Kids...can't live with em', can't live without em'!

So today I hear a thud coming from downstairs...not thinking to much about it I continued my cleaning upstairs. After hearing another thud I decided to investigate. Once downstairs I see T trying to lift P up by a broomstick tucked between little P's legs. I asked, even though I should know better, what they were doing. T said they were just "playin' dressed up". Not thinking too much about it I went back upstairs. A few more thuds later, I decided to intervene. I went back downstairs and P was now up on a barstool they had pushed next to the couch. Looking a little dangerous I again asked what they were doing. P said "STOP" as in don't come any closer and T yet again said they were "playin' dressed-up". I asked what they were dressing up as and T said, "I am just helpin' P be a witch and fly." Oh yes my friends he was attempting to help the 1-year-old fly on a broomstick.

Besides flying on broomsticks, we have been having a lot of fun as a fam now that Ty isn't as busy in school. It is so nice to have him around a little more and the boys sure do love their daddy! I am still doing my little commute to work and Ty is still doing really well in school. The boys are awesome! T has become a swimmer this summer and we are so proud of him and his "doggles" (which he attributes his swimming success to). P is still full of energy and adventure. He is a little fish in the water...unfortunately he is one of those fish who sinks and prefers to do it unattended. He also has some little fetish lately on checking diapers on all those around him who might have one on. We had some friends over last week and he kept following their little girl around checking her diaper, pulling it down in the back. Then again in the airport playground I looked over and he was totally checking this little girl's diaper. Is this normal? OK, so I know it's not...but it's just P...he's crazy...but, oh my goodness, we love him!!!

Kids...can't live with em'...can't live without em'!

ROAD TRIP!!!

After a few fun-packed days with the cousins it was time to head back to Idaho. We loaded the Yukon until it could hold no more and set off for our great adventure. First stop...Idaho. Well, bathroom, then bathroom, then lunch, then bathroom, then Idaho. I mostly worked and the boys played at grandma's house chasing chickens and ducks, building forts, and being crazy! We also went to the zoo with the fam to check out the animals.

The back seat bunch! All strapped in with no where to go!!!

Cute little T!

Playful little P!

The cousin club at the zoo!

After about a week we loaded back up and officially started our vacation! Second stop...Arizona. We played with the family and had so much fun! The kids LOVED Grandpa Ronnie sand Grandma Jody's new swimming pool and T LOVED playing with "the guys". T loved showing off his moves and P was begging to get in the pool whenever he wasn't in it, constantly carrying his life jacket and tube. We celebrated the 4th of July with a barbecue and some small-town fireworks..the temp...not so sure...but unbareably hot. They kind of seemed like the fireworks without end. Sunday was great, more time with family and another lil' nephew being blessed. Monday we visited the Arizona Science Center...it was tons of fun. It was good to spend time with the fam and I even got a little brave and rode a bike on a tight rope. After that we went back to grandma's for some more swimming, homeade ice cream and fun with the fam!

T and I watching the fireworks, can you see it? That spot above T's head! Breathtaking...we know! Actually the fireworks were pretty good, it was the 105 degree-ish that half the family stayed inside to avoid.

T and cousins or "the guys" playing outside and watching the fireworks!

Lots of good food had by all!

P begging to go swimming!!!

Brandon and his life line...trying to fix the hole in the pool! Good ole brave Uncle Brandon!

T at the Science Center... making a plan. The more balls you throw into the nostril before it sneezes them out the better.

Wheelchair races...Ronnie vs. Ty...Haley vs. Nakeisha...

Quinn vs. T (and Ty)

Me...riding a bike...on a cable...at the Science Center.

After SO much fun in Arizona it was again time to pack our bags and find yet another adventure. Third stop...California! First we hit San Diego. We stayed at a really nice hotel downtown. It was an old hotel that they had totally redone. It was beautiful but apparently people back in the day didn't need as much space or had a lot less stuff because the rooms...tiny! Ty and I could not keep from laughing everytime we looked at each other. That night we headed to the ocean for a little dinner and fun. T and I chased the waves and P discovered he hates sand. The next day we went to Sea World. It was so much fun... The boys loved it. We got awesome seats for the Shamu Show. T loved it, P... I think, thought Shamu was going to eat him. After Shamu we visited the penguins, the sea lions, the dolphins, and the walrus. P was TERRIFIED of the walrus, he would swim right up to the glass where P was standing. I think P is used to being one of the bigger kids on the block, the walrus was MASSIVE. P stood down!

Lil' P was not into the whole sand thing...

After having so much fun in the ocean and having just gone from 105-110 deg in Arizona to 75 deg in San Diego...he was frozen. So we bundled him up for the ride back to the hotel.

Washing all the sand out...

Brothers...adorable!

Me and my lil' guys!

The WALRUS P thought was going to eat him!

We all loved Shamu!

After TOO much fun at Sea World we headed north to our hotel in Anaheim. We gave P anything he wanted to make him think staying in his car seat was an okay idea...including cell phones, battery chargers, and of course LICORICE...probably not the best idea. But he liked it!

Thursday we spent the whole day going back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure. The favorite rides:

Ty: Soaring Over California

Haley: Soaring Over California & Toy Story

T: "flying"... Soaring Over California (barely met height requirement with his hat and tallest tennis shoes)

P: Pretty much anything BUT Pirates of the Carribean...little freakout!

Daddy and his boys...cruising through the jungle!

After a total melt down in Pirates of the Carribean...P was a little nervous and skeptical of the rest of the rides.

P's favorite part...the FOOD!

T getting all the bad guys in Toy Story!

The exhausted fam at the end of our Disney Day!

After riding all the rides we stuck around for the fireworks and the electical light parade. The parade was just as I remembered it from when I was a kid. After Disneyland both T and P fell asleep in the stroller on the way back to the hotel and Ty and I collapsed into bed shortly thereafter.

After so much fun it was time to go home. Friday we packed up and made the drive home.
We did a little shopping at the outlets on the way. Now we are home...back to the grind...back to school...back to play...back to normal. It is as fun to come back as it is to go! But WOW...what a fun vacation!!!!!!!!!!

Miss Cell & Mr. MP3's last day!

So a little disclaimer...the third and final day with cousins was not the day I wrote this. I am writing this...oh...say a few weeks later. Yes...a little slackerish...but hey...it's done.

Day 3 of family and fun was exciting. Ty and I braved the strip with FOUR kids. We stuck to the plans and finally made it over to the M & M Factory! T, Miss Cell, and Mr MP3 could hardly stand the wait! We made it all the way through the store, the kids picking out all sorts of things they wanted to buy from towels and blankets to keychains and cups. We then decided to watch the 3-D M & M movie. While we were waiting for the movie to start T and Mr. MP3 put on a show on the stage for the crowd. T sang his ABC's and Mr. MP3 rocked out at the microphone too. After the movie we went home to get ready for Chuckie Cheese. After playing fun games and eating bad pizza we headed home to meet some friends coming over for some smores.

Mr. MP3 hit the jackpot at Chuckie Cheese!

It didn't matter what we did, we always had so much fun! The best part...by 9pm every night the kids fell into their beds like bricks.