Labor Day

It's been a nice Labor Day weekend around here! We went out to lunch, did a little shopping, had a couple different friends visit, got some ice cream and were lazy for an entire day! How great to have an extra day off. It definitely makes me miss my old work schedule... work 2-3 days a week have a 3 day weekend each week.

Brian & Ami were kind enough to stop on by Sunday evening for an impromptu playdate. Good times!

Ami had the BRILLIANT idea of cutting watermelon into shapes. Let me tell you, heart & star shape watermelon tastes SOOO much better than regular watermelon.

The kids admired the desert from our newly lowered back wall

Future husband and wife had a moment to themselves

SUPER ADORABLE!!

Oh how I hope they do get married... can you imagine how great the wedding slide show will be??

We roasted marshmallows.

Yes, I know this picture is crappy, but I didn't want it to look like we were roasting marshmallows in broad daylight.

We did a little painting

The kids played in Jaxon's bed. Seriously hilarious! I hope that Ami posts the history of kids in one crib.

We did make them get out, but I wondered if we had left them in there if they'd fallen asleep? Yeah. We didn't think so either.

And don't fear... we have chosen a BIG BOY bed for Jaxon and will order it by the end of this week!

Really?!?

Last week, Jaxon & I went to school with Ami and the Bunchkins (I just can't stay away from the classroom!) The kids did an awesome job of hanging out and playing in the classroom while Ami & I addressed & folded letters.

As we are getting ready to go all of the kids go into the bathroom and start flushing the toilet. Over and over and over and over and over again. It was pretty hilarious. The best part was their giggles and squeals of sheer delight. Plus, when we heard Jaxon say, "Cannon Ball!" Not words you want to hear your child say when he is playing with the toilet! I chose to believe that this toilet was spotlessly clean, by the way.

It's amazing what entertains 3 two-year olds and 1 three-year old.

Pima County Fair

Lucky for us the week after we moved back to Tucson the Pima County Fair came to town! And doubly lucky for us, we are 5 minutes from the fairgrounds! Brian had no interest in going to the fair, but thank goodness Ami did! She invited Jaxon & me to join her, her sister, Mary, her mom, Debi and of course the Bunchkins. We went on a Thursday afternoon before naptime and before the rides opened. Of course Brian says, "What's the point of going to the fair if the rides are closed?" Well, we had a blast without rides! Plus we spent minimal money... $30 to be exact and that included parking!

The first stop Jaxon had to make was ice cream. I said, sure you can have ice cream. Ami & Debi thought I was crazy. But how could ice cream on a warm AZ day go wrong?

Well, let me tell ya. Ice cream melts! I honestly did not think of this. Apparently Ami & Debi did, they just forgot to mention it to me.

Yeah. It was a drippy, sticky mess!The best part for me was that the guy who sold me the ice cream also gave me a cup & spoon so I could transfer some from the cone to the cup, which I did and shared with the triplets. Well, as Jaxon & I are covered in chocolate Ami says, "You should have asked for a cup." Umm, yeah. I did and you threw it away! Oops! Too funny!

Jaxon & Ethan looking longingly at a ride they could not go on. And then... we came an elephant... that you could ride!!! How excited were we?? Of course I forked the seven bucks a person to let Jaxon ride the elephant. The smile on his face was priceless! So worth every penny.

Can't you just hear Ethan saying, "Oh Woooow!"

Not exactly sure what is wrong with my camera. But many of the outside pictures turned out this way. I'm not going to lie, but I was nervous Jaxon was going to slip off the side of the elephant. Then what? We'd be on the news... "Mother lets her child ride elephant and he falls to his death." Not kidding, I couldn't stop thinking about itThen off to the shark tank and the fire truck.

The kiddos in the shark cage.

I think Hunter was upset because Jaxon was driving... get used to it Hunter, Pearson boys don't like to be in the passenger's seat. Plus, they are TERRIBLE backseat drivers!




Look closely at the signs... "The Hunters" "The Jacksons"

Oh, and what Jaxon & I had been waiting for... the animals! Seriously, this was better than any ride!

Humongous Turkey! Those are some ugly animals.

Chickens & Roosters. While looking at these, Jax was trying to imitate the roosters.

And the highlight... the horses!! Jaxon was in horse heaven! He pet them and talked to them, one even licked me and he thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread!

Here he is clapping at the horse trying to get him to neigh. Not kidding.

