Natural History Museum

So while we were living in Salt Lake I had gotten a Groupon for the Natural History Museum.  Of course we didn't use it while we were there and it was going to expire so we trekked up from Mapleton to redeem it.  It was actually really interesting and a lot of fun!  Our kids did pretty well...until the end when Ruby couldn't stand not having a nap any longer.  

Ross's favorite part was the dinosaurs of course.  He was really fascinated with the T-Rex's they had set up that were "eating" the wounded stegosaurus.  "What are they doing mom?" he kept asking  over and over.  He also kept wanting to go back to look at it.  There was also part of the walk way that was glass where you could see fossils down below.  He treaded VERY carefully across it worried he was going to fall in somehow. :)

Ross was really fascinated with the mammoth.  He kept telling us how huge it was!

Digging for some bones

Ruby enjoyed digging...and eating the sand of course...she got kicked out after that...by mom.

Playin' with dinosaurs!

The glass walkway where Ross had to tread "lightly"

Art City Days - bring on the Carnies! and a Happy Father's Day!

This last weekend was Art City Days.  We went to the one ticket a ride night with my family.  It was totally fun.  Ross was SO excited to ride all the rides.  He kept telling me the order he wanted to ride them in - the trucks, then the trains, and the dragon.  He did ride all of them, and we took him on the Ferris Wheel.  He totally loved it.  The girl behind us was freaking out, and Ross kept chanting, "We're going up!  We're going down!" the whole time.  It was great :)  
 

Hanging on a fire truck for a minute

 

Ross at Art City Days last year!

Getting ready to drive!

Our train conductor :)

Ross squinched in the middle

We shared scones and rootbeer compliments of my dad and even dipped our feet in the little river at the splash pad.  I think that was Ruby's favorite part since she hated being in the stroller most of the time (she can't be trusted on kiddie rides by herself). 

Cuties :)

At the end the grandparents took the kids on the Carousel.  Ross loved every second and Ruby loved it and was done about half way through. :)  So cute.
 

I think Grandma and Grandpa are even more excited than the kids :)

Then for Father's Day we made Daddy breakfast and made him a sweet card with the kids' hand prints along with giving him a frame for his graduate degree.  We had a fish fry for dinner, gave Stephen's dad a new diving mask, and then stopped at my parents to visit and wish my dad a Happy Father's Day (even though we're officially celebrating next Sunday when my brother and sister will be in town).  The kids were pretty cute for them and we had a great day.  
 

Happy Father's Day!

I'm so grateful for the dad's in my life.  My own, my father-in-law, my grandpa's, and the father of my children.  I am surrounded by wonderful men who have always been kind, considerate, generous, and wonderful to me.  I'm so thankful for these good men who have been such great examples and helped to make my life as great as it is.  I could NEVER do it without them, and I for sure could never do it without my incredible husband who is the best father my kids could hope for.  They are the best!  Happy Father's Day!  

 

Stewart Falls

Well, Steve just barely started working so we're back to mom and kiddos during the day - but we're lucky to have grandparents and uncles and aunts around more too. :)  

Claudia convinced me to come with the kids to hike Stewart Falls.  It's not a bad hike, steep at the beginning and end, but fairly level all through the middle.  The tricky part is having a toddler who doesn't like being held, wants to walk, and would happily walk off the mountain or hang out digging through dirt and rocks.  Also - a three year old who thinks his legs don't work and requires being carried as well.  Okay - I'll give Ross credit - he walked the first quarter of the hike, but was pretty much done the rest of it.

My old glory days as an Aspen Grove camp counselor kicked in as I remembered where we'd start our hike (since I did it every week the summer I worked there with 40 eleven and twelve year old kids).  I love Aspen Grove.  I have such wonderful memories of that summer.  It's so gorgeous being up there in the mountains. 

We sang Winnie the Pooh songs to entertain Ruby (have I mentioned she's recently become completely obsessed with that little movie?  She walks around dancing and singing "Winnie a Poop, Winnie a Poop" all the time along with "Up, down touch a ground" or "Hooway fo you, Hooway fo me"  She LOVES it).  Pretty sure if we didn't have Michael or his friend Isa to carry my children after a while I would have just sat down in the middle of the trail and cried.  Bless them.

The falls were beautiful.  Isa was in awe of it since he'd never seen one in person before. :)  Ross loved throwing rocks in the stream the whole time, and Ruby sat with me (for once) and polished off two apples.  The mist from the falls felt fabulous since we had gotten there about 12:30.

We made it!

My cute kiddos!

Stewart Falls

Rubes loves biting the apple right off the core

Ross really wanted to get in that water.

Rocks ready to throw

The way back was roasting hot and Ruby was MORE than ready for a nap.  By the end my kids looked like dirty orphans from kicking up the dirt and playing in it.  They were sure cute though.  Amazingly they didn't fall asleep in the car on the way back, but Rubes went down for a nap quite hard when we got home.  We definitely wore them out.  

I've learned we need a backpack to put Rubes in...and to teach Ross that he has legs he can use. :)  Fun day though. :) 

In other news, the sandbox has been put in and thoroughly enjoyed as well as some pool time in preparation for Hawaii.  I refused to be fried crispy the first week we're there!
 

The sand!

Happy Kid :)

He's always begging to go outside to dig :)

Ruby practicing the Downward Dog pose ;)

Bah!

Playin' in the water!

Water guns are awesome

This girl is gorgeous - seriously

   

This girl has gotten into sunglasses baby!  Attitude and all :)

A boy and his dragon - Mapleton Elementary - Steve's and my old stomping grounds.  Ross tells me he's going to go to school here. :)