Boise Aquarium

Our good friends were in town for the day and we decided to go check out the new aquarium here in town.  It was expensive.  It was interactive.  It was impressive for Boise.  It was a let down having been to much larger aquariums.   Will we go again?  Maybe once they have the seals, sea turtles, and sharks.  The kids really enjoyed all the the pools where you could feel, pet, and feed everything that was growing there.  It only took us about a half hour to go through (and, that was with looking at everything and reading all of the plaques).  Both my camera and my phone were on the fritz, so I only got one photo of the stingray pools.

I am glad we went and checked it out.  Hopefully next time we will get to feed the seals!

Wordless Wednesday

100 - 1

Today we celebrated my great-grandmother's 99th birthday!  I think she was overwhelmed with the fuss that was made over her :o)

Grandma Shirley with her son, Grandad

G'ma Shirley, my mom (her granddaughter), Braison (her great-great grandson)

We took a cake over and sang to her.

Grandma Shirley can tell you the date and place that she bought any particular item, especially clothes.  She has lived an interesting life and is happy to share memories and stories with anyone who will listen. I have very fond and vivid memories of spending lots of summer hours at her house swimming, and she always had a piece of american cheese for me to eat when I was done.
We are so fortunate that she lives close and we were able to celebrate her day of birth!

Sledding...on ice

We finally saw some snow!!  We decided to take the kids up to Bogus Basin for some sledding.  It had snowed, then got really really cold, so it was pretty much a bunch of ice chunks.  Dangerous, but fun.

My camera died, so I couldn't get any more photos.  But, we all had a lot of fun.  The kids can't wait until we can go up the mountain again!

Wordless Wednesday

Doctor Doctor Give Me The News

So, the kids' finally had their 4 year well-child checkups today.  Here are the specifics (the percentages next to them is the percentile where they fall with their peers):

     Braison -
       42.6 lbs (90%)
       40 5/2" tall (90%)
   
    Lilian -
       36 lbs (30%)
       38 3/8" tall (<5%)

They each had to get five, yes FIVE, shots.  I didn't think that they would have to get any this trip, but apparently all of the shots required for kindergarten have to be started now.  I think my eardrums might have been punctured.  On the bright side, they won't need any boosters for four whole weeks.  Yippee.

Other than the shot trauma, everything checked out perfect.  In fact, the doctor said that there are no indications in either one that would even hint at the fact that they were born so premature (WHOOHOO!).  The doctor couldn't comment enough on how bright both of the kids are.  She would like to see them in kindergarten this coming year, but I am not sure there is a school that will take them this young.  So, I have my work cut out for me.

Obviously "before" the devil nurse arrived :o)

We are so blessed to have two beautiful, bright, healthy babies.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Cheer and Catching Up

We are finally moved and almost settled.  So, now I can catch up on Christmas and get back to blogging regularly.

We had quite the Christmas celebrations this year.  The weekend before we went to my mom's for dinner/gifts with my mom, John, BJ and family.  It was a very nice evening and we were spoiled rotten.  I think John got some photos of the evening, but I don't have any.

Christmas Eve Eve we had dinner and then went to look at lights.

On Christmas Eve we had a brunch for my mom's side of the family.

Great-Great-Grandma Shirley, Lilian, Braison, Great-Great-Grandma Barbara

Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of anyone else.  But, I got a couple of cute ones of the kids in their Christmas outfits.

Lilian and DeeDee had matching dresses

Then, we went to Ron's mom's house for Christmas Eve dinner.  It was so great to spend some time with them and we were spoiled there as well.  I didn't take any photos there, not sure why.  When we got home we put on new pajamas and opened up gifts from other family members and each other.

THANK YOU UNCLE TYLER AND AUNT CHARLEY!!

THANK YOU UNCLE KEN AND AUNT PAM!!

We got ready for bed and left some cookies and milk out for Santa.

On Christmas morning, we finally woke the kids up at 9 so that we would have time for breakfast and to check out what Santa brought before we had to leave for church.

The kids LOVE the LeapPads that Santa brought. 

After church, a little more playing, and naps we headed to my dad's house for Christmas dinner.  It was a WONDERFUL dinner, as usual and great company.  We were, of course, spoiled there as well.  My dad has photos, but I haven't got them yet.

We had a wonderful holiday and are so grateful for all of our family and being able to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

We celebrated my mom and Ron's birthdays at a little place in Star called "Sully's" 

This is how my mom felt about turning 52

This is how Ron felt about turning 33 :o)

More to come soon!