The Zoo!

The last couple of weeks have been so fun with family and friends. Rather than doing individual updates this time, I'll just write out our events as they go with the pictures (lots and lots of pictures).

Two of my cousins, who were born only two days apart, graduated from high school so we had a family party to celebrate them. One got a scholarship at the U and the other is on his way to Oregon for his LDS mission. Our extended family doesn't get together as much as we used to so it was nice to see the people that could come.

Sawyer was especially impressed with the pond in my aunt and uncle's backyard as well as the two cute girls he's sitting by in the picture. He spent most of the night with them.

Petting one of the turtles from the pond

We went down to St. George to do some swimsuit shopping. Both Dillon and I ended up ordering suits online so the trip was kind of a bust but it was still fun to get out of the house.

Sawyer's designated spot because he just wanted to "seeeeeet!"

Crawling underneath Dillon's dressing room door because I get tired of trying to contain him and figure if he's not hurting anyone, I'm not going to worry about it.

We went back to the lake on the hill, this time with a puddle jumper on Sawyer and I'll tell you, for being a pretty cautious soul, that kid has no fear with the water. He would go out as far as his limited height would let him and then run back, over and over. Dawson on the other hand, still did not appreciate the temperature and screamed when I put his toes in.

Multigram from instagram: One of the only things that made me say, "When I'm a parent my kids won't do (wear) that"...Bucket hats. Because I hate them. But their practicality simply cannot be denied. Gotta protect that baby skin. Plus this guy makes them look pretty cute. #DawsonD
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Flinging mud

Dawson loves grass! Here he is chilling (and trying to eat said grass) while we played croquet.

"Hammer!" "Ball!" "Got it."

Dillon's sister has been trying to fly down to Cedar for months but the weather has not cooperated. She finally got a chance to fly a plane down here over Memorial Day weekend. We took the boys and went to lunch with her and her flight instructor. Sawyer has been asking about "Bidgette" ever since.

PC: Bridgette. It was too cute to not steal.

This is one of my favorite views when I push my babies in their stroller: tiny, naked feet, crossed at the ankles. We've gone on a few walks to the playground to get out of the house. Sawyer points out every bird along the way and Dawson swings his feet in complete contentment.

I was able to see my friend Larissa and her cute girls while they were visiting her in-laws but we didn't get any pictures. The worst. But it was so fun catching up with her!

We made plans to go up to Salt Lake to visit friends and family (although we weren't able to make it to everyone in our limited three days there, next time!). The best part of the drive up was definitely this magical moment...

...where both kids slept for a couple of hours AT THE SAME TIME. When they woke up we stopped at the Red Barn in Santaquin to stretch our legs. 

This slinky was the best entertainment of the trip. Thank you Red Barn.

We grabbed a couple of flavored honey sticks and they were delicious! But I felt like I was drinking straight syrup and immediately needed a pancake to even it out.

We stopped again at Provo Town Centre in hopes to do some shopping but most of the shops were shut down and hadn't been filled by anything new. So weird.

His first ride on a ridiculous machine that just rocks back and forth but still delights all children. I remember loving them when I was little. Watching them now, it just makes me laugh.

Happy Dawson

This was his first experience on an escalator and he was all grins (clearly we get out a lot). He just wanted to ride the stairs on repeat the rest of the time.

After we left the mall we headed over to the Britos (who we've managed to see twice in one year now, no small feat) for dinner (still no pictures, I keep forgetting!, but we love their little family and had fun visiting). As we were driving over, both kids had decided they'd had enough of the car. I had packed the Kindle for Sawyer as a very last resort and decided to pull it out to help him out. While he was playing games, he started whining and I thought he was getting frustrated by the games...then he started barfing all down his shirt and belt straps. Then he did it again because he was crying from the first round aaaand then again. Stupid cry-vomit cycle. Apparently he gets carsick like his mama and will be limited to passing the time in the car by non-dizzying activities.

So both boys were screaming and we still had about fifteen minutes before we arrived at our friends' house. I decided to unbuckle and wipe up Sawyer the best I could for the time being. While my rear end was pointed at the window, we passed a cop but, luckily, didn't get pulled over. I was committing to never traveling with kids again when we pulled up to Rob and Lindsay's but we got everything cleaned up and both kids were pleasant as soon as they got out of the car so the crisis passed.

