Labor Day weekend we sought out some AZ entertainment.  We learned our lesson from last year and went for something INDOORS=cooler.

Located in Arizona Mills mall in Tempe is overpriced Sea Life Aquarium.  We made a day of it considering it’s not often we go to a “traditional” indoor mall like we’re used to from KS.    Did a little shopping, ate at the food court, toured the aquarium & hit up Auntie Ann’s for a pretzel afterwards.

The aquarium didn’t allow flash photography so very few of my pictures turned out.  They kids loved it!  They have always had a fascination with sea animals.

  

Touching starfish & other animals in the touch tank.

Aidan’s biggest love next to killer whales…stingrays.  They had the BIGGEST rays I’d ever seen.  The tank was not too deep and they had a pier built above it you could go stand on to see from above.

Throughout the aquarium there were “bubbles” in tanks where the kids could look through and feel like they were in with the fish.

Largest crab EVER!!! Matt & Isaac in the tube surrounded by water & fish on ALL sides.  Isaac was not so sure.  Another mother pushed her son through in a stroller.  He was terrified clinging & gripping the edges of the stroller!!

The kids & I were standing behind a “U”  shaped aquarium…no flash = no good photo.  They each LOVED sticking their heads up the aquarium bubbles to see sea life up close & personal.

  

Not sure if you watched the show Tanked on Animal planet.  Aidan loves anything Animal Planet & sea animals so when this show was advertised he knew he wanted to watch it.  Since it has aired we’ve received several messages from people who know us claiming Matt looks like one of the Tanked guys….what do you think?  Often times in the show the guy (Wade) wears sunglasses on his head just like Matt.  Even some of their mannerisms are the same! Crazy!

 

We concluded our day in the gift shop where each kid picked a small toy.  Aidan got a snake (he calls an eel), Isaac got a stuffed shark, and Emma got a cup with fish on it.  No trip to a mall is complete without an Auntie Ann’s pretzel.  Isaac says “let’s destroy this clean white shirt with cheese sauce!!” :)

Now that swimming is an everyday occurance I seem to forget to take pictures and record the memories.  The kids LOVE water.  Mid summer Aidan started swimming without any floatation.  Isaac goes back and forth between floating on the shallow platform or kicking around all over with arm floaties.  Emma’s a regular fish that can hold her breath a very long time.

They especially love swimming with Daddy.  He can throw, flip & flop them all over the place. Such activity highly stresses mommy!!!

 

Isaac even joined in the fun although daddy caught him before going fully under water.  He’s not a fan of that. Such throwing caused some wardrobe malfunctions for him :)

  

Now for the funniest photo…I didn’t even catch how funny it was when I first took it.  But when looking at the pics for the blog post it hit me…do you see it?

 

Cute & funny Isaac is whizzing…even FUNNIER that Emma is looking on with her mouth OPEN in the water he’s peeing in!!!! Bwhahaha!  She’ll love this one later on in life….so will Isaac I suppose. :)

My mom’s been behind on her blog & short on motivation so I thought I’d take a break from getting into things and do a guest post about one of my favorite things.  I’m needing help from any readers out there who can help me find my long lost friend…

I was introduced to my friend pabby at an early age.  My parents like to call it pacci, pappy, plug, or “STUPID thing” depending on the moment and if they are looking for it at the time.

The first one they gave me had a handy little hole in the end that helped me hold on to it…although sometimes I clung to my mama’s arm making her hold it.

The pabby has helped me catch lots of Zzzzzz’s in many different ways.

After the first hospital pabby the gave me this one that has a nice little “handle” on the end.  I have no preference if it is upright, sideways or upside down…so long as I have it!! :)

My parents started talking about taking pabby away when they noticed my beginning stages of pabby hoarding.  I like collecting and carrying them around in bowls, boxes or other random containers.  I showed my will to keep them by using more than one at a time.  Surely they know I’m serious…. 

