9 Hours at Dutch Wonderland

Instead of getting Jackson and Josh presents for their birthday this year we decided to take them to Dutch Wonderland for a day. It's a really fun amusement park in Pennsylvania, about a 2.5 hour drive. We didn't tell them where we were going (mostly because there was a 60% chance of rain and we didn't want to get their hopes up in case we couldn't go). When we got there they were SO excited and SO cute! We ended up having great weather and no lines! It was so nice being able to walk onto every ride. Often times they just let the boys stay on the ride and go again because no one else was waiting! It was the perfect way to celebrate my boys turning 5!


They loved this ride... Yes yes, Jackson is the princess...

Tyce loved the bulldozers...Cute guys on the panda ride...I had to beg them to stop chasing ducks so I could take a picture...Josh and I were awesome at bumper cars!Pony rides! I must admit I hated paying $10 to have them ride a pony for 5 minutes when they can do that for FREE in Neola! Oh well, this will do for now...They loved this froggy ride...Swings...Riding on the train...Don't mind my sweaty shiney face, it was quite humid...They probably could have ridden these plasma cars all day! Cute guys on the horse and buggy carriage...Can you tell Josh enjoyed his blue raspberry italian ice?Tyce in the hands up roller coaster pose for this ride that moves about 2mph...

It was such a fun day! Tyce was an angel, even without his usual 4 hour nap. There was a really fast roller coaster there that Jackson and Josh LOVED! We went on that over and over again. I was surprised how brave they were! We stayed until 8pm then grabbed some dinner and headed home. The kids were asleep pretty fast. We drove through a CRAZY storm! Tornados, BUCKETS of rain, huge lightening and thunder. People were pulled over under bridges waiting out the storm. We kept driving and made it through. I love storms, but it was scary driving through it. We're glad that the rain held off until after we left! We are all tired today but hopefully we can get to bed early because tomorrow is their BIRTHDAY! They're so excited for their party. I'll post on that soon!

8 Year Anniversary!!!

Today is our 8 year anniversary! 8 years ago we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Portland temple. I loved him so much then, but never imagined how much that love could grow. Something I think has really helped our marriage be so strong is that Parker loves me the way I want to be loved, and I love him the way he wants to be loved. He lives to please me and I do the same. Probably my favorite thing about our marriage is how well we get along. We rarely fight and we have so much fun together. I love Parker's calming personality and his patience with me. I love how unselfish he is. I love how sweet he is. I love how he makes sure I know how much he loves me. I love how he makes me feel beautiful. I love that he chose me 8 years ago. I love you so much babe, and look forward to everything our future holds...together.

Friday night my dear friend Traci babysat the kids until 1am so we could go out and celebrate. We went to dinner in Alexandria... Then went to a movie...

Haha, Parker doesn't look like he's having much fun in these pictures but I promise he was! :) Happy Anniversary to my man!!!

Parker and Tyce Go to Utah

So Parker and Tyce flew out to Utah last Thursday to surprise his little sister Tegan on her 12th birthday. It sounds like she already figured it out, seeing as many people said things on accident, but I still hope she was excited. It was very weird being here without Tyce, I missed him a lot but knew he was in good hands! Here are some pics from Parker's phone and some that his sister Jackie sent me....

On his way to Utah, Parker ended up missing his connection in Chicago due to thunderstorms in Dulles so he had to stay the night and get on a flight the next day. It was a LONG day for both of them but Parker said Tyce was great. Here he is eating a grilled chicken sandwhich in the airport... Oh, by the way, these are all out of order so bear with me. Grandma pushing Cole and Tyce on the swings while holding Kate. What a great grandma!!!

