M Day

I must admit I found this idea for mud a long time ago so this isn't from my own mind. (I found it on www.playcreateexplore.com just in case you're looking for some ideas to do with your kiddos.) But I'm glad we found it because it was fun!

While I grated a bar of soap into a bowl, Parker and Stockton were incredulous that I was actually letting them unroll two rolls of toilet paper! But their incredulity didn't last long. They hopped right to it.

Parker took a break from unraveling and decided to use the toilet paper to make a monster truck track. It started with M so I was okay with that. ;)

  

 Along with the grated soap bar and 1/3 c. of Borax we stuffed the toilet paper rolls into a bowl and poured warm water over it. Then we mushed it around until it got to... well, think mashed potatoes consistency.

Both Parker and Stockton were hesitant to touch it, but given time Parker was mushing around in it with me. Surprisingly, it was Stockton that took a little longer to be okay with touching the mud. I put a little ball in front of him and, after what seemed like forever, he finally picked it up and threw it. The look on his face of pure pride and excitement was SO cute. He was absolutely thrilled with himself that he had finally touched it.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Great for the birthday money you sent to Parker. He picked out this monster truck/garbage truck and is so excited about it. :)

 We spent most of the day playing monster trucks. Of course, that was Parker's favorite activity.

 Then we simply colored some things that started with M. I was so pleased and surprised when Parker traced the M all by himself! He simply said, "I'm gonna color the M." And there it was. :)

I had more plans for "M" Day than what we did, but Parker had fun so that's all that matters. Maybe next time through we'll make a map that leads to some M&Ms, learn about money, or do more with music. Yes, next time...

Happy (Belated) Birthday (Post), Parker!

Due to certain circumstances, Parker opened his birthday presents the day after his birthday and ate his cake the day after that. The original idea of having friends over for a monster truck themed party and cake was dashed due to Parker's sudden wheezing and coughing. Bummer. But it was fun anyway even though it was only with the four of us. Happy birthday, Bud. Luckily, you won't remember a thing... :)

Li'l Parkster received two monster trucks from Mater's Tall Tales, three books, and a wooden backhoe. He was pretty stoked.

Decorated like a boxing ring with Rasta Mater and Frightening McMean on the side... Parker's cake.

L Day

We started "L" Day with a selfish motive. Laundry needed to be done. Perfect. After explaining that laundry starts with "L", Parker and I--and even Stockton!-- began the sorting process. Throw whites into this hamper, throw colors over there. It was actually quite fun.

Once finished, we watched documentary clips about lightning. Afterward, I tried "creating" lightning with some paper clips sticking out of a clay figure and rubbing a balloon on the carpet for some static electricity, but it was a no go. I don't like feeling shocked anyway.

Our next "L" activity was to learn about the lungs. We traced Parker's body on some butcher paper and drew his lungs on the figure, and then inflated and deflated a balloon to kind of show how our lungs work. We also watched a cartoon clip of air traveling into and out of our lungs, and then watched a real cadaver lung inflate and deflate. I asked Parker multiple times if he was okay as we watched this because he looked rather concerned, but his response of, "No. Don't turn it off" eased my mind.

 

 

Another activity was to read by lantern light. We grabbed our lantern and "The Lorax" and sat down in the darkness of our bathroom (it being the only room with no windows. Ha ha). Afterward, we read all of his books by the light of the lantern that had the word, "little" in the title. He may never go back to reading in his bedroom or in the living room again!

We also simply colored the letter "L" and other pictures that started with that letter.

As I've said before, I love learning this way. Not only does it help Parker recognize the letters, it helps me keep my "mommy mind" going. :) But putting that aside, KIDS' minds are quick. You never know what they will pick up. For example, the morning after "L" Day, Parker took a deep breath in and said, "Hey! I can breathe better! My lungs help me do that."

Fun with Foam Letters

Parker's Plane

Guess what two cute boys are in there.

Peek-a-boo! It's Parker!

Parker's Car

We've also made race tracks with them for the toy cars. The possibilities are endless with these things!

