8/21 - Trip to Iowa

We just got back from our week long trip to Iowa today. Well, we flew back in to St. Pete last night and drove back to Jacksonville this morning. Go got to Iowa last Saturday. Aiden skipped his nap on saturday since we were flying and Eli took about an hour nap on the plane. Overall, the boys did great on the plane ride. They were very happy to get out and move around once we got to grandma and grandpa's house. Grandma went to Goodwill and bought some toys for the boys. Eventually, strings got tied around some of the cars and the boys thought it was the coolest thing ever.

On Sunday, we went to the ALF where grandpa Hank lives. We were celebrating his 95th birthday!!!! Everyone went at 1:00pm and I ended up going with the boys after they woke up from their nap. The directions had 3-4 turns (at the first stop sign turn right; at the first stop sign turn left; after 1 block turn right; at the 3rd light turn right (something very close to this if this isn't perfect). In Iowa, at least where we were at, that is a 30 minute drive because the first stop sign is 8-10 miles down the road. It was too funny. In Jax, that would have taken 5 minutes.

It was the first time the boys got to see Great Grandpa Hank. They had fun and grandpa enjoyed them. Eli especially enjoyed the food that was provided. Here he is with grandma smiling with a mouth full of food.

Back at home, the boys loved playing on the steps. They spent at least an hour throwing balls up and down the steps. They had so much fun.

The boys also got to meet Calvin and Chloe for the first time (grandma's cats). While vets may call these animals cats, they really look like puma's. They are huge. Here is Eli petting Calvin (who weighs about 30 lbs). They boys were actually really good with the kitties.

We did lots of walking. Aiden loves to go for walks anyway but with fields of corn just down the end of the driveway, the boys had an especially great time.

The grass was so green and the weather was beautiful while we were there.

Grandpa decided to play the piano and the boys went nuts. They really enjoyed watching and listening to him but of course, they wanted to play. The rule was they could only touch one finger at a time. Aiden did pretty good but Eli had no idea what "one" finger was so he struggled a bit.

I felt like I didn't see Brad much but that was just because we didn't have our usual time talking at night. We did have a great time visiting with family though.

Eli decided he liked to get ready with grandma in the morning by brushing his hair and playing in the water in the sink.

Lots of walks. Here are the boys in the wagon. They collected flowers and rocks along the way.

Great grandpa Hank came over on Tuesday night to celebrate his birthday and the boys helped decorate his cake.

Aiden had fun helping great grandpa blow out his candles. Eli just enjoyed watching what was going on. They all enjoyed cake.

We ended up playing cards until 11:30pm. We were exhausted the next day because the boys were still waking up at 6:30am.

Aiden also got to meet Brad's Aunt Pat for the first time. Aiden enjoyed his "new friends" and the kids were tuckered out by the end of the night.

On Wednesday morning, we took the boys to the local park. Eli served up some mulch for us.

Aiden found a cave when he came to the park with Brad a few days earlier and was very excited to show it to me. I must admit, it was pretty cool. It went under a road.

Aiden did a great job climbing on the playground. He's not really scared to try anything anymore which is great.

Eli is a little crazy and tries to do everything his big brother does.

There was this seat that when you sat on it, it went around in a circle by itself. It makes you crazy dizzy. Aiden didn't like it too much but Eli loved it.

On Thursday, we took the boys to the local splash park. It was amazing that Central City, a very small city, has 3 awesome playgrounds and a splash park. Eli LOVED the splash park which we predicted. Aiden didn't a first but then started to get in to it.

I was so proud of Aiden running around and attempting to get wet. He didn't want to go through any of the big water features but just running around and still getting wet was great for him.

Aiden got an early Christmas present from Aunt Pat. It's a toaster that makes designs on toasts and comes with pens that you can color with on the bread. Brad made one (and Eli ate it) and then Aiden tried it. I've never seen anything like it.

On Friday afternoon, the boys wanted to go back to the splash park. We put their car seats in grandma's convertible and headed to the splash park.

