Isaac's Party

We had a small friend's party for Isaac this year, which sadly took place two weeks after his actual birthday, but hey, who's counting. I took Isaac to the local carniceria to pick out a pinata. He chose the Mickey Mouse one, so we went with that theme for his party. I was glad, and couldn't help but wonder how many more years he would think a Mickey party was cool.

This pinata was completely indestrucible. After each kid took two turns, I took the stick and whaled on it for all I was worth (If my brother Jake had been there, he would have been shouting "No wild swings, Hilli!" as he did at Christmas every year when we were kids.) But alas, even I was no match for this pinata. I finally had to just tear it open at the seams, and even that took considerable effort.

The kids also got to decorate Mickey Mouse sugar cookies. Don't they look so cute with their little Mickey ears?

Then it was time for cake and ice cream. I made the cake the night before, and although it was very simple, I thought it turned out pretty cute. I have no idea what Isaac wished for, since he doesn't vocalize his wishes like Sareny does.

I think it is safe to say that Isaac had a great birthday!

Family Time

Keith had July 3rd off for the Fourth of July, which fell on Saturday this year. He came up with the idea of taking the kids' plasma cars down to the church to ride around. (I guess there are some perks to being a ward clerk...like keys.)

We had lots of fun playing around in the gym.

These cars are sturdy enough for adults to ride them.

I just love Isaac's simpering little smile.

Finley got her turn.

Sareny wanted to look like Matilda, so she tied a blue ribbon in her hair.

We also played soccer and basketball for a while with a ball someone left behind.

We stayed and played until we just couldn't take the heat anymore...we turned the AC on when we got there, but it was still pretty hot. So we finished the outing off with a stop at QT for some refreshing drinks. We had a great day!

My Finney girl turns 1!

My little Finley turned 1 on July 2nd. We had a combined Birthday party with Isaac, but they each got their own cake.

When we sang Happy Birthday, she joined right in.

It was completely adorable and pretty hilarious. She sings pretty loud!

Daddy helped her open her present, and she actually got the hang of it.

A tickle-me Cookie Monster!

Time for cake, and another round of Happy Birthday.

Getting some help from her big sissy.

She didn't actually make much of a mess out of her cake--just a couple of dainty licks for her.

And, since I neglected to mention this a couple of months ago, Finley is walking! She took off at 10 months and never looked back. I think she's just trying to keep up with her brother and sister! We love our little girl!

Isaac turns 3!

We've left the terrible two's behind--bring on the three's!
We had a family birthday party for Isaac and Finley on Finley's birthday, which is 4 days after his. Here is my birthday boy and girl with their mommy.

We had Panda Express for dinner, of course, which is Isaac's favorite. Then he opened his presents.
A "shooter gun" from Sareny.

And a giant box from mommy and daddy...I had been waiting all day for this to be delivered and had finally decided it wouldn't get here in time for his party. We checked the porch one more time just before opening gifts, and it was there! I was so glad.
Inside was his very own plasma car!

I love my sweet little boy!

These kiddos make my heart melt like a popsicle on the Fourth of July

I have always loved the Fourth of July. When I was younger it was my very favorite holiday--yes even better than Christmas. Maybe that's because it meant my birthday was just weeks away. But more likely it's because it was time we spent with family--cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. To me, the Fourth of July will always remind me of small-town parades in Fillmore and scurrying to gather up salt-water taffy. It's the day long picnic and games in the little park by my grandma's house in Scipio. My very favorite activity was the races.

Every year, I would line up with the other kids in my age group and race to the finish line, hoping to collect the prize of a couple quarters. My heart would race with anticipation and a little fear. I was so worried I wouldn't finish first, but at least as I remember it, I usually did. I thought about the races year round, waiting and waiting for July to come.

Now I live in a gigantic city with none of the small town charm and innocence from my childhood. One day soon, I hope, my own children will get to experience the Fourth of July the way I remember it. But for now, we are able to enjoy barbeques with good friends and a decent fireworks show that's just down the road. I still make my kids a new patriotic outfit, just like my mom did for us. Sorry Isaac, I just thought homemade shorts might be a little nerdy. :(

It was difficult to get a decent picture of the kids in their patriotic finery, since one kid was grouchy and one kept wandering away...this is the best we could do.

The End

Day 4
The Texas State Capitol is absolutely beautiful. Especially when compared to the office building that poses as Arizona's capitol.

We tried to do a guided tour, but we couldn't hear a word the lady was saying, so we just toured on our own.

This was inside the legislators room--it has an actual name, but I don't know what it is. I'm sure John and Keith are duly appalled right now.

