Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Vegas and the Big 3-0!

Brock and I got back from Vegas about a week ago, and we had a great time!  He ended up having to work quite a bit, so I just relaxed, read, and walked around that crazy city.  It was so nice to be responsible for just myself for a bit.  :)  We got to eat at some great restaurants, and one day we drove to the Hoover Dam, which was so neat!  It was awesome to get a way for just a bit, just the two of us.  Here are some pics...

View of the pool from our hotel room

View from our room of the mountains

View of the strip from our room

Where we stayed, it was awesome  :)

The legendary gondolas  :)



In the lobby

At the Hoover Dam!






The sheer size and height is unbelievable



The coolest sunset on the drive back to Vegas from the Hoover Dam

Just some neat things around town





The famous Bellagio fountains

Mmmm - some delicious gelato at the Bellagio!




Neither of us had ever been to Vegas, so it was really neat to see the 'larger-than-life' aspect of everything.  Like Disneyland for adults.  :)

Also, this past Saturday, my hubby celebrated the BIG 3-0!!  I woke up thinking, there is a 30-year-old man next to me in bed!  Ha!  We had a great day - his mom took the kids overnight, and we went to dinner, a movie, got popcorn to bring home, and watched another movie before we hit the hay and got to SLEEP IN!  What a great day.  :)

Mia is working through the alphabet at school (they do Zoophonics), and 'E' was for Ellie E. Elephant.  Here are her elephant ears she brought home, which Drake gladly displayed for us.  :)  However, when I heard that she made elephant ears at school, I had the county fair variety in mind, with cinnamon and sugar.  These were a little disappointing until I saw how cute they were.  :)

Mia's pumpkin patch trip at school (she is in front of the teacher)

In line at school

She is still loving school, thank goodness.  Here are a few funny things she has said lately...

She's been talking about going to Disney a lot, I think some of the kids in school must talk about it.  I was explaining to her that Drake is too little right now, and that we'll have to wait until he gets a little bigger.  She said, "But Mom!  He's a boy!  He doesn't know how to grow up!"  lol

This goes back about a month, but I was just standing in the kitchen making her lunch, and she said, "Mom!  You're making me crazy!  Can you just give me a break?"  And then the other day she said to me "Hey - Snap it up, Mommy!"  I was like, What?  She says, "Snap your lips up!"  I have no idea where she is getting stuff like that.  But she says them at inappropriate times,which makes me think she doesn't know exactly what they mean and just wants to see what I'm going to do when she says them.  It usually does not make me happy.  :)

Oh yes, and reason #679 that I know my child is strong-willed... Yesterday she said, "Hey Mom - do you want to hear my new nighttime song?"  Sure, I say.  In this sweet little lullaby voice, she starts singing, "I refuse to go to sleep, and I am really tired..."  Then she says, "Do you like it?"  Hmmm, definitely one of those times I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Nice nighttime song, Mia.  :)

She's been really good with Drake, even sharing some treats she brought home from school today.  When she got in the car, she said, "Drake, I love you SO MUCH, buddy.  I missed you today."  So cute.  Drake, of course, still just wants to be chased around and tickled, and he sure misses her when she is at school.

Well that's it for now.  Thanks for checking in on us.  :)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Drake is TWO!

Today my baby is two, I can't believe it.  On one hand I can't believe he is already 2, and on the other I can barely remember what life was like without him.  Brock and I are in Vegas right now (he is working, I am not!), but we had his party this past weekend.  Here are some pics...

For the moment, his sunglasses have replaced his hat much of the time.  He even will wear them around the house  :)


Cousins...



Brock recently had this shirt made for him to wear at his party  :)

His reaction to the basketball hoop we bought him...




Cousins on Brock's back

Sit and spin from Auntie Katie - I had no clue they still made these!  The kids love it!

Happy birthday to my baby!!!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Pumpkin Patch!

Last Friday Brock had the day off, so we took the kids to the pumpkin patch.  Last year at this time, Mia was in her full-leg cast, so we couldn't do much.  But this year we got to take a hay ride, pick our pumpkins, and play in the blow-up toys.  The kids loved it.  Last year we went on a weekend, and it was super-crowded.  Since we got to go during the week, we were some of the only people there.  It was so nice, and it was such a beautiful day to be outside.  Here are some pics...


Here Drake thinks pumpkins grow on trees  :)

Climbing out of the blow-up caterpillar...


Mia climbing out of the blow-up (not so) haunted house...


Drake climbed to the top of a pile of hay bales, so proud of himself  :)

Mia just preferred to throw the hay



On the hay ride


Mia with her prized pumpkin  :)



This one is just funny - this is Drake during the car wash!

Brock and I are going to Vegas this week, we are so excited for a little break.  Well he has to go for work, but it will be a break for me.  :)  The kids are staying with my mom, I'm hoping they will be good for her!  Also, Drake turns TWO this week!  I cannot believe it.  Where does time go?  We're having a party for him today, so I'm sure I'll have some photos to post.

One more funny about Mia... The other day she told Brock...
(Mia, appalled):  Daddy.  There are kids in my class who have crust on their sandwiches.
(Brock):  Well maybe they like the crust on.
(Mia):  No they do not!  They do not like the crust!  (So-and-so's) mom leaves the crust on, and she does NOT like it!

Ha!  So later I asked her:
(Me): Mia, I hear some kids have crust on their sandwiches.  I wonder why their moms leave it on.  Maybe they like it.
(Mia):  No mom, they don't.  Miss Bridget (her teacher) must have sent an email telling the moms to leave the crust on.
(Me): Do any of the kids like it?
(Mia):  Yes.  Audrey.  Audrey eats the crust, but she is the only one.

Oh, how I wish my life were as simple as only keeping track of who eats the crust!  I can just see Mia at lunchtime, checking out everyone's lunch and keeping tabs on who's eating what.  Ha!  lol