The Great Wolf Lodge

**Ok, before I start this post I must warn you all that I am about to sound very much like a terrible infomercial...but this place really was amazing.

Because Scott's new job doesn't start until next week (oh, forgot to mention that Scott just got a really great job here in Olympia as an Auditor so we will officially become Washingtonians!!) and his temporary job just ended, we decided to take a little over night vacation to The Great Wolf Lodge. (Which by the way is just 15 minutes from our house)  It was a little more, okay, a lot more than I like to spend on a hotel stay, but we couldn't pass up the massive indoor water park. Oh, and by the way...I have become a total hotel snob now, no more super 8 motels for me baby. I learned that you REALLY do get what you pay for in a hotel room! the beds we so comfy, the carpets were clean, the towels were huge and fluffy, and there was an LCD screen TV hanging on the wall. Perfection.

The kids had so much fun swimming. I thought maybe we would be there for an hour then get bored, but after almost three hours we had to remove a screaming Jack who wasn't ready to leave. I couldn't believe what a little fish Bianca is. This was her first real exposure to water and she loved it...

like, loved it so much she would just sit in the middle of a waterfall or a geyser.

I couldn't get very many good pictures because the lighting was terrible...but you get the idea.

When we got back to our room, we put a movie on for Jack and this was the poor little guy about 30 seconds into the previews...

We wore this kid right out!!

Unfortunately the nap was short lived and we made our way down to the arcade...what two year old doesn't like neon lights and obnoxious music? (and besides, his mommy is like a little kid and wanted to play some of those ridiculous games. I know, it's stupid, but we all have our quirks, right?!)

We had a rough night with the kids (no one wants to sleep when there is so much to be had!!) Everyone was finally sleeping at about 1 AM, after putting Bianca to bed in the bath tub and jack in the pack-n-play. Next time we will definitely be getting two rooms!

I do have to share one last bit of amazing-ness about our stay. These wrist bands have a tiny microchip in them that act as your room key. Pure genius I tell you! Oh, and if you want some ice cream or a souvenir from the gift shop, or pizza...yeah, they just scan your wrist band and bill it all to your room!

Man I love this place!

Every gal needs a purse...

...And so does every two year old BOY,

Right?

This little pink bag was given to Bianca for her birthday, but Jackson insists on taking it with him.  Scott tried to take it away but lost the battle when it came down to tears and gut wrenching screams.

Look at that face...this is serious business people.  Only a man completely secure in his masculinity can hold a bag like that with such confidence.

It really is practical.  He can fit all his cars in it, and any other treasures he finds along the way.

And besides, it sings the alphabet and counts to ten...what mother can turn away an educational toy? (at least that is what I have to tell myself)

Can't get enough of this stink face...

...can anyone say blackmail?!?

The birthday continues...

The birthday for princess Bianca continued on Sunday when we had the Springer family over for a yummy dinner and caterpillar birthday cake! I saw this cake online and had to make it for the party...it turned out darling!

Of course we did the traditional "let the kid stuff their face until they're sick" and as you can see, Bianca loved every bit of the chocolate cake and gooey buttercream frosting...

She was too much of a mess to transport all the way upstairs so we did a sink bath...who doesn't love a good sink bath?!?

Because bianca goes to bed prompty at 6 o'clock, she wasn't able to fully enjoy all of her birthday presents...but they are downstairs waiting for her to wake up tomorrow...

Thanks Springer fam for spoiling our little angel!

Happy Birthday little lovebug...

Today is Bianca's first birthday. It seems like just yesterday (cliche, I know, but it's true) we brought this dark haired beauty home from the hospital. The little ball of sunshine has been absolute delight since the day she was born. Each morning I wake up to this smiling face, and feel grateful for the love she brings into our home. We love every bit of her chubby cheeks, big blue eyes, toothy grins, silly giggles, and slobbery kisses.

Thanks baby B. for being the doll that you are...We love you!

let's get our craft on!!

My cousin saw this on a friend's blog and then decided to give it the name Craft It Forward, which I think is perfect. As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to join. So, is anyone else ready to get their "Craft On"?

Craft It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward". I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the CIF exchange. All the gifts will be made and posted out 'sometime within the next year'. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return, is craft it forward by making the same promise on your blog. This exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'CRAFT IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL CRAFT IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG. I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Craft It Forward recipients. Come and join me who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts???

come on ladies...I know I have some crafty friends so this should be fun!

A first time for everything...

