Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Exhausted but rejuvinated from a little vacation.

As parents we always seem to be exhausted. It varies from day to day just how exhausted we are but it's always there. It wasn't until after we arrived in Vegas that I realized just how exhausted we were. Once I stepped away from dirty diapers, potty breaks, cleaning up toys, making beds, making 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks, going to school and all the crying and whining that I realized how incredibly exhausted I was. I realized how much WE needed this vacation.

A vacation that almost didn't happen. We decided to use our government stimulus check for this vacation and as soon as it was deposited into the account we made our reservations. For the next 6 months we debated about whether or not this was the right thing to do with our money. That money could have gone to other things and at that time I thought they were more important things then treating ourselves to a vacation, without kids! Something that hasn't happened since we got married. So a few months back I looked into canceling the whole thing. Lucky for us the airline we booked with did not accept cancellations. We could only postpone our vacation and receive a voucher for later travel dates. I am so very thankful that we didn't cancel. This vacation was a much needed vacation for this very exhausted mommy and daddy.

We had a blast. I think we both had forgotten what it was like to be childless. How much fun you can have when your children aren't around. While we did miss them it was so nice to be without them for a few days. I was reminded why I married my husband, why I love him and why I love my life and most importantly...why we NEED vacations. Now if the government would just keep sending me stimulus checks I could do this every year!

Needless to say the vacation did wonders. I'm rejuvinated. I missed my babies and I'm glad to be home. I even spent the whole day at home yesterday playing with them.

Here are some pictures of our fun time.

We dressed up for 5 nights! Something that is very rare...especially for me. Sad thing is, we didn't get a single picture of that. Instead we have this one. Taken the day we got there when we couldn't get into our room to change our clothes. Did I mention it was almost 90 and I was wearing jeans?

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Towe drink or as I like to call it 60 oz of daiquiri goodness.

Indiana Jones
Going to the wax museum was a highlight of the trip. They looked so incredibly real and you could touch them and take pictures with them all you wanted.

Matthew Mcconaughey

Me and the Heff.

Brangelina

Me and the Gov

Trevor and the Gov

What's he saying to Cameron Diaz? I have no idea!

Clooney and I got hitched while we were in Vegas. Isn't my dress just gorgeous? Wearing a t-shirt underneath is the new trend!

Golfing with Tiger and Greg Norman (I think that's who that is?) I might be wrong though.

And this my friends is why my husband is NOT a basketball player.

Tim McGraw

He landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong! Must have been warm on the moon.

John Wayne

Master Chief

You can never get tired of the Strip at night.

On Tuesday we rented a car and drove out to Hoover Dam. They are in the process of building an enormous bridge over the Dam. I have no idea just how high it is in the air but this picture was taken from my car on the road that is there now. It was incredibly high. I can't imagine working on that.

The bridge from the damn.

This picture was taken on our tour and is from the inside of Hoover Dam.

A crazy tunnel inside hoover dam that we got to see.


Acting like goofy kids in the Dam Store.

They're me don't you think?

Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There was absolutely no security there. We were allowed to drive through the tunnel and onto the in field. Richard Petty's driving school was going on so we couldn't go on the track but we could get next to pit road which was neat.

We were also allowed to climb some stairs to get onto the roof of some buildings in the in field. It was pretty neat to see.


And a video of one of the neatest sites in Vegas...the fountains at the Bellagio

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A MUST Read

My dear friend Libby over at Blessings and Glory has a fabulous post today and I think everyone should read it. You can click here to read her very well put, very true words about a crisis in our country that everyone needs to pay attention to.

A Field Trip

Yesterday morning we had to be up, dressed, fed and out the door by 7:30am. Something that I'm not sure has ever happened around here. And guess what? It did. And, I even showered, I know I was up early! Normally I can't get anywhere before 10am. It was a record setting day. And where were we going at that ungodly hour?

Carson's class was headed on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and I had volunteered to help drive. Which I later found out meant I was responsible for any child that was in my car while were at the pumpkin patch. So, that meant I chased around 3 boys yesterday. It was a little crazy and wore me out! I'll be thinking twice on the next field trip about driving.

So we had to wake the boys up pretty early. And they both wanted to snuggle in mommy's bed where it was warm and cozy.

He had more fun then this picture portrays.

Carson was a little clingy to me at first. I think he might do better without me around. He was the only one who refused to turn around for the picture.

But after a little talking to I at least got him to turn around, not smile, but he's facing the right way.

On a wagon ride.

The place we went is actually a tree farm. So we were surrounded by 18,000 Christmas Trees. It was the best fresh air I have ever smelled. Their sign as you drive in even says, "Breathe Deep" and I sure did!

Sling shooting baby pumpkins. Yes, this farm had it all!

Especially a pretty back drop to their pumpkin patch.




Snack Time.



All the fun must have worn them out because Carson napped for 3 hours, Declan for 4 and this tired mommy for 1.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Happy Birthday Declan


Declan -

Happy 2nd Birthday! I can hardly believe you are already 2. While I know these early years go fast for most parents, yours have sailed by. Since your birth we have started a new job, moved to a new state, sold our old house, moved 3 times and bought a new house. It's been a little chaotic to say the least. But I've enjoyed every minute of it.

You are the most talkative, stubborn, strong-willed little boy I know. Your our book reader, non-tv watcher, salad eater and do-it-youselfer. You challenge your dad and I in ways we never knew were possible. You absolutely adore your big brother. When he is at school you ask repeatedly when we are going to pick him up. And when you sleep late in the morning Carson always asks when we can go wake you up. It is a connection that I know will only grow stronger.

So Happy Birthday my little boy. You are such a blessing to our family. I look forward to all your years ahead.







Wednesday, October 8, 2008

A Birthday Party

Sunday we celebrated Declan's birthday with the grandparents.

He's really going to be 2 on Friday? Where did the time go?

Checking out the party goods.

Someone enjoyed the attention.

But not the cupcakes because he didn't even lick the frosting.

But Carson loved them or at least loved the frosting.


Presents!

A New Car.

That has now found its home in my living room. Isn't this supposed to be an outside toy? I don't think he has gotten out of it since Sunday. Today at nap he asked to sleep with it.