Earth Day?!?

So its no secret that I don't love birds...at all. I won't go on about why right now. I just don't like them so much. Well, when we got home from vacation I discovered that a bird had decided that our porch light (in between our garage door and our front door) would be the perfect spot to build its huge nest. And while I realize it was very well constructed and the bird had probably worked very hard to make a home; I did not need a family of birds dive bombing me or flapping its wings by me or dropping poop around the two exits to my house. So I informed PJ that the nest needed to be removed and thrown away. He, thinking I'm crazy, informed me ironically that it was Earth Day and he would be doing nothing of the sort. But I usually win when it comes to things like this. And after we were able to verify that there weren't eggs in it, we compromised and he took it off the light (which took some of his muscle to do) and moved it a few feet away to the puny tree in our front yard. I guess I could deal with that, especially since I didn't think the bird would come back after we messed with it. However, my dad informed me that thats an old wives tale and sure enough, the bird didn't mind the new location and decided to lay two eggs. The kids have been very excited and interested in the nest and birds - don't know where they came from. Well today happen to be a very gusty day. And by the time afternoon rolled around the nest and eggs had been blown out of the tree. My bad. So now I'm the worst person in the world. And PJ and Brynn decided to try and save the one remaining egg and make up for my shortcomings. I need to go and plant something...

Aunt Erin

We got a call from Erin the other night; and were excited to hear that she would be passing through St. Louis briefly. So of course we jumped at the chance to see her. We went to dinner and found a fun park to play at. It was definitely too short, but it was a lovely visit and the kids loved playing with Aunt Erin and telling her all about what they've been up to lately...

We're glad she called.

Quick Weekend Visit

PJ has wanted to head over to Indiana to hang out with the family for a while now but his schedule hasn't allowed him time. We've been trying to cram a lot into this 4 weeks that he has of normalcy (before his life all work and no play again). So we headed over Friday, when he got home, for a quick weekend visit. Unfortunately Dad and Steven couldn't be there because they were in Utah meeting the newest member of the Peper family...this cute little guy...

...baby Steven - son of my brother TJ and his wife Julia.

But PJ had a fun boys weekend with Clay - full of golfing and working out and watching movies.

Tyler got to bring a little friend along to meet Gramma - Hoppity, his preschool class stuffed animal.

Is it awful that I cringed everytime I saw my son cuddling up to the ragged frog that had been in and out of homes doing who knows what with who knows who?!? Yep, I Lysoled the heck out of that frog.... he had to spend the first night with us on the couch drying off and disinfecting.

And while daddy was playing the rest of us had a fun time hanging out with Gramma, Aunt Katy and Jack and Brody.

Brynn's special request for the weekend was that we find time to go to Wonder Lab, which we did, and once again they had lots of fun...

Everyone in the house quickly came to learn/experience what we had been talking about when we said Dylan is going through a little phase - he screams. And apparently he throws full on tantrums that include throwing himself on the floor and kicking and rolling uncontrollably all while maintaining his high pitched scream. And while we are all used to it, the others not so much. So he had to spend some time in the basement thinking about his behavior...

But it was a good weekend...

and I think we'll get to go back...

if we can get Dylan to stop screaming

(in the car and when he gets mad).

Pizzeria Field Trip

On Wednesday I got to go on another field trip with Tyler and his class. For most of the year they have been doing a unit on pizza, which has involved all sorts of projects. As the final field trip/hoorah they got to go to a local pizzeria. They got to see the kitchen and how the pizza is made. Then they helped make a huge 29" pizza, cooked it, and then ate it up. Very fun outing and bus ride with my buddy!

Family Vacation 2010: The Conclusion

Just a few more random thoughts:
We always enjoyed our time on the different modes of transportation whether it be Ferry, tram, bus or train...

And we had fun to the point of total exhuastion... (notice Tyler fell asleep sitting up on the bus)

We learned that when Dylan is feeling nervous he chews on his fingers and drools a lot... (which usually happened when we were waiting in line for a ride)

Yep, Dylan fell down and got an owie one day...

Our resort was wonderful. Our "room" was huge; complete with full kitchen and laundry. Each of the kids eve had their own spot at night to sleep - Brynn on the family room couch bed, Tyler on the living room couch bed, and Dylan in the 2nd bathroom. They slept like rocks and actually got up at a reasonable hour every morning when we didn't mind getting up with them. (That didn't even take one night to change once we got back to home sweet home?!?).

Our kids like going to hotels and we had fun there too. We had movie nights, picnics, played with the phones, painted nails,...

You would think they would look forward to the car ride home. A little down time to do nothing but sit and watch shows. But nope. Halfway through the first day back the kids were going crazy being couped up in the car and when we pulled off to find a park for them to run around in we happened upon one of our favorite hang outs - Monkey Joes. So they blew off some energy there. You know its bad when Dylan when straight up to that monkey car, posed, and wouldn't stop saying "cheese" until I got the camera out and took a picture of him.

It was a wonderful vacation! We couldn't have asked for better family time. These are the memories that will stay with us.

Family Vacation 2010: Sea World

Sea World was our last and final outing. And we ended up being there from park open to close. And guess what?!... Dylan liked Sea World!...

I don't know if it was because he really did enjoy it, or because he decided to just give in and put up with everything we were throwing at him. But he absolutely loved the dolphin show - he kept saying "wow" and clapping and smiling - he was totally enthrawled.

And the kids really enjoyed Shamu's Happy Harbor for all its play areas and rides.

And while Tyler was waiting in line with daddy to ride the Shamu rollercoaster, and Dylan was napping, Brynn was even brave enough to go on a few rides herself...

And then she decided to take Tyler on a few by themselves...they were very big...

Please notice Dylan on the ride...sitting on his own, not clutching anyone, not crying, not screaming, just enjoying it...that's improvement and progression for ya!