Playing at "Mama Smith's" House

We are tired but still very happy in our nomad existence. When we arrived at my parents house Bridger was delighted. He, with the expression of a boy who has just realized a happy truth exclaimed, "Mom, we have two (holding up his fingers)...No, Three houses! Mama Rasmussen's house, Mama Smith's house, and our house! THREE HOUSES!" When I asked if that was a happy thing he exclaimed with all the glee he could muster, "YES!"

We have been having a fun time this week at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house. We visited the Disney Store. The kids thought they were at Disney Land or something. They really don't know how much cooler it gets (we'll let them be happy in their ignorance). ;) They are obsessed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and have asked to go back everyday since.

They are as always really big "Helpers". They "helped" their grandma in the garden lots this week. She has been so patient with their "helpfulness". After their first big event of helping she helped them clean up their "help" and then in her total sweetness gave them their own little pots and helped them plant their very own seeds. (sorry about all the help in those sentences) the next day when they realized that the seeds still hadn't sprouted they got creative. They picked a bunch of her flowers and poked them in the pots and showed their grandma the beautiful plants that they had now. They were delighted with them selves thinking they were so clever, seeds just took to long! They thought transplanting was a much better way to go about things. When we explained that these flowers would not grow but actually die they were sad. BUT, we gave them a little vase to put their flowers in and they were elated once again. They carried it around like their most treasured possession. In another day their little seeds sprouted in time for them to be truly awed. I will always remember them tending the garden with my mother and together marveling at the beauty of flowers.

The next day we had a impromptu cousin tea party. It was fabulous with my mom's freshly cut roses and all our fancy tea party food including our home baked tea cakes. After our fancy tea time we headed outside for wild water play. I love LOVE seeing my kids enjoy their cousins. At one point Bridger's two beautiful 4/5 year old girl cousins (Gwen and Kira) were fighting over who would get to be Bridger's princes. He finally settled it by saying "I'll have two princesses! You and You!". And with that he grabbed both their hands. It was too cute.

On Wednesday we visited the Americana. It is part of the fancy downtown shopping center in Glendale. They have fun fountains and stuff for the kids to explore. We had a super yummy lunch at the Cheese Cake Factory with Anjannea and her daughters, my sister Shayla, and Grandma Angeli. Its been years since I have eaten there, YUM. The kids really love eating out - major event for them. :) A cool side note is that they have this big bathroom for kids: TV area , tables for drawing, chalk boards, building blocks, kid sized potties, nursing room... it was nice to be at a grown up place that catered to the little ones so much.

Thursday we headed to Huntington beach. It was so fun to be at the beach again. The kids had a really fun time just being able to run around free in the sand and play with the waves on the sea shore. It was great to be at the beach with my sister Shayla and my niece Christie. Just like the summer days we shared together as kids.

Now I am packing to drive back to Vegas to help welcome Sister Rasmussen home from Milan Italy! We really are having such FUN Times! May they keep on coming. :)