Misc. Cousins Visit

Here are more pictures from the time when our cousins and Aunt and Uncle were here.

Beach Time with Cousins

Here are the pictures from the two days we spent at the beach with our cousins and Aunt Jenni and Uncle Jay.

Disney

So here are the pictures (FINALLY!) from Disney World.

Family Vacation Update

So I know I haven't posted in awhile. There is a very good reason. We had family come and visit from Idaho. Tj's Aunt Jenni and her husband Jay and their 3 boys came to visit Florida for the first time. They were here in South Florida for about five days. And then we all went up to Orlando to Disney World for a few days. It has been a busy couple of weeks for us and we have had a lot of fun! I'm going to wait and post all the pictures in another post but I also have to wait and get photos from Tj's dad from Disney World. Yes, we went to Disney World and I didn't take a single photo. I think I lost a brownie point for that one. But luckily dad took plenty for us. So here's what we've been up to.

Last Saturday we all packed up and headed to the beach. My boys LOVE the beach. (I on the other hand tolerate it.) Vance and Joel had so much fun with their cousins! And of course their cousins had a blast at the beach. It was an enjoyable trip. The gulf was calm and so it was a laid back day at the beach. Uncle Jay and one of the cousins got buried in the sand, shells and sand dollars were collected, and there were very few sunburns (luckily all attributed to the adults and not the kids).

Sunday we all went to church. After the first hour it was discovered that the plumbing was backed up and we were all were instructed to leave the building. We were planning to go on a drive to see the alligators in the Everglades. So while we waited for mom and dad to get out of church (they go to a different building) we took the boys to a park to eat our packed lunches. Then we loaded up the cars and headed out. It was really fun! All the boys were excited about seeing the alligators. And we saw several. Joel was so excited to spend time with his cousins. So after the first stop we put Joel in the car with his cousins and he got to ride with them to the second stop and on the way home. Then we went to mom and dad's house for a smorgasbord for dinner.

Monday we headed back to the beach. The beach was a more windy and the gulf was choppy with lots of waves. The cousins were so excited for the change in the water. Joel and Vance were a little weary of the waves. But by the end of the day Vance was have a blast with the waves and kept asking me to take him swimming. Joel was not so excited about the waves but had a blast digging in the sand and throwing it back into the ocean. Then we went to mom and dad's house for family dinner and family home evening and swimming. Again the boys had a blast with their cousins and were so sad to leave them (leaving each night included tears).

Tuesday was a whirlwind. Tj and Joel went with dad and the other boys to see "Monsters Vs Aliens" in 3D. Vance and I stayed home and did laundry, cleaned house, packed and got us ready to go to Orlando. Joel had so much fun at the movie in 3D. He was so excited to bring home his 3D glasses.

Wednesday we packed up the cars and headed down to Orlando. The boys did fairly well on the drive. Okay Joel did really well, he is such a good traveler. Vance on the other hand doesn't like to be contained. We stopped at Casperson Beach so that our cousins could collect shark teeth. They had a really fun times and my boys were so excited to see them and their treasures. Once we got to Orlando we split up. Jenni and her kids headed to their hotel to swim. Mom and I took my boys to our hotel and then to get dinner. Tj, Dad, Jay and our friend Rob headed to a steakhouse and then to the Orlando playoff game. They had a really fun night and the Magic won the game.

Thursday was the first BIG day at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. We met up Jenni and Jay and their boys there. Joel loved driving the cars around the track. Some of us went and rode on Splash Mountain and the Thunder Mountain Railroad. Joel and Vance had a blast playing on the playground near Splash Mountain and of course riding the tour train around Disney. After a few shows and a parade we decided to call it a day. We headed back to the hotel. Joel went swimming with Tj and dad.

Friday morning we got up early and made our way back to Magic Kingdom. We started at the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise. Vance wanted to go on the Magic Carpet ride but Joel wasn't interested so he went on through the Swiss Robinson Tree House. I took Vance on the carpet ride and he had a blast! We got off and he immediately said that he wanted to go again. So we met back up with everyone and Joel decided to go on the carpets with Vance. Joel loved the cars so much the first day that he wanted to go on them again. Vance wasn't tall enough so he and I went on the Tea Cups. He LOVED it! Then it was off to Mickey's house. We took the boys in to meet Mickey and Minnie. We were a bit concerned because Joel wasn't real warm to the other characters when they came within his 3 feet personal circle. So I took Vance up first. Vance LOVED the characters and was so excited to see Mickey and Minnie. He was giving them high fives. Then he reached up and "honked" Minnie's nose. Of course I had to make the "honking" noise. Joel of course didn't want to be showed up by his little brother so he started giving high fives too. And we were able to get a really good picture of all of us. At least I hope it's really good. I was just happy that it didn't end up being a traumatizing experience. Then we all went on the train and relaxed. Joel fell asleep in the stroller. So Vance and I went on the Dumbo ride and then played in the Winnie the Pooh play ground. He was so funny. He didn't really want to play on the actual play equipment. He wanted to climb on the rock wall surrounding the area. Next we were off for dinner. We then went to the Winnie the Pooh ride (which Joel was NOT a fan of) and the Laugh Floor with Mike Wizouski (spelling?!) from Monster's Inc. We then went off to watch the night parade. Joel was so excited when he saw Mickey Mouse in the parade. He started waving like mad and his eyes just lit up! It was the best part of the entire day. We met up with Jay and Jenni and their family to watch the fireworks. We had fun hearing about their day touring the other parks. We were BEAT as we rode the ferry back to the car. We were all hoping to sleep in.