Bianca LOVES food. This girl will eat anything you put on her plate. Because she has been such a great eater I haven't had to give her much junk. When all I can manage to feed the EXTREMELY picky Jack is go-gurts, gold fish, and cold cereal, Bianca gets to enjoy fruit, chunks of grilled chicken, peas, cooked carrots, avocado...you get the picture.

Yesterday I thought I would give her an ice cream cone just to get her reaction (keep in mind she really hasn't ever had anything overly sweet)

The little sweetie could hardly contain herself, she is actually shaking with excitement...

I let her work on it for about 2 minutes...I think she knew I was going to take it away because she was literally stuffing her face with it.

After I took it away she did what any smart woman would do and started to lick her hands...she didn't want to miss a single drop of the melted goodness!

hair today, gone tomorrow

I have to tell a story, because these pictures definitely need some explaining.

I suppose this is a week for me to learn lessons. The two I learned last night were:
- Read directions BEFORE operating electric equipment
- Always double check what you are doing before you make any dramatic changes in ones appearance.

Lat night I bought some clippers to cut the boys hair, I have been cutting Scott's hair with some borrowed clippers and thought it would be a good investment. I decided to try out my new toy on Jack. I was fiddling around with all the attachments and amidst my excitement I forgot that I had taken off the clipper attachment and just the bare blade was exposed. I proceeded to take a massive chunk out of the golden locks of jacks luscious hair. lesson #1 learned..always double check. the damage was bad enough that I couldn't even buzz it...we had to shave him. bald. like not-a-hair-left-on-the-kids-head bald. No problem I thought, until I learned lesson #2 about one minute later. Always read directions. I neglected to read that the clippers needed to be charged for no less than three hours before using them. About one minute into shaving his head, the clippers die and this is what I was left with...






My very own Benjamin Button! I guess we will know what Jack will be looking like in his geriatric years. Scott walked in from work at this point and had a panic attack. You can also notice jacks somber face, I didn't get many smiles from that little guy last night.

BUT, no worries, we let the clippers charge and now we have a FULLY bald two year old. (insert sigh of relief)



And now he is ALL smiles!

I knew she was being TOO quiet....

I thought I learned my lesson with jack...when they are being quiet, they are never up to any good.

Not my sweet Bianca, she was NEVER supposed to get in any trouble!

I guess it was my fault. What mother, in her right mind, leaves an open bin full of clothes laying in the middle of the floor?!?

note:this bedroom was clean about 15 minutes prior to her crawling in there to destroy it. Oh, and my daughter usually isn't still in her pajamas at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but the little doll is sick.

chocolate cupcakes, powdered sugar, and a sweet little five year old...

This is my Darling Niece Bailey.  Her big sister and dad are in Utah for the LDS film festival, so she's been feeling a little blue because she really wanted to go.  

So what does Auntie Jill do with a down-in-the-dumps five year old? 

What any awesome aunt would do...

Have a cupcake slumber party!

We made a some amazing creme filled chocolate cupcakes, which she stirred, poured, frosted, and dusted herself...with a little supervision of course.

Now I think all the rest of my nieces need to live closer so I can host a few more cupcake parties!

Winking 101

Having a young toddler has taught me many things.  Something in particular that I have learned is that teaching a young child a new "trick" is always a process.  Think back to your first child, how many hours were spent teaching them something as simple as Patty-Cake, or using a fork, or drinking from a cup...all these things require a process.  

Now wink.

seems easy, right? Well try and teach a two year old to wink and it seems as though you are trying to teach them to speak a different language.

First, he sees the wink and can't figure out how to open his mouth and close one eye at the same time.  (when you wink, unless you think about it, you will naturally open your mouth)

Now we are getting closer, just get that eye closed all the way.

Ok, now just get that eye closed AND the mouth more "normal" looking.

And there it is...perfection!!

That one is for you Nana Cindy and Bompa Greg!

bedtime routines

Most people have strict bed routines for their kids, as they should because children need consistency. Some people read stories, some people sing sweet lullaby's**, and some people have a snack and a glass of warm milk.

Not at the springer house.

Our nightly routine consists of jumping off window ledges,

and having wrestle mania with dad...these are our last ditch efforts to squeeze the last bit of energy out of a very high strung little jack-hammer.

Here is sad bianca who has usually been sound asleep for about 4 hours befor jack goes to bed...she was not happy to be awake for a quick diaper change.

**note: Don't worry, I do read stories and sing songs to my children. Lots of them.