Dinosaur Play Place at City Creek Center - April 8, 2013

Lincoln and I went to City Creek Center to the play place in the food court on the recommendation of my friend Elizabeth and Linc's friends, Isaac and Oliver.  Elizabeth told me her boys love to climb on the dinosaurs and that sounded perfect for a rainy, cold day.  The first thing he did, before I could even take Linc's shoes off, was climb into this little dinosaur egg.

This green dinosaur was too big for Linc to climb onto by himself, but he could crawl through the tunnel made by it's neck.  And if I helped him up, he could slide down the nose or the tail.

These cute blue dinosaurs were also too steep for Linc to climb himself, but he could run underneath without stooping.  That was fun!

This dino-skull was a slide.  Climb up the stairs between the jaws and then slide down the back of the head.  Watch out for new friends!  This slide was mellow enough that Linc could also climb up the slide and go down the stairs.

Linc is standing on a 'rock' with a foot print in it.  There were several of these little platforms.  Lincoln is good enough at stairs and steps and curbs now, that he doesn't hesitate to step up and down on his own.

This cute pterodactyl is guarding it's eggs - two of the eggs are a little tunnel.

This one is 'flying' and creates another tunnel.

I think this maroon dinosaur was Lincoln's favorite.  He tried to climb up the face (too steep unless I helped).  And then he would slide down the side.  He tried climbing up the tail too, and almost got it.  But then he fell.  The entire floor is that soft spongy springy material, so even though he crashed pretty hard, he didn't get hurt.  After crying for a moment, he climbed right back up the tail (with my help) and stood on top of the dinosaur. "Ta Da!"

This purple dinosaur was the only 'big' dinosaur that Lincoln figured out how to climb by himself.  The dinosaurs are a soft plastic, so without socks the kids' feet have enough grip to climb them.  Lincoln could climb up the tail and then walk between the two ridges of spines to the head.  Then he would either sit and slide down the nose, or stand and jump to me.

Lincoln played for over an hour.  It did get more and more crowded with kids, but not too many that he couldn't play comfortably.  We had a lot of fun and we will definitely play here again.

 

Spring Skiing - April 3, 2013

We've been waiting to reintroduce Lincoln to skiing. Waiting for warm weather so that it would be fun to play in the snow and go for a ride in the backpack.  It's finally here!  This morning, we drove up to Alta and Lincoln and James took three runs.

Lincoln loved watching all the action from the chairlift.

While the boys took their runs, I found a lawn chair and got a little sun.  A little too much, my forehead and cheeks are pink.  Such a lovely day!  I would prefer to go skiing with my guys, but the cost of a lift ticket for a handful of runs just didn't make sense.  I didn't even take my gear.

Family photo!

James and Lincoln out on the hill.

And a photo of Lincoln on the chairlift. 

Such a pretty day!  Linc and James are on the chair just passing the white lift tower in the middle of this photo.

And a few videos from today's adventures.
Video One - So Cool!  James and Lincoln on the chairlift. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbtAQTuFmTo)

Video 2 - interview after first ski run (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-kx3c83FgE)  I was impressed the Lincoln was wearing sunglasses. We bought them on our way to go skiing this morning and Lincoln wore them all around the store.  But he refused to let me put them on him at the resort. So James took Lincoln and the sunglasses and finally convinced Linc to wear his shades while they rode the lift.  Then he left them on (maybe because he was wearing mittens?) during the whole adventure.

Video 3 - Lincoln and James on the move - Lincoln sounds like an owl and someone on the slopes wants to know how old Linc is.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BwQugYo8E)

Video 4 - Lincoln and James' last run (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYt3_MXCBJw)  Nice skills James - ski, hold the camera and talk to Linc.

Easter Weekend - May 30-31, 2013

Easter was pretty fun! On Saturday afternoon, we had a small Easter egg hunt with the other families in our apartment complex.  Parents brought 10 Easter eggs for each child and we "hid" them across the lawn. Most of the kids are pretty young, so eggs out on the grass was perfect. Then each child got to find 10 eggs.  Any 10 eggs.  

