a starry starry night

Saturday was member night at the zoo so Lisa (our neighbor) and I figured since it was a free event and for members only we’d go and have fun and hopefully it wouldn’t be way crowded or way hot since it was at night. We were right about one thing it wasn’t way hot, but it was way crowded, let’s just say the zoo was a zoo!!! I think everyone in the valley of the sun was at the zoo. It was crazy busy, I think that is one of the things I hate about living in a big city- the millions of people everywhere!!!

We did have fun though. There were water slides there, the splash pad was open, we got to see some of the animals and I think the best part of the whole thing was the new giraffe exhibit. It was so cool we got to see the giraffes up close and personal. We got to feed them and Brielle even got to pet one (though she wasn’t suppose too)! Those animals are beautiful and so big. I couldn’t believe how big they actually were when we were that close. It was amazing. Even though we had to wait like 30 minutes in line it was totally worth it. I think that was the best part of our zoo adventure.

We had a fun time, but after you fight such a huge crowd of people it gets a bit overwhelming. By the time we left the stars were out, our feet were tired and we were ready to go.

so you think you can dance

Our little Ballerina has been at Campells for a year now and they finally did their big dance recital this last week and Brielle was so excited. She has been waiting for this recital all year, the big stage, the fancy costumes, the many lights and most of all the flowers at the end of her dance. She just couldn’t wait she was beaming with excitement all day in anticipation of her big show. It was at Mountain View High School in the evening so Brielle and I headed over to Erin’s house to get all glittzed up and ready to go. So once Erin caked on the make up, used a can of hairspray, and made my little girl into a beautiful princess we headed out to the big stage. Look at that black and white picture doesn't she look model beautiful!!!

Once we got there she went backstage and got into costume and meet with her class. Eight little girls so excited and giddy it was way fun to see. I left her backstage and headed out into the audience. There were 34 dances and she was in 2 of them, one a ballet dance and one a tap dance. She was so beautiful and smiley. She had so much fun!!! At the end she came out and said, “do I get some flowers.” That’s my Elle. Of course she got lots of flowers and lots of hugs and loves. Way to go Elle we think you can dance!

tour the station

I have been planning a visit to the firehouse with my sister and a couple of my good friends for a month now and last Thursday was the day we finally got to go. It was so much fun and the kids loved it. My good friend, Nat, works at AJ fire department and so I thought that it would be a blast to take the kids there and let them see the fire truck up close and personal and get a true firehouse tour by a real firefighter. We got the royal treatment. The kids got to go on the truck and check it out, they got to put on the clothes (look at Cooper he looked so cute, a little like E.T.), they checked out the workout room, the sleeping quarters, and the best part of the whole tour for them was to watch TV with the firefighters. It was sweet. At the end of the whole thing all 10 of the kids sat on the lazyboys, kicked backed, and watched Icarly on the huge projection screen. It was great they fit right in. Us ladies wanted to head out for an evening of fun and leave the kids with the firefighters. They weren’t having it though. Oh well, we can dream. Nat even gave each kids a to go pack full of cool things. Thanks AJ fire and Nat for the awesome tour. You guys rock!!!

looking out a dirty old window…

Last year for Father’s Day we gave Colby a poem with the kids handprints and I saw the poem and thought to myself, wow time sure does fly by. By the time we know it our kids will be grown and gone and we won’t even know what hit us. Sometimes as parents we forget to stop and enjoy the precious little moments in life that parenthood brings us. Colby is super good at enjoying the little moments in life with the kids. Something I am trying to get better at and learn from his example.

The other day I got this picture of them. Yes I know it’s fuzzy, dirty and not perfect, it was them sitting outside and me inside looking out a dirty old window. That seriously drives me crazy cause I clean it and two seconds later the kids dirty it again. (let’s not get of topic) Sure I could have opened the door and said okay smile everyone, but truthfully I didn’t want to ruin the moment, a dad and his two kids just enjoy a few minutes together eating cereal on the porch chatting about nothing and everything. What the picture doesn’t tell us is that Colby should have been running off to work but instead he took two minutes to sit and enjoy a moment with his two precious kids and just hang. That is what I love about him he takes time for his kids! He plays with them, eats with them, takes them up North to go camping, he tickles them to death, or he lets them help him mow the yard… I could go on and on because Colby is a great Father and we are so lucky to have him all to ourselves 100% Colby flaws and all.

We love you Bower!!! We hope you have an awesome Father’s Day and know that we couldn’t or wouldn’t want to do life without you!!! Thanks for all you do, you’re an amazing daddy!!!

sugar bugs

Today we had a dentist appointment and I wasn’t so sure how my Cooper would do. You never know with him. One day he is shy, reserved and likes to survey the scene and another day he is ready for anything. Well from the picture you can tell he was a champ. This was only the second time he has been to the dentist and he loved every minute of it. He sat there and smiled and chatted with the hygienist the whole time. At the end he said, “Thanks for getting all the sugar bugs off my teeth so they can be all clean again.” Isn’t he the best? Brielle did awesome also, but she always does.