Great Grandma Ivie Comes to Visit

Earlier this month my grandma called and asked if she could come visit for a week. I said of course. Ryan, my uncle, and his family were going to Disneyland and she was going to hitch a ride down with them. I didn't know if she would actually come but she came. She has always loved to travel. Grandpa and her were always going places. Now that Grandpa is up in heaven she still likes to get out of the house and visit. I told Grandma not to expect much since I had to work during the day. She was up for it and even brought her and Lucy a puzzle to work on. 

One night the girls went on an outing to Charming Charlies at Town Square. I knew Grandma would love that place. She said it was like taking an alcoholic to a liquor store. She found herself a couple of necklaces. Then before we got out the door she had found a few more. She even had me go back later and pick up one she didn't get that night. She cracks me up. She is wearing one of her new necklaces below while holding Duncan.  

Lucy loved having Grandma here to entertain her during the day. They painted nails and even tried on wigs together.  On Tuesday I dropped Grandma off at the dollar store while I took Lucy to preschool. When I came into the store to get her, she was in line eating a Butterfinger. She had been telling me all weekend that she is allergic to sugar and it makes her cough. Again, she cracks me up. 

Also on Tuesday, Quincy calls me while I am working and says that Grandma wants to go to Celine Dion. I guess I had been busy working so she called him to see if we could get tickets for her show that night. Grandma had been talking to a friend that morning and told her she had to go see Celine while she was in town. She would always go to shows with Grandpa when they were in Vegas and she said he would of wanted her to go. I thought we were just going to go to DI that night or go get ice cream but Grandma was determined to go. We still don't have a reliable babysitter on this side of town so we didn't know who would watch the kids. Luckily, the Barney family said they would watch the two older kids. So that night we hit the strip with Grandma and Duncan. We were trying to hurry and didn't get a good picture. 

Duncan was a good man through the show. He did scream a few times when she sang really loud but I it just blended in. Maybe he was singing along. 

Grandma can get some wild hairs but we are so glad she got this wild hair to come visit us. She can also be somewhat of a difficult visitor but she wasn't at all. We had such a great visit and memories were made for sure! 

Top of Las Vegas

In January, to get to the top of the stratosphere was free for locals. Every time we pass it the kids always shout out Stratosphere (or sometimes they call it the Eiffel Tower) but we knew we better take them to the top. We decided it was more fun with friends so we asked the Kanets to join us. We went right when it opened on a Saturday morning to beat the rush. It was wonderful Las Vegas weather so the day was perfect!

The kids were not afraid to look over the edge. I however stood back with Duncan. The kids loved pointing out all the cars and buildings they saw below. 

The Walker Crew

The Kanets 

We went to the very top and waited with the kids while Mike and Marian went on the big shot. Quincy and I had done this on a date before we were married. I remembered trying to be all brave when he told me we were going on that ride. I did go but I still remember that I couldn't even scream because it took the wind right out of me.  So when Marian and Mike asked if we wanted to go I was glad to say been there, done that, don't need to do it again. 

 It isn't too easy to plan outings with a three month old that eats every three hours but Duncan loved the outing. He just hung there taking it all in. He even fell asleep and I didn't even know. Too much fun for him I guess. 

One last family picture of our fun outing. 

Splash Pads & Ouch!

It's splash pad time here in Vegas. Anything to keep you cool with it already hitting 100 degrees.

 

One night we headed to Town Square for shopping and just thought we would let the kids play on the playground. They were running through the splash pads before we knew it fully clothed. They were shivering all the way home.

 

 

The next time we came prepared. 

 The kids kept themselves busy for quite awhile while Quincy and I ate our Chinese Take-out as we watched. But the sun set and it did get a little chilly. So we got the kids dried off and headed to the playground.

 

This is a before shot of Jensen. He stepped wrong on a stair and got the worst bloody nose ever. It was coming down both nostrils. We were worried that he broke it.

 

 

After shot.

Quincy says this looks like a mug shot. Poor kid. We don't think he broke it because he did stop crying eventually, but the next day it was really black and blue. It stayed that way for a week. Poor guy. Hopefully our next trip to the splash pad is very uneventful.

Christmas Season 2012

 

I thought I would do one long but quick post of our 2012 Christmas Season.

 

The speedway in Vegas had a free night to see the lights. We missed it last year and by golly we were not going to miss it this year. I had saved some 3D glasses from a couple of years ago. The kids had fun as we drove around the track.

 

 

 

 

Jensen wanted to help me decorate the tree this year.

 

 

While he was decorating he would tell us what Santa would say. He remembered this all on his own from last year.

 

 

We made it to Ethel M's before it got cold in Vegas. The wait was a little long to see Santa but we were happy to do it when it wasn't freezing.

 

 

Lucy told Santa she wanted a Doctor Baby and Jensen wanted Cars. Surprised on Jensen's order?

 

 

 

Lucy and I made our own Gingerbread house this year. I think it will be a tradition from now on.

 

 

 

 

We were invited to a neighbor's Christmas Party. They even had Santa come. Lucy made sure to remind Santa that she wanted a Doctor Baby, just incase he forgot.

 

 

Grandma and Grandpa Haworth sent their presents early. Since we were headed to Utah for Christmas we let them open them the Saturday before Christmas. Jensen got this cool wagon and Lucy got a pink scooter.

 

 

Up at Grandma and Grandpa Knudsen's house in Utah, and happy to report we made it without any snow storms. Our Ipod kids waiting for the cousins to come play.

 

 

For Christmas Eve day we decided to go bowling. Jensen was an old pro and Lucy only got it stuck once this time. Even Grandma Cindy showed off her bowling skills.

 

 

The bowlers

 

 

(Blurry but was such a cute shot of them)

 

 

 

We missed T.J. and his family. Ally was sick and they decided to stay home.

 

 

 

  

Christmas Eve Night

 

 

The kids acted out the nativity.

 

 

Jensen was a little sheep. As they were getting ready he kept "baa-ing" to everyone. He was taking his part very seriously. But as they performed he got stage fright and became a quiet sheep.

 

 

The Little Angel

 

 

 

Kids got to open one present on Christmas Eve from Mom and Dad. P.J.'s of course.

 

 

They were so tired and ready for bed. This is the best shot that I could get of them.

 

 

Christmas morning started with Jensen up at 6:30. He came into our room and told us to wake up.

Santa listened and brought just what the kiddo's wanted.

 

Lucy with Doctor Baby.

 

 

Jensen got cars!

He was funny with a couple of them. Santa had to find some of them on eBay since some of them are hard to find. He would later tell you which cars came open (without a box). Nothing gets by this kid.

 

 

Santa also left a note for the kids telling them a trampoline was waiting from them when they got back to Vegas.

 

It snowed the whole time we were up there. I can appreciate a white Christmas but when it limits you to indoor activities for 3 days enough is enough. We finally ventured out to the new outlet mall at the point of the mountain and to Scheels a huge sports store.

 

 

We headed home to Vegas just in time to avoid any snow storms. We missed Great Grandma and Grandpa Ivie on the Front Runner, maybe next time. Jensen kept us laughing on the way home because he said it was too cold in Utah and he wanted to go home. He didn't even want to eat at Cafe Rio in Cedar City because he had to get out in the cold. He also was mimicking Grandma Cindy by saying "Dear, dear" to everything.

 

We put the tramp up on Saturday. We had doubts if it was even going to fit in our tiny backyard but it does. Not room for much else but the kids love it!  

 

 

 

 

Before we took our tree down I tried to get a picture of them in their jammies in front of our tree.  

 

 

 

We did have the elf on the shelf at our house for the holidays but this one is much cuter.