A LONG Time Ago...

Has it really been over a month?? I've had this post in draft form for a while and a few more in my head, so I guess I just thought it hadn't been so long!

Anyway, a LONG time ago (really, like last month, but it feels like it was!), Mike had a training in the Valley and we got to go with him. Despite a MISERABLE hotel situation, we had a lot of fun!

She usually wakes up with a much better attitude than Grant!

We were cooped up in the hotel for a few of the days. Luckily, Grant found a killer deal on a "Fishin' Dame" at DI and that made the long days in the hotel go by a little faster.

We also set up a "fort" for Grant so he could be entertained and keep quiet while Remi napped in the same room.  More often than not, it was a disaster, but it went well long enough on one day for me to get a picture.

We went to Bass Pro Shop, which was sort of like going to the zoo for the kids I guess. They really seemed to like it, and they seemed to like recognizing all the animals they saw. Most of them (even though they were dead), were ones they've seen in real life, around our house.

She scares ME because she's fearless!

On one of the days, we got to go to the Children's Museum with three of our favorite friends!

There were things I liked better about the one in Tucson and things I liked better about the one in Phoenix, one of them being that in every room, there was a "baby" area, that was basically a huge playpen you could see from anywhere in the room. It was awesome to stick Remi in there and let her play around and then be able to go play with Grant.

Isn't she TOO CUTE??

Heidi and I were laughing about how it seems like the guys have just as much fun as the kids. Here's Jake putting his engineering skills to work!

 Too bad Mike couldn't come (he had to work). He'd've been right there with them! I think I said in my post about the Tuscon Children's Museum that Mike was the most disappointed and probably close to a meltdown when it was time to leave.

Remi LOVED this cactus! These stuffed owls would go up in on a little conveyer belt and then the eagle's wings would knock them off and they'd go flying at Remi who was sitting nearby in her stroller. Despite getting hit in the face a few times, she though it was SO funny!

 It's a good thing Mike always wants to go by Adam's house whenever we're in the Valley, because even if he didn't, I think Grant would make us go! Every day, he asked if we were going to Adam's house, and when we finally did, he didn't want to leave.

I guess a garage band, pool, jacuzzi and a big screen are a little boy's dream just as much as they are a grown man's!

Grant got pretty into his solo and marched around singing the "Spiderman" theme song like he was on stage.

 While the guys had real guy time and went to a movie, the kids and I went to Chuck-E-Cheese. I was nervous at first (it was late, the kids were tired, and it's not in the best part of town). But we all had a really good time! I LOVE hanging out with Grant and Remi! They are the BEST!

Grant played lots of games but I think his favorite part was when the Ticket Monster chomped up all his tickets.

Time to choose a prize! You'd think he was choosing between prizes on The Price is Right. I guess to a two-year-old, it is like choosing on The Price is Right.

All in all, I think the trip was a success and I'm glad we decided to tag along and not sit at home without Mike all week, that's never fun!

Cabin Trip!

All summer, we'd been trying to figure out when we would get to see all Mike's siblings that live in Utah.  Right before Labor Day, we decided it was kind of a "now or never" situation and decided to just make it happen. Mike and his brother Cord and been talking for a while about doing a cabin trip to Whitney's family cabin, so that's what we did!

We had so much fun! The whole way up, Grant kept talking about seeing his cousins/friends and going to the "tabin".

He and his cousin Gage are only three weeks apart. They got along (and into trouble!) right away, and had fun jumping on the beds and turning on and off all the lights in the place.

They got to go hunting for pretty rocks in the river.

The water was pretty cold. Remi wasn't pleased about that.

Avery and Grant comparing the rocks they found.

On one of the evenings, Jennifer and her family came. It's always like a breath of fresh air when they show up! Her kids are so helpful with all the little ones! Grant had so much fun having his older cousins (Trex and Dax) chase him around on this deck.

Avery-this girl is a GOOF (to say the least!)!

Remi really loved Uncle Nate! She kept getting up in his face and "talking" to him.

The cutest wake-up call Mike's ever had!

We even got to go out on the lake one day. We thought it'd be fun to have all the boys go together to start things off. Turns out, not so much.  But everyone was having fun by the end of the trip and Grant even jumped in for a swim!

Grant and Gage

 I didn't get very many pictures of sweet little Rylee. She's SO cute! She and Remi are buddies!

Meal times were crazy! For some reason, none of the kids ever wanted to eat! Too many other fun things to do I guess!

They had so much fun on these bunk beds!

Which gave me a heart-attack, but I'm sure that's part of what makes it fun!

One final picture of all the kids on the day we all left. Our kids look so brunette!

I took A LOT more pictures but really tried to keep the post to a minimum! Thanks so much for hosting us Whit and Cord and for jumping on board and taking the time off to come hang with us, Emily and Nate! And Jen and Nate and your kids for giving us a break from our crazy kids and letting us crash at your house!  We miss all you guys! Wish we lived closer!!

Hangin' With Grant

The other day while Remi was napping, Grant and I went to the thrift store to look for some stuff for their Halloween costumes. We couldn't resist the opportunity to stop by the park while we were out. 

I'm so glad we did!  It was fun to get to give him all my attention and really play WITH him! He SO much fun!! I hope that I can always show him that despite all the distractions that seem to constantly be taking my attention away from him, he is my favorite little man!

He loves to swing HIGH!

And slide...

I showed him how we used to hang on these in high school and he wanted to give it a try...

I told him he could get anything at the thrift store because he was so good and he picked this weird little porcelain  bird. He overheard me tell Sal it was janky so now he calls it "Jankybird".  He's really formed an attachment to Jankybird!

When it was time to go home, he walked back to the car as slow as possible.  I was pretty sad it had to be over too. It was really fun to get some one-on-one time with Grant! He's so easy and fun to just hang out with!

Thanks for staying with Betty, Sal!!

An Important Lady

Beautiful little Cozi is Grant's betrothed and Remi's best friend.

She's pretty special around here!  We love you Coz! Thanks for coming to play!!

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This

Grant LOVES to get in Remi's crib to greet her when she wakes up. When I saw these pictures the first time, I was a little embarrassed at my laziness in not putting clothes on my kids!  After looking at their happy little faces and thinking about the day I took the pictures, I decided it's pretty much perfect!

Lazy summer day. Diapers and pajamas. Super cute girl! Super cute boy!  They're happy and healthy and they love each other.

(P.S. Grant is a boxers guy, in case you were wondering...)

It really doesn't get much better than this!!