Hoover Dam

It rained a lot last week, so when the sun came out on Saturday afternoon we decided to take the kids out to Hoover Dam for the evening. As a kid, we used to come here quite a bit. I never realized it wasn't the only Hoover Dam until after high school when my dad and step-mom took me here a few weeks after my high school graduation. Who knew?

We decided to grab some dinner and eat by the water. Apparently the geese were too much for the kids to handle though, so we let them eat ON the table so they'd stop freaking out.

After eating we walked up over the dam to show the kids where the water goes.

It was a nice night to get out of the house.

Sleeping Beauty

Jordis does not like to go to bed.

EVER

She used to go right to bed when she was a little younger. Now, she finds a myriad of reasons to come out and ask random questions and we often find her asleep with the lights on after she's played until she just can't stay awake any longer. We gave up trying to make her stay in bed with the lights off because she just gets up and turns them on anyway. So we're just happy if she stays in her room and if we see the light on when we come up we go in and turn it off. This is what Jason found a few nights ago.

Can you tell we've been teaching her all about gracefulness?

(And yes, I'm painfully aware that she needs a bed skirt. I just haven't found one I like.)

A visitor

Last night the tooth fairy came for Xander. He's had a loose tooth for about two weeks now and wouldn't let us pull it, so Jason "helped" him brush his teeth and it fell out shortly after.

He was pretty excited about the tooth fairy coming, even though he grilled Jason about how real she is. Hopefully we can hold off on the Santa and Easter Bunny questions for a while longer.

Touch-A-Truck

On Friday, my mom and I took the kids to the annual Touch-A-Truck event in the city where Jason works. I haven't attempted going in about three years, as last time I was there Xander decided to hop onto a bus and I had to leave one-year-old Jordis in our wagon next to a police officer while I ran to retrieve him. But they can both walk a good distance now and I had help from my mom, so I thought we'd try again. Okay, that's only partly true. Jason is on first shift now and I think he looks hot in his uniform, so Touch-A-Truck is really an excuse for me to go see him at work. There, I said it.

After seeing Dad we moved on to the fire truck. Jordis wouldn't get on it though because she didn't want anyone to help her on or off.

The big favorite was the pink limousine from the Sweet and Sassy store. Before getting in Jordis got a star on her cheek and glitter in her hair.


They also tried out a zamboni, snow plow, dump truck, tractor and trash truck.

After saying goodbye to Jason we went to spend some time at the park, then my mom treated us to some Rita's Italian Ice. It was so hard to choose a flavor. Luckily they let you taste them first.

Xander had cookies n' cream, Jordis had Swedish Fish, I had Florida Orange and my mom had strawberry and lemonade (they'll let you pick two flavors in one serving if you want). It was such a great way to cool off on a hot day.

A day at the zoo

Last Thursday the kids and I went to the zoo. My mom is between jobs and had the week off so she went with us as well, and my friend Amy met us there with her two boys. Before we even got in the gate we had to stop and take pictures of the little ducklings we saw in the grass. They were so cute and fluffy.

Then the very first thing we had to do was go see the snakes.

For Jordis.

My girl.

The reptile building has a desk where a zoo employee will usually sit holding a snake and you can go pet it. Jordis loves to pet the snake and the past few times we've been to the zoo no one has been there with it, so I promised we could go to the reptile building on this visit. Xander actually pet it this time as well, so I was really proud of him. I think it might be the first time he was willing to touch it. Then they wanted their picture taken here:

And here:

Then of course all the kids wanted to see the penguins, one of the stinkiest animals at the zoo. They were pretty active though so we enjoyed watching them. Then the kids wanted more pictures.

Wes, Garrett, Jordis and Xander

And of course you can't forget the petting zoo.

Jordis' Birthday Party

This year Jordis invited some friends over for a cupcake decorating party. She had wanted some invitations at Factory Card Outlet that I refused to buy because they cost a ridiculous $8. Then I spent $19 buying the supplies to make her some invitations. Crazy, I know. But mine were cuter. The ones she wanted had turqouise frosting and they just didn't look very little-girlish.

The first thing we did was play Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake. Then we opened presents. Jordis got some really nice gifts.

Then we put on the aprons I made and decorated some cupcakes.



After the cupcakes were complete everyone had a box to take them home in so they could share them with their families.

Then we capped off the afternoon with cake and ice cream. Jordis picked mint chocolate chip, just like her brother. She didn't want anyone singing to her though, so she hunkered down in her chair.



Xander enjoyed the day, too.

And now, we are thankful that their birthdays don't roll around for another 11 months.

Fabulous Four

Our baby just turned four! It's so depressing. I remember when Xander was the oldest at four and I thought his clothes were so big. Luckily Jordis makes me smile and laugh every day, so it helps me feel a little less sad about how big she's getting.

Doesn't she look happy?

Jordis only poses for pictures at HER convenience and she was less than thrilled that she got a black eye the day before. She decided to ride her bike down the driveway from the garage and the training wheels made it tip over when she tried to turn onto the sidewalk. I was on the driveway painting something for her birthday party when she whizzed by me and I knew it wasn't going to end well, but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it. She landed in the grass and the bike landed on her....with the handlebar on her eye socket.

Ten minutes later she was mad that I wouldn't let her back on the bike, so I applaud her stick-to-it attitude. However, when I called the doctor they said she needed to rest, so no more bike for her that day.

By morning she was fine and once Xander got home from school opening presents made her forget all about her injury.

Sometimes I can't believe how pretty she is. I'm sure I'm a little biased. But she has such a sweet personality, too. Whenever we're in public people talk about her cute voice and big eyes, and she always has friends wherever we go. We gave each of the kids one of the laminated cards from Jason's grandpa's funeral and Jordis keeps hers on her headboard. Last week she was kissing it goodnight and she told me "I miss him, he was so nice." She has such a sweet heart. And you have to be careful what you say around her. The other day when she and I were at the mall I was looking at some shoes when Jordis asked if I was going to buy them. I replied, "No, Daddy will kill me if I bring home another pair of shoes" and she cried out, "Oh, no, Mommy, that's so mean!" She's so mature for her age that sometimes I forget she doesn't understand figures of speech yet.

Here she is on birthdays past:

Happy Birthday, Chicky-Boo! We love you!