Piggy In a Teacup

It all started with this. A Teacup Piggy. It is a toy that the girls have been eyeing and wanting anytime we walk down the toy aisle in the store. Ava's birthday came and her little friend, Briggs, gave her a Teacup Piggy as a present. She was very happy. Brielle was very jealous. We heard all day and night just how cute it was and how fun it would be to have one and how she wanted one soooooooooooooooo bad. I told her I would think of some extra jobs around the house for her to do to earn some money to buy one.

The next day though, she came up with her own plan. Brielle dragged a cardboard box out to the driveway, taped a sign to it and started yelling into the Dora microphone that she was open for business. She was offering to wash or fix anyone's car or bike. Hilarious. I don't know what she would have done if anyone really did come along with a broken car or bike.

Scott sweetly explained to Brielle that a lemonade stand might be a better idea. He helped her get set up with her box, a chair, her signs and a cooler filled with Otter Pops and lemonade. She sat out on our front corner for hours!! It rained and she stayed at her stand waiting for someone to come along and buy an Otter Pop. Nothing could bring her in. She did get some good business too. Some nice neighbors and friends were handing her 2 bucks for an Otter Pop! She was loving raking in all that money.

I went out to see how things were going and Brie had her feet kicked up on her little box table, leaning back in her chair and said, "See Mom, I don't even have to do any work to get money." Nice lesson, eh? By the end of the day she had enough money to buy a Teacup Piggy. We went to Walmart, she chose the one she wanted and paid the cashier at the register. Brielle came away very happy and cuddled, loved and adored that new, little piggy . . . . for about 3 days.

 Now she asks every, single day if she can set up another lemonade stand.

Aniversario Octavo!

That's right folks. We celebrated our eighth anniversary. It was a GOOD one. My dear, dear mother actually called and offered to stay with our kids so that we could go away for a couple of nights. That has never happened before. Only in my dreams. We jumped right on that offer and it really was a dream. Thank you so much Mom.

At home all was well and the kids had a good time with grandma. I'm actually so glad they had that one on one time with her. They never have before. They ran her ragged and had a great time. She took them to school and dance class and the state fair and the park. She even endured two nights with two kids with ear infections. She was tired when she headed home, but the kids are loving her.

Scott and I didn't want to go far so we drove about 30 minutes away up to Park City. We had booked a very new, very nice resort hotel on Hotels.com. We got there and were pretty much offered a closet for a room. It was awful. The door practically hit the bed as you walked in and the window was out to a stair well (no light). I've never complained before, but we sure did on this one. We (Scott) did some talking and we miraculously were allowed to cancel our reservation. Yahoo! We went directly up the mountain to a hotel we know and love - The Marriott. I'll never stray again. It was BEAUTIFUL!! It is their off season so we got a good "Friends and Family" rate on a room that they said goes for $1000 a night in the winter. Whew! Glad we are not skiers. The bed was heavenly, the view was nice overlooking the mountain, but the pool/hot tubs were awesome. I loved this hotel.

 

Sadly, I had to stick to the "kiddie hot tub" because they kept the temperatures lower. 

Scott got to sit with the hot water pouring in a waterfall over his head. He tried all 5 waterfalls.

The anniversary gift the hotel sent to our room. Sweet.

Tell me please, if it gets much better than a day like this:
 *Wake up late in a soft bed with the curtains keeping the room dark.
*Open the curtains and windows, but continue sleeping while husband runs out to get a salted caramel hot chocolate and croissant for your breakfast. (Then delivered to you in bed.)
*Around 11am finally head out to the Outlet stores for some shopping.
*Go out to lunch together.
*Watch an afternoon matinee of "The Help", which I had finished reading just days before. I was so excited.
*Go back to the hotel and take a nap while husband watches sports on TV.
*Stroll on Park City's Main Street together and then stop in at a restaurant for dinner.
*Back to the hotel for some time in the hot tub and then a movie in bed.

 Sounds pretty good, right? And it was. I'm almost in tears thinking of it as Zachary is crying in my lap, Ava is yelling about her poop and she can't wipe and Brielle is getting into some kind of messy trouble outside with the hose.

Our second day was spent in the pool all morning until check out. We then attempted the Alpine Slide. We bought our tickets, loaded onto the chair lift ride up the mountain and about 57 seconds later it started pouring rain. Yep. We just sat in the freezing rain all the way up. We weren't able to do the slide because of the rain so they trucked us back down the mountain in suburbans. One day we'll try again.

We ended the day here and it was wonderful. 

The Bouncy Birthday Party

Yes, there was a birthday party for Ava. Quite a birthday party. Let me explain. Ava was so, I mean so, excited to have a birthday party just like her friends. She asked for a "bouncy" party. She didn't have a bounce house in mind and neither did I. We weren't going to spend that much money on a 4 year old birthday party. I had no idea what to do. I was thinking of leap frog and other jumping games, I got some bouncy balls, but still didn't know quite how I would entertain these kids. Just 2 days before the party a bounce house rental came up on Groupon . . . . with a snow cone machine too!!! So, I figured, if I take everything (decorations, paper goods, pinata) I got for the party back it might just work out to be the same cost. And then I wouldn't have to do anything but let them loose in the bounce house and make snow cones!!! 

