Calaway Park Fun

So we took the boys to the stampede earlier this week. Jordan and I both grew up in Calgary and were exposed to the stampede, and this is our 3rd summer living back in Calgary after being in Edmonton for school, but neither of us had been since we were in high school, so needless to say we were not well prepared for the ridiculous expense of the endeavor. We went of kids day so the entrance to the park was free (otherwise that would have been 15 dollars a piece for Jordan and I) but we refused to pay 4 dollars a ride for the kids to go on any rides. We did splurge and buy them a treat, a 5 dollar bag of cotton candy, which by the way is on my counter still. We saw the dog show and went home. For me it was a huge disappointment. If we were going to really experience anything there is would have cost our family over 100 dollars. Skyler too was very disappointed because he could see all of the rides, but we wouldn't let him go on any of them. We promised him that day that we would make a trip out to Calaway park, so today was the day to follow through on promises.

The kids LOVED it. both of them. Skyler loved being independent and going on rides on his own.
Ethan was upset that Skyler could go on more rides than he could particularly a motor bike ride. My brother Stephen came along, and was great, he and Jordan went on the rollercoaster, but besides taht just helped out with the 2 kids which was really nice.

Skyler has this new thing when he is really excited, it is totally goofy, and funny. He gives 2 really excited thumbs up, and a goofy grin - it kind of reminds me of President Carter.Side Rant: Kids are horrible at waiting in a line and not pushing through. Not that my own kids are without fault, but when I see them being rude, or pushing through a line I say something to them. I want them to grow up being respectful, courteous, and being able to really enjoy things like Calaway Park, and not just hating the lines. There was a little train ride that Ethan could go on by himself, and he really wanted to go, but wanted the front car. He waited in line, didn't get the front car, and was upset, so he waited in line again - actually he was the only one in line (and I was standing with him) and a little girl, with her mom came and pushed herself in front of him, and declared that she wanted the front car. I said that was fine, but that is also the car the Ethan wants, and he is first in line. The gate was opened, and she pushed again, and climbed in the front car leaving Ethan devastated. He cried for probably 10 minutes going "my choo choo, my choo choo" It was heartbraking, and I was really bothered by the fact that he waited twice, and the other childs mom did not do or say anything to help the situation,a nd I left with a crying child who did not get to ride the ride once, but waited for it twice.

Ethan's version of a Pirate

this kids cracks me up!

Apparently eye patches are not only for the eyes.

Pirate Party

Today was Skylers Birthday, I am now the mom of a great big 4 year old, and he is soo proud to be 4. We held his party outside at Lake Chaparral (thanks Tamara for getting us all in) and it was the smartest thing ever. I am feeling really pregnant, and not loving running after a million kids. My brother, Stephen is a life saver, and the greatest Uncle that my kids could aske for. He is fabulous at giving them one on one attention, and my kids adore him for it.

We had a Pirate Party, so naturally we had to dress like pirates with Bandana's and eye patches. We started with a treasure hunt that Stephen headed up, and the kids got to travel all over the lake following thier treasure map trying to find the treasure chest. (this was great, all of the moms got to sit and talk, while all of the kids were on the hunt. I am happy to say they found a treasure chest full of treasure, and were so excited to tell us about it when they got home.

We had a cannon ball fight between our 2 pirate ships, unfortunately my camera is broken, and I was relying on my brother, and we missed the action shots, so we made the kids go back and pose for a picture in their boats.

Lunch was pretty simple. We had pitas, watermelon, out to sea pasta salad, ocean blue jello jigglers, and juice boxes. I made a pirate ship cake which thankfully dissapeared, so it didn't have to tavel home again.

The kids always love a pinata, so we had our skull and crossbones pinata that I made - by the way, after several online tutorials, I am the master of pinatas!

Opening presents finally came. I cannot believe how impatient a 4 year old can be. He was thrilled with all the he got. EEthan loved playing with all of the new toys this afternoon while Skyler went to see the movie UP with Uncle Stephen.

Happy birthday Skyler, We sure love having you in our family!

Stuck!?!?

Skyler came running upstairs yesterday to tell me that Ethan was stuck, I came downstairs to find this. I laughed soo hard, the harder I laughed, the more distraught he got, but he kept saying duck duck duck (translation: stuck stuck stuck)

Teeth and Good Bye's

I am done Babysitting! It feels so nice that my schedule will not revolve around someone else's children, and that I will be able to take my own kids out to do some fun things. But lets be honest I almost cried. I have had the kids for almost a year, and they just moved to Newfoundland. I will never see them again, and I am really going to miss little Rachel, who by the way kept giving me these huge hugs which made it even harder.

We had a little birthday dinner for Rachel last night and her parents came for dinner. It was Rachels birthday on moving day, so she was missing out. My camera decided to go AWOL on me though so I have no pictures of the little princess party that we had, AND I lost all of my pictures that I had not taken off the card yet.

Today I had to say goodbye to President and Sister Priday our mission presidents because they are leaving to go home this afternoon. I have worked with them for over a year as mission cook, and I will miss them dearly. They have been soo good for the mission, and so fun to get to know. I loved all of the talks sister Priday and I would have at the mission home, in the kitchen.

On another unrelated topic Skyler had a bunch of dental work done today, and they put him out to do it. He had some really bad cavities that started 'chasing' meaning that they were spreading to every tooth in his mouth. He had all of his molars capped. I am soo grateful that I have not had to deal with having a child put under before, and pray that I will not have to deal with it again. Skyler took it really well, but it is still hard to watch your babies eyes roll back in their head as they lose conciousness, and have them wake up crying, dizzy, and disoriented. I am soo grateful for modern medicine though, and that he could safely be treated this way, because the alternative of about 10 1 hour appoitments at the dentist, likely each with a tantrum and crying is more daunting, and would be far more traumatic for him.

Preschool Graduation

I finally got some pictures of Skylers little preschool graduation that we did. This time I did not forget my camera, but it died after I got a picture of the first 2 kids (neither of which were My own by the way) so I was totally at the mercy of the other wonderful mothers who were more prepared than me. In my defense though, we have only had to charge the battery on our camera 4 times in the last almost 4 years.

The graduation was nothing fancy, but cute and the kids loved it. We went to Lake Chaparral and used one of their little huts to hold out 'ceremony' where each child got a certificate, graduation hat, and then got to throw their hat in the air, and have a snack. Tannis was the lucky mom planning this event, and made cute little graduation cupcakes for the kids which they loved. We then took a walk around under the water fall and ended at the lake right by the park where the kids got to play for quite a while with all of their school frinds. It is sad that some of the kids we won't see a ton of anymore not that anyone moved, but our ward boundaries changes, so we don't see them regularily anymore.

Skyler loved school, really loved the field trips, and I think it was really good for him, but next year he gets to go 3 days a week to a preschool that I am not teaching, and I know that he will love that too.

Father's Day 2009

I hope Jordan had a good Fathers Day, he is sure special to his kids!

We started the day off with a cop out for eggs Benedict in bed for daddy, and the boys insisted on eating upstairs, I am soo glad that I insisted that they not eat on my bed - wow what a mess. The boys helped me make a banner for Jordan that we put up to help celebrate. We have early church, so after breakfast we ran around getting everyone ready for church, and then Jordan got to open his presents. He got a new bathing suit, sandals, and a BBq and scrub brush. At church all of the dad's got caramilk bars, which they loved!

I spent the afternoon making burgers and fry's that I had seen on bakerella, and they turned out soo cute! What a dad food, and for dessert!