We had a nice fairly quiet week, with only swimming lessons (by the way, Target boy took two sessions at the YMCA and is now a water maniac, more later!). The next week, though, was more chaos. We were home for Memorial day and the Tuesday after, when we had Erika take our family pictures (if you go check them out, you will need a password, if you can't guess it, I will laugh at you). Then early, meaning like 5:30, on Wednesday Target Man headed south for a work trip and I headed to DC with the boys to see my parents, since they were in town house hunting. We got to go to the National Zoo and see elephants and hippos, which were by far Target Boy's favorites. I also got to go through a few houses, which is one of my favorite things to do. I came home early Saturday morning and we spent an uneventful weekend as a family.
The next week, brought a new addition to our house, a new HEAT PUMP! We had been without air conditioning in the 90 degree weather and not enjoying it. We now have an energy efficient Carrier Heat Pump and a really cool programmable thermostat. The next week, however, it stopped working, they came a fixed it only to have it stop again. They had to replace the entire outdoor compressor and it worked for about a week. Now after, four times of it working and stopping, we have made it through another week and hope that we don't have anymore issues and the real problem was identified. We're keeping our fingers crossed!
During the whole heat pump issues, Target Man started his soccer league and so on Tuesday and Wednesday nights we pack up and go watch him. I don't really know their record, but they have won at least 3 games, which is better than I thought they would, since they are playing in the Premier league. Anyway, he loves it and usually comes home with some new injury. The latest is a 3 x 5 oozing grass burn or something on his thigh. Its really gross.
During all of this madness, we have headed to our local national forest a few times and played in the lake. The boys love to play in the sand and both of them have no fear of the water. Target Boy will walk out until his mouth and nose are almost covered with water and just thinks he is so cool. He also doesn't mind putting his head under the water. The strange thing is, if he falls under, he doesn't struggle to come up, he stays under long enough for me to get panicky and want to pull him up. Target baby doesn't mind going under either and doesn't sputter or cough. I can't wait for them to really know how to swim so I can stop freaking out every time them go under.
So now we have made it to the second week of June, and my parents came to visit. Dad had to head up to DC for job stuff, and they stayed in town for a little while and did projects around my house, well Dad did. My over the stove microwave is finally finished being installed! Its been a job in progress for about 2 months with Target Man buying lots more power tools. I found the microwave for fairly cheap on craigslist, but with all the new tools we had to buy, I think I could have bought a new one and had Lowe's install it for less. But its all about the learning experience I guess. Also, the hole in the trim by the roof is fixed, so no more noisy birds living there. A side note, apparently one lived and died there and luckily it was high enough that we didn't smell the decaying bird in our house, how gross, glad I didn't find it. We also finally have a door handle on the back door, its actually kind of weird to use it and not just push on the glass, but it makes me feel safer. The coolest project that was done, is that dad and I made a picnic table. It was originally for the boys, but its actually big enough for all of us. I was in the DR office with Target Baby (gross toenail fungus, he gets the weirdest things), and found a cool picnic table with instructions in Family Fun magazine. Its made completely out of one sheet of plywood, and comes apart so you can store it flat or take it places. Here are the instructions. We still need to paint ours, but other than that its done. I learned how to use a jigsaw and now I want to do more, it was so much fun!
So after that exciting week, my parents left on Sunday and then I went to town cleaning and doing laundry for our next adventure. On Tuesday, this is June 17th, we packed up and headed to the airport to fly to Salt Lake. Target Boy was so excited to be on an airplane again and both he and Target Baby did great during the flights. We stayed in Salt Lake with my sister and her family until Thursday, when we headed for Bear Lake for a family reunion. It was the first time that all of my siblings and complete families were together. Target Man was only there until Thursday night when he flew home to go back to work (and for the 3rd year in a row we weren't together on our anniversary, Happy number 5!). We were still able to get pictures of the entire family together, even though we were all together with Brett for only about 2 hours. While Target Man went back to work, the rest of us spent the week jet skiing, boating, and playing on the beach in the really cold water. We had a great time and enjoyed watching all the cousins playing together. Target Boy loves his Utah cousins and keeps talking about them. I miss the fact he had someone who would play with him constantly. But, nevertheless, we had to come home, and by Tuesday my boys were on vacation meltdown. We left Salt Lake at 11:15 pm and amazingly the trip by myself with the boys was completely uneventful. Well, I guess not completely, the TSA women in the Salt Lake airport we sooooo rude. I mean you would think that if you have a job where everyone is already going to dislike you, you might try to at least be friendly right? Wrong. My dad got an escort pass to help me get through security and the woman did not recognize what is was and starting screaming at him to leave the area. He tried explaining and showing her where on the pass it said what he was doing and she just kept screaming. The two other women working were rude in so many other ways too, I was just appalled. If it didn't take so much effort, I would write a really nasty letter and send it to their boss, but instead I'll just complain about them! I mean really did I look like a terrorist completely exhausted and dragging my two really tired little boys through the airport in the middle of the night? I mean really, give me a break. Anyway, Target boy was asleep before we left the ground and was still out when we got to New York. Target baby slept most of the time too, although that was partially because I pretty much nursed him across the country, so much for the weaning process. What I will do for a little peace.
This is a snow ball in June
This is a snowball in June down Aunt Kelsey's back!
By the way, for any future plane trips you might take, Jet Blue is awesome and the extra leg room is worth the little extra money! For the flights when the boys were awake, having Nick Jr and Cartoon network kept Target Boy completely happy, I mean when else does he get to watch endless TV with mom's okay. The extra space let Target Baby roam around the floor and kept him happy. I think I will fly Jet Blue whenever possible! They definatly won me over. Oh, they also still have a good selection of snacks, including yummy real chex mix and really yummy chocolate chip cookies.
So we made it home. Target Man had switched days off so he was able to collect us from the airport and let me take a three hour nap. I was still zombie mom for a few days, but I think I'm over that. So now we are home and ready to head into July which will be equally as busy with another family trip, family coming to visit, and my parents moving to DC. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with updating so I don't have another marathon post to compose.
One last thing, this week marks the year anniversary of closing on our house and next week marks a year of living here. I am happy to say, we still love it here. As of now, I have no desire to move. So happy anniversary to home ownership, we still have a lot of work to do on you baby!
This is seriously not posed! I just snuck up on him.
