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When I was getting ready to do the same-old with Myka's hair this morning I was feeling a little 'creative.' I made pig tails! And they stayed all day long. And she didn't rip them out. (We may be making some progress!) Oh she's so cute!! I love my little girl!

Vegas and Back

Hooray! We made it...and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. (I prepared for the worst and was presently surprised with it being not-so-bad.)

The kids and I flew-out of Salt Lake Thursday afternoon. I was loaded down with goodies from WalMart and the $1 Store. (Thank you all for your tips. I couldn't have made it without your suggestions!)

Of course getting through the airport is always a wonderful treat in itself. (I have already blogged about this several months back about how much I dislike airports...the whole taking off the shoes and hoisting the stroller up onto the conveyor belt is such an unnecessary process.) Once we were on the airplane we were fine. Except for the fact that it was a very full flight. I was hoping some mother-type woman would sit by me. (The type of person who understands a little girl who thinks screaming is equivalent to talking). Nope. Some young army-bound kid plopped down. I said to him, "Uhm, you may want to find another seat." He replied back, "The plane's full." (At this point it was not full, and I was clear at the very back.) I told him he might regret his choice in seats. Pretty sure he did.



Myka loved the chapstick! Carsen loved the little dinosaurs


The kids did quite well. I had to keep rotating through the 'surprises' but they were intrigued and loving it. Carsen loved the mini 'etch-a-sketch' and Myka loved her baby with the binkie. If anyone is traveling with kids, take a look back at the suggestions and do ALL of them!

Here's some quick highlights:

My mom's generous boss, Gerard, took us to eat lunch at Makino on my mom's birthday. It's my Mom and my favorite restaurant. It has the most delicious tempura shrimp and vegetables. The kids loved the noodles and the chocolate fondue fountain! (That picture of them is absolutely horrible....but that's what happens when your kids touch the lens of your camera with noodle fingers)!


Saturday we went to Mandalay Bay to visit the Shark Reef. What a hit! I have never been there and I thought it was amazing--the kids loved it too. They give you a remote control to listen to a recorded message about each aquarium and both Carsen and Myka loved to push the button and listen. Myka thought she had a little telephone, and Carsen was really into it and kept asking questions about the different fish. Both kids loved touching the sting ray and were so intrigued the entire time. We followed up the Shark Reef with a little seafood of our own at the MGM Grand Buffet. (Delicious!) The kids were also able to see the Tigers (sleeping...I swear they are always sleeping whenever I go there). While my Dad and Carsen headed back to get the car us girls hit the $10 Boutique to load up on some watches!



Carsen and Pa spent hours in their swimming pool. Every spare second Carsen was begging to go outside and go swimming. His favorite was when Pa flipped him in the air! What I love about my parents pool is how warm they keep it. They have it on a solar--so it's bathtub water warm. (That's my kind of pool water!)


The weekend flew by too quickly and Monday afternoon was there before I knew it. I wasn't very excited to fly again...but it was another pleasant flight back home. The plane was really empty and we had the entire row to ourselves way in the back. The flight attendant was a cute gal who kept tabs on me to see if we needed anything. The kids played cute together and I loved having Myka strapped into a seat and not crawling all over my lap, shoulders, arms and legs!

I love my little trips to Vegas with just the kiddos. My parents always spoil us and I come home with my bags (and belly) bulging.

Advice Needed (Quickly)!

I swore I'd never do it again...fly solo with 2 kids (even if it is only to Vegas). Here I go again getting ready to sweat, curse (in my head of course), and endure the short little flight to Vegas to visit Pa and Gigi. Carsen is beyond excited...I, on the other hand, am seriously questioning my sanity.

After our dinner outing tonight (Carsen had his first soccer game and then he wanted to go to Chili's.) We walked in, sat down, waited and waited for the waiter. Myka was climbing on the table, dumping out the salt and pepper, soaking herself with a cup of water and thoroughly enjoying herself. Chad and I looked at each other and picked everything up and walked out. Leaving behind a couple of dollars for the 10-minute mess Myka made. We walked across the parking lot to Bajios and were in and out in less than 20 minutes. That's my idea of eating out these days!

