Swiss Day Madness

Every year it's a tradition that the girls in my family go to Swiss Days up in Midway. My parents own a second home up there, so we are lucky enough not to have to try and find a hotel....which all are booked months in advance. So Thursday afternoon me, my mom, sister, and sister-in-law headed out, no kids and all. We of course had to stop at the Cheesecake Factory and do some shopping at the mall.
And of course we left with tons of food and a cheesecake for each of us. I mean who goes to the Cheesecake Factory and doesn't get a cheesecake.Friday morning we got up and did some major shopping over at Swiss Days. The place is a mad house. Every year it gets more and more crowded. It is seriously mad chaos. Most of the time you've got to push yourself to the front of a booth just to see what the chaos is about. For those of you who don't know what Swiss Days are...you are missing out. It's a huge park filled with about a hundred different booths selling anything from pictures to bracelets. People like Rod Works are always there. It's like a big boutique. Anyways we made out with some good purchases and even got a good parking spot.Later on Friday afternoon the boys all showed up with the kids and we spent the day hanging out. For dinner we each went our own way and then met up at a park to eat and let the kids play.

Saturday my dad wanted to head over to Swiss Days to let the kids jump on those blow up toys. They are all blown up on a tennis court, so you can imagine how packed it is, and half the time you are squishing in between two of them to get to another one. Its was fun though and the kids always have a good time. We also had some awesome Navajo Tacos that are made on gigantic scones. Basically we all love to go for the scones. Before shopping on Friday we all get one for breakfast, and this year we went back and had the tacos for lunch. (Mmmm I'm just craving one thinking about it right now). I'll have to get a picture next year of how HUGE the scones are!

Ethan became my dad's shadow the entire trip. He loves my dad and won't go to anyone else but him. Here he is thinking he's so big sitting with Grandpa.
The rest of the day was spent watching the U of U & BYU football games on TV, going to the park, and going on golf cart rides. It's always fun to spend time with my family. It's not always that every one in every family can get together. We are so lucky that both sides of our family live here in Utah and can get together often! Now I can look forward to next year again and the crazy purchases we will make. However, I did come home with an awesome picture of the Salt Lake Temple with tons of flags all in front of it. Can't wait to hang it up!

Snoop Dogg Who??

Ethan's always got us laughing. He doesn't stop...I get tired just thinking of my day sometimes. Even though I am tired trying to keep up with him I can't help but laugh most of the day. He's into everything, climbing on anything, and always giving me attitude, but I can't help but love and kiss his lovable face. He's definitely got me wrapped around his finger. Being a mom is the best thing, even when I think I'm at my wits end. I mean how can you not love this!?

A Day at the Zoo

We finally made it out to Hogle Zoo. I've been wanting to go all summer, but kept putting it off. I have to say I was pretty impressed with the zoo. I haven't been there in years and I thought it was clean and actually didn't smell all that bad. Ethan seemed to love it. He was too interested in everything to even look at me for a picture. He had to wave and yell "hi" to every animal we saw. What is it about animals that kids love so much!?

And the good day ended with a slow motion trip, landing right on his nose.

Mulan...I like that!

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

The Finished Product

The basement is finally finished. I never thought we were going to get here! After three months we are done, and I never want to paint or do anything else for a long time. I love how it turned out and just being able to look down and see it all finished. It makes the house feel so much bigger knowing we have all that space down there! Yeah...finally!!!

Priceless

Cost of the dog kennel...$30.00

The look on your child's face when stuck in the kennel....PRICELESS

Breaking Dawn

Well I finally finished the book last night. It was well worth the midnight trip to Walmart! I wanted it to go on forever!! I love the Twilight series and can't get enough of them (thanks to my sister for reading the weird Vampire book in Hawaii and getting me hooked). This book was great, different then her others ones, and in some parts pretty crazy, but I loved every bit of it! I spent most of my nights reading with my little book light so that Kurt could still sleep...I'm a nerd, and last night when I finished it I was sad. Now I don't have anything to read.

I really do have a passion for reading and when I read I get so drawn up into the book that it all becomes so real to me. I love books that are in a series, partly because I know I've got something else to read when I'm done. Anyways I just had to write about how much I loved this book. If you haven't read the series yet....YOU NEED TO! I know some think that us Vampire/Werewolf lovers are all crazy, but just read the first book and you are nothing but hooked. I don't know anyone that doesn't like them. Stephenie Meyers has a way of drawing you into something that you would never imagine but in the end start to believe it's real. She's a great writer and I hope that she continues to put more books out....sooner than later. So now I'm here with nothing to read. Anyone have any suggestions on any good books?? I need some ideas!

St. George...

This last Wednesday Kurt left for Scout Camp. Not wanting to just sit at home and wait for him to get home I decided to call my mom and see if she wanted to go to St. George with me. My parents have had a condo down there since I was about two and St. George has always felt like a second home. So Wednesday afternoon after Kurt headed out I picked up my mom and we headed out. No worries that it was only about 110 degrees a couple of the days....yuck!

It was so much fun just being with my mom. We ate, shopped, swam, shopped more, watched movies, killed bugs while screaming, went to the park, and made a midnight trip to Walmart to get Breaking Dawn....ok my mom didn't make that trip but I did....ha ha ha! We mostly sat around and laughed at Ethan and all his quirks that you can't help but love. He thought he was so funny, my mom laughs at just about everything he does, so he started laughing at himself!!

This was on the way down at a gas station. We stopped for a potty break and to let Ethan run around for a bit. While I was in the bathroom my mom put this hat on him and he wouldn't take it off, but as soon as I wanted a picture with it on, he wanted nothing to do with it! So here is the crusty face once again.

Swimming at the pool!

Don't worry that I had to pack this carpet rake with us. It's a new obsession! It entertains him for hours and hours. I figure why not take it if it's going to keep him busy. Low and behold he pushed that rake around all day long. Every time I changed him the rake laid across him, but I drew the line on letting him take it with him for naps. I don't know what it is, but anything that has a stick like a broom, paint roller, or noodle he loves. I guess if it's good entertainment why not!

Eating yummy suckers from the Pasta & Pizza Factory!!

Swinging with Grandma at the park....it didn't last long since we were dripping with sweat about two minutes out of the car.

...and finally crashing at the end of the day.

I'm so glad we went down and got away while my hubby was gone! I hate being home alone! Thanks again mom for everything! It's always fun for some one on one mom and daughter time! Thanks for making me laugh so hard! I love you!!