Fun Weekend

Jemma LOVES breakfast and dinner!
This is her happy face when she sees me mixing up her cereal.

We took a quick trip to St. George this weekend for a wedding. It was a ton of driving, but definetly worth it since we got to hang out with family.
Pool time is our favorite time. Unfortunately the hotel didn't get the memo to warm the pool up so the boys spent their time in the luke warm hot tub. But they enjoyed it as you can see from their smiles.

Another plus to St. George was that Grandma & Grandpa Washburn were there. The entire 7 hours we were in the car Bennett kept asking "When are we getting to the hotel to see grandpa and grandma" And I mean he asked the ENTIRE time.

Another plus was that the cousins were all together. They had a ton of fun playing.
And last but not least, we stopped at the Bass Pro (Pro Bass?) in Vegas. Bennett got really sick that day and I think this was the only time he smiled (kind of).

This was after he threw up on the carpet there. But he truly is my child. He bent over, threw up, and with his next breath asked "Can I have ice cream now?"

Look At My "Moosestash"

How can you be mad at him for getting into your makeup when he comes up to you looking like this?
He definetly takes after Matt.
Don't ask me why he has hanger around his middle...it's a mystery.

Bennett's Birthday

Bennett's b-day was last Tuesday. I'm a week late with this...I know.

It was a pretty low key event. We celebrated a day early, and opened presents in the morning.

Grandma Julie bought Bennett a tool set, which he is in love with. The only thing missing...gloves. "Because Handy Mandy has gloves"

Not only did we open all of his presents in the morning...we even had birthday cake before lunch!

Bennett went and picked it out as soon as the bakery opened and came home with a Bolt b-day cake. It was just waaay too exciting to wait until after dinner (or lunch).

Happy 4th Birthday Bennett!

Preschool

The day Bennett and I have been looking forward to finally arrived. Woo-Hoo!!

He's off to preschool.

I thought Bennett would be a little apprehensive about me leaving him with a total stranger...he wasn't. Did he even say good-bye? I don't think so. He was sooo ready to be rid of me.

I secretly wished he had cried. (Bad mom...I know)

Random Pictures

I finally got a battery for my camera. These are a few pictures from our time up in Idaho.
Brotherly love. There is nothing like sharing a bed with your brother.

Jacks at the Riot Zone. He LOVED the blow ups

Bennett lounging at the 25th ST park.

Jemma loves to watch Ella do all her cheer jumps. She laughs and laughs. If babies can have favorites...Ella is definetly it.

Jemma's first taste of rice cereal. She loved it! (Just like her mommy...will eat anything)

Another famous face from Grace. She gets sooo board with me.

Ethan at the Riot Zone bouncing away with all the other kids.

The 4 - 3 year old having a hair session.

The Evil Retail Empire

I'm not talking about this...

I'm talking about this...


Matt had some CE training he attended down in Scottsdale. I decided to brave the 110+ heat and take the kids on a mini vacation. Unfortunately I learned that the heat plus me and my kids, DOES NOT equal good attitudes. So off to the air conditioned mall we went. Fashion Square Mall off Scottsdale RD rivals the Mall of America in Minnisota. I was in love...so was Bennett when he saw that the mall included a Build-A-Bear Workshop.

He had never seen a store like this before. When he realized that he actually could stuff an animal himself ...forget it!!!

"We are ONLY looking" I warned as we walked in.

"Right" Bennett smirked at me.

Bennett went on a frenzy picking out animals for himself, Jacks ,and Jemma. He headed to the stuffing station and before I knew it we were the proud owners of 2 dogs and a Hello Kitty. Bennett and Jacks both got into "bringing them to life". They shook the hearts and gave them a kiss before jamming it deep inside the animal. A quick trip to the grooming station ensured that our animals were cleaned and properly fluffed.

Outfits were donned and matching shoes were found. The birth certificates were authenticated by the store manager's signature. When Bennett and Jacks came back to me, arms full of dog houses, backpacks, hats, and a red convertible for the dogs to cruse around in, I knew I had to get out of there. I pulled out my card to make the purchases feeling very foolish because I knew, that the sales clerk knew, that I had just been inducted into the "Parents Suckered Into Making Absurd Purchases For Their Children" club.

I won't divulge the exact amount I spent in that store. (It's waaay too embarassing) Let's just say I was shaking in my booties thinking about going back to the hotel and showing Matt our purchases.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is definetly on my list now. The excitement they prompt from the little ones is just to great to resist. At least I learned my lesson - 3 year olds DO NOT know how to window shop!