Everyone once in a while I will replace my pabby…for something like a sucker. I’m no dum dum!! ;) I think my parents secretly like my pabby as much as I do…I mean they even chained it to me a time or two. When it is attached to me I noticed they don’t walk around saying “where is that stupid thing?” quite as much.

My pabby has been there for me through thick & thin.  When mom found me emptying & climbing drawers I’m pretty sure the GASP she gave was b/c she was glad I hadn’t lost my pabby.  Even though everyone thought I shouldn’t have it any more I was super happy to have it keep me calm after my whole hit-by-car incident.  The nurse even said “we love pacifiers”.  I like nurses more than dentists.

 

My pabby made me look like a color coordinated tough Hulk.  I gave mama an ornery grin when on one attempt to take away my pabby I found the OLD hospital one and took to it like long lost friends.      

They’ve taken away my pabby 3 times.  Well…Papa Stout did it the first time.  Then mom & dad took it away after the dentist said “No-no!”  They only let me have it at night, but I started taking it out of my bed & I don’t think they even noticed!!! ;)  This last time daddy couldn’t find the lone surviving pabby one night when mama was gone.  He said “that’s it. we’re done with those things!”.  I couldn’t believe it!! I let  him know I was NOT happy.  I actually let them know for a couple nights that I did NOT approve.  I can’t believe they took it away from these big brown eyes…..

So I showed them.  You’re going to take away pabby? Fine…how’s this for convience?  Thought I was too old for a pabby?  Thought it was bad for my teeth?  How abouts a blanket shoved in my mouth and drug around on the ground?!?!

Every once in a while Mama starts talking about how future orthodontic work might be cheaper than therapy for her so she gives me a pabby from her secret stash and I take a nap….but don’t tell Daddy! :)

Yes.  You read that right.

24 months.  There’s no way all my babies have ages counted in YEARS.  So, we are going to count months forEVa with Isaac.  He will become start Kindergarten about 72 months, become a teen at 156 months, however we will NOT use the term “teen”…simply months.  He will drive at 192 months….you get the picture.

He is a little boy in love with all things “ball-ball”.  His favorites are soccer balls, footballs & basket balls.  But really any spherical object that can be kicked or thrown he LOVES!  So naturally we planned a sports themed pool & bbq party.

His cupcakes decorated with cake ball – balls were the centerpiece on my homemade cupcake stand.  He loved blowing out his candles so he could eat the ball!!

  

*Note his big Sissy holding his hand back as to not get burnt. :)

YUMMY, YUM, YUM!

 

Looks like such a big boy next to his presents from mommy & daddy!! 

He wasted no time opening them either!!

 

We had great fun with our friends & neighbors that were able to celebrate with us.  Matt’s boss & his kids came too.  The kids had so much fun swimming & eating the party goodies!!

Isaac at 2:  loves balls, all things Toy Story & Cars.  Eats very little and is super picky.  I think it’s a texture thing.  Eats ramen, corn, yogurt, cheese, crackers, apples, and raisins consistently.  Sometimes eats alfrado, raisin toast, bread, once in a blue moon might eat grilled chicken. LOVES his chocolate milk, pacifier and being read to.  He speaks very little although we’ve noticed him gaining a few words. (dada, mama, sissy, ball, chocolate, mimi, papa, grandma, cracker, ice)  Healthy little guy that is hardly ever sick.  Shows interest in using the potty.  Sleeps great at night from about 8 pm till 6:30 am with a nap for 1 1/2 - 2+ hours in the afternoon.  Wearing size 2T – 3T clothing and size 7 1/2 DOUBLE WIDE shoes.  Has the “me do it!” two year old attitude that I recall from Sissy…but Aidan didn’t really do. Looks JUST like his daddy.  Loves getting his light brown hair cut and sits perfectly still.  Eyes are a dark brown that have melting abilities with his mama.

At the last minute I decided I needed a cupcake tower for Isaac’s birthday cupcakes.  Surfing around online and on some of my favorite blogs I pieced together some ideas for making my own. 