This Little Boy is THREE!

We love you, li'l Parkster!!!

Cam's Marathon!

Ooh... gotcha, didn't I? You see, it goes like this: 13.1+13.1=26.2. And that's exactly what Cam has done! See?

Cam ran his second half marathon--the Cedar Canyon Half Marathon--on September 14th, and, boy, I was proud of him. His silly wife hurt her Achilles and couldn't run with him. I'm super proud of him for sticking with it.

He'll tell you it was because he didn't want the entry fee to go to waste. But nobody just up and runs 13.1 miles to save $20! Do they? Hm... half marathons must be growing on him. I'm proud of you, Cam! Good job!

JK... JoKe

"J" Day and "K" Day were just that... a joke. Activities were pretty sparse.

For "J" Day we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our Jeep that is just sitting in our driveway. That part was actually quite fun... different scenery and all. We also made jets out of legos and toilet paper rolls, told the story of Jonah and the whale, and told stories about Jesus. That's about it.

 

"K" Day was just as exciting. :) I drew five kites on a piece of paper and had their tails intertwining and looping. I drew five "K"s on the bottom of the paper. Parker's job was to trace the kite tails to find out which kite went with which of the "K"s on the paper. As long as we were on the kite theme, we went out and flew kites as well, which Parker loved. Enoch proved true on being its always windy self! Afterward, the rest of our activities simply consisted of reading books, and every time we saw a word that began with "K", we slapped our foreheads or high fived.

Underwearing!

I never thought I would be one of the moms who posts potty training updates on Facebook. I never did, mind you; that's what the blog is for. But I can see why moms do it now. It is exciting!

I'll spare you details--that's what my journal is for. I'll just say that although I had to have my guard up every second of the three days it took him to catch on, Parker only had three accidents and did extremely well.  During nap time and even when he wakes up in the morning, he is dry. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be.

Now if only our other children could be this easy...

Nope, not banking on that one.

Happy Birthday, Stockton!

Stockton whimpered only once when he came into the world; he didn't cry. Ever since he was born, he has been known as our little puppy dog. Now can you tell what the above picture is? :)

Have a good birthday, Stocky Boy?

Stockton did his habitual run-his-hand-through-his-hair thing while he ate his cupcake. And, like Parker, he didn't tear into the treat and wolf it down. He merely was his normal, messy-eating self with a touch of artistic flair as he dabbed in the frosting and painted his bare chest.

Ahh... a day well celebrated.

A year has gone so fast, Stockton! You have been such a happy baby, sleeping like an angel since day two (with a few poppy diaper complaints, and screaming-for-half-an-hour nights here and there), and can eat nearly as much as Daddy can in one sitting! We love you, Baby Boy Stockton!

Let's Cruise, Baby!

I won't begin this story by telling you that on Saturday, the third, I put both boys down for a nap at my parents' home in Wallsburg. I won't tell you that I cried a little bit as I shut their doors and whispered, "I love you"s to them.

Because I didn't.

I didn't cry, that is. I did, however, put Parker and Stockton down for a nap, and I did drive back to Enoch that night, Cam and I went to church the next afternoon...

...and drove to St. George to meet up with Burke and Teresa Bess to begin our week-long vacation! Can't you see how excited we are?

We stayed at a Camelot-looking hotel called, "Whiskey Pete's" on Sunday night. Don't know how Camelot and the wild, wild west have to do with each other. Write a paper on it for your professor and have me read it if you think it's obvious.

After breakfast at IHOP Monday morning, we discovered a Bonnie and Clyde section of the casino. You should write another paper on THEM. Their story is fascinating--granted a bit wicked and scary. Among the shirt that Clyde was shot and killed in, and pictures and stories of their bank robberies, crazy escapes, and eventually, their deaths, the very car they were shot and killed in is also on display in the casino, riddled with a ridiculously high amount of bullet holes. Sixty? Ninety? I can't recall...

From there, it was off to Long Beach! We parked the car, checked in, and at 5:30, the Carnival Inspiration set sail.

