9 Hours at Dutch Wonderland!!!

Parker and I took the boys to a family amusement park called Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on Saturday and it was so much fun! We had a great time, this place is like Disneyland but for ages 10 and under so it was smaller and there weren't a bunch of punk teens running around. There was so much to do we ended up being there for NINE hours! Ah it was a long long long hot hot hot fun fun fun day!!!

Here we are getting ready to leave bright and early...

This ride was so fun because it swung them around really fast on the corners and Josh LOVED it! He was so brave!

Of course they loved the airplane ride...

Jack and I had a great time soaring over the park..."Mommy we WAY HIGH!"

Of course they loved the carousel...

So I would really say it was the perfect day EXCEPT...oh my gosh was it hot. It was about 96 degrees with about 95% humidity SO we were all sweating all day. We spent about $25 on drinks alone! Luckily there's a fun waterpark there too, course I forgot my swimming suit so we ran over to KMART and I got this hideous old lady suit for $7 so I could join in on the water fun. =) It was worth it, we had a lot of fun and it was a nice break from the heat. Don't get your hopes up, no pics of me in the old lady suit =) Then we got dressed and spent another couple hours there...They liked the gandola ride, Parker and I were bored to death...haha, the things you do for your kids...This was probably their favorite ride...the frog hopper, it went up then dropped really fast. It made my stomach drop but the boys loved it!Riding the trucks.
They were SO worn out! So were Parker and I though! We couldn't wait to get home and shower and get to bed! I woke up with a horrible head and neck ache and am still in quite a bit of pain. My mom thinks it's from the rides, which is weird that I can handle Vegas rollar coasters but not kiddie rides at the Dutch Wonderland! Anyway, it was a great day!!!

Week with Nicole...

We had a really fun week because Nicole came to visit us from Oregon! For those who don't know, Nicole is Lindsay's friend from about kindergarten and she has really become part of our family. She's Lindsay's best friend, but she's also one of my good friends too! It was so nice having her here and the boys just loved her!

We took the metro to downtown DC on Tuesday and had lunch with Parker at his work, boy is security tight there! Then we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, which was SO cool! Then we decided to go get tickets to do the capitol tour, but they were sold out. But we did get to see Vice President Cheney when he drove by in his motorcade! We were right on the edge of the curb and were right next to everything! It was crazy, so many motorcycles, cars, limos, and SUVS-all black and all with men holding snipers out the window ready for anything. What was scary is how FAST they drive by! I mean, we were in the driveway area and they were just cruising out. It's not that I'm a die hard Cheney fan or anything, but it's cool to have someone like that wave to you from so close ya know? Anyways, so that was that. I was very proud of Nikki and I for finding our way on the right buses and metros with the big huge stroller and very "busy" twins. Haha, good job us!

The next day we went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore! It was really cool, it was in downtown Baltimore (we drove past the Ravens and the Orioles stadiums) right on the river and it was huge and very interesting. The boys loved the dolphin show and looking at all the fish. Josh kept asking why the fish didn't have swimming suits on, haha.

Here we are at the dolphin show...

Josh LOVED watching the dolphin playing with the ball, of course...

Jackson loved when the dolphins would splash and talk...
They also loved these big tubes that had bubbles going up them, they could've played there the whole day!
There were lots of turtles and they LOVE turtles! Parker's little sister Tegan has a turtle named Kirby so the boys think every turtle is named Kirby. So, we saw LOTS of Kirbys there! The setting was SO pretty...Then we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch which was yummy and the boys had fun dancing to the music...Best friends...I hired some housekeepers...We also went shopping and out to dinner a couple times and just had a fun week! Thanks for coming Nikki!!!!

Happy Birthday Jackson and Josh!!!

So the boys turned TWO on the 13th, but we didn't have their birthday party till Sunday. It was so much fun to see them all excited about balloons, presents, and their cake. All day they said, birthday birthday birthday. I am kinda sad that my little babies are two, they are growing up way too fast. The other day Jack decided to start holding my hold hand, not just my finger. Is it stupid that that makes me kinda sad? Anyway, that's a whole nother post I guess. =) The party was fun, Uncle Shane came up from southern VA (he's down there selling security systems for the summer) and Nicole (me and Lindsay's friend from Salem ) is out here for a week visiting us so it was fun to have them here. They were super spoiled and got tons of presents, thank you everyone for making their birthday special! Here are some, ok lots, of pictures. =)

They were surprisingly excited about their outfits that Grandma Barraclough gave them, they look SO cute in them and couldn't wait to try them on!

