Train Day

What will a boy do in order to take a very special ride on a train with Bomb-Bomb and Daddy? Let's just say it involves potty training and let's just say that it wasn't potty that ended up in the toilet.

It was a really cold morning, so we all bundled up and headed to the Front Runner station.
The first train going the opposite direction arrived. He is getting anxious.

Waiting is hard to do. He can't stop talking so we couldn't get a decent picture.


Finally the train arrives and the fun begins.

Now that's happiness!
Remi held onto that ticket like it was a precious, precious cookie. He didn't let it go all day.

We rode to the end of the line, meeting Brenna and Bridget in Ogden.

We popped over to the old Union Pacific building, grabbed some pretty good grub at the Union Grill, and browsed the gift shops and played on the elevators. Admission to the museum was a little pricy for two increasingly tired boys, so we didn't bother going in this time. Maybe next year.
Marshall enjoyed this outing almost as much as Remi.
All aboard!!!
Good end to a good day.

Hip

We were driving past a coffee shop in Sugar House and their were scores of people sitting on the patio. People doing smug, coffee shop appropriate things with their Mac Books and Buddy Holly glasses.

I said, "Look Remi, hipsters!"
He promptly replied, "Me no like hipsters!!!"

Love that boy.

4 Years of Halloween

Remi's first Halloween was pretty uneventful. He had a pretty strict bedtime and I think we only managed to trick or treat at a few houses. Keith was stuck late at work anyway. Low key at best. Every kid in our family is required by law to be a pumpkin for their first Halloween, so here he is in keeping with tradition.
Remi's second Halloween was more fun. We visited a place in Texas called Old Town Spring, then over to a pumpkin patch with friends. Remi was a bat. A costume a bit to warm for that 70 degree day. Marshall was on the way.

Remi's third and Marshall's first Halloween. The first year Remi got to decide what he wanted to be. His first choice was his final one. This was probably the beginning of his long running obsession with elevators. Marshall was recovering from surgery to cut his frenulum (tongue.) He was the requisite pumpkin, we just didn't keep him out very long, or get a good picture in his costume!
This year Halloween took on a whole new meaning to the boys! They both fully understand that it's cool to bother strangers at home and ask them for candy. With Keith out of town, we had to make the most of it and treat-or-treat on Main St, at She-She's trunk-or-treat and around the block with Emi and Buddy. We will be eating candy for a long, long time. Remi willing let me dress him as Dwight Schrute from "The Office" and Marshall semi-willingly let me dress him as Mose (Dwight's strange cousin)

Skyline

We took a drive this past Saturday. Just drive to the "B" and straight on til morning. I keep looking up to the mountains just craving to go back. Stunning views, fresh air, happy babies. What more could you want?

The Great Bothwell Experiment: Early Fall Visit

It was simply time for a visit to good ol' Bothwell. The light is shifting, the air is cooling, and I'm actually itching for the day when we can sit on the back porch watch the sunset.

On the drive up we passed this random spectacle. Nothing like dirt bikes to break up a boring drive.

We're lucky the weeds didn't require any mowing, probably won't until Spring...

  Remi was so careful to make sure brother didn't fall on a "pokey."

Peek-a-boo

I see you!

A Lovely Day at the Aviary

I love birds. Wouldn't it make sense then, that I love the Tracy Aviary? Yes! Birds are beautiful, comical, surprising smart and majestic all at once.

Gigi and I took the kiddos to enjoy some avian fun this past Saturday. Located in Liberty Park, Tracy Aviary is clean, well-kept, spacious, educational and beautiful.

Remi and I made the perfect pelican treat

Nizhoni (Navajo for "beautiful") was so striking and trusting of her handlers. She's over 32 years old.

Gigi nearly ran over the kids so she could be the owl!

I love flamingos, even though they waste a lot of time eating and sleeping!

Remi loved the "jungle."

No clue what these guys are, but I love their rockin' 'do!

We'll be back!

My tuba

I love this boy. He makes me laugh everyday.
He is doing really well in preschool. Always excited to go and leaves me sniffling in the dust. Even earned a free dinner out for his hard work in speech.
He is sharing more willingly with brother. They love to wrestle around on the floor.
He is trying really hard to potty train. We're taking it slow. He has become a champion hand washer. "Scrub. Fingers. Top. Other top. Rinse."
He calls his potty stool his "tuba." Don't ask me where he got that.
He knows his letters.
He even started singing the alphabet with me (he has hated singing up to this point.)
Whenever I type his name on my new phone it calls him "Remix"
I love this boy!

Gonna buy me a Ford

How convenient that the kids start fussing right as we are driving by the tractor store...

Coke Tasting

While browsing through the Coke store in Vegas we noticed tables in the cafe stacked high with trays holding lovely sorts of carbonated beverages. We figured it must be the sampler "Tastes of the World." We had to try it! You get 16 cups of soda for about $8 with a guide (reminiscent of a box of chocolates) showing which drink corresponded with each number. Stacked two trays high, it can be a bit intimidating and the amount of soda you get is really better suited for 4 or more people, the two of us didn't stand a chance of finishing even one drink.

The first tray was pretty tame. We found ourselves enjoying the Vegitabeta from Japan the very best.

Tray Two had a few hidden surprises. Some were just flavored iced tea, one tasted very strongly of Listerine, but the WORST by a long shot was Beverly from Italy. Went down like seltzer water but with the most horrid aftertaste imaginable! Like a pound of anise being shoved down your throat. And I do not exaggerate.

Outdoor Wall Art

While walking up the steepest hill in La Jolla, I spotted this interesting idea. I have no idea how to execute it, but it sure looks awesome...

Cali Fun

Marshall woke up with a start and started "bawking" at birds in La Jolla.
This is the kid that never poses for anything, yet somehow I got him over to the lobster just asking one time...

My Boys

Even though they aren't looking at the camera, they melt my heart.

Big Disaster

Remind me not to give him an entire bag of Goldfish on a road trip!

He still loves them...Vacation style

Just in case there was any doubt!
A two hour detour just to ride this baby!
Coolest elevator he's ever seen!
Had to pose at the Caesar's Palace parking garage elevator.
And on the way to the restaurant in Manhattan Beach.
Trader Joe's elevator got to see him about 5 times

And this is only a tiny cross-section of all of the elevators we rode on our trip to SoCal!