Extreme Fun

After last week's trip to the zoo, the kids looked like this at 6:30pm.  Unfortunately, they didn't stay this way 'til 6:30am.  We'll just say it was a long night for me! 

I saw some videos of kids using the Extreme Coaster and thought it looked like something my kids would enjoy. Last week I found out I was getting significantly more money back in taxes than I thought and Step2 (the company who makes the Extreme Coaster) was having $0.14 shipping. So, I splurged and got this for the kids. So far it's a HUGE hit. They played on it for hours yesterday afternoon. Played on it at 7 last night. Played on it first thing this morning. It's all they want to do. The new-ness will wear off, but hopefully it will be something they enjoy for a long time to come!

Kyra pushing the car up.

And, pushing off to go down.  There are little divots at the top the wheels go into so it stays in place until they push off...

Kyra grabs the front of the car to get her brother started.  I don't know if he's too lazy to do it himself or smart because he's found free labor in his sister.

They roll out into the yard about 30 feet or so.  Just imagine if my yard had any slope to it!!!

Fun Day #6

We didn't have our "intentional fun day" last week.  The weather was kind of yucky and we just had lots of other stuff going on.  Though, the kids getting to wear their Halloween costumes all day last Friday while we ran errands was pretty darn fun for them.  But, running errands does not constitute fun in my book.  We did run into PetsMart to look at the little shark fish and all the other critters which was just for fun.  But, that's all beside the point.  We had our fun day this week.  First, we went to Taco Bell for some tacos.  My kids love the insides of Taco Bell tacos, they don't eat the shells.  After Taco Bell, we took a trip to the zoo.  It was only 45 out, but it was sunny so it felt warm enough we didn't need coats.  I like not needing coats.  Spring is almost here.


We brought our wagon along this time.  Kyra did most of the pulling of her brother.  Occasionally he hopped out to help.  I should've jumped in and hitched a ride!

Playing on the turtle.  For some reason my camera stopped focusing at this point.  I have an adorable picture of Kyra that is completely out of focus :(

This is pretty out of focus too, but not as bad as the one of Kyra.  Time to go investigate what happened!!!

Ears are pierced

When Kyra was born several people asked me if I was going to pierce her ears.  I have no problem with people piercing their newborn's ears, but it wasn't what I wanted to do.  So, my answer to their question was, "Kyra can have her ears pierced when she wants them pierced.  I don't care if she's 2 or 22.  She just has to want it done."  Well, since about Christmas she has been saying she wants her ears pierced.  We've talked about that it will hurt; that you have to keep them clean; etc.  She was ready. From the beginning Auntie Amy has said she watned to take Kyra to have her ears pierced, so when she came down today we decided to go to the mall and do it.  (Auntie Amy had to have hers re-pierced so Kyra got to watch what it was like before she did it herself). 

Waiting for Auntie Amy to get hers done first.

She sat on my lap to have it done.  She, obviously, cried when the first one was done, but the lady quickly did the second and the crying only lasted for about a minute longer.

And, the finished product.

We then came home and went for a bike ride/walk.  She's feeling pretty big now!

What did you wear to run errands today????

Whatever it was, I bet it wasn't as cute nor did it get as many smiles and comments as these 2 cuties did!!!!!

Fun Day #5

Our fun activity for this week was a trip down to the Nature Center.  For those not from around here, it's awesome!  It's got walking/biking paths that go right along the river for....a bunch of miles (over 30 I think).  Anyway, the kids and I headed down there the day before the snow came (it was around 60 that day!).


Kyra scootered and Liam pushed his wagon-thing.

Found a big log to sit on.  What you don't see is that as I snapped the pic Liam fell off. 

Stopped and walked down by the river to have a picnic and....

....throw rocks.....

...and look for "shells"

Amazingly, not throwing rocks AT each other...

Lucy got to join us this week!

Kyra got a very dirty hiney...What you can't see is that she has one leg through the waist opening and one through a leg hole...In what universe is that comfortable????

After the picnic and rock throwing, it was time to hit the playground!  Notice, they both still have their helmets on....Once they're on they don't like to take them off 'til we're home or in the car...

Kyra learned how to do the fireman pole all by herself!  If only I had a picture of her going from the landing to the pole....Hilarious!

Fun Day #4

For this week's fun activity we went to Denver.  First, we visited with a good friend of mine that I haven't seen in too long.  The kids got to play with her daughter (who is just a couple months younger than Kyra) and she and I got to visit a little bit.  It was nice to catch-up!  When we left her house we went to the aquarium.  It was fun, but very pricey for no more than what it was.  Let me put it this way, we entered at 3:01pm, made a potty stop, went through the exhibits, stopped and had a snack, fed the rays, hit the gift shop, and were back in the car and on the highway at 4:32.  My kids' attention spans aren't long, and the tigers weren't out, but still....It's not like we ran through it or anything.  Good thing Liam was free admittance!!!!  And, they did thoroughly enjoy themselves!

