Alligator Adventure

We all loved going to this place called Alligator Adventure. There were so many alligators and crocodiles it was amazing. This time of year is their dormant time, so they do not eat all winter long. They all just lay still as can be without even moving an inch. It looked like they were all dead!

The boys not too sure about all these alligators!
Across the pond were all the alligators up on the bank trying to catch some sun!

Up close and personal...I swear I thought he was dead...but I probably would have freaked out if he'd opened his big mouth at me!

I found this crocodile moving as he came out of the water. I didn't get a picture, but later he positioned himself with his mouth open and didn't move for who knows how long! It was funny.

They really are creepy looking..and I sure wouldn't want to find myself on the other side of that fence!

They also had a tiger exhibit...I never did figure out how they acquired tigers when their specialty was reptiles. Anyways, this was their feeding time.

Lucas hanging out with the tigers

This is an albino alligator. It just layed dead looking in the water.

The boys petting a blue tongue skink (South African lizard)

Getting a close look at a young alligator. Interestingly, this gator had just peed all over the caretaker!

Getting to feel the alligator. I'm not sure if you can tell, but his mouth is taped shut tight with electrical tape!

Ben wasn't too sure about touching this alligator!

The boys with my mom. We loved being able to spend time with her and were glad we were able to have such a great trip. We are grateful for her willingness to share her vacation with us and our crazy kids!

Waffle House

This was our last stop on the trip.....the Waffle House! We stopped there after our 2 1/2 hr drive from Myrtle Beach to Columbia to catch our plane. There was a really nice man there that wanted to make Lucas an honorary chef for the day. Lucas wasn't too sure what to say, but thought it was all amusing!


I also wanted to record a little of my experience traveling with a 1 1/2 year old. It's kind of like giving birth and having a newborn....you get through it and kind of forget it all until the next time...and then you remember..oh yeah..this is really hard! I figure I better write it down, so I don't forget the next time I'm tempted to take a trip with her....it will have to be when she's a little older!
Anyways, I traveled alone with Lucas and Rachel on the first leg to Dallas. Zac and Ben took a red eye flight later that night because we weren't sure if Ben would still be playing Football. Rachel did pretty good that flight...it was all still new and exciting! I met up with my mom in Dallas, do I did have some help the rest of the way. Unfortunately when we were trying to leave Dallas, our plane had some problems, so we had to go back to the gate...wait...unload the plane...wait in the terminal...reload a different airplane...and wait some more. Well, at this time...Rachel was way over due for a nap. All of a sudden she started getting really fussy....then all right mad. She went ballistic! We were still sitting on the plane, waiting for it to be ready...and I couldn't calm her down at all. I went up the front of the plane and asked the flight attendant if I could get off and wait right outside until they were ready to leave. Having a ballistic child was convincing enough. She still wouldn't calm down after standing outside with her..but at least everybody couldn't hear. Shortly after, the flight attendant told me they were ready to go, so I had to get back on the plane..Rachel still screaming...and to wait another five minutes or so until we started to move. It wasn't until we started to taxi out to the run way that she finally gave up and conked out. The whole episode probably lasted about 20 minutes...but to me it really felt like hours! I do have to admit that I had slipped a natural herb that is a sleep aid into her juice that she had started to drink before all this happened, and I think it probably made her too loopy or something. Anyways, it was horrible, but at least she slept that whole flight...and most of the 3 hour drive to our hotel...and slept through the entire night!

Needless to say, I didn't give her any on the way back. She had a few fussy moments but nothing like the big freakout. She liked to push Lucas out of his seat, and most of the last flight was with Lucas on my lap and her in own seat! She did finally fall asleep on her own and I was able to have 45 minutes of stress-free traveling!


So, lessons learned....

1- try out any sleep aids before the flight

2- toddlers might be better off with their own seat....even if they are free until 2

3- I will never have to see any of those people that we completely annoyed again in my life...so what's a little screaming!

Pumpkin Patch Hayride

A couple of weeks ago we went to our favorite pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening. We had a lovely hayride out to the pumpkins, and then the kids searched high and low for the best pumpkins to cut and take home. We've done this for the past few years and have enjoyed carrying on the tradition!

Rachel wasn't too shy about picking out her pumpkin!

I thought it was so nice of some random lady to offer to take our picture....after I saw the picture I didn't think she was so nice after all!!!

Yuck E Cheese!

Lucas just celebrated his 7th birthday. Lucky for him, it was UEA weekend and he didn't have to go to school. We started out the morning cooking his favorite french toast for breakfast and pulling out the special occasion blue plates.


Later, we met up for lunch with Zac's family at Crown Burger, since we didn't think that everyone would want to eat cardboard pizza at Chuck E Cheese. Uncle Terry got him this real spider...in a key chain.

All he wanted for his birthday was a Nintendo DS. We kept telling him that he might have to wait and ask Santa for Christmas, but since we couldn't think of anything else that he would really love...we gave in.

Lucas eyeing his favorite carrot cake made especially for him by Grandma Bonnie.

Lezlee and Lydee

Me and two crazy boys!

Rachel fascinated with the mouse' teeth.

I think that Zac likes Yuck E Cheese as much as the boys.

We had a fun day celebrating Lucas' birthday. He got to finish out the day going to the BYU football game with Zac. After the game he told Zac..." It wasn't as boring as I thought it would be!" He's not as much a sports fanatic as Ben...but he did like Cosmo and the cheerleaders!

It's a Miracle!

