Sesame Place (3.49 years and 22 months)

On Father's day we had a relaxing day together.  We took the kids to the park.  They had fun running around.  Brian got a picture book of him with the kids.  It is neat to look over the past year and see how much the kids have changed.  It's awesome we can do so much stuff with them.  And Brian enjoys photography so much.  It forces me to remember to use the camera a lot too.  I don't always enjoy taking the pictures but I love looking back at them.

We have been having 2 teenage girls babysit Austin and Sydney while I am home.  It is getting the kids use to other people especially Austin who is very shy.  And it allows me to get some things done around the house.  On Saturday morning, the girls came over so I could pack and load the car for sesame place.  Austin and Brian were at swim class.  Austin is now in level 2 swim class.  He is doing so much better.  He participates and doesn't cry for Brian any longer. It is refreshing to see. I am always surprised when we are swimming to see how much Austin can do.  Since I don't go to swim class, I miss a lot.  He sticks his head underwater himself and bounces around the pool.

So while they were at swim, the car was packed and once they got home we finished getting ready to leave.  We left around noon.  It is about an 6.5 hour drive to Sesame Place.  We stopped along the way to eat and potty breaks.  Austin does a fabulous job traveling and staying dry. He tells us when he needs to potty and then we look for the blue signs to know where we can stop.

Once we arrived at our hotel we placed the second bed on the floor so the kids could sleep on it.  They always sleep on the floor together when we travel.  Sydney is a little hard to get to sleep because she likes to continue to play but once they are asleep it works out well.

On Sunday morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel. They had a lady making balloons so Austin got cookie monster balloon and Sydney got an Elmo balloon.  Austin's didn't make it to the car before the balloons started to pop but at least Brian got one picture first.  Then we drove about 10 minutes away to Sesame Place.  It didn't open until 10 am. We arrived early and got a good parking spot.

There was a roller coaster by the entrance that Austin really liked and wanted to ride. Sydney was not tall enough yet. So Sydney and I waited while Austin and Brian rode it.  Austin loved it!  He ended up riding it at least 2 more times that day.

We ended to the little kids section of rides next.  They had at least 10 different rides that were all for little kids and adults.  We got to ride all the rides with them.  Austin loved everything.  Sydney didn't like some of the rides but most of them she did.  There were some lines but it wasn't too bad at all.  The weather was great because it was cloudy with highs around 80.

We ate lunch at Cookie Monster's Cafe.  Austin was happy because he got a cookie monster plate.  They also got cookie monster cupcakes for dessert.  After lunch we went and got our swimsuits on.  We went to the water area but they were not to into it then. They were tired. Then the parade started so we watched some of that. Sydney fell asleep and then Austin wanted to leave the parade so he could sleep in the stroller too.  While the kids slept in the stroller we walked around and sat for a while.

We had dinner reservations with Elmo and his friends.  I was excited about this.  I was thinking it was going to be similar to Chef Mickey's at Disney but I was wrong.  Brian and Sydney got there first because Austin and I were riding the roller coaster again.  It was a buffet meal. We didn't know when to eat because we were afraid if we ate too early the kids would get bored.  We realized we should of eaten right away. When the characters came out, they came to all the tables.  They were out for the entire hour.

The Count was the first character to visit our table. Sydney was terrified!  She was actually shaking she was so scared.  She really doesn't know who The Count is and it's easy to see why kids would be scared of him.  Sydney was really excited to see Elmo from a distance.  She would get scared when he came close to her.  After dinner, we went up to meet Cookie Monster.  We also danced with all the characters.  We had a really good time.  They do it so much better than Disney.  We were happy that we did this experience with the kids.

On Sunday night they had a night parade.  We got popcorn and got a good seat to watch it.  The kids really enjoyed it.  With it being at night, it was extra special.  There was a lot of singing and dancing.  We had a great first day at Sesame Place.

On Monday, we went back to Sesame Place for the entire day again.  We did all the dry rides in the morning again.  The rides were really fun.  We all liked them.  In the afternoon, we went on some water slides.  We decided to take Austin and Sydney on the big water slide first.  Austin liked it. Sydney got wet early on and she did not like it at all.  Then we went to a little calmer water slide but because she was scared of the first one she didn't like it.  She did like playing in the water though.

