Why we avoid princess movies

A couple months ago I DVR'ed the Disney version of the Three Musketeers.  The boys, especiallyVance, love it.  I usually let them watch it while I shower.  Because it was recorded off TV, they have to watch the commercials.  One of the commercials is for the Sleeping Beauty DVD.  They play a big portion of the "Once upon a dream song," with the video of princess Aurora frolicking and singing in the woods with the forest animals.

Yesterday I bathed the boys, then went to get them dressed.  Vance took his towel, and draped it over his body like a flowing gown, then to my horror declared, "I'm a princess." Then he proceeded to sing the once upon a dream song!  Not his proudest moment. :) 

Mason also once made the princess declaration when I let him watch Cinderella when he was younger(much younger!).  Since then, there  has been a strict ban on princess movies in our home.  I am not raising any princesses here!

Jumpin' Jax

To get the kids out of the house, I took Miles and Vance to a place in Lansing called Jumpin' Jax.  It is a big warehouse with a bunch of inflatable bounce houses.  We went with a few friends from church.  The kids had a GREAT time!  I took a bunch of pictures, but only a few turned out because the kids were too busy moving.  

Vance was really timid at first, and refused to go in any of the inflatables.  I was afraid that I had paid six dollars for him to play with toys.  Here he is playing with his good friend Eve.

Eventually he warmed up to the idea, and had a great time!

Miles was so funny on the slides.  He couldn't just go down them.  He had to get a big bouncing start before he would catapult down.

We're Back!!

The boys and I have returned from Utah.  We had a very nice trip, and enjoyed our chance to see family and friends.  Everything went well except for a few unwelcome cases of strep throat.  Vance was the only one to escape the bug.  Vance was so good on this trip.  I was really worried that he wouldn't sleep well(like the last time we went to Utah), but he did great!  And, he seems to have mellowed out a bit.  We were having a really hard time with the terrible twos.  He even did great on the airplane on the trip home!  

Now we are home until June when... Jordan and I get to go to Utah.  By ourselves.  For a whole week!!!  My brother Steven is getting married, and Jordan and I are going to the wedding.  My wonderful mother-in-law has agreed to watch the boys.  I am soooooooooooo excited, and I can't wait!!!  Thank you Diana!!!!

My Surprise

When I was in Utah, Jordan told me he was working on a surprise for me at home.  I had no idea what it was.  He said it may be something that I might not notice for a couple days.  But, I found it!  He put new ivories on my piano keys.  Most of the keys didn't have them before.  Thank you Jordan!

The Dinosaur Museum

While we were in Utah, we went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point with my good friends LeRoyne and Sarah, and their kids.  For some reason, the pictures are really small, but here they are!

Me, Vance, Miles, Mason, Paige, Ethan, Vaughn, and Brooklyn.  I did not want to be in this picture, but Vance would not let me put him down.  I was going to let him walk so he could explore, but he refused.  So, he stayed in his stroller most of the time.

Vance held this pose almost the whole time we were at the museum.  I still think he had a fun time though.

Ethan, Vaughn and Miles digging for bones

This was a really cute feature at the museum.  It was  a big torso that you could add parts to.  A mix and match dinosaur.  The kids loved it.

Cute sisters, Paige & Brooklyn

This is the only time Vance would get out of the stroller!

I am in Utah, along with my boys, and my germs

We made it!  The boys and I flew into Utah on Saturday.  For the most part, traveling went very well, and I am relieved!  

Besides my children, it turns out I brought along something else that was definitely not invited to the party.  I woke up on Sunday with a sore throat, which got worse and worst over the course of the day.  I went to the urgent care, and I have strep throat.  Yippie.  So we are stuck in the house until I am not contagious anymore, and the boys are going stir crazy!  But, tomorrow we are going to get out and have some fun.