Florida Visit & The Zoo

Aimee and I got to take a week-long trip to Florida to visit my mom and sister. It's just the two of them at home right now with my dad being in Iraq. My mom flew us out and so she could see Aimee and we could hang out with her. It was a really good trip! Aimee had TONS of fun - she kind of turned into a super spaz, I think she was just over stimulated - and spoiled. It took her a loooong time to unwind and go to sleep at night while we were there. I can't really blame her - we went to the zoo, Sea World, shopping, the pool, the beach, lots of restaurants... it was a busy trip for a baby!

Aimee loved feeding the dog, she thought that it was hilarious and Abby (the dog) became her new best friend.

 This is at the petting zoo. That deer walked right up to Aimee, she totally jumped when she turned around and saw it!

Aimee was really interested in climbing into that deer's pool.

Petting goats. 

Cute sleepy deer. 

Nasty birds. They totally made Aimee nervous... I think mostly because of my reaction to them.

The best part of the zoo! Rafiki, the giraffe was out and about and for $1.00 you could feed him a tiny cracker. That is, if your kid doesn't try to eat it first (which Aimee tried to do).

Note giraffe lady in the background. She was kind of mean and NOT wearing a bra. 

Aimee won Ana's heart (pronounced Ah-nah - aka grandma) and she just had to buy her the stuffed giraffe. Being the only grandbaby on this side has its benefits. 

Aimee was totally strutting when she got to take her giraffe with her. 

One year older and wiser too?

Not likely, but I did have a really good birthday! It's scary how much closer to the big 3-0 I'm getting... but I still feel like a 21 year old, so my median age is probably around 24. Greg surprised me with the tasty cake AND my own birthday request to carve pumpkins afterwards. Since today is actually Halloween, it's a little anti-climactic - but I still wanted to document the experience. Aimee was really into pulling the seeds out of the pumpkin and putting them back in again. Which means more work for mom and dad, but that's ok!  

I've got a feelin'

This is veeery lengthy - but well worth the watch. Aimee's dance moves are so funny. She keeps doing this thing with her left leg, sticking it out and then stomping it down. So random! She also looks totally homeless since I had started to put her pajamas on... well I got the onesie on, then she ran away. The shoes are new, and she's very proud of them. Enjoy. (And turn up your volume!)

Pumpkin Patch FHE

For FHE tonight, the Roney's let members from the ward come and pick pumpkins from their pumpkin patch. Greg got done with his test early tonight and so we all got to go together as a family - hooray! Aimee had a pretty good time - she wanted to carry her pumpkin the whole time, but couldn't walk while holding it. I am psyched about the holidays this year. Probably because Aimee is so much more aware now. Just this morning we were at Lowe's and Aimee was "ooing" at their massive Christmas decorations display. It's going to be great!

Overwhelmed?

This look (above AND below) says "sneeky"

Soooo heavy

California Cousins!

Ok, so here is the post that I should have done before Farm-Country AGAIN. I think all the kids were super thrilled when they first got together. And I thought it would be great, the entire week. Aimee LOVES kids. She is so eager to chase and play - or so I thought. A few days into their visit, Aimee singled Neal out as her nemesis. I'm not sure why. I think it's because he reacts, and like her daddy, Aimee thrives off reaction. Neal isn't totally innocent. He'd take a toy out of Aimee's hands, but instead of crying, she retaliated. It wasn't long though, that she stopped seeking retribution and just went after him for no reason! She'd walk up to him, yank on his shirt, hit his arm, or poke him - then calmly walk away like nothing happened. 

This caused me some distress, I'm not sure where this mean girl came from! For the most part, she was pretty nice to the girls. She did, however, do a double-handed shove behind Addison's back and knocked her to the floor, but Addi didn't cry, so it doesn't count... right? Aimee got a few of her first (and I feel, the beginning of many) time-outs. 

Maybe it was hard sharing her toys... or finally she was just fed up with sharing her space. Or maybe she is just a little mean. I fear for my future children. 

But on to the pictures! I took SO many up in the canyon, that I probably should have used one of those slide-show tools - but I didn't - as a heads up, I also posted 2 other posts tonight, they may not all show up all on the same page since this post is so lengthy. 

Kids watching one of Aimee's favorite shows - Brainy Babies: Animals (like Baby Einsteins, but I read a lot of reviews that moms liked these series better - they work for Aimee!)

