First Family Vacation

A few weeks ago we took our first ever family vacation to Storyland and Santa's Village.  This was a short trip meant as a trial to see how things work at a hotel.  We did great!  Alex LOVED it.

Yes, I let him in the ball pit despite all my years of worrying about how gross they are.

Sitting on Cinderella's throne - she was pretty too but the chair was much more interesting.

Reindeer Merry Go Round

Telling Santa that he shares his special day - I CANNOT believe he went right up and sat down on Santa's lap and talked to him!

Although I think the favorite part was the pool at the hotel.  There was a pool just for little kids - 1-2 feet deep with little fountains that would pop up all over the place.  He was swimming and splashing away until he was shivering.

Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine

Sunday we went to Edaville Railroad to see Thomas the Tank Engine

Here he comes down the track

Riding the train...there are lots of things in the woods - many are lit up at Christmas time

We met Sir Topham Hat (poor person - it was 90+ degrees and humid!)

And then it was time to play on all the Alex size stuff....climbing through the wooden engine

Riding like a big kid on the turtle ride

Flying high with Mommy on the "Jumbo" ride (WHY on earth does this ride have the longest line wherever you go?)

We spent about 5 hours riding rides and walking around.  We were all pooped from the heat and humidity.  Sunday morning was a good time to go - it got busy around lunchtime.

Alex was such a good boy all day - compared to some of the kids melting down.  Unfortunately the ice cream at the end of the day became slushes instead as they serve peanuts in their ice cream cart...I could not risk it :(

Hopefully Storyland in a few weeks will be a success!

Parties, Parties, Parties

This past weekend was full of parties - surprise ones and father's day ones.  It was nice to get out of the house and relax both days rather than work on projects.

Carrying his hotdog - he made it all the way across the yard and it fell right as he was going to sit down - he was so upset.

Handsome boy

Playing with Daddy's glasses

First one's in Auntie Jen's Pool - it was "refreshing"

Sprinkler fun at Auntie Jen's - Grampa taught him to move the sprinker

Just Like Me

This is how Alex does everything lately: bare feet.

Barefoot firetruck riding...

Barefoot golf caddying....

Barefoot putting...it also helps when your face is really close to the ball.

Who thought it was a good idea to give a two year old golf clubs....Gramma! What else are Gramma's for?  They are for instigating riding down the driveway on a gardening stool that has wheels - yes there is video and pictures - they are not allowed to be published :(

Sprinkler Fun

Since it feels more like summer than spring I have been bringing out the sprinkler and letting Alex run around in it.  He has a blast when the kids in the neighborhood come over and play too - they taught him if you stomp on the tube the water squirts higher.

Art Show

Every year daycare does an art show at the end of the school year before "summer camp" starts.  Each child has pieces in the art show and the parents get to wander around and find their childs art.  Its always fun to see what the kids have been working on during the year.  The teachers really are creative.

Hats

Alex is a very particular child.  He does NOT like hats.  It has always been a battle to get him to wear a hat even in winter.  He needs a hat for the summer.  He is so fair and his hair is so light I am afraid the top of his head will get burnt.  So I was at the Gap last week using a gift card for a few things for him.  I came across a big kid hat and though what the heck.  We made a big deal out of the hat - how awesome it was and how all the kids at school would love it - and voila!  HE LOVES HIS HAT!

Checking himself out in the mirror admiring his new hat!

Modeling the new hat for me playing with the lens cap to my camera

I also found a few other things on 75% off sale - some big boy underwear!  We are approaching 2.5 years old and he has had a potty out in the bathroom for a while and even sits (briefly) on it so it was time to get some.  They are dinosaur (for his love of PBS Dinosaur Train) and race cars for the only movie we let him watch - Disney Cars.