Are we having fun yet?: Who doesn't love grandma's house?

I've had it with the cold and wet and flew south to the sun. It's been great.

T wanted nothing to do with going to Grandmas. He wanted to stay home with Papa. I kept asking him why. He gave me reasons like I don't want to miss Papa getting home from Japan, or other stuff, but I finally got to figuring out he didn't want to go to Grandma's because he didn't want to get sick again. Here, here, T! He was really good about washing his hands at all potty breaks. I was very proud of him. But E is the culprit. We still got nice big snotty colds thanks to E. He started it and gave it to everyone again. My dad doesn't think he can take anymore sick days off. We can't come visit until E stops sucking his thumb, according to him. So E snuggled Grandpa and fell asleep in his arms until Grandpa changed his mind about that decree.

I was pretty impressed that traveling with three small kids wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. E either slept or watched T, W or out the window most of the way. T helped by playing with him. T and W carried in their suitcases in to the hotel. But it got crazy when I was put on the second floor with no suitcases. Now what. My whole plan of getting in was foiled by those stairs. T and W can't carry the stuff upstairs. Thank heavens someone helped me carry everything upstairs. I wasn't able to do it and stay within eye distance of my kids.

I went to my grandpa's house first. E took his first two steps from an independent standing position. The only other times he has walked is from one surface to another, but this one he was standing on his own and walked toward me. Getting very close.

He also figured out how to get down a wide step by going backwards. He is very excited about that. He is also excited about learning how to use a sippy cup a bit better. He gets huge smiles when he starts figuring it out.

We took T's bike (aka Fiery Flynn). Boy has that been fun. He really likes riding that thing around. The best part of the day, to go on a bike ride instead of a walk. W still walks with me. E tries to grab T's shark fin on his helmet if I have to push a bit with E's stroller. I think E loves getting out to explore in a stroller every day, too.

We've just been at the grandma vacation resort. So here are some things they have been playing.

They made a clam out of my mom's dishes. It was really each one of their lunch dish. She has white dishes with a type of scallopy looking edge. They put one plate upside down on the other. Fish ate the clam. Then fish got hurt on his lip, so they put a blueberry in his mouth, because a blueberry would heal it for sure.

They met my mom's neighbor. I guess they liked her. They were calling off what their last name was or their middle name, or whatever and T said one time, "My last name is Ruby" They were also adding middle names in their game. They told me, in all seriousness, that Uncle Scotti's middle name is stingy. It's the truth.

We played mosquito. T informed me that baby mosquitos like red milk. I guess that is another description of blood. They tried to bite me but I tried to shake them off my mosquito net (aka the hammock). One mosquito's name was Daisy (after her daisy dress) and the other was T's whose name was Stingy. Uncle Ryan played with them in the hammock a bunch, too. We had a lot of fun laughing.

E thinks it is really funny that their is a hole in my mom's soap dish in her bath. Why that is so funny is beyond me, but it is. E also loves the carpeted stairs. That is funny, too. And swinging in the hammock. He is liking trying new foods, but his bottom doesn't like it too much. Lots of diaper rash with all the new stuff, especially strawberries.

It took E three days to not scream when another family member came near. I was excited that I could finally put him down. Carrying him around for three days was a work out. T and w did well going to church in my mom's ward. It probably helps that grandpa plays the piano and grandma is in there anyway. They even sang for mother's day. My mom said when they were in front and being introduced as visitors that the lady asked their names. T stated both his and w's all the while holding her hand. W usually doesn't like talking to strangers. Fine by me. She isn't really supposed to talk to strangers anyway.

We read bedtime books in the hammock. That was fun and snuggly. My dad played the recorder while I played the piano and w sang. T and pez pounded on the piano. E kept moving stools around the house. And beelining it up the stairs any time he could. Or play peekaboo with the doors opening and shutting.

W is having a blast being with Grandma. She loves girly things. Crafts, dresses, candle lit baths. She has enjoyed it all with Grandma.

T has been dragging new kinds of furniture around. He uses the bar chairs for a train that he couples up with the necklaces. Fish swings like a bell. He used the outside picnic bench to make a slide off the stairs.

T spent some time "working on fiery Flynn".

We went and visited Grandma An. It was her birthday and Grandpa was putting in the engine in her van that day. It was a momentous occasion. T stood on a chair to watch. He was pretty entertained for a good 15 minutes. When we went to leave Grandpa showed him some other parts that were in the back of the van. He was pretty excited that T pointed and said "that is the exhaust pipe." So grandpa showed him what an alternator and a fly wheel was.

They reconnected with Uncle Erik and E met Uncle Erik for the first time. T wasn't so sure about Uncle Erik at first because he plays more rough than Uncle Scotti. Uncle Erik put T in the recycle bin in play. T wasn't sure at first, but then learned he was kidding. W liked Uncle Erik being willing to swing up high and wild.

One day Uncle Scotti got in the hot tub before driving down to school. T saw him and wanted to go in. So he did, then W. They played in their for six hours, only breaking for lunch and potty breaks. I think in total they must have played fish going potty out of the spa for 2 of those hours. Grandpa got home and commented on the low spa water levels. Uncle Scotti wanted the jets on, but T informed him that "fish gets nervous when the jets are on".

E liked shaking the trees. He seems to little to be able to, but he's got the strength. And the laugh to go with it.

Grandma was amused at how T and W play. They each tell each other how to play the game. For example, T will say "W, say..." and fills it in and she copies it.

They went grocery shopping with Grandma. I had made lunch so it was ready right when they got home. But they weren't hungry. Duh. What grandkids go hungry on a shopping trip with grandma to the grocery store? T had animal crackers for lunch. They also came home with lots of treats. Blueberries, cherry tomatoes, a baguette, apple juice, tons of avocados. Lots of good eating. But the cutest thing is that they picked out mother's day flowers for me and were so excited to give them to me. They have my heart.

Wait for me!!! E standing below while watching W and T climb up. This thing shakes when anyone is on it just a bit, so they were having fun bouncing, including E. A park we found talking to a local on the way to Grandmas

Redecorating Papa's guest room. Making themselves at home

W was fascinated by this hand mirror. She was very careful with it picking it up and placing it down, but fascinated all the same

E was fascinated with the fancy doorstop, but snuggled fuzzy instead when I kept taking it away. He also loved the carpeted stairs

Papa and W at the park. W found a flower to pick and put in her hair

E loves slides and W likes to slide down with him on his lap, but he thinks he can do it himself

Pez peeking (pronounced freaking by T) out of his new hideout

E finally allows Papa to hold him at our last meal there

Good morning Pez!

First morning at Grandmas

playing clam. the pic is blurry because it is taken looking through the screen of the tent

prepping for mother's day. T wanted to paint his own foot

Lots of time riding fiery flynn

It wasn't me redecorating in here, Mom!

boys playing nicely in the tub

Snuggling grandma An

Grandma Wilma, Grandma Cindy snuggling E and Grandpa Vince

Grandma Cindy, E,W,T and Grandpa Vince. T was playing broom hockey with a ball

Tree climbing!

I love these slides mom! Higher!

W at Grandma's spa

I did it! I captured Pez AND climbed on this thing all by myself

"where did you get the cage, T?" "Uncle Scotti gave it to us!" Hmmmmm wonder why he did that

Playing with Patrick

Petting Patrick after his accessories were placed

The real use for dandelions

Pez going for a ride

Pez

Broken track

swinging on the hammock

building a house in the teepee

Going over the "bump bump" in front of the teepee. Grandma put it there as a log for them to sit in front of their pretend fire. Hmph. Speedbumps are way more fun