My Grandma and Grandpa Hossner were nice enough to let us stay at their house while we were up there. We got to their house a little later in the night but stayed up to visit a little bit. Dawson was sitting on my grandma's lap, totally fine, and then suddenly threw up ALL OVER her repeatedly (my kids, you guys, literally all they do is take turns throwing up). He'd had a little bit of a runny nose and when that happens, he generally gags on his own snot. I changed him into his spare PJs and then he threw up, again. So laundry was a necessity at this point. We got everything that was covered in puke washed and dried and finally made it to bed.

This baby. The two of us had a bed all to ourselves but he wouldn't sleep unless he was right next to me, tucked up in my armpit.

The next day was zoo day! We met up with all of Dillon's sisters, their kids, and his mom. It was hot and sweaty but fun. Everything with kids is more fun. Watching Sawyer was the best.

Sawyer and the...waterball?? I don't know what to call it but he loves everything water related so this was a definite highlight for him.

The giraffes

I thought Sawyer would want to run around with the kids but brought the stroller in case he got tired. Instead, he preferred to have the kids take turns pushing him around most of the day. Little prince. Allie was happy to oblige.

Getting sprayed by beetle "acid".

"Ba-ba-biiiiig el-phant!"

Getting a good picture of multiple kids is difficult

Especially a two-year-old

Who is easily distracted. "Ba-ba-biiiig train!" (which we didn't ride, next time for that too!)

Getting a little help at the classic lion drinking fountain.

Slept like a champ in his carrier for his naps.

We decided to go to the bird show and barely squeaked in before it was time to start. There wasn't quite enough room for everybody so I sat in a different spot but it happened to be right in front of my high school friend Lisa. So we got to catch up a bit and Dawson was all smiles for Lisa and was really engrossed by her gorgeously long hair.

Dillon said during the show Sawyer would point and say, "Bird! Bird!" at everything that came out. Then Dillon told him "Look bud, a cockatoo" and Sawyer deadpanned, "Cockatoo." Every now and then, perfect pronunciation from him.

Lisa, Me, and our babies

We had to make a stop at the splash pad, of course. See the kid in the red shorts in the picture below? I almost beat him up. Little Sawyer was running around having a good time with all of the other kids and for some reason this 14-year-old kept following Sawyer around and jumping in puddles right next to him so that a giant tidal wave would wash over his head. Sawyer is too good natured to whine about other kids picking on him (usually) so he would just stand and splutter every time and then wait for the water to clear out of his eyes so he could see again. Thankfully Sawyer's older cousins Kaylie and Mason took care of it for me so I didn't have to be that crazy mom who interceded. But seriously? WTH older kid.

Grandma Ronna provided all of us with a Dippin' Dots break. Before any of us could do anything, Dawson dove both hands into Kristin's and was quite pleased with himself. That baby looooves his ice cream.

Shortly after that both of our littles had had enough and were ready for naps. The rest of the family stayed for an elephant show and other fun. We made our way to the reptile house and then the gift shop so that Sawyer could pick out a prize. He got a light up Hippo and a tube of sea creatures. Dawson got..nothing. Sorry dude. When you're old enough to care we'll get you souvenir toys too.

By the time we got the kids buckled and pulled out of the parking lot, they were fast asleep. We made a stop at Trader Joe's so that they could sleep longer, and because we have a slight obsession with their different and yummy treats. Dillon sat in the car with the boys and I made the rounds to see what unique stuff I could find. I was not disappointed but I think the regulars were annoyed by my wandering ways.  

We stopped by Rob and Lindsay's to hang out a little before we all went to Grandma Ronna's house to swim in the pool. Dawson was a little unsure about the water but decided it was alright after a few minutes. His first time in his floatie was a success. Sawyer was delighted to be tossed in the air over and over by both Dillon and Rob. They would throw him up and before they could catch their breath he would exclaim, "Flying? Flying!" so that they would do it again.

That smile is my favorite but can only be caught in candid moments. He's a little Chandler Bing-ish when he knows his picture is being taken.

We all slept hard that night after playing hard during the day. We visited with my grandparents and ate breakfast with them before heading over to Bridgette's to see everyone again before heading home.

We discovered this little monkey cut his first tooth over the weekend which I'm sure is related to his runny nose.

Unstacking..

..And restacking plates

Both boys mercifully took a nap during the first chunk of our drive home and both of them woke up right before Scipio so we pulled over to get gas, feed Dawson, and get wiggles out. Sawyer was equally excited about the petting zoo there as he had been for Hogle Zoo. "See ammals. See ammals" was all we heard for the majority of the ride home.

He prefers animals that let him come to them so these giant bunnies were the perfect way to wrap up our trip.

And that was our first real vacation as a family of four. A big win overall.