What we did this week...

As many know, this summer has been super hot! So we have had fun with our little sprinkler head. We had an impromptu water play time. I didn't even bother putting on swim trunks. Mostly because they had gotten themselves wet even before I turned it on and I was lazy.
I don't get the fun of getting so close to the sprinkler head. Jake seems to think that is the best part. They would take turns ( dog included) in getting super close, putting their hands/paws over the sprinkler head. It is as if they are proving their awesomeness. Look, I can stop the full force of water pressure with the palm of my hand! We also went to the Pig Party this week! Oh that is right, Lehi is awesome. We have parties that revolve around farm animals!
I have decided that I want a pet pig. I am willing to give up the hope to get a pet snake for a pig. When I told Dan he said we can't get a pig because it would beat up the dog. I think he might have a point. Kate isn't exactly a vicious beast!
They had lots of activities for the kids. One was " Eat Like a Pig" the idea is that you eat the whip cream trying to find the treat underneath. . . without using your hands. Fun idea unless you are Jake and don't want to get your face dirty. There where three other people doing it at the same time and they just went right in, determined to be the first one to eat the starburst. Jake had to lick the whip cream slowly, not to make a mess. I don't know why it made me so proud and sad at the same time.
Jake Decided he was Super Pig. This is him showing off his piggy muscles. I don't know why I find it so funny.
Derek loves the cows. He will sit and pet them and feed them. He wanted nothing to do with the pigs and he didn't want to pet the bunny. For some odd reason Derek feel more comfortable petting and playing with an animal that is overwhelmingly bigger than him. Besides, maybe he likes them because they taste pretty good!
Then we made piggy cookies. Nothing like a well balanced Lunch! Jake had fun making the cookie look like a pig, Derek didn't care... until they started to eat their cookies. Derek started to notice Jake's cookie was pink, and looked so much more tasty than his plain sugar cookie. After Derek tried to swipe Jake's cookie a couple of times I put a bit of icing on his cookie. What fun!

When I was little we had a small kids recipe book JUST FOR KIDS. I thought is was the coolest recipe book ever. It was almost like all the recipes had to be good, because of they where for kids and they where in fun animal shapes! The bread recipe was especially fascinating to me. Oh how I longed to make a bread bear or bread bunny. I decided that it would be fun to do with Jake. I let him measure everything out. He even helped me knead it, which mostly meant him punching the tar out of the poor bread dough. We then shaped it into an Alligator. We where having a day celebrating the letter "A" so it seemed fitting. Plus it seemed easier than making an Ant Eater. That was his first choice... thanks to Diego.He made the head, then rolled out the tail. Oh it started to take shape and I think we both started to have hope in our little project! I then gave him scissors to cut scales and teeth with.
We popped it in the oven and waited for the beeper.
When it came out I was so excited, I didn't think it looked half bad. Jake looked at it funny and said it didn't look like an alligator. I will admit I became a bit disheartened. He then says it looks like an Ankylosaurus. We then decided our oven was magic. It turned our dough alligator into a bread Ankylosaurus! He then proceeded to rip the tail off and started to eat. He had fun, and Ankylosaurus does start with the letter A.... just saying :)

Monday Madness!

On Monday I had a brilliant idea, make a pirate treasure map with pictures for Jake to follow and find a little treasure. A small fun Monday activity. Dan ended up getting Monday off, and thought to elaborate the plan by taking the kids to Pirate Island ( a pirate themed arcade/kid play-place/ restaurant). Brilliant really, we where so proud of ourselves, being fun parents and all. We looked at the web-sight and even called to make sure they where open for lunch... we got a busy signal. Off we went, Jacob reading his precious map and telling us the next step. Treasure Island, was closed. To be exact it was shut by huge metal chains and locks. Now we had a little boy with a treasure map. It said to go to Pirate Island. We did. Then it said to eat pizza. So Dan and I decided to go on a wild goose chase around Utah county to fulfill the map's requests. We went to Jason's Deli, where we got Jake a small kids pizza. They also had Ice cream, which the kids loved. Dan was able to get his beloved pastrami, which made him super happy. We then went to a party store and bought Jake a pirate hat and being a sneaky Mom I bought a "pirate treasure" to hide at the undisclosed location for Jacob to find. The next thing the map said for us to do was go in the pirate ship ( originally located in Pirate Island) . The only one we where aware of is in the Trafalga in Lehi. Off we went... when we got to trafalga and Jake saw the pirate ship ride he was SO happy. Dan and Jacob went on the ride, Dan had the treasure in his pocket. After the fun ride of siting on a ship rocking back and forth ( how kids find that fun I have no idea), Jake found his treasure. With the help of Dan. He was so happy and excited about his adventure. Derek tolerated the experience, but was underwhelmed by the awesomeness of our quest. We went home, all a bit tired. Jake watched his pirate show, wearing his "Pirate Gabloom Treasure Necklace", and yes, that is the official name. Jacob will correct you if he hears you not call it by that name.