Grandma pushing Cole and Tyce in the wheelbarrow down to feed the horses!Throwing rocks in the pond...Tyce and Cole eating lunch, Parker said they played SO well together! Cole turns 3 this month and is such a cutie!On Memorial Day they went and visited lots of gravesites of family members...Then they went up to their cabin in the mountains...Auntie Jackie and Tycee throwing rocks!Best buds on the rock...Ok, back to the airport, here's Tyce and his lion riding on the people mover (you do what you gotta do to entertain a 1 year old in an airport for 4 hours)...Chillin in Denver...Cute guy at the airport...All the siblings in age order: Parker, Jackie, Shane, Christine, and Tegan! What a gorgeous family I married into!The whole family except Christine, the twins, and I...Grandma reading to her grandkids...Sounds like Tyce was nervous about the dogs for a while, then calmed down...The whole fam, except, of course, the twins and I (sniff sniff)...

Ok, so doing this post made me super sad I wasn't there but I'm SO glad Parker was able to go spend some much needed time with his wonderful family. Thanks mom and Jackie for taking such good care of them!!!! Love you all!!!

Graduation and Great Wolf Lodge

We've continued to have tons of fun with my parents here! Wednesday evening Jackson and Josh had their preschool graduation. It was too cute. I have been so happy with the preschool I chose for them. I have no complaints. The graduation program was well done as well.

Here's Jack walking in the "processional"... Josh walking in...

Their whole class. Notice how Jackson (back middle) is frowning and Josh (front right) is smiling? That's very indicative of how their program went. They sang a ton of songs and Josh sang his little heart out smiling from ear to ear the entire time. Jackson would NOT sing! He stood there, stone faced, the entire time. I was disappointed, but that's just how he is sometimes. If he doesn't want to do something, good luck making him. Josh was so stinkin cute though, it made up for it... They had a reception after with some food and the boys got to run around and play with their friends...Thursday morning they had a preschool picnic that Parker and I took the kids to so they could run around and have one last time with all their school friends. After that we came home and got packed. Parker and Tyce headed to the aiport to go to Utah and my parents, the twins, and I headed to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. I will do a separate post about Parker's time in Utah but, suffice it to say, Tyce is having a BLAST there being spoiled by grandma, grandpa, his aunts, and uncles and playing with his cousins Cole and Kate.

They had all been to Great Wolf Lodge before but it was my first time. It is SO great! I was very impressed with it...My parents upgraded our room to the "Kids Cabin." They LOVED sleeping in here...I bought them goggles before we left, best $10 I ever spent. They loved them and wore them the entire time...After 5 hours of swimming on Thursday we went to IHOP at 10pm for dinner. They were SO tired! Josh fell asleep after a few bites...Tired Jackson=fits. He was devastated because he didn't get the same exact kids menu as Josh. He was exhausted, we tried to be patient with him. He cheered up when his food came and ate a ton!When we got back to the hotel they were asleep right away...Friday morning we had breakfast at the hotel, then headed back to the waterpark! They played for 9 hours, only stopping for lunch...Around 4 they opened up the outside part. We were excited because we could lounge on the chairs while they played!We finally left the waterpark around 8pm, showered, grabbed some dinner, and headed home. Everyone was so tired! Saturday we were lazy all morning, then went to Dulles Town Center in the afternoon/evening. My dad watched the boys while my mom and I shopped for swim suits!

The twins have spent a lot of time wrestling with grandpa. Anyone that knows my dad knows that's one of the things he's famous for! Saturday morning he had them cracking up laughing just by playing with "stinky socks"...This was obviously before Tyce and Parker left for Utah but I got this off my dad's camera and thought it was too cute to not add. Grandma has spent lots of times reading stories and playing games with the boys...Again, out of order, but this is Joshy and I at the Bounce House...

It's been wonderful having them here. My kids adore them and it's so nice to have the company and the help. They fly home tomorrow morning, we will all miss them so much. Luckily we're going to Utah and Oregon in July, something to look forward to. Parker and Tyce come home Tuesday night. I miss them so much! Anyways, sorry for all the pics but we were busy and I want to remember it! Thanks mom and dad for a FANTASTIC week!!! Love you both!!!