This time grandpa went with us too (in addition to grandma). The boys had even more fun this time. Aiden jumped right in and was running through many of the water features. I brought my suit and participated too. Wow. That water was FREEZING. This first picture is Aiden.

In order to start the splash park, you had to push a button on top of the fire hydrant which activated everything. The boys would take turns pushing it because it would stop after about 5 minutes.

Little Aiden

Here is proof that I participated in the freezing cold splash park.

Aiden finally got so cold he said he wanted to change clothes. Eli wanted to continue to run around and go through the froggy with daddy.

At the very end, Eli insisted that he get to push the button one more time and go again. His lips were purple/blue and his mouth was quivering he was so cold. It was too funny. We let him go one more time and then said he had to be done so he didn't freeze to death.

We changed clothes at the park and then let them play on the playground for a bit. We even got a picture with the boys and grandma and grandpa.

I even forced my hubby to take a picture with me on the last night there.

It was beautiful weather and the boys got to go for rides on the golf cart and wondering around the house.

They even wanted to play .... fetch with daddy. Brad would throw the ball down the driveway (which is really long) and the boys would go get their respective balls. It was too cute.

Another fun game they played was "Daddy throws the balls on the roof and we get them when they roll off." The boys especially liked this one!

On Saturday morning, we relaxes for a bit on the swing on the back porch. The kids enjoyed that although Eli really wanted to pick marigolds that were planted in planters on the deck.

We had a great trip. We got all unpacked and are ready to get back into a routine. I start teaching at UF on Wednesday which should be good. I will have to leave the house really early a few days a week and will need to find time to still fit in my workouts. It should be interesting.

8/17 - Short entry

This is going to be short because I only have 27% battery left on my computer and my charger is back in Florida (and I'm in Iowa). Here are a few pictures before we left. You can see Eli playing with the letters and numbers on the fridge while wearing Aiden's rain boots. He's too cute.

Brad treated the boys to piggy back rides around the house the day before we left too. 

Aiden still usually refuses to try and brush all his teeth on his own so here is daddy helping him.

Two days before we left, we decided to re-do part of our yard. The front yard has been driving me crazy for a while mainly because of a crazy-placed palm tree by the developers of the house and some bushes that shed their leaves every winter and turn black and look yucky. Last Wednesday the neighbors came over and helped us take out the palm tree by the entry way and move it to the other side of the house. This was a difficult task because the palm tree had grown it's root system through the sprinkler system.

We got everything moved, a bunch of bushes/shrubs pulled out, and some new stuff planted. I forgot to take an "after" picture so I'll have to do that when we get home. Having the palm tree removed from right by the door has opened up the entry way so much already. I love it.

We are safely in Iowa and enjoying the great weather and Brad's family. I've had lots of work to do since I just accepted an offer to teach an undergraduate exercise psychology class at UF for the fall. It starts at 7:25am which means I'll need to leave the house by 5:30/5:45am! Yikes. I'll update more when I get to charge my battery!

8/8 - Eli's toddler bed; trip to the beach

I decided last week that we would give it a try with Eli and a toddler bed. I converted his crib and he seemed like he was really gonna get it. He was definitely excited about being able to get in and out on his own. Aiden and Eli played in the bed for quite a while.

We explained how his bunny clock worked (it's the blue thing up on the shelf in front of the picture) and seemed to understand. He was so tired that first night that he actually went down pretty easily and didn't fight to get out of bed. Brad and I were feeling pretty good. The next night wasn't so easy. That little booger kept getting up. Brad went to the movies and Eli and I battled it out for 2 hours. I finally got the pack and play out of the van and put it up in his room and stuck him in it because I was too exhausted to continue to put him in his bed (every watched Super Nanny? That's the procedure we tried). The next two nights I let Brad battle it out with Eli. Well, thanks to Brad's determination, Eli is doing quite well. He actually hasn't left his bed at night since a few nights ago when Brad was gone and Eli got a spanking from me (the first time really I have done that).