Later that Day we went to thanksgiving point. They where having their Monday night activity and it was about cowboys. So I loaded up the kids and went to the farm. I was unaware that because of the theme there would be more horses than normal. Oops, I forgot to take my allergy medicine. We jumped on an old horse and buggy ride, which the kids just loved... I endured. Then we got to make cowboy bandanas! This was was fun, and got the kids hands nice and colorful. Jake was so excited to wear his fish themed bandana. Derek wanted nothing to do with it once the colored markers where out of the equation. Jacob loved the cowboy shooting station. They had pop cans filled with little weights and high powered water guns. What more could a three year old boy ask for. He would shoot the targets down, I would then re-stack them while her refilled his water gun. Derek just like playing with the tub of water, I had to keep telling him to not jump in the water. The kids then took a turn riding the little ponies. This was Derek's first time. He had this stern face on the entire time, and would not let his hands off the saddle. I was worried he wasn't enjoying it, but when I tried to take him off he resisted. I think he was just concentrating, trying to be a big boy and ride the horse like Jacob. Jacob of coarse was on the biggest ponie, and was so proud of his bandana. He kept saying, " I am a cowboy Mom, look!" I am glad the kids had a fun day. I had fun too, but it is amazing how these two kids keep me busy!

Here fishy fishy fishy!

Last weekend we went fishing with my family at Payson Lakes. They all loaded up and went camping Friday night, our plan was to meet up with them Saturday morning. It turned out to be a good plan because Dan had to work late and it was SUPER cold during the night. I know this because my Mom and Heather where exhausted from the cold night. Anyone who has driven up the road to get to Payson Lakes knows it is a windy road. I am aware of this, but didn't think anything of it until the puking started. Right after we passed a pull-off area Derek decided to start throwing up all over the car. Lets just say this experience was scarring. By the time Dan and I had cleaned the mess up I had thrown up and Dan dry heaved a few times. We got to Payson lakes exhausted and nauseous.
Once we got there we got our poles in the water, and waited. That is right people, the best method to catching a fish at Payson Lakes is to bait dunk... just accept it.
By the time we had gotten to the lake many people had caught fish. Here is Rachel catching one of her little fishes.
Then it happened.. Jake started to catch fish. We didn't hook one and hand him the pole. That is what you do for babies. Jacob is a big boy, therefor he catches his own fish. He caught three fish, I couldn't have been more proud. Derek thought is was the coolest thing when Jacob was reeling in the fish. Here is one of the fishes...After a bit of coaxing from all of us (mostly Richie and Rachel) Jake not only was willing to touch his fish, but hold it!
We tried to get Derek to touch the fish, but he really wasn't having it. He poked it once, but mostly liked looking at the fish from a safe distance.
What Derek did like to do was take the lids off and on of the power bait. Poor glitter bottle got poured all over the ground before I realized what he was doing. Sorry about that Dad!
Jake was so funny. My Mom trying to give Jacob a chance to reel in another fish told him she had a bite and to come reel it in! He replied, " nope, I have my own fishing pole Grandma, I will catch my OWN fish".
I love fishing, but it makes it so much more fun when we go with family. Thanks to everyone that went up, it was fun.

Tank Wars!

As per new tradition " Tank Wars!" we got together with the Brainards to have a bbq and play with fire! Once it got late enough we assembled the troupes! Top - Doug, Right - Katrina, Bottom- me, Left Dan. We all had a match, and at the count of three we lit our tanks! I totally won, with only minor damages. Dan Lost, as you can see his is still on fire.
I am going to take credit for burning Doug's tanks and some of Dan's. It was a ton of fun! If any of you have thoughts of doing this next year, get the tanks without wheels. If they are mobile they don't have as much fire power.

4th of July at Dan's Parents

We went to Grandpa and Grandma Astin's house for badmitton, hot dogs and fire works! Jake has a lot of cousins to play with when we get together with Dan's side of the family. Here he is with cousin Brayden. They where watching their Dad's play badminton.
Before dinner Adam and Alex decided to take on Dan and Noreen. Alex and Adam thought it was going to be an easy win until they saw this sweet move from Noreen! With her speed and Dan's agility it was a tough game!
Here Jake is trying to roast a hot dog. The process of him cooking the hot dog wasn't going so well,. So I dusted the ash off and threw it in the grill until it was well cooked. He has issues eating a hot dog to begin with, let alone one that is cold in the middle.
Then there where marshmallows!
And then fireworks! It always amazes me how a few 'radiant flying phoenix' fireworks can Mesmerize kids. The names are pretty cool too.

Water fight!

A few weeks ago my parents watched the kids for us so Dan and I could have a date. Little did I know the fun that they would be having at Grandma's. They had a full on water fight and the kids loved it. Derek loves the water and getting wet. He had tons of fun running around in the sprinkler and getting sprayed.
They where still in the " get everyone wet" mentality when we got back. Richie got Dan wet, Heather and Jake tried to get Dan wet. Dan won the fight against heather, then Richie came out with this super soaker gun and totally won.