First Day of School

After a full 10 days off, and a week of orientation our Daddy Sam actually made it home from his first day of 3rd year before bedtime! So of course we took advantage and did the traditional first day of school handshakes (even if they happened after school instead of before). The girls decided to sport their princess backpacks so they could be just like Dad, even though Bails was incessant that Sam's bag was not, in fact, a backpack.

 They are already little pros at handshakes and posing...

 Hazel thought it was so hilarious, but she was also ready to put on her serious face when it came time to actually snap the picture.

I just love my cute little family.

Little People

It may be a childhood right of passage to fill your fingers with little people...

 It is also important to have the village people over for dinner.

And most of all, it is best to cross all of these milestones while you are supposed to be getting ready for bed.

Fourth of July

Our fourth celebration started nice and early with the neighborhood breakfast and parade. The girls rode their bikes over and made it about half way before they decided to just run while we carried them along. We ate our pancakes, jumped in the bounce house, and ate some treats then headed back home. Bails ran the whole way so we stopped in to get a drink (and a Mommy potty break) before we headed back out to meet Daddy at the church for clean up. When we came back outside we were pleasantly surprised to see that Grandma Pam had finally returned. Bails was elated. We looked at every bug, acorn, rock, plant and tree on our walk back to the church. We made it to the end of the block before we got a call that Sam had finished unloading the tables and chairs and returned home. And that is when we started our slow trek back home. By this time we were all hungry for lunch so we headed to the Noodle place. Bails enjoyed her three course meal.

 Then I begged everyone to take me to the candy store. I had been craving cotton candy since our Disneyland visit and finally decided to just give in and eat some. We arrived to find this. Let the record show that if my hands were small enough to fit through those slots I probably would have just grabbed a bag and thrown some money onto the floor to pay for it. My mood after this was a mix between heartbroken and angry.

 We spent the afternoon napping and getting ready for our big get together with the Archibalds. We headed over for a little bbq dinner. Yummy kabobs, watermelon, corn, hot dogs, salad, and trifle. Can you tell my kids were most excited about their special drinks? Who would have guessed that a little bit of V8 splash could make anyone so happy.

 They also did eat a little bit of their food.

 And by food I mean ketchup.

 Then it was time for the tank wars. The Braden's were not so great. We were all defeated by the super Claire.

 Then the kids ran wild while we cleaned up and played a few games. As soon as it got dark we headed outside for the mini fireworks show. I was ready for the girls to hate it and start bawling from the loud noises, but they both loved it and Bails asks every night for more fireworks.

Happy girls on a Happy fourth. Such a long, but fun day celebrating our great country!

Sister Love

There is nothing better than jumping on the bed, especially when it is sheet wash/change day.

And sometimes you need a rest cuddle after all of that jumping.

Grandma Pam Visits...

Grandma Pam came to visit when we arrived back in town and to say Bails could not be more thrilled. Every time we would tell her what our plans were she would throw her arms up in the air, get a big smile on her face and shout "I am so excited." 

There was plenty of book reading, playing with princess, going on walks, visiting dinosaur land at the city creek mall

and finally hanging out in nursery to play. We had such a fun time with Grandma Pam. Bails was so sad to see her go. Thanks for visiting us. 

Las Vegas

The girls were about perfect in the car ride to Vegas. It may have had something to do with being so exhausted that they were a little more than happy to sit back, watch movies, and take a long nap. We arrived at Circus Circus and all jumped out of the car to check in. It was during this 100 yard walk that we realized it was probably 115 degrees in Vegas and we would not be headed back outside. It was so hot. We headed up to the room and then sent Sam back down all of our luggage while the ladies lounged on the bed channel surfing. After getting all settled we collected our coupons for free rides and games at the arcades and headed downstairs for dinner. The food was sub-par, but the carnival more than made up for it. We headed in to see tons of roller coasters and small rides. The girls were thrilled to run around and try to play the arcade games and watch all the older kids scream and laugh. I thought the site of a 60 foot drop would terrify the girls, but instead we had little Bails begging us to take her on the rides; I guess Disneyland instilled a love of roller coasters in her. We walked around until we found one that Bails was tall enough to go on, expecting her to chicken out or hate it, but instead she just laughed and screamed the whole time and then refused to get off when the ride was over. Who would have thought.

After prying them away from the arcade section we headed upstairs to the carnival games. We had 4 coupons for free games and walked away with 3 prizes despite losing all 4 games. The little girls were cute enough to sucker prizes out of the employees, but Sam, not so much.

We also ended the evening with a little frozen yogurt.

 So thrilled to have their own ice cream. Sort of. Sam and I intended to share with them and were able to sneak a few bites, but it was all gone before we realized it. I guess they are Sam's daughters.

 We also realized why Sam's back was hurting so much. Apparently going to the water park for two hours in the middle of the day without any sunscreen was not the smartest decision of the day. 

 After a quick and expensive aloe vera run he was lathered up and we were all asleep in .03 seconds. Another fun, yet exhausting day.

Water Park

After breakfast we headed over to the mini water park at our hotel. Hazel, who has recently developed some irrational fear of water, was not happy. She would not let anyone come near her and just kept running into the corners and screaming at anyone that came near her. (I am going to have to blame Bails for dumping one too many cups of water over her head in the bathtub). Bails however thinks she is Michael Phelps even though she I can count on one hand the number of times she has actually gone swimming in a pool. 

We tagged team; Sam spent the majority of the time on the water slides and running away from the huge bucket of water that dumped out on everyone every few minutes with Bails while I coaxed Hazel roo into the little pool. It took her a few minutes to warm up, but by the time we were ready to leave a few hours later she was in tears and crying like her sister, refusing to go.

 The infamous red water slide. Bails started out on Sam's lap and after a few tries demanded that she go by herself. And pretty soon she only wanted to go on the big twisting green one by herself (which meant she sat in between Sam's feet and he wasn't allowed to touch her).

Cute sisters, holding hands. 

 The quickest way to make Sam mad? Help Bails squirt him with this gun. Oh the wrath.

 Is it possible to hang out at the water park and go on the slides and not get a wedgie?

 If only sound could travel through pictures. She was so mad that we made her leave. She could have stayed there forever. Leaving Disneyland didn't even get that sort of tantrum.

 It was pure torture that our room backed up to the water park. They just sat out there and begged to go back the entire time we were packing up and getting ready for check out. Such a hard, sad life.

Off to Vegas we go!