Back to my dilemma. As you can seee....a restaurant is bad news with Myka. She does not like to be confined (those of you reading this who think I have no control of my kid...you can click out right now!) Church is hard enough, and at church at least there is an outlet in the foyer! An 1.5 hour plane ride does not have an outlet!

So, I need your help. Anybody have anything up their sleeve (besides drugs!) I need toy ideas or entertainment ideas. Anything. (I'll even take some drug ideas if you promise it's safe!)

Thanks for helping, and wish me luck. I did it to myself, but it's all for good reasons!

Little Updates

I LOVE this time of year! The weather is perfect, and I am actually enjoying it getting darker a little earlier. (That is why I am a fan of the seasons. By the time spring and summer come rolling around again I am beyond ready for them...but I am always greeting fall with open arms!)

Here's a brief rundown of what we have been up too lately.

I'm so Glad When Daddy Comes Home
Lucky Chad. He gets a special greeting everyday when he comes home from work. (I should feel lucky I am with them all day, right?)
If we are in the house playing and Carsen hears the garage door open he starts hollering, "Dad's home...Dad's home!" And races downstairs. Myka follows after him shouting, "Hi. Hi. Hi." Then they enjoy their happy little reunion.

The other day we were outside playing when Chad pulled in from work. Carsen put his arm around Myka and they both stood there frantically waving and grinning at him as he pulled in the drive. I wasn't quick enough to grab the camera to capture that precious moment; but I did get them giving him his usual hugs and kisses.


Oh, Myka!
Little Myka is one busy girl. I will have people say to me all the time, "Oh wow, she's busy." Or another comment I get is, "She's curious." Yes, to say the least....she never seems to stop.

Not only is she busy, but she loves to tease. I have a feeling we are in for it with this girl. She loves to take things of Carsen's and run away from him. She will walk out in the middle of the road with a big grin on her face and look behind her to see if I am watching. If we are at a store or a restaurant and I let her down she runs away laughing so I will chase her. (So fun.)




Ride on Carsen!
Carsen has become quite good on his scooter and loves to cruise around on it. He ALWAYS wears his helmet. He insists. (Fine by me!) He is a rule followeer and does not like to get in trouble. Such a good boy!


Bluffdale Rodeo
Our friends the Jones' invited us out for a 'yee haw good 'ole time' at the Bluffdale Rodeo. It was a small-town rodeo with the opening act being bull-riding! Wahooo! (I mean, yeee haw!) I loved it, because I was able to dust off my red cowboy boots and finally wear them someplace! (No picture of the boots...maybe next rodeo!)


Utah's 'Finest' State Fair
Friday evening we decided to venture on down to the State Fair and see if we could waste some money on some rides and food. We succeeded! Actually, the kids had a fabulous time, and we adults enjoyed ourselves too (people watching is very entertaining at the fair! Like I said...some of Utah's finest are in attendance!)

Jason was lucky enough to take home a fabulous fair souvenior. His belt broke right when we got there (too many funnel cakes and fried twinkies, Jason?) so lucky for him he was able to score this sweet little number:


Myka was a crack-up. When we walked through to see the animals this was the expression she had on her face: (pinching her nose)!


Carsen loved the rides and Myka was beyond escatic to hug and kiss her puppy won by Chad's amazing game-playing abilities.

Preschool!

(He chooses his own clothes. I just go with it)!