This morning we all got our wish and were able to sleep in! Yay!!!! (I need to get some of the curtains they have in hotel rooms.) While Tj relaxed the boys and I went with dad to go find t-shirts for all the kids. Then we packed up the cars and said good-bye to our cousins. We were sad to see them go. But Aunt Jenni stayed so we get to spend more time with her. We were all excited to be home- except Joel. But once we got in they were happy to run around.

We had a really fun time. I LOVE Disney World and Disneyland. I have such great memories of the times I went with my family. I think this trip created some really great memories for Joel and Vance. I know how fortunate I am to have such great in-laws every day. But we are really grateful for their generosity with this trip. I know that the boys are going to be able to look back and remember such a fun time with their cousins, aunt and uncle and of course grandparents. I'm so fortunate to have such great family!

(If you've made it through this post you should get a medal. But since this is practically my journal it is what it is.)

I love trouble.

You know there are certain things you take for granted. During the day if all is quiet with the boys, then I know they are probably getting into something that they shouldn't be. It's a given right?! But at night after the initial tear-fest that is our bedtime routine when it's quiet I assume it's because they're asleep. Well tonight as I was doing laundry I noticed an especially potent "Vicks" smell coming from the boys room. I had assumed it was because we've all been sick and Vance still has a stuffy nose. So I figured when Tj put Vance to bed he had put Vicks on him. Well I decided to check because it was really strong. And as I walk into the boys room I see Joel sitting on the edge of his bed with the Vicks (for kids) tub in his hands smearing and coating it from head to toe. It was caked on his face, in his ears, on his chin, down his neck and then skipping his body on his thighs and knees. I was so shocked I couldn't say anything. I guided him out of his room where he immedietly started crying.


Exhibit A:

First shot of Joel and the Vicks.

Exhibit B:

The Vicks container nearly empty.

Exhibit C:

Side View

Exhibit D:

Final Shot of the mess.

So of course after we made sure that Joel was okay and that he hadn't eaten any of the Vicks we lined him up for the photo shoot. Yeah, these pictures will come out on prom night. So after about three wash cloths, a bath and a new set of pajamas Joel was put back to bed- again.

**Note to self: lock all medicines in the cabinet.

The Joys of Motherhood

I've been thinking a lot about the joys of motherhood. I have been so blessed to have two really great kids. I know they're only 2 1/2 and 18 months but they are just such sweet boys. They are so full of love and excitement. They constantly keep me laughing. This is not to say there are not times when I want to pull my hair out in frustration but truly I know that I am blessed with two really great boys.

This past week everyone in our family has been sick. It started with Joel and we've all had it in some form or another. But because Joel had it first he was well first too. Bless his little heart. He'd come in every morning and ask me to turn on "clubhouse" (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and I'd go in turn the tv on low and he'd sit out there playing by himself until we could finally rouse arouse from our sick beds. And anytime I'd sneeze or cough he was very concerned and would ask "You okay mommy?" On Wednesday when Tj's mom had the boys I mentioned that Tj was sick (I hadn't gotten it yet). When she got home she told Pa that Tj was sick and Joel said, "That's okay we'll make him soup to make him better." Bless his heart! So they did. Joel just has the most tender heart. He loves his family and he loves his friends. He is so sweet and so kind. I hope that he keeps that his whole life.

Vance is my surprise. He's been my surprise from the very beginning and keeps me on my toes. He surprised us by wanting to communicate so early. I had to teach him baby signs just so he could express himself. He surprised us by walking at 9 months and never looking back. He surprised us with his talking and now his complete sentences. He is my little ball of mischief. He is the one that I have to constantly pull out of the toilet bowl and the garbage. He is the one that causes me to have near heart attacks a million times a day because of the no fear stunts he pulls (like jumping off his toy table onto a mini-couch surrounded by chairs with their legs turned up). But he is so tough. There are times I watch him take a tumble fully expecting tears and he gets up, brushes himself off and goes on his way. He never ceases to surprise me. But for all his rough and tumble moves he is also my cuddle bug. He will find me and nag and cry and beg until I pick him up and spend time with him. I hate that it takes so much for me to stop what I'm doing and hold him. One day he'll be too big for me to hold and I'll long for these days. He will often bring me books to read to him. And he loves to be rocked to sleep. No, Vance never ceases to surprise me.

With Easter coming up I've been thinking a lot about the Savior. But especially this year I've been thinking about his relationship with his mother, Mary. I've tried to imagine what it would have been like for Mary. When the angel told her that she would be the mother of the Savior did she really know what all that would entail? I think of how overwhelmed at times I was when I was carrying each of my boys and would imagine that she would have felt that so much more intensely. I can't imagine the feelings she must have had throughout His life. Especially towards the end. The final days of the Saviors life I've always thought of with much emotion. But when you think of His mother witnessing it all. I know that one day one or both of my boys will come home because someone was teasing or making fun of them. I know that one day one of the boys will come home with his first black eye or bloody nose from a fight. And it breaks my heart knowing that I can't keep them from all the hurt and evil in this world. And I think about Mary and all she saw the Savior go through. And I think of the words spoken by the angel in Luke 1:28, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women."

The joys of motherhood. I'm sure the longer I'm a mother the more that phrase will change in meaning.