Duck, Duck...?

After a narrow excape from feeding ducks at Sugarhouse park a few weekends ago, we thought we had given the birds the slip. Not so. Two ducks are now frequenting our front yard. They wait outside (patiently and almost ominously) and stare us down until we feed them bread. When will this all end? Probably in the fall - just like last year :).

Braden and Natalie feeding the ducks. OK so we love them and do our best to keep them migrating here. So far so good - this is their 3rd summer visiting us!

Lobster on the Loose

As a make-up for Easter (and to celebrate a scholarship Karen received, and Jason getting accepted to the upper level Business program) we went to Red Lobster. It was a great meal but a little long for busy Braden. As we waited for the check Aaron took Braden out front to look at the lobster tank. A kind employee thought Braden might like to get closer to a lobster so she got one out and let it wander around on the carpet. Unfortunately I was still at the dinner table with the camera! The event left a lasting impression on Braden who was so reluctant to leave the lobster tank that we had to take our family photo in front of it!

Karen and Braden staring at a bunch of traumatized lobsters.

The family photo (left to right - Jason, Lynn, Cheryll, Karen and Braden, Aaron in back) No - Braden couldn't take his eyes off the lobsters long enough to pose for the photo.

The Siren Call ...

This was a very full weekend - sorry for all of the blog entries but so much has happened I would be remiss if I didn't overwhelm you with all of it. On Saturday, after Gymboree, we were driving by the hospital and noticed a safety fair in progress. I am not sure what we learned about safety, but Braden had a great time sitting in a helicopter, pretending to drive a fire truck and actually getting to sound the police siren. Sadly I am a bit deaf now, but in the end it was a small price to pay for the all around good time and nifty plastic fire hat Braden received.

Aaron and Braden in the helicopter ready to fly!

Moving on to the fire truck when the helicopter failed to take off. (Maybe this one will at least drive around.)

Braden wondering who forgot to leave the keys in the firetruck, too.

Weight a Minute!

Sarah has often told us she thinks that Braden does pushups in his crib at night but we finally caught him red-handed in our home gym trying to bulk up with a 5 lb weight! Hmmm .... I think I smell the aroma of a brewing plot to take over the world!

Braden with a 5 lb weight. He had just been holding 15 total pounds (a 10 and a 5) but this picture was cuter so it made the cut.

Kudos to Craigs List!

Every time I go into the garage and nearly hit my head on the jogging stroller hanging from the ceiling, I think to myself "We NEVER use that! I really need to do something about it!" Well, on Friday I decided it was time. I looked online for a picture and product description and when I found both I decided to post the stroller on Craigs List. I can't tell you how easy it was. I posted the stroller and some children's rugs I had from Ikea that I never used. It took me about 5 minutes to post them and all of the items were sold by 7pm that evening! What a rush!

Early Easter

Sometimes things just work out. This year the Parker side of the family decided not to make a big deal out of Easter so we just added an egg hunt onto the regular family dinner on the 16th. It was fun but I didn't think much of it since we would be having our own egg hunt on Easter weekend, and then celebrating Easter Sunday with the Christensens. Of course when Braden was on day 3 of a 5 day fever on Easter Sunday all plans went out the window. Hooray for early Easter egg hunts!

Mom and I helping Braden and Tyler search for eggs

Abby, Jack and Tyler hunting while being supervised by Kim, photoed by Grandpa and with Sarah and Brandon just joining in the fun.

March - the Lion

When this March began with terrible weather I thought we would be heading for a lovely spring by now. Not the case. Just after the photos of feeding the ducks it stormed enough to prodicue the snowman pictured below. Although the snow melted pretty quickly it has stayed cold and every few days it seems we get a little more snow. Even this morning I woke up to a white blanket on the glass and trees. So much for the lamb part of March - this one is all lion!

Braden with his biggest (and shortest lived) snowman so far! Accessories provided by Aunt Caroline in the form of a snowman kit she made for Braden.

Duck, Duck, GOOSE!

