Yesterday we welcomed home my brother–a.k.a. “Uncle Matt”–from his LDS mission.

We were ready with a sign and everything.

Carissa was the Guardian of Balloons.

We waited anxiously at the bottom of the escalator for several minutes and watched other families welcome home their missionaries. Lots of moms in tears and dads with huge grins. We also saw brand new missionaries in their brand new suits with brand new luggage arriving to head to the MTC in Provo.

Until finally, at last, we saw our missionary descend the escalator and we got to give him our hugs.

I took this kids on a trip this morning. First we spent a little time at Gardner Village. It’s a quaint place, but I suppose it would be quaint AND enjoyable if you were with other adults and not a four- and one-year-old. We walked through two stores, both of which were nice, but Wes would have none of it. I ended up carrying Carissa in one arm and pushing Wes in the stroller with the other so he would at least be contained. When we came to the duck pond it was all I could do to keep him from jumping in and throwing rocks at the ducks.

It was a quick visit.

Instead of going right home, we stopped at Thanksgiving Point. I had heard about the children’s garden that is supposed to be nice to visit. And it was. (Even for $10 admission–$6 for me, $4 for Wes.)

The first thing you see is a giant Noah’s Ark water feature. Wes was basically in heaven.

Carissa’s favorite game was tossing her bottle in the water and then standing at the edge, innocently saying, “Oh, oh!” over and over until I fetched it. And then she’d throw it in again.

Carissa thought the water jets were really fun, but she wouldn’t venture into the water by herself (it was chilly).

I didn’t dress the kids for playing in water. Wesley’s corduroy pants were sopping wet, even rolled up–especially after he sat in the water.

After Wes fell face-first into the water (he was chasing the big kids), I took off his shirt to dry and he sported this cool saggy bottom look.

At long last I dragged them away from the water and we strolled the gardens. They have some cool features: a bear cave, a fish pond, and hedge mazes (there was NO WAY I would let Wes loose in there). The best part was probably the giant sandbox.

So busy.

So tired.

So big.

Not big enough.

Popsicles with friends.

Solo snack.

Rock time.

Walk time.

*Le Sigh*

Cutting Wesley’s hair. It is a hard, hard thing. I always let it grow out as long as I can possibly stand until I suck up enough courage to pull out the clippers and make his and our lives miserable for fifteen minutes while I cut his hair.

I heard about a place 30 minutes north that specializes in haircuts for kids. I’m not usually up in the area, but I was today, and I made a special trip in to see if they could make our usually traumatic trimming experience any more bearable.

Before I took Wes here, I called and spoke with an employee to ask what their experience is working with kids who don’t understand what’s going on and get pretty upset about it. She told me that she used to cut her handicapped niece’s hair all the time, and there was much kicking and screaming involved. In fact, she went on, even with kids who aren’t disabled, there can be much kicking and screaming involved. I felt satisfied.

The place has a slide, colorful kids’ umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, and a touch-screen computer with games. Here’s Wes playing ping pong (also note the “before” mullet).

Wes was fine and happy playing until it was time to get into his chair (a police car). Tears fell. His nose ran. There was much, “Mooooooom!” and “Down! Down!” and “Noooooo!”

Meanwhile, Carissa wandered around and had a great time touching everything in the place. There is something really great about a kid friendly place where you don’t have to worry about your toddler toddling around.

The girl cutting Wes’s hair was patient and, more importantly, FAST. Wes hated the clippers, but calmed down a little once she started with the scissors. There’s a TV screen right in front of him, and before she started snipping she pulled out the remote and let us look at the on-screen TV guide to pick something Wes would like. “Super Why!” it was. I saw another kid younger than Wes blithely–and silently–watching a cartoon while holding a sucker as he got his hair cut. As I’ve already established, that wasn’t the case with Wes.

BUT. He did OK. It was certainly about 95% easier than me having to do it myself! And when he was all done, they gave him a balloon.

Last month my mom and dad came in town for a visit. Always much fun.

Wesley loves his Grandma and Grandpa.

Lunch at Malawi’s.

Wes rode the carousel and liked it.

Wes likes to make his sister laugh. I often have to tell him to stop tickling her, because he’s getting too rough. Here he is doing Five Little Piggies on her feet.

And playing peek-a-boo. “Boo!”

OK, John, forgive me, but I have to include this photo because I love it so much. Last month John and I had a date (!) at a murder mystery dinner theater. Basically, you eat a (really tasty) dinner while the actors mingle with you and put on a performance around you. Some audience members are asked to participate. John not only read a line, but they also asked him to strut around with other male audience members during a musical number. The song was “I’m Too Sexy.” Too bad I forgot that my cell phone has a video option. But at least I got a photo!

Carissa loves to sit on little seats, even if they’re not meant to be seats. Here she is making a pack of water bottles her chair. (Important note: I have since cleaned my pantry and it no longer looks this disastrous.)

I take the kids everywhere. Some places we’ve been:

Shopping.

The park.

Playing in the fountain.

The Bean Museum.

The splash park (that’s Wesley’s cousin in front).

Carissa was brave sometimes.

And sometimes not.