Family visits: Part 1

Towards the end of July, we had my sister's (Jerusha) family come stay with us on their way to a Reunion for Chris's (her husband) family. It was AWESOME to see them and play and especially to have a home where we could keep them while they were here.
We did lots of fun things during their stay, so I am going to break it into parts! ALTHOUGH, these are NOT in chronological order (mainly because I don't have all the pictures for their whole stay, yet).
Part 1: Temple Square
On Wednesday of their stay we went to Salt Lake City! Robby had to work, so I took my 2 kids and Jerusha and Chris took their 4 and we headed north.
 We first had lunch at the new City Creek Center. It was great to get whatever we wanted to eat from different restaurants, but all sit together in a back secluded corner! Although I have no pics from here, it was nice. Timothy's favorite part was the potty. In the Family Restroom they had 2 toilets, a big one and a little one with a "flower " seat. It was great to be able to go to the bathroom and take the boys with me (and have room for us)... and Timothy went, too!
After lunch, we headed across the street to Temple Square. We first stopped in at the South Visitor's Center and learned a bit about the building of the Salt Lake Temple. It was pretty neat to see the model of the Temple with the walls gone, so we could see what was inside. I've been inside, so it was cool to see where things are in relation to other things (because honestly I'm lost when I'm inside).
Then we put pennies in the fountain and headed on up to the Tabernacle. We just stopped in quick to see the Organ and sit in the really uncomfortable benches for a minute.
Then up to the North Visitor's Center. We saw some really cool thigns in there.
 First off, the Christus Statue.
Timothy was so excited to see Jesus. He wanted to talk to Him. I had to gently explain that it was only a statue and he wasn't going to talk back... but I wanted to try to do it a way where he still felt like he should "talk to Jesus and He would answer". I hope he understood.

  We saw a lot of beautiful Art; Depictions of scipture stories and such. Then downstairs there more cool things about the scriptures and interactive things for the kids to do. There were also displays about humanitarian efforts. We watched a little video about the food stuff the church does with canning and meat packing. I was able to tell Timothy about how me and daddy have served in the cannery helping with peaches (we saw that on the video) and Daddy has also served in the meat packing plant.

After that, we went across the street to the Conference Center.

We decided we had enough time to do a tour. (Good thing we had 2 double strollers, or our kids would not have made it).

The nice Sister who took us around really made an effort to keep things brief so our kids wouldn't be to antsy and bored.

The Fountain

The "hour" tour took probably 30-40 mins. But we got to see it all still! (we just may not have learned as much trivia as other groups).

We Love our Prophet dear!                           

From the roof 

The kids loved the little water fall and fountain

Belive it or not, we ALL fit in the elvators.

After our tour we headed back to parking at the CCC, via the picture spot.

(some people were less enthused about more pictures)

 Isn't the Temple so beautiful? And the landscaping they do is amazing.

All in all, it was a great day! Both kids slept on the way home (Spencer got 1/2 his nap while we were still touring). And afterwards, Jerusha's family was able to visit a good family friend in SLC.

Credit where credit is due: My amazing sister took ALL the pictures (except the ones she is in, I took those) So if you love a picture, it was all her! Thanks Roosh for giving them to me!

Day out with Thomas

And what a great day it was!

 Monday, May 28 was Memorial Day. Robby got the day off work (yay for holidays!) So we went as a family up to Heber to the Historic Railraod and thier "Day Out With Thomas" event. We told Timothy a week early that we would be going to see Thomas and he was asking everyday that week if it was time to go see Thomas. Needless to say, he was so excited. When the day finally came, he talked nonstop about how he was going to see Thomas and talk to him and tell him things and how he was going to see Sir Topham Hatt and talk to him. We spent the day exploring all the different trains there, riding "Thomas" (theHeber Creeper), playing games, watching a magic show, and more.

 YAY! It's Thomas!

Our first view of Thomas

Timothy was happy to see Sir Topham Hat, but very concerned when he wouldn't talk to him.

"Tickets, Tickets Please." Giving our Ticket to the Conductior and boarding the train

So excited to be "riding Thomas"

On the train waving to Daddy!

We got to ride this cool little car that was used to take rail workers to the job site (may years ago). It goes fast! That driver even let Timothy "help".

Mom and the boys with the other engines that were "there".

Timothy saw this engine and was SO excited to see "Mavis" too!

There were also bubbles to play with (or just water puddles), train cars to climb on, and old steam engines to see.