Today (Saturday) after having fun at Gymboree, we thought it might be nice to go to the park and feed the "ducks." We brought about 1/3 of a loaf of bread and it wasn't even CLOSE to enough for all of the geese, ducks, seagulls, etc that swarmed us. Even though I was just taking pictures I was also surrounded by a maffia-like ring of geese who kept stepping closer and giving me the "give us bread or the camera gets it" look!

Aaron feeding the first brave goose!

Braden learning to hand-feed as well. (Behind the camera I was wondering if today would include a trip to the hospital to reattach Braden's fingers.)

Braden surveying the restless mob as Aaron realizes we are OUT of bread.

A Nickel For Your Thoughts

On Friday night we finally overcame Braden's unusual resistance and went to the nickelcade as a family. We all had a great time. Braden rode rides with me while Aaron played some games. Than Braden played video games with Aaron while I focused on beating the twister game to win almost 300 tickets. When I was bored with winning (or was it that I was out of nickels ....) we chose prizes. We actually had enough for a blow up dolphin (now in competition with Tyler for the best friend slot), a twisted bouncy ball and some tiny army men. So - how many nickels does it take to win a blow up dolphin? A LOT more than it would take to buy one!

Braden and Aaron on a quick safari

Braden with his new dolphin cleverly named "Dolphin." Why is he wearing socks on his hands? Don't even get me started!

Breakfast with Elmo

On Saturday, March 1, we went to breakfast with Elmo. Once I got over my shock at how much bran Great Harvest can pack into one little breakfast, we had a great time. Braden got to dance with Elmo, pose with Elmo (in theory - though he never looked at the camera) and give him a huge hug. Since then his Elmo Chicken Dance doll has gotten more attention and Braden has announced that the big Elmo misses him. Of course, as his mom I think to myself "who wouldn't?"

Elmo reflecting sadly that he can't take Braden with him.

Cheering for Cookie Cutters

Braden just got his best haircut to date. I think the stylist was pretty good, but the real factor was the place. We went to Cookie Cutters, and kids hair salon in Draper and were amazed! This salon features a play area to ease waiting times that includes a climbing zone, slide and video games. Once Braden's name was called he got to choose to have his hair cut in a police car, fire truck, plane or on a motorcycle. He jumped in the plane, they popped in his movie of choise (Toy Sotry) and we were off en route for a great haircut. Because the kids are SO entertained the stylist is able to take her time and really do a wonderful job. At the end the kids get a balloon (and sucker, though Braden's disappeared for some reason) tied to a cookie cutter. And all for just a buck more than the a kids haircut at Great Clips up the road from us. What a find!

Anxiously asaiting takeoff at Cookie Cutters

Finger Painting Fiasco

The Friday that I took the boys to the Aquarium (earlier blog) I decided to try something fun - a Crayola no mess finger paint kit. As advertised it was easy to do, gave fun results and there was no mess - even when the wet painted paper touched other things like my shirt. At first I thought this no mess feature was cool but now I realize it is essential. Today, more than a week later the painting STILL isn't dry! Oh well, even though I won't be able to frame it (or probably even save it) at least I got a good photo.

Braden, the budding artist

February 29,2008

Best Friends

I guess I should have seen this coming, but I still find it SO cute. Braden has decided that Tyler, his cousin who is babysat with him 3 days/week, is his official best friend. In fact I have started asking to have Tyler on Fridays every so often because Braden misses him every day that he isn't at our house.

Tyler and Braden on one of our special Fridays at the Aquarium

Braden and Tyler in "big hats" they made at preschool together

A Reluctant Hello

Blogging...sounds a lot like writing in my journal (which I don't do nearly enough) and then publishing it for everyone else to read (aren't those things private for a reason?). I resisted for years, but today, Saturday, March 9, 2008 I have decided to cave. Why? It might be that I am ashamed to be a computer sys admin without an up-to-date website. It might be that I am finally following the example of my younger sisters. Or, most likely, it might be that there is a pile of laundry to fold and dishes that need to be done and I need an excuse to avoid them. Don't worry - soon I will start a home business as an excuse to avoid blogging.