Looking at the Dory (from finding Nemo) fish

Watching fish and rays swim overhead!

WOW! A shark was swimming overhead :)

As the shark swam toward the "window," Kyra was the ball of excitement and nerves...I wish I could've caught the look on her face in the reflection.  She didn't know whether to run away or run up and give it a hug!  Up until this point she kept talking about how she wanted to see a Great White Shark.  Once she saw these guys, she was content!

He liked this shark!

Pretty much the look on her face the whole time (well, whenever we were at an exhibit with sharks she looked like this, at the others she just wanted to get to the next sharks!)

She felt confident giving this guy a hug. 

Fun (sort of), week #3

So, this week we didn't really get to have our fun.  We all came down with colds on Sunday and mine turned pretty nasty by Wednesday night.  But, by yesterday we were all feeling well enough to go to the grocery store (a favorite activity of the kiddos, my least favorite activity).  While I was bringing groceries in and putting them away, the kids played in the backyard.  When I finished we had a bit of an impromptu fun time.  We went fishing in the backyard.  The major wind we had over the weekend combined with our weeping willow tree made for LOTS of sticks fishing poles.  Of course, we fished for sharks!

 

And she waits....and waits.....and waits for a bite!
I have to share a recent conversation had by my kids while they were in the bathtub and I was getting their jammies out....
Kyra: Mommy, brudder has a boogie!
10 secs later, Kyra: Mommy, brudder has a MONSTER boogie!!!!!
Liam: RRRRRAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRR!!!!!!!
And, that my friends, pretty much sums the two of them up!!!!

Week 2 Fun!

This week our fun date was supposed to be a trip to Denver to visit some friends and then go to the aquarium so the kids could see the fish.  They have a shark there, so Kyra was very much looking forward to seeing a real, live shark.  Unfortunately, the day we planned to go to Denver, it snowed.  We only got a half a skiff here, and while Denver didn't get much, the roads were a mess.  I don't mind driving in snow, but I didn't want to drive 2+ hours home on icy roads.  So, we didn't go.  There was much sadness all around.  So, we went to the Y (or Hu Y as Kyra calls it) and I got to work-out for a little bit and then took the kids swimming.  It was a great time other than poor Liam got a huge goose egg on his head while he was in Child Watch at the Y (my only irritation is they don't know how it happened and claim he didn't cry).  I couldn't take pictures at the Y, so today we went to a "new" park (i.e. one the kids haven't been to in a very long time) and had more fun.  I even remembered to bring my camera AND the memory card this time!!!!

Going down the big slide because if big sister can, little brother can too!

Kyra going down

Climbing up the big steps

She played on this with a couple of big kids.  She always seeks out the big kids (the ones over the age of 9) to play with.  You should hear her boss them around when they don't play on the equipment properly!!!!

Soooooo Kyra!!!!  Those aren't pony tails in her hair.  They're shark fins!

And, my sweet boy.  You can see the bruising on his forehead from yesterday's adventures at the Y.  The swelling has gone down, but I think it will be an ugly bruise!

Resolve

I'm not much on New Year's Resolutions. 

But, this year I resolved to do 2 things.  First, I resolved to make sure my kids practice better oral hygiene.  It sounds like a silly resolution I'm sure.  But, I don't know how many times I've asked myself, "When was the last time they brushed their teeth???"  That's not a question I like to ponder long.  So, I have resolved to make sure it's not a difficult question to answer.  So far, so good on that one!  Though, my boy did chip a front tooth this week. He was climbing (shocker!) on the bathroom counter, his foot slipped and when front tooth met granite countertop, granite countertop won!  It's a small chip, one I doubt a dentist would even file down, but, kinda funny that it occurred this week as I set my resolve for better oral hygiene for my kids!

My other resolve: to do something purposeful every week for the sake of fun with my kids.  A few weeks ago (the Sunday before Christmas to be precise), the kids and I had an impromptu picnic in the park and then walked around the zoo for a little bit.  It was a lot of fun and I realized it had been awhile since we did something just for fun.  It was so good for all of us, I felt bad it had been so long.  I get so caught up in the day-to-day and what needs to be done and all that I too easily forget to just have fun for the sake of fun.  So, I have resolved that I will do something fun with my kids every week for the sole purpose of having fun.  (Realistically, it's not going to happen every week, and I recognize that, but I'm hoping that if I keep it in the forefront of my mind it will happen regularly).  So, you all can expect to see pictures on a fairly regular basis of our weekly "fun" activity.  This week, we went to the park for a picnic and to the zoo because the weather was in the 60s and we just needed to be outside!!!!!  I remembered to bring my camera (yea!) but forgot to put the memory card back in it (boo!), so I took these with my phone.  Not the best, but they'll do!

Riding the "whale." I actually think it's a dolphin or porpoise, but he calls it a whale so we go with it!

Sitting on the rabbit

Riding side-by-side in the wagon.  Not sure why Kyra's making that face.  Probably because she's 3 1/2....