Friday, July 29, 2011

Jambo

My friend, Kristia, and I took our kiddos to Jambo.  What is Jambo, you ask?  It’s a jungle themed indoor  amusement park for kids.  This place offers hours upon hours of excitement.  It was a perfect escape from the heat and something new to do.  The Children’s Museum was our favorite default outing, next to The Quarters splash pad, however, even being out at the splash pad is just too hot.  Needless to say Jambo will now be added on our list of outings!

004

005

The flying swings were a hit with Landon right off the bat.  Miss Ella enjoyed the spinning for a few rounds, then she wanted off.  This may have spoiled it for her, because she was not too eager to ride on anything else.

010

The flying elephants.  It amazes me that he can spin and spin and not get dizzy.  I was dizzy just watching!

017

 The train ride reminded me of Willy Wonka….so colorful and magical looking.

023

Ready, set, bowl!

027

Gearing up for laser tag.  This was Landon’s favorite activity!! I went in to watch, (was a little hesitant to send him into the dark room with some older kids and expect good results) they geared me up with a vest and laser gun too.   He had a blast ducking behind walls, running after the boys shooting his laser gun.  The room was small and not as dark as I envisioned, and the kids (and myself) had a blast!!

037

Mini golf was NOT a hole in one!  Ella and Lan putted everywhere, not excited to learn how to play.  This photo captures the best scene of them.  Landon is attempting to dislodge his ball and Ella is putting around him.  

047

Climbing up into the spider web maze!!

048

Stopping for a little lunch break.  FYI, should you decide to venture to Jambo avoid the pizza!  Sweet Ella was determined to never smile for me!!

050

Ella’s favorite….skee ball! 

Thanks for a great afternoon girls!!!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

The fun never ends……

Playdate after playdate, from one fun activity to the next!  There isn't one day that has gone by that we felt bored or cooped up in the house, we are always on the go.  I forgot to post this last week, swimming and snow cones with the Paoletti’s.  Absolutely fun way to watch the afternoon set!!!

017 

Water wars….Karen hiding behind Hayden!!

006

Alyssa prepares all the snow cones.

013

Yum!!

010

Having a little heart to heart conversation with Hayden.  Landon just adores him!!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Summertime yum and tumble

016 015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef  Landon has been embarking on culinary skills and eating his way through his Little Chefs class.  Little Chefs has been his favorite summer class, from making a fruit rainbow (pictured as a before and after), homemade pizza, and worms in dirt, to name a few of their menu items.  Landon continues to love love love cooking!  Being in this class spills over more and more to his creativity in our kitchen, making is own creations with sandwiches and mixing bizarre concoctions from the pantry and frig.   Little Chefs has now prompted us to enroll him into further cooking classes.  Watch out Food Network, he comes the next Food Network Star or Iron Chef!!

020

Ruff and tumble, hop and skip, roll and run……tumbling class has been KINDA fun.  Pictures are scarce, as there is only a small window to view class.  Initially Landon was into tumbling, enjoying all the activity, fun music, and kids.  However, whenever I would peek though the window to catch a glimpse, the boys were always sitting on the sidelines looking bored, but Landon still reported he was having a great time.  That great time was short lived, when last week, Ms. Suzie, his teacher, had a major freak out, running out of class, and shouting, “Jacob threw up!!” . As Jacob’s mom ran to retrieve him, the kids in the class looked shell shocked and Landon’s face was near tears.  Ms. Suzie exclaimed to the parents that Jacob’s mom needed to clean the puke up, she just can’t handle it.  What the heck was with the rudeness, I don’t know…..as if the poor child puking was worst sight she had seen and was blaming the vomiting incident on the the puzzled face parents, as to why she was melting down.  I offered to help Jacob’s embarrassed  mom clean up the vomit, but she reported she was a nurse as well, and wasn’t bothered by the tiny amount of puke on the floor.  As class ended, Landon announced to me he is not going back to tumbling, his teacher is mean and she was mean to kid that got sick!  I certainly didn’t witness the vomiting incident and Ms. Suzie’s initial response to poor Jacob. However, seeing her in the aftermath leads me to believe she did not respond with calm empathy.  Whether you can handle a little vomit or not, I certainly will listen to Landon’s request to not make him endure returning to his awful teacher when this time was to be enjoyed.  So we move on to other exciting activities!!!

Friday, July 22, 2011

How old are you again?.

Scenes from yesterday and today that force to me to say, “Please stay my little baby forever”

022

Casually hanging on the couch playing Bistro Chef on the droid.

025

I’m in the shower and I hear, “I’m going to get a strawberry, Mom.  I’ll be real careful.” (There’s my cue to see what he is up to.)  I hop out of the shower, hear the phone ringing, the refrigerator door open, strawberries out, and Landon walking over to answer the phone.  As he sees me, he hands me the phone, “here you go, Mom”, steps up to  the counter on his stool and proceeds slicing his berries.

Too top it off, his hilarious one-liners (“Gimme some sugar, sugar!”, “Sock it to me.”),  maturing vernacular (“Mom, I’m freakin’ out”) and now adding a “your mom” joke is over to top hilarious hearing it come out of your mouth with the voice of innocence!!

Seriously, kid, you need to stay little forever……all these little independent, self sufficient tasks remind me you are growing up waaaaaay to fast!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Not too close…

004

Scot put on a small firework display for us this evening.  As the drizzle of the rain subsided, we headed out to the patio. Landon was feeling slightly hesitant to view the colorful, firey light display, so he decided to stay inside to view the fireworks from the patio doors.  As we lit the first one, we turned to see Landon’s reaction……he went and got his binoculars to appreciate each detail of the fireworks that were a mere 6 feet ahead of him!!  Hilarious!!

001

007

 Cheers to a sparkling 4th of July!!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Landon the Science Kid

Arizona Science Center, hands on, eye opening fun…..My girlfriend Lindsey and I took our boys to enjoy the educational fun the center had to offer. Landon had a blast exploring the ins and outs of each exhibit and acknowledging his toddler science comprehension.   His ability to understand and conceptionalize the weather, heart surgery, and stomach exhibit was astounding.  Certainly, there were many aspects of the center that are intended for older children or that we were overall disappointing (the maze exhibit), but Landon has come into the age were his little brain is so intrigued and cooperative to grasp onto each detail……a entirely new level of learning!

003

Can you see the stars?

035

Keeping his on me (Landon’s eye through the telescope camera).

015

Discovering rock variations

017

Landon’s FAVORITE……volcanoes!!  He reassured me, “Don’t worry Mom, this volcano is just pretend.”

016 

033

Carson and Landon wheelchair racing.

023

Sliding down the giant stomach that gave the boys belly laughs as it burps, gurgles, and farts!!

040

BFF’s.  In Landon’s words, “Carson’s my best friend, he’s my favorite.”  So sweet!!