Fun on the Fourth

We were a little sad that we weren't going to be with family for this Independence Day, but decided to make the best of things here. We tried to start our holiday celebrations Friday night when the near-by casino had their fireworks display. We let the kids stay up, and as we were going to load up in the car to go watch, Kiersten refused to go (she claims she doesn't like the loud noises, but she's only seen real fireworks once, and that was 2 years ago and she liked them then!). So I didn't push the issue, I put Tanner to bed and let her and Nate finish decorating her bike for the morning's parade.

On the morning of the 4th, we got up and headed over to the lake where Kiersten entered the Parade. Well, I guess we all entered, as we all walked (or biked) around the lake, but only Kiersten entered the contest. If I had realized there was a contest with prizes I would have done more than put Nate in charge an hour before bed the night before! :) Oh well, she was happy with what they did, although she did tell Nate it still needed some flowers.

Mom and Tanner after the parade.

After the parade was over, we headed home and had some friends over for breakfast and "fireworks." Arizona is pretty strict about what you can have for fireworks - in fact, there isn't any fire at all! Nate was so excited to buy a box of fireworks, until we got home and he looked at his purchase and realized that all they did was make a loud noise and shoot out confetti! Nate tried them out with Kiersten the night before and she didn't like them, but when we got them out with friends over, and the friends liked them then she did too! Unfortunately Tanner slept through all of breakfast and our fireworks!
Tanner just couldn't get enough of the red, white & blue patriotic ribbon jell-o. When he was done he managed to have jello everywhere, but he was happy so it was worth it!

We ended our festivities at our clubhouse where they had some old fashioned carnival games and jumping castles for the kids. Kiersten headed straight for the jumping castle and we had to drag her away from it half an hour later. She jumped so long and hard, and it was so hot that she was completely worn out after that and didn't want to try any of the games! We did get her to try a couple, though, and Tanner even tried the one where you choose a duck out of the bucket and got to pick a prize based off the number on the duck. We opted not to stay until after dark and watch fireworks on their big outdoor movie screen, but went home and had the kids in bed by 7!

Tanner and Yogurt just don't mix!

So, I really should know better . . .

I'd taken both kids grocery shopping with me earlier today (something I vow I'll never do again, and yet week after week I do it), and started out with both in the basket of the cart. I'd warned Kiersten that she would have to get out before too long so I'd have room for the groceries. After she hopped out I know I should have moved Tanner up to the front where he'd be in the seat. But, he was doing so well in the cart, keeping himself entertained with the groceries that I didn't want to move him because I knew he'd only last a matter of minutes in the seat and then I'd be carrying him. I was watching him as best I could - I thought I was doing pretty well when I caught the yogurt and the cottage cheese before he managed to throw them out. Next thing I know Tanner, who has been standing up, looses his balance and falls down landing on 2 of the yogurts and sends yogurt everywhere. I had a new bath towel and hand towel (to make a hooded towel as a baby gift for a friend) and a couple of baby cards directly underneath where Tanner sat on the yogurts. (I thought I was being so smart putting the towels under the basket because the last time I put them in the basket Kiersten managed to step all over them and I had to wash them as soon as I got home. So I thought I'd outsmarted my kids by putting them underneath the cart!) The towels and the diaper bag bore the brunt of the yogurt bomb.

Shortly after that happened I ran into a lady from my ward who asked if I wanted her kids (they were driving her crazy). When I told her what mine had done, and asked if she wanted a trade she didn't want to take me up on it. I think she decided her's weren't so bad after all!

Someday I'll learn that Tanner and yogurt just don't mix!

The Wonderful World of Disney

Since it has been over two months since we got back from our Disneyland trip, and I still haven't posted the pictures I promised Grandmas and I just finished scrapbook pages for this trip I figured I'd just post pictures of the layouts I did and call it a blog! This way there are way more pictures to see, and much more to read (if you care to!), and I'm not reinventing the wheel!

Walking

A recent email from Nate's mom and a conversation on the phone with my mom reminded me that I hadn't yet posted any videos of Tanner walking, so here goes. Here is a recent one Nate took of Tanner, sporting one of his cute birthday outfits from Grandma Larsen (thanks, Grandma!) at the mini-golf course by our house, about a week after he (Tanner, that is!) turned 1. (Unfortunately I can't remember exactly when he started walking, but it was probably 4-6 weeks before this video.) Oh, and you can watch this movie with your volume turned off - all you can hear is the wind!

When Mom Gets Busy

So, this is what happens when I leave the yogurt container too close to the edge of the table and get engrossed in a phone call and don't pay attention to a little one who is being WAY TOO quiet!(That would be the yogurt he wouldn't eat for breakfast or lunch when I was feeding him!)

It's hard to be too mad - this is the first time he's ever used a spoon to feed himself! Way to go Tanner!

But really, why use a spoon when hands are much easier?
This scoop flung yogurt onto the chair behind him.

Sadly these pictures don't do justice to the amount of yogurt on him and his clothes. And, in case you're wondering, that's yogurt coming out of his nose - it was everywhere!)

Fathers and Sons Campout

Nate has been waiting forever (well, at least as long as we've been married!) to have a son of his own to take on a Fathers and Sons campout. So a few weeks ago Nate's dream was realized - he got to take Tanner on his first Fathers and Sons campout. I think Tanner was the youngest camper, but only by a couple of months (there was another dad who was just as excited as Nate to finally have a son to take camping)!


Thankfully Tanner did much better than Kiersten did on her first campout and the whole camp didn't hear him all night! Nate said Tanner slept pretty well, but Nate decided he's getting too old to sleep on the hard ground (next time he's going to blow up the air mattress!)

I'm thankful for Fathers and Sons campouts - that's one time I don't have to feel guilty about not even wanting to go camping! And, in two weeks our clubhouse is having a "daddy and me" campout, and I signed Nate up to take both children! We'll all enjoy the evening, just in different ways!

A Dream is a Wish

Unfortunately for Kiersten, the high point of her year (well, at least I think this is the highest of all the highs for her!) has come and gone. Memorial Weekend was her dance recital, and I, for one, and glad it's done! She had a good time, loves the costume (of course, everything centered around Cinderella since that is her favorite, and I can do that when I'm the teacher!) and LOVED another chance to dance on the big stage. Now she can't wait for fall to start, when she'll get to start in the "big girl" class, and actually start a real ballet class.

Sorry the video quality is not all that great . . . someday we'll get a better video camera (I know, I said that last year too - I'm still waiting for "someday" to come!)