Beautiful Birthday Gift

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Back close up

My dear friend Allison made me this quilt for my birthday! She said since I was turning the big 3-0 that I needed a big present to celebrate! She is so sweet and so talented that I am grateful to have her in my life. We have such great times together and it is always easy to talk to her. My boys LOVE her and call her Aunt Allison. The funny thing is that I watched her make the front. We get together at least twice a month for lunch and crafting, mostly at my house so it's easy on my boys and we make lunch so it's easy on my budget. We went out to lunch and a movie today since I missed my real birthday because I was in Florida for my grandfather's, PowPow, funeral.

It's Nursery Time!

Today was Declan's first Sunday in nursery! I think Shane was more excited for Declan to go into nursery than I was because he's the one who had to have Declan during Sunday School and Elder's Quorum since I'm now in Primary. Even when I was in YW Shane had Declan. Well, he is completely different than Corin. Corin went into nursery just fine and had a great time. Declan cried! So much so that they had to go get Shane to calm him down. Our nursery leader is SO great! She could handle Corin and his craziness and she can handle Declan and his weepiness. Shane did get him calmed down and he went back to nursery, not very happy, but went back. When I went to pick him up Sister Griffey was holding him and he had sad eyes that looked like he'd been crying. Hopefully in the weeks to come he'll get used to it.

Circus

I got some coupons in the mail for a circus; BOGO on adult tickets and FREE kids tickets. So, we decided to go! It was a REALLY small circus production, but we had a lot of fun! If we had to pay full price for all of us to go I don't think I would have chosen to go since I thought the tickets were a bit expensive for the size of the circus that it was, but who can go wrong with only paying for one adult ticket price. Since it is a small family owned circus and there wasn't a lot of people there when we went, they must have to keep the price higher to pay for it, however it was cheaper than the Barnum and Bailey circus prices.

The circus show itself was inside a tent and they called it the Big Top! Totally reminded me of Dumbo and how circuses used to be! It is family owned, based out of Hugo, OK, and it there was only a few families that did all the acts.

 

They had some animals you could feed.

Declan was not too found of having the animals eating food out of his hand, but he loved to just watch them in the pens.

Yep, it made our hand feel "YUCK" SO glad I have baby wipes in my bag!

The highlight of our circus experience, well at least for me, was the Elephant rides! YEP we rode an elephant! I was SO excited! I don't think you'd be able to do this at other, big circuses and if you did the line would be SO long!

Corin and Shane took the Camel Ride!

Corin pretended he was riding the camel in the desert since that is where you ride camels at.

Declan feel asleep during the show. He leaned over out of the stroller onto Shane's knee.

And before we left we did the train ride.

Back To School

Today Preschool started up again for the school year for Corin! He was SO excited to start school. This year he's in the class called KinderKids. He goes 3 days a week for 3 hrs. Last year it was 2 days a week for 2 hrs. I'm glad that I did the class last year because he knows more of how a classroom runs so he should be better (last year was a bit rough in listening) It is through the Rec. Center, but all the teachers and programs are certified through the state.

Lovely Labor Day

This weekend Shane's sister Erin and her family came up from Los Alamos, New Mexico to visit. They came to visit Shane's dad, but since we live here we get the pleasure of spending time with them too! I have GREAT sisters in law, so I really enjoy when I see them! On Saturday, we went to the Zoo. We have a membership, so we get in free and I still had the extra guest passes that we were given with our membership, so they were able to use them and only pay for one child! We had such a wonderful time together even in the big group we had.

Since we didn't get going til late morning, we decided to go grab some lunch. Shane made the executive decision to go to Noodles and Company. We love this place and Erin really enjoyed it as well. Thanks Steve for sitting at the kids table! Erin and I think alike, so we took the place in the corner where no one was at. Grandpa was swinging the kids and Declan instantly liked Vivian.

Corin wouldn't hold my hand, but he held Miriam's to cross the street.

After lunch we were off to the Zoo!

Of course we had to do the How Far Can You Jump?

Inside Bird World.

You can't take strollers inside. Declan was excited to get out of his stroller, even though he was acting content in the stroller. I thought he would throw a fit when it was time to get back in, because sometimes he does, but he did great!

Riding on Daddy's shoulders, he needed to make sure he had a secure grip!

Declan loved it! He was pointing at everything.

A bird came on the path and he wanted to chase after it and catch it!

Corin found a feather on the path

I love this cute picture of Amelia and little Vivian! Vivian is SO tiny and she was stretching on her tipy-toes to see in like all the other kids!

Shoulder rides!

The youngest cousins together (until January)