After playing in the water we went to an Elmo and Cookie Monster show.  When Elmo came out, Sydney was screaming Elmo.  She was so excited.  It was so cute.  They really enjoyed the show especially since it was each of their favorite characters.  Even though we don't watch Sesame Street, it's very easy to love all the characters.  It was fun to watch the show.

That evening they rode a few more rides after dinner.  Then it was sad because the park closed.  None of us wanted to leave but we had to go back to the hotel.  We were all exhausted but it was a fabulous weekend in Sesame Place!

Start of Summer (3.45 years and 22 months)

We had a great Memorial Day weekend together.  On Saturday night we went to Chargin Falls for a hot air balloon festival.  We have never been there before so we didn't know what to expect.  We just went to the high school and watch the hot air balloons take off.  It was really cool to see.  Austin got to experience port a potties for the first time.  Unfortunately for us he liked it.  Sydney wanted to try it too but she was told no.

On Sunday morning we went to Thomas the Train with Kaitlyn and her family.  We took Austin to Thomas the Train 2 years ago but he doesn't remember.  This year he had a great time.  They got our picture taken early with Thomas.  They had some bounce houses that Austin and Kaitlyn really enjoyed.  Sydney liked it too but not as much.  She was still too little for some of them.  Then we road on the train.  Austin and Sydney wanted to be with Tutta more than us. Luckily she didn't mind too much.  It was a fun train ride.   Then we walked around the festival for a little bit and came home for nap time.

Then on Monday, we went to the water park for the first time.  This summer the local mommy's group I belong to was getting season passes to a water park for a discounted price.  Brian and I thought it would be fun to get them.  The kids love water and it's only 20 minutes from our house.  We only had to go twice to make the passes worth it.  We have went several times now.  Austin absolutely loves it!  Sydney likes it too but she gets cold and will say "all done".  As the summer gets warmer though she will probably like it even more.  It has taken Sydney a few visits but now she will climb up the stairs and go down the water slide all by herself.  At the end of the water slide the water is up to her neck however she refuses to let us help her. She just walks slowly to the stairs.  She likes being independent.

Sydney has started potty training.  On week, I did place her in underwear for a few days.  It went okay but not great.  She didn't mind being wet too much so we had a lot of accidents.  I am hoping as she gets closer to 2 she will be more aware and want to use the potty all the time.  She is starting to tell us after she goes pee-pee or poopy now so hopefully she will get there soon.  Austin still will not poop in the potty.  I am taking a break pushing it.  Hopefully he will just want to do it and do it.  I just wish it was sooner rather than later.

Sydney now calls us mommy and daddy.  Until now we were always mama and dada. I kind of miss the mama but mommy is fine too.  She is talking more and more. Sometimes it is hard to understand her.  Today she was saying something I couldn't understand and I told her that. She just laughed so she doesn't mind not being understood yet.

Last month was the first time we could finally use the playground.  We had such a wet spring that it was too wet to play on it.  Now the kids play on it everyday and love it.  It is so nice it is back there.

 The kids are going to bed around 9:00-9:30 and getting up around 6:30 everyday.  They are usually sleeping all night along.  Sydney sometimes gets up but not for long.  She just wants to move somewhere and falls back asleep.  It is nice to finally get 6-7 hours of consecutive hours of sleep every night.  I have been staying awake until 10:30-11pm every night. I am enjoying watching 1 TV show a day right now.  We haven't watch much TV in 3 years so I am starting to enjoy that again.

Our neighbor calls Austin cookie and Sydney cupcake because every time Austin would see her he would say cookie. Cookie is Austin's favorite word right now.  He just says it to say it.  But it's funny because every time we are outside and they see their neighbor Austin yells "Hi cookie" and she yells the same thing back.

The other morning I was outside talking to my other neighbor and Austin went inside the house.  He decided to make himself an ice cream cone. He got the cones out, the ice cream scoop, and ice cream. He made the cone. Put the ice cream back in the freezer and the ice cream scoop in the sink and came back with the ice cream cone. He was so proud of himself.  I was impressed he did all that himself that I let him eat the ice cream cone.

We have also started going to Home Depot for kids workshops once a month on a Saturday.  Sydney is a little young but she is learning to use a hammer and she loves painting.  Austin really enjoys it.  Austin has been able to use a hammer ever since he helped Daddy build the swing set.  Austin loves using tools and he's very good at it.  We really enjoy those workshops.