Peter, Conner, Calbe, Dean, Thompson, Lincoln and me, Isaac, Oliver, Melanie, Kimberly and Bennet - all ready to look for eggs. I had to wake Lincoln up from his nap, so he was still pretty clingy.

James had gone skiing at Brighton with the California Doug Prices - so after the Easter Egg hunt, Linc and I drove up to meet up with the gang.  We went swimming and had dinner and visited. Then Aunt Suzie emptied the condo fridge and cupboards of extra food - THANK YOU for a fun night and random groceries.

We got to meet Kent - Doug and Suzie's first grandson - Jordan and Ashlee's baby.  Kent is just about a year younger than Lincoln.

On Easter morning, the Easter Bunny sent Lincoln and James on a scavenger hunt.  It included a bike ride out to the park and to the library.  By the time they got to the library, Lincoln was done being in the bike trailer.

When they got home, they discovered that the Easter bunny had left a trail - a trail of purple yarn to follow around the apartment with occasional 'treats' along the way.

Daddy followed the yarn trail and carefully rolled it up - he ended up with quite a ball of yarn by the end.

At the end of the trail...the Easter Bunny left one giant basket of goodies in Lincoln's crib.  A new ball, chips and salsa, a rootbeer, some toys and a little bit of chocolate.  Thanks Easter Bunny!

We borrowed a tie from Gray for church today - so handsome on Easter.  Notice the TV remote? One of Linc's favorite toys.  He loves the buttons. He always seems surprised that the red button turns the TV off.  Why is that?

After church, Lincoln played and played.  Thanks Oma for this fun balloon toy!

We know that Easter is more than candy and eggs and toys.  We are grateful that we had an opportunity to spend time with family.  We are grateful that we could attend church and hear the Easter story again and be enriched with beautiful music.  We are grateful that our Savior has made it possible for eternal families and we strive to emulate Him every day.  Happy Easter!

Dyeing Easter Eggs

One of my co-workers (Kristi) has a granddaughter (Kinley) just a couple months younger than Lincoln. Another co-worker (Emily) has a son (Marcus) just a year or so older than Lincoln and Kinley.  It is fun to share stories and pictures of our favorite babies.  This week, Kristi brought an egg dyeing kit for each of the kids.  The box claimed that the system was spill-proof.   So I hard boiled some eggs and let Lincoln test it out.  The videos are each about 1 minute long and show that the kits are not spill proof for 18-month-olds!

asdf

Stella's Baptism Weekend - March 1-3, 2013

We are so grateful that we've been able to go to so many baptisms!  This time we road-tripped to Idaho for Stella's baptism.

Jed and Stella

Lincoln - sitting at the counter on a stool - knocking back a bottle like a big kid!

On the drive to Idaho, we played some kick-the-can in a parking lot in Burley to get some wiggles out. Linc's a pretty good traveler, but it is a long time to be in the car!

Nap time after church on Sunday.

Goodbye to The Outlaw...Hello to...

November 16, 2012 - sold The Outlaw (thank you, HUGE thank you to the McCalvy's for all your help with the maintenance and prep for sale.)

January 10, 2013 - New (to us), as yet unnamed, white subaru

Tyler's Baptism Weekend - January 6, 2013

Lincoln and I went for a walk across the street to the house where I grew up.  The current family has turkeys, ducks and chickens.

 

We tested out Opa's collection of kid-backpacks. This one works!

Lincoln played and played and played.  Bree wanted her picture taken with Lincoln in the tent.  Linc refused to put down the little baseball bat, so Carter decided to give it to him.  THANK YOU!

And I wanted a picture of all the Davis kids with Lincoln.  They said, "Can I hold Lincoln?" "Can I hold Lincoln?"  Carter and Linc (and the bat), McKayla, Bree and Ellie.

Ellie is showing off some snowflake decorations that she helped hang in the window.  Each snowflake is made with the name of a cousin.  One snowflake each for Tucker, Hannah, Hallie, Stella, Zoe, Lincoln, Tyler, Christy, Jake, Rachel, McKayla, Carter, Bree, Ellie, Emma and Aspen.  Just like each cousin is different and wonderful, the snowflake with their name is also unique and beautiful.