Snowbird Getaway

On the balcony of our room

We needed a little bit of fun earlier this month so we decided to head up to snowbird for the night and sleepover. We had a blast swimming, drinking free hot chocolate, taking the tram to the top of the mountain, and eating a fancy breakfast. It is so funny how sleeping at a hotel is so awesome when you are a kid.

Waiting to get on the tram. They don't really get it yet, but they were excited anyway.

Heading up - I actually hated this part's guts. I love roller coasters, but anything that goes up high that is SLOW has always scared the crap out of me - ferris wheels, the top of the rocket at Lagoon, and now apparently trams. I just wanted to get off of this thing.

Checking out the scenery below with his 'telescope'.

My boys at the top. Notice the tight grip on the maniac. We packed a picnic dinner thinking we could spread out a blanket and eat it at the top. Ha! It was like 30 degrees and so foggy. We stayed at the top for a total of five minutes before we jumped back on the tram. We had to eat our dinner in our room instead.

Isn't it gorgeous there?! Swimming in the pool was awesome because you are surrounded by mountains - the boys LOVED the hot tub and Jaxson would have stayed in there all night if we had let him. I think his favorite part though was the free hot chocolate in the lobby. One of the times we were standing in line, there was a lady in front of us with a tattoo on her neck that said 'Jaxson' (even spelled right!). He saw that and thought it was the coolest thing ever - should we be worried? I'm pretty sure that Wyatt's favorite part was riding the elevator to and from our floor.

I Had to post this one because Jaxson actually took it. Pretty good for a five year old!

It was nice to get away, even just for the night. Our kids are at such fun ages to do stuff like that. We might have to make this one a tradition!

Soccer

Jaxson played soccer this year, and loved it! It is so funny to watch kids this age play a sport - it was basically just a big herd of kids crowded around the ball, throwing kicks (and sometimes elbows) wherever they could. Jaxson had a good time though, and even scored a couple of goals.
Running down the field with the rest of his team, the Monster Stompers. The kids get to pick their own team names, and there were some awesome ones. My personal favorite was the Rainbow Ninja Cougers.

Wyatt loved to come to the games because they were always at a park with a playground. Here is getting hydrated after some hard playing.

The classic 'high five line' after every game.

He was going to miss practice one night because he was at my mom's house, and we didn't think it was too big off a deal. When my mom told him he got really upset and said "But Grandma, I HAVE to go - we are a team and team's stick together!!!"

Kindergartener

I am way behind on posting, so I am going to try to catch up. First up is our little Kindergartner - how is he this big already?! I remember when they built the elementary school in our neighborhood and Jaxson was only 1 or 2, thinking it will be so long until he is in school. Holy cow was I wrong! I can't believe how fast that flew by. He was (of course) all smiles on the big day and wasn't scared or nervous at all.

But the day BEFORE school was a different story. He had to go get is immunizations and was terrified. He has seen me give myself shots a thousand times, and I always try to show him that it doesn't hurt, but that apparently didn't help. Here is right after, with his sucker for being brave (or kicking and screaming...one of the two).

Wyatt tagged along for the comedic relief. It worked :). And yes, that IS a black eye in case you were wondering. I can't remember how he did it, but super classy for the first day of school.

Wyatt making a break for it at the school - I think he wanted to stay with his brother. After we dropped Jaxson off and Mark went to work, I let Wyatt play outside on the empty school playground while I sat on the curb and cried! I totally didn't think I was going to do that. I was really excited for Jaxson because HE was so excited, but it is just a sad feeling when you have been their whole world, almost all day every day, and then they start this whole other part of their life. He LOVES it though and was so ready to go. And now I love it, too :).

Jaxson wakes up ready to go everyday, and has loved making a bunch of new little friends. His favorite thing is our rotating play group on early day - wednesdays - he calls it 'double-friend day'. We have been loving watching him learn how to read - it is sometimes frustrating, but mostly awesome to help him with this new skill. I love watching him sound out a word 20 times and then finally get it. He gets so excited and proud of himself. His teacher is Mrs. Hyre and she is great - he really likes her a lot. He loves library and computers, but recess (of course) is the best part of the day!

Look at that handsome kid - We love you Jax!!

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Wyatt-isms

Okay, so I need to post about Jaxson's first day of school, but I haven't downloaded those pictures yet. So first, I have to post some funny Wyatt-ism before I forget all about them!

This boy is definitely an individual - sometimes we wonder what it would be like to live in that head. Today...

Wyatt (galloping around the kitchen) : Mommy, I'n a cowBOY!

Me: You are? Good job!

Wyatt (as he ran off): Moooooooooo! Mooooooooo!

Get it? That one took me a minute, too.

Last week, he came in the house and told me:

Wyatt: Mommy, I haveafiyabum!

Me (blank look): what?

Wyatt (getting upset): I have a fiyabum!

Me: You have a WHAT?

Wyatt (really upset at this point): I have a FIYA BUM!

Me: You have a....fire? bum?

Wyatt: YEAH! Fiya bum!

It turns out that 'fiya bum' is actually code for diaper rash. Gotta love this little guy :).

Jaxson Turns Five

Jaxson turned five years old last month. Five?! Are you kidding me? This was a hard one for me, I think because he was turning five and starting kindergarten all within a month. I know it is a cliche, but where does the time go?

To celebrate, he wanted a Super Mario party. I thought that would be totally fine, and that every store would have Mario party stuff. Wrong! And by the time I figured out that there where NO Mario party supplies except online, I was too late to have it shipped to me. But the party must go on, right? So we improvised by cutting the cardboard Mario guys out of the fruit snack box and sticking them on his cake, making a Mario world banner with pictures from google and photoshop, and having some Mario vinyl printed (of course!). It turned out cute and Jaxson was one happy kid.

Let me just say, this was our first real friend birthday party and I totally, completely, 100% underestimated the chaos that includes! Luckily my mom and sister-in-law didn't mind being roped in to help at the last minute or else Mark and I would have been struggling! Thanks guys!

I now finally understand why some of my friends were only allowed to have birthday parties every other year - smart parents.

For some reason I can't get my pictures to move where I want them (love you, blogger!), so they are in a weird order.

Mario party favor boxes, complete with the little vinyl Mario.

Opening presents

Playing mushroom, mushroom, goomba. Or in other words, duck, duck goose Mario style.

The present table...the best part when you are five!!

We had a Mario Brothers obstacle course and the playground was Bowser's castle. We had the whole thing wrapped in butcher paper, and Mark was hiding inside. When they finished the obstacle course and were ready to rescue Princess Peach, Mark (Bowser) came busting out of the paper and down the slide. He was attacked by 10 kids with water balloons (highlight of the party for me!!!). I didn't get a picture, but don't worry, I got it on video.

Eating pizza at the Jaxson/Jackson table. These two are cute little buddies and they seem to love sharing a name!

After the party, Jax got to have a sleep over with his cousin/best friend the Code-Man. And then, I somehow didn't get a picture, but he also got a BB gun that night from His uncles and Aunt. What, 5 is too young for your first gun? That is apparently how we do it in our family (or so I was informed!).

The much anticipated cake. Yep, Mario guys cut out from the fruit snack box (classy!) and a fake wii paddle from the dollar store. And like one million sprinkles (per Jaxson's request).

Most of the kids by my beloved Mario banner...it was hard to get them all to stand there once they were sugared up!

Fun party and we couldn't be more happy that it is over, haha. We love you Jaxson!!

BROTHERS

These two are best buddies lately! Here are some cute pictures of brothers being brothers...