The BIG day. Which, I have to admit, snuck up on me. I had always imagined this day to be quite traumatizing (with me in tears and Carsen clinging to my shirt crying). Not even quite. This boy is ready for school. At 8:30 he had his backpack and shoes on and was following me around the house saying, "When are we leaving?" I kept telling him we were too early and no one would be there yet. Finally it was time! I originally enrolled him in 12:30 preschool with his two little neighbor girly-friends, but then a couple of weeks ago I asked his teacher if she had any openings in the morning. To my luck she did! (Carsen still naps. I am not ending that until I absolutely have to). I was sad to not have him in class with Ryan and Aleah, but I think this might be good for him!

When we pulled up in front of the school he hopped out, waved good-bye and strutted his cute little stuff into school. (Saying "hi Ms. Heather" to his teacher on the way in). I was so proud. I will admit I did have a little 'something' in my eye as I drove away...thinking my little boy was big enough to be in preschool! Although, I was more excited and happy for him than anything! He has made such progress as far as separation...and it makes me feel a little freeeeeeee!

Myka and I had a little girly time of our own. I enrolled her in a Kindermusik class that we take together. So, while Carsen was at preschool Myka and I were dancing and singing with a group of toddlers and moms.

When it was time, Myka and I walked to pick him up. He came bouncing out with a back-pack full of projects and a huge smile. I waited a while before I started drilling him about the days events. He told me the names of some of his new friends and the activities they did.

My little boy is growing up!

p.s. Like the Power Rangers backpack Carsen is sporting? Oh yes...Had to wear it. Carsen's idol (Cooper) gave it to him at the end of our yard sale this summer. I think the backpack was the highlight of Carsen's day--he finally had some place to wear it!

13.2 and I am Through!

The run of my summer! The payday for my early morning and Saturday runs...The reason I took running shoes on vacation and went to bed slightly early on Friday nights. The reason I was overjoyed at receiving a GPS for Mothers Day! (So I could track my pace and distance.) You'd think I was training for something serious and super competitive--nope-- just my first 1/2 marathon...and I LOVED it. It was the Hobble Creek 1/2 Marathon in Mapleton--and I think it was a good run to introduce myself to the half's. The first 8 miles were a slight down hill and then some nice ups and downs for the remainder of the course. The scenery was beautiful, and I really enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.

The best part was so many of my friends did the run as well. My sister-in-law Robyn amazed me with this being her first big race EVER. She has never ran so many miles in her life, and I think I have addicted her to the sport. (I became addicted when I went head first and ran a marathon without ever running any other races before....) I have to say that I am a fan of the 1/2's. The training wasn't as strenuous and I felt enthused the entire race.

What a beautiful day for a run! The day began when my alarm went off at 3:45 a.m. (I have to mentally prepare myself for things like this...I don't like to be rushed...so I wanted time to get dressed and eat my breakfast and take care of business.....ha!) We drove to Mapleton where we boarded a bus for a 13 mile ride up the mountain to where the race began. Luck have it...our bus was the one that kept over heating! It was actually a good thing, because we were able to stay sitting on the warm bus, instead of standing at the top of the cold mountain waiting for the race to begin. We got to the top just in time to stand in a really long line to use the fresh-smelling Honey Buckets! (Can you say absolutely disgusting.)



Let the race begin! There were hundreds of us making our way down the mountainside. It was slightly chaotic in the beginning, because there were so many people and not a whole lot of room to get move'n. It finally cleared out and I became engrossed in my run.



My awesome friends (Marcy and Alicia) made the drive (with some fancy posters) to cheer us all on. And of course..who can forget to mention an amazing husband (who originally signed up to run the race with me...and then decided not to.) I don't think it would've worked too well to have both of us training...so I'm glad he decided to let me do it:) He really has been a trooper putting up with me being gone on Saturday mornings doing the lengthier runs (Oh wait, I get back before he and the kids even wake up!) Truly though..what a sweet guy to support whatever I love to do!


And a big shout out to Kelly for watching my kids so Chad could be there to cheer me on without having to chase Myka out of the road. (I'm sure you had better things to do with your Saturday morning...but thanks for being so willing.)

The only memory I have of the run are some tight quads and great pictures!