Farm Country? No - just kidding! This is just down the street! There is a little pasture in the middle of the neighborhood and the horses like hand-outs. I think the kids were into it too. 

Bathing Beauties... Aimee's scowling, but I don't think you will find a single picture in this entire post where ALL kids have a smile at the same time. 

Ok, so the day after they arrive, we take all the kids up to Sundance and take pictures of them playing in the leaves. It was sooo very gorgeous and really warm too. 

Addison, Neal, Amelia, Breanne, and Aimee

Neal as the tractor man. He looks so old in this picture!

Nanny with the kids

And why I love Utah... I LOVE the fall here, it is so beautiful. 

Poppy and the kids - they weren't ready for the picture yet, but this one turned out to be my favorite. 

More scenic awesomeness

Aimee is totally freaking out, but everyone else is more or less looking at the camera. 

Amelia looks really grown up in this picture to me...  

Hi Neal

Addie posing

Aimee's expression totally says, "Here we go again..." 

Best Bree-bree picture EVER! So cute!!

So I neglected to get more  pictures of our California family's visit. We did a few more things like go to Jumpin' Jacks, got some Cafe Rio, watched conference, had a girl's night out... I think it was a successful visit! Thanks for playing guys! Hope Aimee didn't scare you away - we can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving!!

Farm Country - AGAIN!

Again for us, is really the first time for Aimee's Cali Cousins. I probably should have done this post AFTER the one I will do next - but oh well. 

So a few days before General Conference, all of Aimee's cousins (with their mommies and nanny ) came up to visit for a whole week. We got started on the fun right away since the weather was going to turn cold right after they arrived. The day we went to Farm Country, we also went up to Sundance and took some pictures (will post in next blog) and drove around, site seeing. It was a BUSY day for all of us. 

 

I think the kids enjoyed Farm Country. They were eager to feed the goats, and the little ones liked tasting the goat food too. 

Aimee being very excited about the goats

Amelia on the horse ride. 

Side note - let me tell you about that horse ride. They had the rudest girl working that thing. I mean, I can't totally blame her for not being enthusiastic about her job. There are hundreds of screaming, squealing kids trying to get on the horses all day. She has to scoop up the horse poop all day too. Not exactly glamourous. On top of the mean work lady, the other moms were rude too!! Carinn and Laura had all their kids waiting to go, and these other kids' moms just let them cut to the front and push past all of our kids. Ours had to wait a whole other turn before they could go. So when it came to their turn, they were more aggressive, and shoved their kids through. Which they totally shouldn't have had to do.  ANYWAY... 

 

Despite all that, Neal seemed to like the ride.

Addison waving to the crowd.

Our turn! Aimee was a smidge apprehensive at first, but got over it in about 2 seconds. 

Aimee was thrilled to be around baby Breanne (at first anyway, then she got... mean. But I will save that for another post)

Trying to get a shot of 5 kids under the age of 5, looking at the camera is pretty much impossible. 

The Browns Visit

I feel like with every post I have to begin it with an apology for taking so long in between posts. Sorry!! I know grandparents and several aunties in particular like updates. I need to back track a little - we've been busy! 

The last weekend in September, my sister and her husband Chris came down for a quick visit. It is nice when they come, they pretty much take care of Aimee for the weekend! Minus poopy diaper changing - that is where they draw the line. But Steph and Chris will feed her, change her, and play with her non-stop. The kind of constant-attention-super-enthusiastic-playing that exhausts you. Steph has had this conversation with me before:

"Aren't you totally exhausted by the end of the day?"

"Sometimes..."

"I don't know how I'm going to be a mom - I am so tired by the end of our trip."

See the thing is, if I could play and be so constantly enthusiastic as they are with Aimee, all day and EVERY day - I would be the ultimate super mom. But sometimes Aimee gets to watch her "shows" for an hour (or a little more) a day. Sometimes she gets to play with her toys by herself while I fold laundry. They will learn... 

Anyway! I am rambling. While they were here we drove up the canyon and took some pictures. The leaves were just starting to change. 

Bridal Veil Falls

Into the Canyon

Steph, Chris and Aimee at Squaw Peek

The view was amazing!

Chris and Steph - thanks as always for coming to visit us!