I will admit, the thing I was looking forward to most was the dinners that you get all dressed up for. And the food. Yes, I was looking forward to the food.

The first night, Cam and I tried escargot--which tastes like whatever is put on it; in this case, butter...? And afterward, we participated in "So You Think You Can Dance?" Let me say: I do NOT think I can dance, but it was definitely fun making a fool out of myself, and at least thinking that I was cool. And why not? You'll never see these people again, right? In moments like that, I hope so...

CATALINA 

Taking the tender boat to the island

The four of us had discussed the new zip line and how badly we wanted to go on it, but $100 per person somewhat made the decision for us. That, and the excursion filled up quickly. Once we were on Catalina Island, we decided to see how much parasailing was, and if it was any cheaper than what the cruise ship offered--$93 per person. We were happy to find out that it was $60 per person, and we made the decision right then to take to the skies! 600 feet into the skies!

 

Just a funny sign on the door that I had hoped was a bathroom. I didn't think it was funny at the time.

We had the BEST peanut butter ice cream here. Frozen sheets of peanut butter made it so.

That night was the captain's dinner--or the night that everyone was encouraged to dress their most elegant. There were photographers and backdrops set up at every corner (and I'm not just saying that), which made it more fun. Fun like... a high school dance. Only better. Tons better.

The first night, I ordered an orange cream cake. Not because it was diet, but because it sounded good. Our waiter, Ryan, gave me a hard time about it, and I told him that it would be the only time. The next night, however, there was a banana cream cake. Same story. I ordered it and again Ryan teased me. Then he slid a banana split in front of me to "make up for the diet." Well done, Ryan. Well done. I'll take it.

 ENSENADA

We didn't know what we were going to do when we got off the boat in Ensenada. Nothing sounded superb like parasailing. So we simply boarded the shuttle and went to downtown Ensenada where we would board another bus that would take us to La Bufadora (aka "the blowhole") and the shops. 

As I was handing my ticket to our tour guide, I heard him exclaim, "Again?"

I looked up at him and realization struck. "Alex?"

Both of  our hands still grasping the ticket, he pulled me into a hug and asked, "What's it been, like, four or five years now?"

Lo, and behold, it was the same tour guide who had given us the tour on our honeymoon. Five years earlier. What a memory that guy has, eh? 

Unfortunately, the tide wasn't as high; therefore, La Bufadora wasn't a spectacular sight to see this time around.

The 30 minute bus ride to the blowhole, the speaking with shop owners, paying 50 cents to use the bathroom, and whatever else must have tuckered us out!

It was laughable how different this time in Ensenada was compared to our time five years ago. Five years ago, as a newlywed, having a shop owner stop in front of me put me into a cold sweat and near tears. I did NOT want to be in their shop! Then we'd have to buy something and I couldn't say no! We spent a total of five minutes amongst the shops because I nearly sprinted back to the bus, slowly veering left when the shop owners got too thick on my right side, and veering back again when they became too much to handle on my left. 

This time, however, I'll just say I was a lot more calm and I actually enjoyed myself! We bought a little tractor for Parker that the man who sold it asked for $40, but we got him down to $16. Yay. And, as always, we found something later we would have liked a lot better. And, as always, the lady who would have sold it to us told us she would have given it to us for $13.

At dinner that night, Teresa and I were--can I say forced?--to dance Gangham Style with the waiters. Laughable, for sure! And so fun! Afterward we did another "So You Think You Can Dance?" presentation, but it was called Disco 101. Again, laughable and fun.

DAY AT SEA

Among other things, towel folding is one of the things we learned to do on our day at sea.

I will forever be glad there is ice cream 24/7 on cruise ships! Cam looks as if it might have made him crazy to have that much sugar all the time.

  

The four of us with Ryan...

...and Cenon III, our waiters.

Debarkation would not have been a very smooth one if my birth certificate had indeed blown away. Luckily the grate on the side of the walkway caught it.

Thank you, Burke and Teresa, for such a wonderful time! I think after a week, I finally stopped swaying!