I believe the conversation went something like this: "Hi Horse. What's your name? I'm Jaxon Joe Pearson. Nice to meet ya. I wike your stables. I wike your mane. You are a nice horse. Can you neigh for me?

"Hunter, I'll meet you under the bleachers at 3:00"

It didn't take but 5 minutes for him to be out cold.

The. Cutest. Couple. EVER!

Seriously, this is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time! Today we went to Nicole's son, Brody, 2nd birthday party. The kids were having a great time playing while the adults socialized and kept an eye on the kiddos. At one point we are doing the head count and realize that Jaxon and Hunter (Ami's daughter, who we have an arranged marriage with) are in the playhouse. Together. Alone. Then we see Jaxon get up and close the windows. I kid you not! Funniest thing! We better keep a close eye on these two as they grow up.

Jaxon closing window #1 & #2

There goes window #3

Notice how Hunter is pointing to the window. As if to say, "Don't miss this side too."

Seriously?!? How cute are they? Melts my heart! Our first grandchild is pretty adorable too.

Who knows what Jax is telling Hunter, but she sure looks enchanted by her beau.

She may be rethinking her feelings! "Uhhh, Mom. This kid is nuts. Get me outta here!"

The birthday family.

Delaney, Eric, Brody, Nicole & Daylen

We are Ninjas of Efficiency & Organization.

Oh yes we are! You have to be when you are crazy enough to have your friend with triplets drive 7 hours for a weekend visit! And by "we" I mean Ami & I (because we all know husbands aren't so much!)
It was The Bunch Families 2nd (well 4th if you count sans babies & 6th if you count Ami's visits) annual visit to The Land of Enchantment and once again we had a wonderful time. I am constantly amazed at how relaxed and easy it is for them to visit us. I am also amazed at how well our kids played together. There really was no issue with the kids getting along. They walked into our house and made themselves at home, as if they come here every day. I also have to give Jaxon LOTS of kudos here! We all know that 2-year-olds aren't exactly known for sharing, but Jax did great! He had no problem sharing ALL of his toys with not just one, but THREE kids. I can honestly say, that Jaxon has never had any friends his age visit and I was genuinely concerned. The only issue was the first day when he would announce, "That's MY car. That MY airplane.", but that seemed to go away in less than 24 hours. I was seriously impressed.

Okay now on to what you really want to see... PICTURES! And yes, I was at this little gathering, there is just no proof of it!

We got lots of outside play time!
At one point Brian Pearson was left alone with all 4 kids and Ami & I worried a bit, but when we walked out he had it ALL under control!

Dinner Time!
For the record, my future daughter-in-law liked my cooking!

And yes, that is my BIG boy sitting in a big boy chair and drinking from a big boy cup. Sniff sniff. What's next, potty training and a toddler bed???

We also did a group bath! Now, I did take pictures, but it was hard to crop out all of the "parts". Here's a picture of what Jaxon thought of the whole thing. I think he was a bit overwhelmed!

How cute is he??

With Friday came a trip to the ZOO! Our favorite!

This one's to prove that we did see animals!

Waiting for lunch to be served.

See, he's even sharing his sippy cup!

Of course Ami & I wanted pictures of the 4 kids together. Well, that didn't happen so much!

Clearly, Ethan did NOT want his picture taken!

Back at home... more play time!

LOVE how Colton is sitting on the chair.

Cheers!

Who knows what this is...

Playing nicely in the sandbox... they ♥ each other!

There's nothing better than kids in footie jammies!

Colton diggin' the chair!

Jaxon was drinking out of Brian's cup and Colton was fascinated! It was so funny to watch him watch Jaxon. He was so serious.

After morning play time we headed to Rudy's BBQ for lunch. No pictures were taken to capture this even, but it was delicious!

This weekend was also the 1st weekend of Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta. So, just like last year, we loaded up the strollers, jackets, hats, snacks, sippy cups and kids and headed to Balloon Fiesta Park.

And just like last year, the Balloon Glow was canceled! {Sigh}After we walked 5 miles to the gate (ok, so maybe not exactly 5 miles... but it sure felt like it! I mean look at the path behind them, plus we had WAY more to walk!)

Ami & I must be glutens for punishment, because in the last few minutes before the Bunches headed out, we tried one last time for a group kid picture.

Ethan was ready! Jax & Colton, not so much!

Since just sitting on a bench wasn't torturous enough, let's add some Halloween headbands!

Could Ethan be any happier? Could Jaxon be any more dramatic?!


That's all folks! Another Pearson-Bunch Bonanza for the record books! Keep 'em coming!