The Vegas style lighting in this room made us feel right at home.

Portraits of each Texas governor line the four stories in the rotunda.

Each door (there are more than 400 of them) has three hinges weighing 4 pounds each.
Everywhere you looked there were beautiful details and intricate woodwork.
This building was originally the Texas Land Department, but is currently the Capitol Visitor's Center.

After leaving the capitol we lunched at the Pita Pit, which is apparently a chain I had never heard of before, but that I would love to visit again. Then to the University Co-op where we loaded up on all things Longhorn. After a brief rest at the dorms, we went out for some Texas Barbeque. The valet at our hotel had recommended Stubb's as his second favorite BBQ in Austin (his first choice was just too far away). It was delicious!

I can't believe how much we managed to fit into this trip. I think we really wore the kids out. I love how Isaac was so tired he fell asleep with a cracker in his hand.
Or it may have been the other way around, since we were pretty exhausted too.

Keep Austin Weird

Day 3

Our morning started out in typical fashion--Texas shaped waffles at the hotel's continental breakfast.

Texans sure do have a lot of pride in their state. But after our amazing time there, I'm beginning to see why.

After breakfast, we headed to Innerspace Caverns, a nearby live cave that was discovered in the 60's when they were drilling for a freeway project. They kept losing drills, so they sent a crew down to investigate and found a beautiful cave.
My pictures really don't begin to do it justice.
Since strollers weren't permitted, I carried Fin in my sling and Holli Jo carried Rhys in her wrap thing.

Thank goodness for Grammy Jo and Bampa, who helped Sareny and Isaac through the slippery parts. And who are we kidding, I think Bampa had to carry Isaac through most of the cave.

We enjoyed a little picnic lunch outside the cave (in some pretty hot and humid weather) and then we headed back to downtown Austin to the Natural History Museum. Sadly, nobody took any pictures there, but it was a pretty cool museum with Dinosaur bones, rocks, bugs, and lots of other cool things. Best of all, it was free!

Later, Holli and John went on a date and we took Rhys back to the hotel with us. We went for a swim in the hotel pool and then somehow managed to get all four kids settled down to sleep. No easy task when you are all in one hotel room. I should also mention, although Finley was in a crib and we made Isaac a bed on the floor, he climbed into my bed every single night and Finley still wakes up several times a night needing me, so it was not uncommon for me and all three kids to be crammed into a double bed. When we got back to Phoenix, my king-sized bed had never looked so good!

Deep in the heart, of Texas

Day two:
We started the day off with a tour at the Austin City Limits studio. It's located in the PBS building, and throughout the years they have had tons of awesome concerts on their show. While I have never actually seen one on TV, I nevertheless purchased a cool Austin City Limits T-shirt.

We had fun singing onstage.

Right after our guide got through explaining their money woes and how tight they are, Sareny broke a piece of stage equipment. I was pretty embarrassed.
After singing our hearts out, we headed to Zilker park for some lunch and swimming.
It was a little slimy, since this was a natural pool type of thing, but we had fun. It wasn't as nasty as this picture makes it look.

It was a huge pool with a diving board and everything.

After swimming for a while, we hurried out to ride the train that circles the park. We had to go out a gate and across a parking lot to purchase the train tickets, and while I was standing in line for our tickets, we suddenly realized that Isaac was not with us. I scanned the crowd and quickly realized he was not close by. Panic.
We split up and searched for him. I was checking the parking lot (still in my swimming suit, mind you) and picturing myself on the evening news in said swimming suit:
"A family vacation has turned tragic for this mother of three..."
I just kept picturing someone grabbing him and driving off with my little boy.
Fortunately, Bampa found him back in the pool area by the tree we had sat under for a while. Thanks goodness a lifeguard had noticed him and kept an eye on him. Apparently he refused to go with the lifeguard. Once again, I was a little sad that Isaac wasn't crying or too upset--a little fear might be a good thing for him!!

We made it back to the trains just in time for the ride, which actually lasts 25 minutes. It was the best park train ride I've ever been on, with some beautiful scenery to enjoy.
After the train we sat and enjoyed some shaved ice. Sareny had grape, I had cherry, and Isaac had Blue Hawaii. I don't know what was in Isaac's, but it was delicious!
Finley was a trooper hanging out in her carseat so much.
We ended the evening with some Greek food back near Holli and John's. Sareny told me she wanted chicken and didn't seem to remember what gyros were, but I knew from past experience that she likes gyros, so I ordered a combo plate for her. She ended up eating the gyros and not the chicken, and told me that next time if she doesn't remember that she likes gyros to order them for her anyway. A little confirmation that moms do know best.