ITS laGOon TIME

Beginning in early spring the kids thought it would be great to start asking what we were going to do in the summer. Brielle in particular took up this new game and I got asked about 40 times a day, "What do we do in the summer?" But all drawn out and whiny-like. Then her stressed out frown would slowly turn into a giant smile as I gave her the usual list.

We go to the park!

We go to swimming lessons!

We ride on roller-coasters!

We play outside!

We run through the sprinklers!

Give or take a few. The roller-coaster thing was Tim's idea. We showed them YouTube videos of people going on Lagoon rides well before the park opened and they were so excited. They say anticipation is the best part of any trip, and obviously we are masters of anticipation! They have been begging to go to the "Wickorish Wagoooooon" ever since (Candy-Land confusion reference). 

So finally we chose a Friday that Tim had off that wasn't supposed to be too hot and got ourselves some tickets. (That place is pricey! Thanks, KSL classifieds) 

Brielle kept a straight face on nearly every ride. She wanted to go on every single one and only chickened before the horror ride and a giant slide ride. She loved them all and wanted to go again and again, especially on Puff, but girl was not about to crack a smile. Finally as we were about to leave we plopped her on a tiny whale ride and she just laughed and laughed. Silly kid.

Mason was a little daredevil. He went on every single ride that he was tall enough for. Surprisingly there were quite a few large roller-coasters that he could ride. We had his cousin, Camden, with us and I think that helped make him a little more brave. But he never got scared and wanted to go on some of the more hairy rides several times. And there was no wiping the giant grin of his face.

Ava sat perfectly in her car seat and people-watched with me entire time like a little angel baby. If you have ever been around Ava for more than 30 seconds than you know what a miracle that was. She did go on the whale ride at the end with Brielle and thought that was pretty cool.

It was a good day with our cute kiddos.

Also in May

For posterity...

We found out that we are having another girl! This is going to be one fun, dramatic household. We make beautiful girls, if I do say so myself. The first two don't look anything alike, so this should be interesting.

Ava has started talking. Her first word (after mama, dada) was cookie. She now also says thank you, please, Mason, Caspie, puppy, and will mimic anything you ask her to pretty well.

It was my 29th birthday and Tim took me out for the day. We got sitters in the morning and went shopping, ran some errands, and out to lunch. Then we got more sitters in the evening and went out again. It was nice to have an easy day just with him. I forget how easy it is go into a store by yourself.

It was also Mother's Day. I got several adorable cards from Mason and Brielle and one very sweet card from Tim. Mason also wrapped one of his toys in a blanket and could not have been more excited to give it to me. Tim got me a hose I have been wanting that coils back up into a little pile and I promptly punctured it. I got to take a nap and take it easy and I like Mother's Day.

The kids got some chairs from DI and played like they were turtle shells, caves, houses, you-name-it for days. We like to hit the DI in our boredom - you can find some great, cheap toys there. After a good disinfecting.

Mason's Preschool Graduation

Mason graduated from his first year of preschool. He has loved going to Kaylee's Kiddie College. I think he's learned a lot and he had so much fun.

Tim and I dropped Brielle and Ava at my mom's for the evening and enjoyed the night without any distractions. I'm glad we did. It was really amazing watching our first baby show what a smart, mature little dude he is becoming. He had to recite a few lines into the microphone and he remembered them perfectly. We've been practicing for weeks and even Brielle has them pretty well down, so we weren't worried about that. He loves being on stage and, seriously, it was just so cool to watch.

"Our favorite week was learning about pets and how to take care of them. 

We had a pet show with dogs and cats, and we went on a trip to the vet."

Utah's Hogle Zoo

I took the kids to the zoo when Brielle was about six months old, and we thought it was about time for another trip. I'll be honest, I left with about the same impression that I had last time...kind of depressing. 

But! The kids liked it. Mason has a new favorite animal, the rhinoceros, (he's watching Wild Kratts right now and just randomly shouted to me that buffalo is his new favorite animal, crazy timing!) and Brielle has a new favorite animal, the elephant. They got so excited about each new creature.

I think the best part of the day had to be the weather. We wanted to go before the students got out of school, and summer at the zoo is just a hot, long day, if you ask me. Then we found out that Miles and Betsey were planning on going for her birthday and it was perfect timing. When we woke up that morning it was raining and cold and it took some convincing to get Tim to go, but when we got there it was sunny and cool and beautiful. We couldn't have wished for better. And, just as we were leaving, the clouds opened up and DUMPED hail and rain on us, soaking us to the bone during our mad dash to the car. So, great weather plus great weather story. Emily and Miles, Betsey, and Friedrich made for great company. It was a good time.

My Mason

The little boy in this house has to be one of the best things to ever happen to the world. I know that I am his mother, and so maybe I am a little tiny bit biased. But seriously, he's the best.

A couple of months ago we were downstairs watching A Goofy Movie and everyone but Mason got bored and went upstairs. About twenty minutes later we heard him start to cry down there, so Tim rushed down to make sure he was OK. He found a four-year-old sobbing crocodile tears at the TV. When he got him calmed down enough to find out what happened, Mason explained the the boy in the show thought he didn't need his daddy anymore!

He was so upset at the thought of a son and father being separated. And it was the kid's idea! Just unbelievable. He ran upstairs and drew a picture of himself with his dad and I think Tim's heart may have exploded.

He is such a great brother. There were a few months there when I thought I would be doomed to a life of constantly quarreling children. I could not figure out what to do about it. Mason would pester Brielle...Brielle would start screaming...they would both get in trouble. All day, everyday. Then one day, he stopped. Like a serious blessing from heaven. He and Brielle play so well together now. I love watching their little imaginations run wild. And Ava could not have a better protector, he just dotes on her.

He got a balance bike for Christmas and he figured that thing out pretty quick. We need to get him a real bike, but in the meantime, he is a little speed demon - racing down the street and the neighbors steep driveway with his legs sticking straight out on each side.

Soccer started a few weeks ago. He practiced all morning the day of his first game and could barely handle the anticipation. He kept telling us, "I am so excited for my soccer game." When we got there it wasn't quite what he was expecting and he was not going to get in there and play for anything. Tim handled the whole thing so well and finally, in the last 20 seconds of the game, Mason got in and kicked the ball. And loved it. Then yesterday he started T-ball and that took no time at all - he liked it right away. Watching him run/skip from second to third base with a giant smile after a very successful hit was the best thing ever.

I think my favorite thing right now is the way he participates in church. I kind of assumed that he would be a little bit shy about getting up and talking in front of everyone, but the kid was made to be behind a microphone. He has given a talk and several prayers, scriptures and Articles of Faith. He always works hard to memorize them (he memorizes things very quickly) and then recites them with very little prompting. His last prayer he got right up and said "Heavenly Father, I'm glad we came to Primary today. Please bless that we'll draw, and that we will all get to draw something good. Jesus name, Amen." I'm pretty sure he is everyone in the Primary's favorite.

Right now it is all about dinosaurs. Dinosaur toys, shows, books...anything. One day last week he woke up and asked if we could please make a Ankylosaurus out of molding clay and then cook it and then paint it. So we did. And he has taken that thing with him everywhere. I think Brielle kind of misses his superhero stage, but I'm sure he'll be on to some new exciting thing next week.