Rachel just turned 18 months this past week, and still prefers to crawl as her method of transportation! It has been a long summer of her crawling through the dirt, sand, grass, cement, pool...you name it...she'll crawl through it! Anyways, I have been ready for her to walk so she will stop ruining her clothes and I could stop carrying her so much. She has been walking around furniture and taking a few steps here and there, but she is determined to do it on her own time and pace...and hates to be forced to do it. Well, I was suprised when she decided to walk across the room the other day and I thought hooray...she's finally doing it! Well luckily for me, I happended to crab my camera and catch these videos, because after these couple of tries, she's back to crawling the majority of the time and walking here and there. I know she can do it when she wants to.....but she sure is taking her sweet time!

I guess we will have to keep bribing her with corn dogs and cookies!

Off to School!

After a long summer (it really wasn't as long as most because they didn't end school until July 2 this year...but it seemed long to me!), it seems like the first day of school can never come soon enough. Now we are back in the swing of things, and I must admit it is so nice having both kids in school all day. I sometimes feel guilty I only have to take care of Rachel...oh well...she's plenty enough!

Anyways, the kids were excited for school to start. Lucas seems to be adjusting well to all day school...except that he complains that it breaks his back to sit all day at school! He really likes getting to have school lunch!

Another Race for Zac!

I'm seriously behind on my blogging, so here is a recap that happened about a month ago...August 10 to be exact. Zac competed in the Bountiful triathlon...which was a run, bike, swim.. (normally it's swim, bike, run!) Anyways, we went early with him that morning to cheer him on. While he was getting ready for the race, I went to McDonald's with the kids for breakfast. I enjoyed the pancake breakfast, while the kids enjoyed playing around!

The race went pretty well for Zac. He was worried that he hadn't kept us as well with his training over the summer, but he found that he still felt pretty good during the race. Here are a few pictures from the day!

There were so many swimmers in the pool at once it was crazy. Zac said he kept getting kicked in the head and it was really hard not to run into people. At least it was somewhat easier in the pool than a lake because you can rest on the sides if you want!

Zac at the end of the race. I did ask permission to post this picture. He said "Sure...and I'm sure you will make fun of my nice farmer tan" Anyways, he said it, not me... and the picture speaks for itself!

The boys always have fun cheering him on and we all had a fun time watching!

Extreme Baby Makeover

I guess about a month ago, while I was getting ready for the day, Lucas started playing with Rachel's hair and brushing it like he was her hair stylist. I decided to take it one step further and try to straigten her hair. We had fun playing with her hair and trying to get it straight...which really didn't turn out so well. Lucas helped taking some of these random pictures! Zac's verdict when he got home that night was that it didn't look good and we needed to get her curly hair back! Oh well, I like her curly hair too!

P.S. She put the necklace on herself! (click on the picture to enlarge!)

Donnie and Kira's Wedding

Part of the reason we went to San Diego was for my brother Donnie's wedding. It turned out to be a great day and we were happy to see Donnie and Kira get married. Here are a few pictures from the wedding.

The family outside the temple

Kira and all her neices

Daddy and daughter

Kira had this room set up for the kids with their own treat bucket and babysitters if we wanted to leave them. My kids wanted to be out where the party was, but we did leave Rachel for a bit so we could get something to eat in peace!

Lucas enjoying his meal

This picture is classic..I love Lucas' face as my neice Cami just takes charge and starts the dance!

My Mom and Donnie dancing!

The monster princess

Nieces dancing it up

Rachel trying out the dance floor

Grandma and Rachel

I also posted a video of the kids dancing....against Ben's wishes! He thinks I am mean and that I shouldn't post this because it's too personal! I think it is too classic and will probably use it against him someday....like maybe when he get's married. I don't know where my kids came up with their dance moves....I'm blaming that one on Zac!

San Diego

This summer, we were lucky to spend 2 1/2 weeks in San Diego visiting family, playing at the beach, staying at a time-share, and attending my brother's wedding. We always have so much fun there, it is sad when it's time to come home. Zac drove us down and flew back so I was there on my own with the kids for 10 days (he flew back down for the wedding and to drive us home) I was worried I might go crazy, but my mom helped me a ton and I kept the kids busy at the beach or swimming at pools. It went by much faster than I thought and I survived the single parenting easier than I thought! Here's a run down of our trip:

First up was the baptism of my niece Paige. It's always fun to be a part of big family events to be able to get together of everyone. We were glad to be able to share her special day.

We spent almost every day at the beach. Unfortunately, Rachel had her ups and downs at the beach and I often was able to leave her napping with my mom while I took the boys. She did enjoy this little pool my sister bought for her to play in. This particular day she lasted about 15 mintues before she got sunscreen in her eye and was miserable the rest of the time!

Lucas was very helpful in playing with her and getting her water to fill up her pool.

We spent our beach days where my Aunt lives and has a private beach access. It was fun because the kids were able to make friends with other kids who were there every day and other cousins as well.
This was at a Pioneer Day activity that my mom's Stake put on. They had a great lunch, many booths, and great entertainment. It was really hot that day and we didn't stay too long so we could go cool off at the pool.
I think the spanish ward had made this replica of the Nauvoo temple. I thought it was pretty amazing.
The 2nd week we were they we stayed at Lawrence Welk Resort. My friend Nicole came down with two of her kids to stay with me and help babysit my kids while I did wedding activities. We did a lot of swimming in their nice pools.Arianna and Sariah with my kids....the boys loved having two cute girls stay with us!

More beach fun...this day Rachel actually did pretty good...but notice the sand covering her body that also covered mine as well because she loved to crawl all over me. Gotto love babies at the beach!

Kids looking for sea shellsLucas digging a hole to China with his 2nd cousin Alex!

This is my niece Lizzy that I traded her mom for Rachel that day. I don't know if it was a fair trade, but Lizzy was definately a lot easier to take to the beach than Rachel and we had fun playing with her!

Beach, pool, family....that about sums it up and it's what keeps us busy and happy! We always have so much fun and always come home wondering why we don't live there! I keep thinking..maybe someday!