So, we picked up the castle bouncing house at 8:30am and surprised Ava with it. She was THRILLED. Party time came and her friends arrived and I've never seen her quite so excited to have the whole party be about her. (Meanwhile Brielle was throwing a fit because she couldn't find just the right outfit that looked "bouncy" enough.) All the kids jumped and jumped and jumped and stopped for snow cones and jumped and stopped for pizza and cupcakes and jumped and stopped for presents and jumped! It was a hit.

We had one very happy birthday girl. And two parents that were very pleased with how much fun the kids had and how easy it was for us. 

When the party ended we started calling all of our friends and family with kids to come on over. We had kids (and their parents) in the backyard bouncing in the bounce house and slurping up snow cones all day long until we finally took it all down at about 8:00pm. Good, fun day in the backyard.

Ava Had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!

Ava had her birthday on Labor Day. Perfect huh? Scott was home and we had all day to party. Unfortunately her dear, old parents were quite exhausted and not quite ready for the party in the morning. Why? Ava woke up at 4:00 am, came in our room, stood next to my side of the bed staring at me sleeping. When I opened my eyes, she just smiled like she was so excited she couldn't wait any longer and said, "It's my birthday!" Well, she didn't go back to sleep. I guess the excitement of turning 4 was just too much.

When it was finally a decent hour to come downstairs, Ava came down to the house all decorated with streamers and her presents laid out. She had a GREAT time opening presents and got exactly what she asked for (and exactly what Brielle wants now too) - a pillow pet, a Dora microphone and a water bottle with her name on it. Later she got the La La Loopsy doll she dreamed of from Grandma.

Because of her parents tired and grumpy state we decided to take her, Brie and Zach to McDonald's for breakfast. We were able to just sit and watch them play on the playplace all morning and we all got breakfast. They honestly had a blast.

Brielle and Ava played with the new birthday toys all day until later that afternoon we headed up Millcreek Canyon for the birthday dinner. When I had asked Ava want she wanted to do for her birthday she said she wanted everyone to go camping. That wasn't quite going to work, but everyone did agree to come up the canyon for a campfire.

We roasted hot dogs and had coleslaw, potato salad, grapes and chips. For dessert we roasted marshmallows for s'mores. What else would you expect of a campfire? Even her "birthday cake" was a s'more with a GIANT roasted marshmallow on top and a candle in it.

Present time!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AVA!!

Summa Time Wrap Up

With everyone back to a schedule of school, dance and Kindermusik and the cooler days . . . .summertime is officially over. Remember that "Summa Time" list I had going? We stuck to it until the end checking off almost everything listed.

Sleep Out on the Trampoline - Scott had been wanting to do this all summer. He chose the night that I was in the ER with Evan and his finger until 3:30am. When I got home I found a note saying "We're on the trampoline". We actually moved everyone in to their beds then because Scott couldn't actually sleep out there . . . too worried that every noise was someone kicking in the fence.

They watched a movie and ate popcorn and the girls fell asleep soundly in their sleeping bags.

Thanksgiving Point Gardens - It was August and that meant "2 buck Tuesdays" around here again. The Gardens are one of our favorites to visit. It really is impressive and there are so many fun things for the kids to run around and explore. This visit got to be with our Playgroup friends. Perfect. Of course, More Swimming. - Swimming in any pool that will open up their waters to us, usually the Alta Canyon Rec Swimming Pool.Children's Museum - Free pass to the children's museum. Wahoo! Scott even joined us for his lunch hour to help play in the pretend grocery store and have a packed lunch with us. The kids played and played and played and loved the new exhibit. Then crashed for a very peaceful car ride home.

I actually took this because both Scott and I were amazed at the brilliance of this girl. I mean, how does she know what that thing is? Or how to use it? She's never seen it in our house. Amazing child prodigy!

Tea Parties - Not on the official list of fun summer time activities, but definitely happened . . . a lot.

Thanksgiving Point Farm - Another "2 Buck Tuesday" favorite. We chose a different Tuesday when our cousins from NY were here. We got to go to the farm with Laura, Connor, Abby, Andrew and new baby Hannah. (All pics from Laura's IPhone. Thanks!)

Visiting the bunnies. "Everybody twitch your nose like a rabbit!" Love it.Waiting to ride the ponies.

The Park - We have a favorite park that we hang out at often. I like the shade. I like that it's wood chips. I like the toys. I like the paths of sidewalk for the girls to ride their bikes.

Family - We have had fun visits to Grandma and Papa's house and always have a great time being with cousins.

Had a great summer! Stayed cool! See ya next year!