Last week, we also took a trip to the main library which is downtown. I had been there years ago with a friend and her kids but haven't been back since. We took the boys and they loved it. There were thing to play on/with and tons and tons of books (yes I know it's a library and it's supposed to have books). We got Aiden a library card and checked out some videos and some books.

Eli is starting to show some more interest in books which really makes me happy!! He lets Brad go through books with him more than me but I'm glad he's at least starting to show an interest.

The other day, we split the boys up for a while. I took Eli to the pool since he's a little fish and Aiden wanted to stay home with daddy. Daddy and Aiden built forts and had a blast. I think Aiden was sad Eli and I came back home! Aiden is lucky to have a daddy who is so good at building forts.

The boys were drawing/coloring together the other day. They are too cute together. Eli normally just follows Aiden around and does whatever he does. It's kinda cute as long as it eventually ends and Aiden doesn't always have a shadow.

Little Eli just cracks me up and almost always makes me smile (or yell - haha).

Believe it not, Aiden's balloons from his birthday party (over 2 weeks ago) are still almost fully inflated. We cut the string off one that was starting to leak a little air and Aiden ran around the house trying to chase and catch it. It was great exercise for him.

On Friday, we had an unexpected change in plans. With 20 minutes notice, Brad got in his truck and drove down to Clearwater to get furniture from grandpa's apartment. Eli went to daycare so that the rest of the family could go to Pump It Up (a bounce house place). Aiden said he didn't want to go without daddy. Aiden and I ended up going to Chick-fil-a for a late lunch. He had his first ice cream cone ever and really enjoyed it although I had to keep scooping ice cream out since he couldn't eat it as fast as it was melting.

He drove 3.5 hours moved a full bed, dresser, and mirror by himself, and then drove 3.5 to 4 hrs back home. What a trooper. He realized about 20 min from home that his wedding ring was missing. He was so sad about it. We searched the truck and didn't find it. He had no idea where he lost it at either.

On Saturday morning, we went to the beach with Sue and her family. The boys were excited. It was the first time to have Brad with us at the beach.

As we were walking from the van, my mom called to say she went to my grandpa's apartment and found Brad's wedding ring in the mud. That is totally amazing and God because his ring is black titanium and would be very hard to see (not to mention the fact that he had no idea where he lost it). We got to the beach and Aiden was very excited for daddy to build him a ramp for his cars.

After the ramp was sufficient and Aiden and daddy made some "road," Aiden was good to go for a while. Eli, of course, just wanted to be in the water.

Aiden was very content sweating to death and playing in the sand. I'm not sure why I put him in a bathing suit though. We did dig him a little hole that had water in it and he did like playing in there and giving his cars a "carwash."

Eli saw Riley (Sue's husband) digging an area for the kids to play in and wanted to help. It was too cute. You can see Brad and Sue in the background talking. One of Sue's boys (Mac) was also playing in the dug-out part.

Eli entertained himself almost the whole time by just digging in dirt, throwing it, and playing with water!

We got home and both boys passed out immediately and took naps. Eli actually fell asleep in the van right as we left but still took over an hour nap when we got home. I was trying to do research to figure out what plants/flowers we are going to use in our front yard when do re-plant on Wednesday and Eli came and just crawled on my back. Too cute.

It's been fun having Brad on vacation since last Wednesday. We have this week together again! Tomorrow Aiden goes for testing to see if he has a sensory processing disorder. On Wednesday, we will be re-planting our shrubs and plants. On Saturday, we leave for Iowa to see Brad's family. Oh yeah. I've been meaning to post these pictures we took at a gas station on our way to St. Pete a few weeks ago. Eli loves Mickey Mouse and got so excited when he saw these. Aiden took a picture with one because we asked him too but Eli was truly excited. Aunt Pat also loves Mickey Mouse so they'll have an instant connection!

Eli loves Mickey Mouse so much actually, that he just chose Mickey Mouse over Elmo for his birthday theme!

It should be a fun and busy week.