Our Trip to Utah and Summer Fun!

I headed to Utah with the kiddos last Thursday (the 19th) by myself... my poor husband had to work...I've been meaning to post about this trip but things have been crazy around here...there's so much going on and not enough energy to do it all!!!!:) But I am pleased to report that we had a blast and we spent time with my cousin Bonnie and her family, my good friend Betsy (we were roommates for a about 2 years in college) and my best of friends Timber and her two kids Denim Bleu and Blazen Trails!!!!:) We did lots of fun things and by the end of the trip Brielle was very much ready to come home. She kept telling me that she wanted to come home and that she missed her daddy...there has been too much going on lately, she is done with all the traveling and my poor Braden is too...and I have to say that I am too!!!!!! They were both so good during the drive there and back...I guess all of this traveling is getting us ready for what is to come...our move to D.C. (I think we are going to invest in a portable DVD player for the car for the drive across the country...it is going to be a CRAZY drive!!!!!!)

Doesn't she look so innocent in this picture?...

We went to the aquarium in Sandy with my cousin Bonnie and her family...it was so much fun...I had never seen an octupus in real life before and it was the coolest thing ever!!!! The kids had a blast pointing at the animals and Brielle was even brave enough to touch a snake!!!!!

Betsy, the kids and I went to the park, had lunch together, went to feed the ducks and we went to this cool museum at BYU. Brielle was able to name a bunch of the animals and both Brielle and Braden seemed to have no fear of any animal!!!

This is Timber's oldest...Denim Bleu!!!:)

AND Blazen Trails...he looks just like his daddy!!!:)

Timber was getting Denim ready for Sunday by putting rollers in her hair and topping things off with a pair of panties...I was laughing sooo hard...I was like "what are you doing to this poor little girl!!!" It was hilarious!!!!!

This picture was taken after a loooong day at the pool! I can't believe this is the only picture I took of us! I love this girl!!!!

A much better picture of us, last year when Timber came to Rexburg to see us!

Anyway, life is good and we have been enjoying staying home and going to play outside everyday. I bought a little swimming pool for the kids and they have been having fun going to the little playground area that we have in our apartment complex. It's nice to be able to enjoy the outdoors...by the end of the day they are exhausted and ready for bed....Braden is finally sleeping in the same bedroom with Brielle (he's been sleeping in his bassinet for way too long) They are getting used to each other and Braden is finally enjoying his crib!!!!:) We turned Brielle's crib into a toddler bed and now she is a big girl!!!

Braden has been loving life because now he can swing all by himself! He loves swinging...he could honestly swing for hours if it were up to him...

It's been awesome now that Braden can swing by himself because I can push both of them at the same time!!!!:)

I love watching Brielle and Braden show their love for each other!!! I love it that they are such great friends...they do fight...but they also have a blast together!

I finally feel after a long, long, long time like I have things under control...I think this move is going to be a BIG change for everyone, but especially for the kids...after this big change, I'm committing myself to fully potty train Brielle (with all of this traveling Brielle has digressed instead of progress in the potty training business, she was pretty much fully trained to go #2, we just needed to work on the #1, but now she's been telling me after the fact...) Braden has been a cute little character lately and has been putting Brielle in time-out! It is quite hilarious to hear him. We have been enjoying ourselves and I'm looking forward for this semester to end!!!!!! I have a group of fun students this semester and it will be sad to stop teaching...I will miss the student interaction and the teaching time, but I will DEFINITELY NOT miss all the grading!!!!!!:) Scott is MORE than ready to quit his job at Qwest and start medical school...in not too long, it will be the start of a new chapter for our little family!

Braden absolutely LOVES the water! He could be in the water forever! He is not a happy camper when it's time to go home!

Brielle calling daddy!!! She is always asking about Scott throughout the day..."Mommy, where's daddy?"