Friends come to visit

On September 18th Paige, Reagan, Max, Robyn, Abby, and Eliza came to visit.  It was so good to see familiar faces and talk with people who understand the medical journey.  I love Paige and Robyn and love that we live within driving distance so we can get together every once in awhile.  We hung out at the house and let the kids play in the backyard.  Max loved Greydon's Spiderman costume and wore it around all afternoon. 

 

 

Paige and Robyn took turns pulling the kids around in the wagon.  Greydon thought it was so funny to drag behind the wagon.  

After a pizza dinner we let the kids watch a movie in my bed and then we stayed up way to late talking. 

The next morning I sent Leila to school for a little bit.  She was not happy to go, she just wanted to stay home and play with her friends.  I told her as soon as we all got ready I would come pick her up for lunch and playing at the park. Leila totally thought I was lying to her and wouldn't really come and get her.  She was quite surprised when I actually picked her up early. 

We picked up lunch at Wendy's and then headed to the park to play. 

 

A pretty pathetic picture of us, we had Leila take the picture and this was the best we got.  But it was so fun to have them come visit and just have a park day like we use to. 

Instagram month

Some of the stuff we have been up to as documented by Instagram

 

Leila fell asleep with gum one night and didn't bother to tell me until after she had been awake for awhile and taken her shower.  All I can say is, " it was a mess".  Thank goodness for peanut butter it saved most of her hair but it did take me almost 2 hours to get it all out and her hair clean.

This little boy likes to climb, I found him on the back of the couch just hanging out

 

Paul is working like crazy and it's not unusual to find him crashed out on the couch after work, although I'm not sure how he can sleep with three crazy kids running around

Grey enjoying his chocolate dipped cone, I should never let him eat ice cream in the car.  He made such a mess but thoroughly enjoyed his treat!

 

At the library with the kids, they love it here,  and this afternoon we happened to be the only ones there.  The llibrary is great, it has kids computers, a train table, a lego table, a race track mat, probably 50 + puzzles and puzzle tables, and coloring tables so we can usually spend quite awhile there.

Grey playing dance recital with Leila, he looked so silly in the leotard.  He definitely needs some boy dress ups for his birthday and Chirstmas

A sweet moment, they were actually playing nicely with each other and Leila was reading him books

If you ask Greydon what he wants to be when he grows up he says a Garbage truck driver so you can only imagine how much he loves this toy, he stayed up super late playing with it

He stuck his hand in the baby toy and got it stuck at the elbow, I had to completely take it apart to get his arm out.  And you would think that would have taught him a lesson but about a week later he did it again.

This little boy loves peaches or nectarines, if he sees one he starts panting and whining for it and then when I give him bites he smacks and licks his lips.

Waiting to pick Leila up from the bus stop.  Grey loves going to the bus stop because he gets to play with his friend Alanna for a few minutes

This poor guy has been teething for several weeks.  I can feel his top teeth buldging but they just wouldn't cut through until last night when one finally popped through, thank goodness

Leila and Greydon found Paul's scrubs, put them on and pretended to be doctor's

 

Just playing in the rocks

Getting really close to walking, he will just stand up in the middle of the room but he is too chicken to take a step

Greydon loves looking at toys at the store and loves to show me all the things he wants for his birthday and Christams, he has quite the wish list going

Trying to teach Asher to go down the stairs, he can climb them like a champ but getting him to turn around and go down is a whole other story

 

One day I picked Leila up from the bus stop without the stroller and she was quite upset and said she was too tired to walk and wanted me to carry her.  I wouldn't so she had a screaming, throwing her body all over the sidewalk and grass tantrum.  She carried on like this the entire walk home and then stood outside the door begging me to carry her in.  I gave her two choices 1) walk in nicely and be happy or 2)  carry her in, straight to her bedroom where she would stay for the rest of the night.  Luckily she chose option 1 and was good the rest of the day 

 

 

 

I was cleaning the basement and brought this box upstairs, pretty soon I found Grey in it telling me to push him down the stairs.  I eventually did and he and Leila had a blast taking turns going down until the box broke

Helping Leila with her math, we spent the afternoon sorting and counting money

On Saturday we went to the farmer's market and at the end enjoyed a delicious cinnamon roll. 

 

 

 

Mom and Dad Visit

My parents came into town last week and it was so fun to have them here.  We went shopping, went on walks, had the missionaries over for dinner and went to Nauvoo over the weekend. 

We got to Nauvoo late Friday night.  We went swimming in the hotel pool and then to bed.  The next morning my parents got up early and went to the Temple.  When they got back we went on a wagon tour of Nauvoo.  Greydon ended up falling asleep about halfway through the tour. 

 We spent some time in the Nauvoo visitor center and then went and got lunch.  Since it was raining we headed over to the Family living center (it's indoors).  We learned how to make barrels, pottery, rope, bread, candles, and spinning wool. 

 The kids also found a box of pioneer toys and were entertained for quite some time, it's amazing the things kids can do with a simple box of different shaped wood blocks. 

 After the Family Living Center we toured several houses, the school, bakery, and other buildings.  We then went back to the hotel and did some more swimming and relaxing.  That night we went out for pizza and then to see the play "Rendezvous in old Nauvoo".  It was quite entertaining and the kids enjoyed it. 

 The next morning we walked the Trail of Hope and read the journal entries they had posted along the trail.  We visited the Mississippi river where the pioneers crossed on their way out of Nauvoo.  It was really hard to imagine having to leave that beautiful city in the freezing cold winter.  How grateful I am for their sacrifices and faith. 

 Asher learned to point on this trip, and I love it, I think he has the cutest little pointer finger.

 We then headed about 30 miles south to visit Carthage Jail.  They showed us a movie about Joseph Smith and then took us on a tour of the jail.  This was my favorite site to see. It was really interesting to learn more about Joseph Smith.

 On the way home we had to make a quick bathroom break :)

 Today we went to the Mall to play in the play area and do some window shopping and then we headed over to Gray's Lake.  They have a 2.5 mile trail around the lake, plus a bridge and paddle boats to rent.  After the lake we stopped at Zombie Burger for some dinner.  It's one of our favorite new restaurants that we have found in Des Moines.  Thanks mom and Dad for coming to visit and especially thanks to my Dad for mowing the lawn for us (not an easy or quick task).