Thanksgiving Point with the DeMelo's

 A few months ago we had some amazing neighbors move in next to us.  Since the night they moved in, our kids have bounced back and forth, and we have grown to be good friends.  We took an adventure and went to Ikea for "kids eat free" and then went to Thanks giving point for 2 dollar Tuesdays. 

The kids enjoyed the Dinosaur museum, like always.

Addison, Andrew and Brooklyn.

 Bentley, Brooklyn and Andrew

 The kids loving the "bloody shark"

Addison and Brooklyn visiting The Country Farm.

Red Butte Garden

On the 24th was Pioneer day, and Red Butte Garden was having an admission free day.  So we took full advantage of it.  They have many different gardens to walk through and a couple  different places kids and splash and play in the fountains or little splash pads.  It was nice to get out of the house and visit such beauty and cool off some. 

Brooklyn, like any other kid, loves playing in water.  Her dress and hair was soaking wet.  But I was okay with it, I figured she would be much cooler and would be dry by the time we got into the car to head home.  

Bentley hung out in the shade next to a water fountain and kept cool.  I let his feet get wet a few times under the fountain.  But he didn't seem to care either way. 

 We stopped a few times along the many paths to look, smell, and pose next to the flowers. There were tons of them and they were so beautiful. I think Brooklyn pointed out every purple flower she saw.  Purple cause it is her current favorite color. 

 They had a few tree forts with logs carved into seats.  Brooklyn wanted to tell dad about them, so he could make it.  

 Along the many flowers we saw, Brooklyn spotted a Sunflower.  She was so excited and pointed out how tall they were compared to the "baby flowers". 

( Can't you tell she is slowing drying off)

The next part of the garden we visited was a cave that had a little pond in it. Inside the pond were koys or at least they looked like koys.  There were also stepping stones that Brooklyn was hesitant with until she realized they were stable enough to walk on. 

Bentley and Mommy relaxing in the cave watching the water drip off of it. 

 I let Brooklyn climb up and around the cave.  She is very much an adventurous.  One of the qualities i love about her. 

Like I said before, we stopped at many different flowers and smelled and looked at them.  I pointed out these white flowers. (name forgotten)

 I told Brooklyn how much i love white flowers.  I asked her to take a picture of me next to one and she did great.  But just like mommy she wanted to take a picture next to them too. I shared with her that when mommy and daddy were dating, daddy used to give mommy white flowers all the time.  

 Near the end of our adventure we stopped by this huge hill.  This picture may look like just a hill, but if you look near the top of it you can see a little speck or a little girl with a brown dress, that is Brooklyn.  She went up and down that hill about a dozen times.  

 Summer salts, rolls and runs.  She did it all.  

While Brooklyn was making herself dizzy, Bentley and Mommy played in the warm grass, pulling and laying on it.  

I was able to snag Brooklyn on one of her trips down to take a quick picture with her brother.  

We had such a great time.  We loved all the flowers and fun this place provided. 

Being included

Bentley is at that age, where Brooklyn thinks he is a little fun.  She invites him to play with her outside, or to play with her cars and even to play with her and her animals in her tent.  However there are a few things she doesn't like to do with him.  For example, coloring with him, cause he will just eat the crayons.

 

It was so nice to see the kids playing together and enjoying  one another.

 

Bentley even gabbed one of Brooklyn's crackers and started chomping on it.  ie he sill doesn't have teeth.

Dancing in the rain

 We had a freak lighting and thunder storm and we had to take full advantage of it.  

I told Brooklyn to hurry and run outside and Bentley and I would follow.  We ran around outside, until i realized Bentley wanted nothing to do with getting wet.  

Here is our little family shot, all wet.

Next time i'll play outside with Brooklyn more in the rain.  One of my favorite childhood memories. 

surprise camping

 It was Saturday night and we just got the kids into bed.  Eric asked me (Alyssa) if i wanted to sleep outside tonight.  I told him we should get the tent out, because of the mosquitoes. Within about 30 seconds we figured we might as well get Brooklyn up, since she probably wasn't asleep yet and we can all sleep in the tent tonight.

 Eric got Brooklyn out of her bed and she was thrilled.  Eric and I set up the tent..around 9pm and arranged our sleeping bags.  Brooklyn went around the yard collecting "sticks" We were debating on having Bentley sleep with us or in his crib with the window open so i could hear him.  We decided in his crib.  We got Brooklyn all settled and ready and as Eric and i were laying there i just couldn't help feel bad Bentley wasn't with us.  I always think of the worse case.  I told Eric i have to have Bentley sleep with us, and my response to why was, What if there is a fire in the house and we don't notice until it is too late.. I know i am sick for thinking that. So with that thought in mind, i got our Mr. Bentley and prepared a sleeping bag for him.

 We gave Brooklyn the Kindle and let her watch one little show, since she needed to calm down and go to bed.  And there is Bentley next to us laying on his sleeping bag. And thank goodness after his moaning cries he does before he falls asleep, he finally feel asleep and slept through the night.

 This was Eric and I.  (sorry i am in modest, I was so hot and sticky i just couldn't wear appropriated clothes) The camera flash was so bright we decided to take a picture with our eyes closed.  haha

It was a fun little experience to prepare us for our real camping trip coming up in a few weeks!

Splash Pad

 Our summer to do list included going to a splash pad.  We have never took the kids to one before, and i have never been to one either.  So it was a first for all of us.  

 As soon as Brooklyn saw it, she was thrilled. She had so much fun running in the water and playing with the other kids.  

 Bentley mostly hung out and watched everyone play.  I took him in the water for a little bit, but he didn't seem to enjoy it to much.  So instead, he hung out with mommy and maya and watched the kids play.  

 He was just as happy hanging out with mommy. 

 Brooklyn splashing around

 Look at that smile on her face...still melts my heart!

 The happy "observers" 

Brooklyn's first time climbing on one of those...it was very BIG.  she did a great job. 

 There was a park next to the Splash pad, so we played at the park afterwards.  They had a pretty cool section that you could make music and bang on things... 

Another FIRST.

 Bentley's first time on a swing..@ 6 months.  He liked it.  He was a tad nervous at first, but once i swung him he felt the excitement.  

 Now he is sitting on it like he is a pro, and had done it for years.  

We will for sure have to go back.  It was such a fun and relaxing trip.