It was a long hot day.

Family Photo Shoot

Last Saturday, our AWESOME sister-in-law, Melody, took family pictures for us. She must have worked so hard this week to have them all done and ready for us today. Since she blogged about it, I'll just send you on over to her to see!
Enjoy!
http://merriemelody.blogspot.com/2012/06/photoshoot-with-rob-and-carlie.html
p.s. Thanks Melody!

Father's Day celebrations!

Sunday was, of course, Father's Day! And since we have a Father in our house, we celebrated!
Robby chose to have Hamburgers and Hot Dogs (Which he cooked over the fire himself... shucks, didn't capture that on film)

In the morning we made him breakfast and gave him his gift. A SUPER DAD freezer mug (with A&W of course) and a whole bag of Black Licorice flavored Salt Water Taffey, his FAVORITE! (my absolute NOT favorite... it is a special occasion when I buy him black licorice anything... and still kiss him. So he took it to work to enjoy!)

We love you Robby with all our hearts! Hope you enjoyed your day! You are the BEST Daddy the boys could ever have!

Budding cameraman

Timothy is our little photographer.
Anytime the camera is out, he asks to take some pictures.

Some are pretty good... others are just a click of the button as he's on the go, but it is fun to see it! t is actually pretty hilarious to hear his running commentary of what he's trying to capture!

p.s. thanks Katie for suggesting ipiccy. I'm still figuring it all out, but it looks like it is going to be fun!

sneek peek

I have a post in the works.

p.s. anybody know how to make the cool "collage" pictures so I can compress the amount of space this post is going to take?

Worst Mom of the Year award goes to...

ME.
I officially went overboard and snapped. I can't belive I am actually documeting this, but here goes.

Timothy has been really difficult lately, especially when it comes to decisions. He flip flops back and forth like no other. It gets really frustating. But worse is when he asks for something, so I get it for him and he just stands there. So I ask, do you want this? yes or no? He just stands there silent. So I say, well that means no, and I walk away. Then he whines, No I want it... etc and the cycle continues.
It is the absolute worst when he is tired and it is PAST bedtime and he goes on like this forever.

So tonight, he was actually pretty good for the one story that I told him I'd read and didn't push the issue for more than that (it was way past bedtime... normally we do 2-3 stories). Anyway, he had been eating a cracker during the story, so just before I left I (BIG MISTAKE) asked him if he wanted a drink before I turned off the light... to wash down the cracker. Cue silent treatment. This went on for about 5x of me leaving, him coming out to ask for water, me trying to give it to him, no answer or attemp to take the water, me leavign again, etc. Finally I bribed him to take the water by offering him his bouncy ball that he got today (another BIG MISTAKE). Well that started a whole new batch of "take the ball", no response, me leaving, "No I want my ball" etc. We finally got  him to take the ball after a few "losing it" episodes (he threw the ball or dropped it and couldn't find it).

AND, it came back to " I want a drink of water". RE-RUN, except I threatened to dump the water on his head of he wouldn't drink it. I withheld myself for the first 2 more senarios, then I cracked. He wouldn't take the water, so I splashed it right in his face.
(Cue music for worst mom award acceptance walk of shame)

Needless to say he freaked, cried, etc. I dried him off with a towel, then got daddy (as per his request and to my relief). Only to hear him so , No I want mommy to change my shirt. I came back and helped get him in a dry shirt. As I was getting up to leave he says in his sweet little voice, "well mommy, you don't dump water on people's heads", (I think I told him this exact same thing earlier today when he dumped a cup of water on Spencer's head.) to which I snidely replied, "well you don't ask for things you don't want." and left the room. CUE GUILT.

Robby came out a few minutes later saying that Timothy really wanted me to sing him some songs goodnight ( and even MORE guilt) and he wouldn't drop it. SO Robby made the best deal ever with him. He said, "Timothy, I'll make you a deal. If you go to sleep, I'll get mommy to come sing you a song." Timothy's reply?, "ok".

After stewing this incident over in my head and feeling TERRIBLE, I went into Timothy's quiet room, kissed his head, told him I was sorry for splashing water in his face. In his sleepy voice ( I think he was already asleep) he asked for a song, So I sang "I am a Child of God" and cried (righly so) as I sang the words "...has given me an earthly home with Parents kind and dear.."

Hopefully he won't remember tomorrow, but if he does I think I need to apologize again and make a special effort to be a better, more loving and patient mommy.