Valentines Day and almost Cali trips

We started the day off at Kangaroo Zoo. This is a Gray family tradition, one that the boys love. We got there about 10:30 and they played until 12. The boys had so much fun running around and going down the slides with their cousins. Keira just sat on my lap happy and content. Travis is the Men's Stake Athletic director and had games all morning so he didn't get to come with us this year. After all the bouncing at Kangaroo Zoo we headed home. We grabbed some lunch and I started getting ready for my date with Travis. We got my cousing Lexi to watch the kids for us while we went to dinner and a movie. When Travis got home from picking up Lex he had a HUGE bouquet of flowers for me. They are beautiful!!!! I found out later that my mom put the bouquet together. She does an awesome job! So we left the kids and went to dinner at Spaghetti Mama's. It's one of our favorite places to eat. Breadsticks, salad, pasta, and ice cream. We don't go there very often but when we do holy cow can we say CARBS! I made an early reservation so it was nice to sit and enjoy dinner and not have to worry about rushing through to get to the movie on time. We went and saw Valentines Day :D. I picked the movie, this is not something Travis would pick . . . ever. He said he liked it though. It was a cute movie. While we were at dinner Travis mentioned he might have to go to California early the next week and I said it was too bad he couldn't leave Sunday night because Austin didn't have school Monday and we might be able to work out me going too. That's all that was said pretty much until Travis called me Monday mid morning and asked how fast I could get packed and find someone to take the kids. I was to his mom's house by 2 (I was pretty impressed with myself). We didn't leave until almost 4 though. We just went to St. George that night and then we were waiting for Trav's brother Tuesday. While we were waiting I convinced Travis that we should look around the outlets. I have to say, he did pretty well. We waited until about 3 again and then decided to get back on the road. We made it to primm when our trip came to a halt. Trav's trailer was too long and he couldn't get the permits he needed to go into Cali. So he talked with some people and then dropped the equipment in Primm and we headed back. We made it to Cedar City before we pulled over and then came the rest of the way home Wednesday. It was a long trip but it was fun to spend time together. I'm glad we have such a great family that helps us out short notice like that.

Alex's 4th birthday party

Alex loves Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear. He told me after Austin's birthday last year that he was going to have a buzz lightyear party for his birthday. My kids change their minds a hundred times before deciding what they actually want. So I was surprised that this stuck. And with the 3rd Toy Story movie coming out this year and Buzz Lightyear being so popular you would be able to find party supplies for a Buzz birthday. Nope! You have to order everything online. I have done this before but didn't have time to do order this time. So we made due with what we had. When the kids got to the party they got to choose a name. I had written down all the well known characters from the movies and they chose one to be for the day. They got to color pictures, until everyone got there, of Buzz Lightyear and Zurg. Then we split everyone into two groups and they had to go on a scavenger hunt. We had placed toy story toys, stickers and pictures around the room and the team who collected the most won! It was madness as kids took off in all directions. Then they got to have relay races on Buzz Lightyears' shoes. The last game we played was a version of pin the tale on the donkey. The kids took their name badges that they got when they came in and had to pin it on buzz. With lots of candy and prizes all over we decided to have cupcakes and ice cream while Alex opened presents. I was going to make a cake for Alex but the figurines I needed sold out. Let's just say this birthday wasn't up to my normal par :(. Alex had fun though and that's what matters. So with all the cake drama I just gave in and did cupcakes. We put army men, woody, and buzz lightyear on the cupcakes that were purple and green. Alex loved opening presents and got a lot of fun stuff. Then we gave everyone their goody bags and sent them on their way. The thing I look forward to most after Alex's birthday, being when it is, is Miss America. We run around, play games, eat too much cake and ice cream, keep kids happy while the birthday boy opens presents and then when they leave I go home fall on the couch and relax. And I can't think of a better way to do it. I'm sure Travis can but he did watch it with me this year. He said it was only for the swimsuits . . . but he watched all of it. Love ya babe!!

Alex's Birthday

We always take our kids out for dinner on their birthday. It's usually to Chuck E. Cheese but we decided to try out Pirate Island Pizza. The boys loved it. They are very into pirates right now and they had a blast. We let Alex open his presents on his birthday from our family. His favorite present by far was his camera. He takes that thing everywhere. He can take pictures with it, add a border or make a picture look funny. He can also play games on it as well. After eating and opening presents we went to the arcade and played some games. They got enough tickets to go and get a prize. And Austin being the great big brother that he is :) let Alex choose something with the tickets. Alex got what he wanted and told Austin to choose something. *sigh* I love it when my boys get along like that. It just makes my heart happy.

Temple Square trip

So, when you have two cameras it's best to download pictures of them at the same time or you forget one. That is exactly what happened. Travis got me a little cannon powershot for Christmas so I didn't have to take our nice camera everywhere. I love our Rebel, but I can't just throw it in my handbag and think it's "safe". I've been downloading pictures from my little cannon but not the rebel so when I hooked it up to the computer I found. . . lots of pics from around Christmas. This was our trip to temple square. The boys had lots of fun looking at the lights and the temple. Keira even liked it for awhile, well until she got hungry :). We had her bundled up so tight and warm she was sweating when we got her to the car. I don't know what's better because we were all freezing. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.

Just to keep the spirit alive!!

No, I am not talking about the Olympics. I love them and watch them every chance I get but that's not what this post is about. I just realized that I never posted pics from the BYU vs Utah game. The game was so exciting and when I came across the pictures I couldn't help myself. I had to post them. Have I mentioned before, I LOVE my camera!!! Oh and this picture is not just of a couple of random guys. Well, I guess one of them is a random guy. The guy in the gray jacket is Bryan Kehl. He played for BYU and was drafted by the New York Giants. Love him!!

Oh and this is Austin with all his loot after the game. T-shirts, towels, lanyards, mugs, footballs, tatoos. . . I think that he won everything you could down there. Even a few shirts for mom :)