First stop Michael’s to get wooden spindles, dowels & spool components to add height and levels to the stand.

Second stop Goodwill to find plates, platters or trays to use as the base for each level.  (Actually truth be told I checked other “dollar” type stores and didn’t find anything to my liking) I found these cheesy holiday trays.  I like how each one is a bit different.  The snowman has scalloped edges, the Santa higher raised edges & the train plate was just the right size for the top tier.

First, I sprayed all the platters & wooden pieces with a white kilz primer and followed that with a coat of Semi-gloss white.  I connected one shorter & one taller spindle with a dowel rod through the center hole and a little E-6000 glue for stability. These connected pieces separate each plate creating the tiered levels.  The wooden napkin ring & wooden finial are glued together to decorate the top plate.

I used the E-6000 glue to glue each platter layer & dowel connected wooden pieces together starting with the bottom.  If time had allowed (me=procrastinator) I would have like to find a way to make this  be able to be taken apart after each use…like maybe by drilling holes through the platters, inserting a dowel or bar with threads & nuts to secure. (???) 

Not too bad for less than $12 in supplies.

Circles cut from sports themed scrapbook paper customizes bottom of each plate on the stand.  While you could modpodge the paper down I chose to not adhere the paper so the stand can be used and customized for any party theme.  {I personally think the stand needs a gloss paint coat or clear coat to ease with clean up.}

  

As far as the cupcakes I made regular white cupcakes, frosted each with green “grass” and topped with a cake ball - ball.

It helps to have a cute lil’ assistant chef & beater licker! :) Take note he doesn’t care to have his hands dirty….his face on the other hand….

School seems to start too quickly out here!! Seems like we no sooner got back from KS and recovered from the surgery mess then on to school.  E & A started school the same day.

We started with E’s choice of funny face pancakes.  Here’s our version…

My cuties…excited and ready to go!

E started 2nd grade this year in our neighborhood school.  Big girl…missin’ a few teeth yet! :)  I tease she is my little business casual dresser.  No jeans and T-shirts for this girl.  Absolutely REFUSES to wear jeans or athletic shoes.

 

Emma is loving school.  She is with mostly all children from her 1st grade class.  She has grown close to a little girl down the street that is in her class.  They love playing at school and after school.  Spelling tests are new to her this year and has surprised us at how great she is doing (genetically good spelling was NOT in her favor).  She is enjoying reading Junie B. Jones or Natalie books.

A started his first year of preschool.  He goes twice a week.  Had we been in KS it would have been his 2nd year, but spent last year settling in & searching for a PreK.  He was happy to have his Buzzlight year backpack.

 

He was super, SUPER excited for school…until we arrived.  Wasn’t sure about being away from Mommy. But Ms. Pammy is super sweet and the school is very nice.

One last shot before I left and he said “Come right back after you run to the store mom.” . 

     

Aidan’s report from his first day of school was this- disgust for not getting to play on the outside play set and commented on his teacher with “golden hair like Rapunzel”.  :)  Ms. Pam is somewhat blonde…but has shoulder length or shorter hair?!? :)

Preschool days keep us busy.  We take E to school, have about 20 min to kill before it’s time to head to town for PreK.  Isaac & I try to kill time in town during preschool b/c the distance from home doesn’t really warrant driving all the way home before it’s time to turn around and go back to get A.  I enjoy the time with Isaac alone and love using the “quiet” time to work with him on new words…Mr. Nonverbal.  Isaac has been in mourning not quite what to do as the “only” for a couple hours a week.  The first couple weeks of school I couldn’t get him to even smile when it was just he and I.   :)  One day I tried taking him to McD play place and he didn’t know what to do w/out big brother to follow around! :)

We did our annual homemade pizza night to celebrate the beginning of school (we do it for the last day of school too), but I TOTALLY forgot to take pics!! GRR!

It’s unfair how quickly the years pass now that they are in school/entering school. Boo.  I want my babies back.