Spring Family Fun Fair

The weekend after Mother's Day weekend we headed to the annual Spring Family Fun Fair in Lacey.  The weather wasn't great, but it wasn't pouring so we decided to give it a shot because the boys had so much fun last year when we went.

We decided to hit up the train first thing before a line started to form for it.  I was on stroller patrol, so the boys got to take the ride with Dad.

 And they're off!

 Ethan and Carter trying the Intercity Transit bus on for size.

 Watching the train pull out with it's next load of passengers

 The boys riding in the police car

 Firetruck time!

 Ethan was actually brave and wanted to do the bounce house this year!

 He got stuck up at the top of the big slide for a few minutes, which is weird because he has gone down taller ones before.  Later when he was talking to us he made it sound like he was just having fun hanging out up there...silly boy!

 We stopped by and did some of the indoor exhibits for a while.  Trying on the life jackets at the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital booth.

 Carter trying one on, too

 Ethan loves the Tumble Bus.  He got to play for a long time this year because there was no line, so he was in heaven!

 We put down a tarp and blanket and had a picnic while we watched the kid parade.  It's always fun to see families we know walking with their kids for their elementary schools.

After the parade we packed up in the stroller and headed back to the car.  The boys enjoyed looking at the free books they got at one of the booths that was there.

It didn't really start raining really hard until we were in the car headed home, which was a huge blessing.  I was so glad we just got drizzled on and we were able to stay and do everything we went to do.

Beginning of May 2013--The Beginning of Summer??

By the time May rolled around, you would have thought it was summer!  We had amazing weather and took full advantage of it before the inevitable "Spring showers" returned.  I'm talking 70's and high 80's for days on end.  It was wonderful.

Tristan wasn't home for Cinco De Mayo this year, but we went over to our friends, Rich and Allisha's, and ate some yummy Mexican.  The kids had a great time running around outside and got along so well.  And I got to love on sweet, little baby at the same time, which made it all the better!  Carter picked this buttercup and looked so cute running around holding it to his nose so I had to snap a quick pic!

 One night while Tristan was gone my parents invited us over for dinner.  Ethan christened the pool and both boys had a blast running around in the sunshine.

 Some Oregon Juncos build a nest under our slide in the grass.  Those poor birds were constantly on high alert because we were outside playing all the time.  Finally the babies hatched, but then they had to learn how to fly.  For about 3 days those three poor babies were trying to fly high enough to get out over our fence...and the boys loved watching them.  I don't think the birds loved it quite so much!  I got a couple of o.k. pictures of them before they flew away.

 Ethan was having fun one afternoon giving Carter a ride in the laundry basket.  Carter tried, but couldn't return the favor!

 One night after a messy dinner the boys were stripped down and decided to play.  They love to get on the swings and swing on them like this.

 On Mother's Day weekend we went down to the Wooden Boat Festival on the waterfront.  Tristan's mom joined us and we had a picnic and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  Sadly, I didn't get a picture of me with the kiddos for Mother's Day...

Ethan by the waterfront

 They had this fun water station that you could slide rubber duckies down.    The boys had a great time.

 Carter especially liked watching them splash into the pool at the bottom.

 We went down on the docks to check out some of the wooden boats.  One nice couple let the boys come on and try out the captain's seat!  Ethan LOVED it.  They had 8 grandkids on the East Coast, so I think the owners enjoyed it, too!

 Ridin' in style

 That afternoon Tristan filled this bin with water and the boys had fun playing in it.  At one point it ended up at the bottom of the slide so they could slide into it.  It was hot that day!

 Mostly we enjoyed being able to eat outside for so many nights in a row.  Our boys love eating out and so do I.  It makes clean up so much easier!

 Watermelon is a spring/summer staple around here!

 We BBQ'd our first pizza and it was sooooo good.  I can see that being a regular happening as summer weather returns (hopefully).  We also enjoyed some of our organic produce from the co-op that night.

Here's hoping that we get more of this awesome weather in the near future!!

April 2013--Woodland Park Zoo

Last month we decided to take advantage of our zoo membership and head up to Woodland Park Zoo for the day.  Our kids love the zoo and we went almost monthly last summer, so with all the great weather we have been having we decided it was time to get things rolling!

We usually park in the same place, so the penguins are the first thing we see when we get there.  Ethan used to say the penguins were his favorite, but now he just enjoys them like everything else.  Carter, however, loved them.  He got up close and personal!

 Still fascinated!

 Ethan being goofy

 Carter playing king-of-the-hill

 Every time we go to Woodland Park Zoo Ethan loves this butterfly display.  He has a thing with insects right now, which just added to his joy!

 Checking out the lizards

 I'm quickly learning that sometimes this is as good as it gets for a picture of more than one kid!

 Tristan wanted me to take my picture by the zebras and giraffes since I was dressed like the zebras...what a goofball!

 Ethan has now proclaimed the flamingos as his favorite...for now!

 This spider was in and unenclosed exhibit.  Yuck!  Even worse, these lived in the wild when we lived in Louisiana.  Double yuck!

 We stopped by the family farm and, of course, had to ride the tractor...

 Headed home.  There was a really bad wreck so they both ended up passing out while we were stuck in traffic.  Tristan and I discussed baby names and then we stopped for a yummy dinner and Five Guys.

It was a fun, fun day and the zoo still hails as a favorite for not just one kiddo, but two!

End of March Silliness

Easter was so early this year!  Pretty much right after St. Patrick's Day we dyed our Easter eggs so we would have time to enjoy them before Tristan left for work.  It was so funny...for several days before we did our dying, Ethan kept talking about "killing" our Easter eggs.  I couldn't figure out what he was talking about until I realized that I had been talking about "dying" eggs...kids!

Ethan and Carter getting ready to do our eggs

 Carter in action

 I put this series in because it shows Carter's personality perfectly.  He is so completely silly.  He was loving this pistachio pudding leftover from St. Patrick's Day.

 One morning when I was feeling awful, Tristan took Ethan and Carter down to the train station that is just about 10 minutes from our house.  They had fun watching a couple of trains come in and came home with some coloring books and crayons.

 For our Easter Family Night I made some fun bird's nest treats for dessert.

 Ethan has fun trying to take pictures using the big camera, even though he has a hard time aiming it still.  Here are a few he got one day when they were being silly and dressing up in winter hats.

 I love this one of Carter!

 I guess this is his version of "Blue Steel".

 One of all the boys

 Another one by Ethan

 We have had beautiful weather so early this year!  One nice day I sent Ethan and Tristan out for Slurpees for our family movie night.  Ethan has continued to talk about 7-11 nonstop since then.  I think we may have created a monster!

 The boys love to help me vacuum whenever I pull it out.  They each grab their "poppers" and follow me around helping.  Sometimes they also put on this headset.  It's so funny, but I'm glad they like to help with chores.  Hopefully it will last!

Sadly, I didn't get one picture of our Easter fun.  Tristan wasn't here and I wasn't feeling well so it just didn't happen.  We went to our ward easter egg hunt and Tristan's mom and sister, Desiree came to join us for the fun.  But, I forgot my memory card for my camera.  I was so sad.  Then on Easter we went to church for the first hour, but Carter had an awful cold (that turned into his second ear infection in two months) so we came home early to enjoy the amazing sunshine.  The three of us had a relaxing afternoon and evening at home, but missed spending time with Tristan!  Maybe next year I'll get some pictures...  :)