being a mom is watching my kids' completely genuine reactions to new situations. There is no falseness or pretense in them. This trip was so full of so many hilarious reactions and I just couldn't get enough. I really regret not bringing my camcorder, or at least a real camera. I just have these poor-quality cell phone pictures.

They were both so intrigued but completely terrified of those giant dinosaur robots. They were so lifelike; I really can't blame them for being scared. Mason kept saying, "They aren't real, they can't eat us, let's go, I don't like it, they aren't real." Over and over. Brielle just clung to my mom, wide-eyed with horror and amazement. They were a lot happier the rest of the time there. Wary, but happy. Mason kept making up names for all the different dinosaurs and telling us facts about them. He's going to be the best four-year-old.

A couple of stories with pictures

First, a story about Brielle.

I've mentioned before that the blond of our family is a mischievous little monster. I love her anyway. One day, a few weeks ago, I was cleaning the kitchen when Ava let me know she was awake from a nap and ready for some lunch. I set the cleaner I was using on the table. My laptop was also on the table. You see where this is going? Mason and Brielle were on the floor playing with cars or something. They seemed engrossed in their activity so I went and fed Ava in the peaceful quiet of another room.

Less than ten minutes later I returned and noticed my laptop was open, turned on, and a little streaky on the screen. But it was working! So I just dried off the screen, shut it down, shut it, and went on with the day. A couple of hours later I went to use it and...dead. That's what the repair guy said. Actually, "Fried. It would cost more to repair than replace." Ugh. Brielle is still alive, though. Lucky girl.

So on to story number two, which is old because...no computer.

Early in the summer we took our now-annual Bear Hunt in the Box Elder camp ground. We go through the grass, "swishy swashy," and through the river, "splash splosh," and all that. We never seem to find a bear, though! Mason was just in heaven and gosh are they cute reciting that book and getting so excited at the thought of finding a bear, or even just a slightly overgrown trail.

And story number three, to wrap things up.

Last summer we took both kids on a fun, but also kind of miserable camp trip with Tim's parents at Mirror Lake. This year when they started planning to go again I quickly said heck no, have fun without me. The thought of sleeping with my two toddlers and a new baby just sounded sort of terrible. But Tim and Mason were going to go and drive three hours to sleep in the wilderness and great for them. Fast forward to the day they were leaving. Camp got moved to Blacksmith Fork Canyon (only about 40 min) and I got suckered into packing for myself and two girls in 15 minutes and heading up there with them.

I'm glad we all went. One night was plenty and we ended up coming home a day early but the kids loved it and Tim's dad did all the excellent cooking! Lots of four-wheeler and side x side rides. The campground was beautiful. I got to sit and whittle a stick while cousins entertained my kids. Camping has earned back a little of my admiration.

Since it's been a while

There have been some big changes in the Ava department. Big like rolling all over the place, trying to scoot, doing some mad crunches in an attempt to sit up and play with her brother and sister. I feel so bad for her, just propped up on her elbows watching them play. I know she wishes she could join in and she is working at it pretty hard. Today the doctor said that she seems more like a six-month-old than a four-month-old. She is just so determined to grow up faster than I'd like.

I turned 28. Getting up there, old gal. I wanted Mexican food after about three weeks into the Paleo Diet. Spent the night nauseated and puking. But really it was a really good birthday and I got to hang out with just Tim for a couple of hours, which is always a treat. I also got lunch and a pedicure and gifts from my mom and sibs and I'm not going to lie, I like having a day (two days, really) that are all about me.

When Mason turned two I thought that people who spoke of the terrible twos were weak-sauce. Two years old was a dream. A delight! Then I got myself a girl two-year-old and have mercy on my soul. She is something else.  It is especially hard to keep up with her because she saves the really bad deeds (toothpaste on EVERYTHING, flour EVERYWHERE) for when she knows I am hopelessly tied to a chair in another room with a nursing baby. I nurse walking around more often than I would like. :) Sometimes I feel like I spend a lot of my day taking pictures of all her naughty deeds with hopes that one day I will look back fondly on these days. Really, I look back fondly on them once all three kids are tucked quietly into bed and I know the reign of terror has ended for the day. She is so hilarious, though. Just funny and adorable and terrible.

This guy is pretty cute, too.

I am sure glad I am these babies mother.

Easter Bunny visit number two

We went to Tim's parents house for big family potluck after church on Easter Sunday. The kids got to go on another Easter egg hunt, which Mason loved....

Brielle, not as much...

(it's a miracle she made it through the night without a parent selling her to the gypsies)

There were lots of cousins, candy, fun and food. Even a pinata! Doesn't get much better than that. Also, the rest of Tim's family started having kids while he was still in high school, so my kids are the youngest of the bunch. That means they have a bunch of older cousins to follow them around and dote on them. They kind of love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Minus 4 grandkids, plus 1 uncle)

 

Easter Bunny Visit Number One

To start things off, I finally took some pictures of my kids together. All three of them! And their dad!

 

It is my personal opinion that our baby girl looks like Tim. Others agree.

Saturday morning we had our first Easter party. The bunny will be visiting these kiddos three times this year, so there will be another post, very similar to this one, soon. My mama always plans some pretty fun parties. The kids started out by planting magic jelly beans. They grew into lollipop flowers while egg hunting.

 

 

Then off to find what the Easter Bunny hid.

 

 

 

Then the annual rocket launch contest which, of course, I won.

 

This morning Mason and Brielle woke up to find even more junk food and a few little toys from that old rabbit. I didn't get any pictures of that because I was busy staying in bed for ten more minutes. :) Happy Easter everyone!