Day 6- Bounce House and Park

Our final day had arrived and we packed it with some more fun.  We headed off to a new bounce house my sister's kids had never been too.  It's always fun to be in a new place, so they bounced away for hours.

Sophie girl happy about life

I love the expression of the girls' faces on this photo even though it's very blurry

There was a big flat jumping pad for kids 5 and younger; it was almost like a big trampoline.  Allie loved playing on this

Sophie did some hanging out on it too

Allie taking Sophie for a ride down the slide.  Sophie went with me a few times and then of course loved it much more when she was with her little mother Allie :)



Sophie and me hanging out watching the kids

After the bounce house we headed off to the park to enjoy another sunny afternoon.  The kids had a blast on these little seats that were slightly tilted and would spin you so fast once you got going.   Allie hopped in one as soon as we got to the park.  I was across the way pushing Sophie in a swing and could see Allie start to turn. All of a sudden I heard her screaming, "MOMMY....MOMMY.....Stop me."  She was hysterical in seconds and it was one of those moments I couldn't make it over to her so another sweet mom beat me to Allie and got her out.  Needless to say she didn't hop into one of those again

Adam thoroughly enjoying the spin

So did miss Ainsley girl

Sophie liked sitting stationary and not spinning.  I think she would have been thrown if I would have let go because it goes so fast

Allie found a new spinning toy that wouldn't go so fast and that she could get off of all by herself

We had such a great trip seeing the Little family.  We are so sad to wrap it up but so excited to be getting back to Boise to see our daddy who is anxiously waiting for us to return. 

Day 4 and 5- Whale Park and Pretzels

Well it officially started on Day 4-my single parenting of 4 youngsters.  It wasn't actually to bad-they all played so well together- most of the time.  It was a nice sunny day and we hit up the park and had a picnic.  

Hanging out at the "whale park"

A top the Orca

Sophie and Allie on the baby Orca

On day 5 we headed off to the movies in the morning to see HOP.  We hit up the store on the way to the show to get treats and a few groceries for pretzel making later that day.  I couldn't believe that I made it into the store with 4 kids.  I don't think anyone has 4 kids over in Seattle.  The kids were behaving great in the store, but multiple people stopped me and asked, "Are these all yours?"  I would love to have them all, but no they aren't

In the afternoon we made some pretzels.  I made a mistake and we ended up with lots of salty pretzels which wasn't so bad.  I thought my sister had a cinnamon and sugar shaker, but instead it ended up being some type of sea salt that looked like cinnamon and sugar.  Still very yummy despite all the salt we were vigorously shaking on thinking it was sugar

The girls tuckered out from the days adventures

Day 2 and 3-Seattle Science Center and IKEA

Well we couldn't avoid the rain forever and so we turned to indoor activities for a few days.  One day we headed over to the Seattle Science Center to enjoy the crowd of Seattle who was also escaping the rain on spring break.  We had a great time despite the crowd. 

Ainsley and Allie walking together and staying dry 

Inside the Science Center there was a butterfly house; my favorite part.  It was so cool to walk around as hundreds of these beautiful insects were flying all around you and landing on you

Such neat patterns and vibrant colors

Playing at the water table

I thought this was disgusting and makes you think twice about litter that you may see, you may want to pick it up.  All of the stuff pictured above was found inside of a dead whale off the shore of Seattle

The fun mirrors that make you look short

and really wide and chubby.  The girls loved looking in these.

We always seem to have a dance party whenever we visit the Littles.  Uncle Derek was a DJ back in his former days and has quite the selection of music.  The kids always have a great time and little Sophie joined in and was Uncle Derek's dancing partner

The girls reading books and being silly

  The girls love to be twinners whenever they can.  They both decided to wear their stripped pajama bottoms.  

The following day was another rainy one. We visited IKEA and got cousin pictures taken which was quite an experience.  The kids were great, the photographer was not.  But at least we got what we wanted; one good cousin photo. 

Day 1-The Zoo

We headed off for Seattle's Spring Break to visit my sister and her family.  Another reason we headed up was to help my brother-in-law surprise my sister for her 40th.  Me and the girls were heading up to watch her kids while her and the hubby got away on a mini vacation.  We had a great time before my sister left and a great time while they were gone.  So fun to be with family!!!

We rode over on a small Horizon plane and we actually climbed stairs to board the plane.  Kind of fun to board the plane this way but not so fun to ride on a small plane where every bout of turbulence is felt

Sophie's 1st plane ride.  She nursed as we were taking off and fell fast asleep

Allie and puppy thrilled to be on the plane

Once we arrived the fun began right away.  All of the cousins were so excited to see each other and played so well

Our first day we hit up the Woodland Park Zoo.  It was fun to see a lot of animals that the Boise zoo does not have.  The cousins in the penguin exhibit

Crazy bright colored poisonous frogs

Gorillas are so impressive to me for some reason.  Their attributes are so closely related to humans.  The one in back of the girls was nurturing and cleaning the baby that you can't see.  Another random gross thing that it was constantly doing was vomiting.  It had just been fed carrots and it would swallow them and then up they would come into his hand.  The crowd would all harmoniously say "gross" and maybe he liked the reaction and continued

Full of wisdom and pondering life

Sophie's favorite exhibit was the bubbles at a fish tank; good thing she was free

Which one looks like it doesn't belong?  That's right, there was a goose in with the flamingos.  It was so funny to watch him, it was almost like he knew he didn't belong and was trying to figure out where he was.  

The elephants are quite an enormous creature.  I wish so badly we had elephants at the Boise zoo.  What a great day to start off our trip and no rain in site :)

Spring Break

We had a great week for spring break and I even joined in on the fun and literally took a "break."  No house cleaning was done around our house, we just had FUN!  We started the week out with some crummy weather but then ended on a good note with the sun shining by the end. 

We hit up Givens Hot Springs with some friends from church.  I'm really glad that I got Allie by the sign because it will probably be the last trip here. We had some fun memories at this pool;  1) We FINALLY made it to the hot springs that were about an hour away and 2) No one ended up with a foot fungus or rash covering their body

We hit up the zoo with some work friends.  All of the kids (minus Owen and the babies) piled into the jeep

 I rarely take pictures of animals but these birds were awesome!!!  

They're so little I guess that's why I've never seen them, but they have some impressive colors

The new favorite spot of the Boise Zoo-the petting area where you can feed the goats

Sophie finally gave in and fell asleep.  She puts up quite a fight when we are out and when she is not in her bed

Having a picnic lunch after the zoo (minus Allie and the babies)

The final day of spring break we headed to the mountains to do some spring skiing.  It ended up being such a gorgeous day that we set up camp on the snow by the bunny hill.  The sun was shinning and we were skiing in shirts and light coats.  We got everyone lubed up with sunscreen except for me.  Little did I know that the elevation of the ski hill plus the snow and sun mixed together equals the worst facial burn I've ever gotten.

Allie and her coach-A.K.A-dad

Riding the "magic carpet"

Up on the chair with dad

Papa joined us and we all took turns with the baby.  

Me and Allie girl up on the chair

Getting some lessons from dad.  The snow was actually a little sticky from the sun melting it, which worked out perfect for a beginning skier.  Allie couldn't get going to fast which she loved:)

Papa watched the kids for a bit while me and Blake hit the slopes

One of Allie's favorite ways to get down the mountain

We couldn't forget our cute Sophie girl on the side lines cheering us on