Here's the adorable book that Aunt Jackie sent for them...

Ok so Uncle Shane got them the CUTEST black Converse shoes!!! They were SO excited that they had the same shoes as Uncle Shane, it was too precious!!

They loved their bubble guns from Grandma Barraclough...we got so many bubbles on the floor that it got super slippery and they were sliding all over the place, it was hilarious!

Uncle Shane made them a fort and they thought it was the coolest thing...

Here's their Nemo cake...

Here they are enjoying their cake...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BOYS!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to all the men in my life! I feel so blessed today because I am so lucky to have an amazing grandpa, father in law, dad, and husband!

*Happy Father's Day Grandpa Bybee!

I know he's not my father but I know that he was and is a wonderful father to my mom and he has been a wonderful grandpa to me and my sisters. He is extremely active, working out every day and could kick my butt! He treats my grandma so well and is a good example of hard work, devotion, and love. He is different than most grandpas, he's very "with the times" and is very interested and involved in his grandkids lives. My favorite thing about my grandpa is his huge hugs and wet kisses. My favorite memory of my grandpa is him calling us for our birthdays and singing us Happy Birthday. For those of you who don't know, he is 100% off key but sings his heart out and we all love it. My grandpa battled severe lung cancer and beat the odds. He is currently battling prostate cancer and is tough as ever. I love you so much Grandpa and thank you for being such an inspiration to our family.

This picture always brings tears to me eyes, because my grandpa was very sick with lung cancer and we didn't know what would happen to him...

My grandpa, the avid BYU football fan...

*Happy Father's Day Bart!

I am so grateful that my husband came from a home where he had Bart as an example of what a father and husband should be. Bart is a very devoted father, never missing a sporting event and always being there to cheer on his kids. He is also a very hard worker, he works CRAZY hours during tax season so he can provide (and spoil sometimes) his family. On top of it all, he's a wonderful husband to Michelle. I've never seen them argue and he treats her so well. My favorite thing about Bart is that, despite our differences, he accepts me as his daughter and loves me. My favorite memory of Bart is him falling asleep, on the floor, all the time! It cracks me up. Happy Father's Day Bart! I love you! (This is the only picture I have of him! Not the best pic, but look how cozy Jack is with Grandpa Morrill!)

*Happy Father's Day Dad!

This could be a lengthy one, but don't worry I'll cut it short. =) For those of you who know me or my dad you know how absolutely amazing my dad is. Him and I have a very special and unique relationship and we always have. Growing up I knew my dad was always there for me whether I needed a hug, a tampon at school, or a phone call while at college after a guy broke my heart. He has always been there for me when no one else was and for that I am grateful. My dad is really truly everything I want in a man and poor Parker had a HIGH standard to live up to. =) My dad is an amazing dad, husband, provider, patriarch, and friend. My favorite thing about my dad is his ability to make friends with anyone and to make everyone laugh. My favorite memory of my dad is when he took all us girls camping and we slept overnight in the boat-we had so much fun and thought it was SO cool to sleep on the lake! I love you so much dad, and Happy Father's Day!
My dad and his purse...

*Happy Father's Day Parker!!!

Where do I start? Well, he has definitely lived up to my expectations! =) I think back to Father's Day 2 years ago and Parker was in the NICU at the hospital holding both the boys on his chest while they were attached to a million tubes, cords, and wires. We are so grateful that is over! Parker is my everything and I could not ask for anything more. He is the perfect dad for Jackson and Josh and the perfect husband for me. Everyday he amazes me more by working harder, being even more sweet to me, or being even more patient with the twins. He is always thinking of me and the boys and never of himself. He is fun to be with and I love having deep conversations with him. He has so much to be proud of yet he is so humble. I love you Parker, and Happy Father's Day!!!

For those who didn't know, we were short on cash so Parker took some shifts at the Great Harvest in Provo, making the sweets in the morning! How cute is he!? =)

Here's his pic for the HOA website...he's gonna hate me for putting this up.

My honey the quarterback...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL!!!! =)