Sunday, July 15, 2012
Avery Island - Jungle Gardens
We returned to Avery Island (Home of the Tabasco Factory)to check out the Jungle Gardens. Tabasco brand products were founded by Edmund McIlhenny on Avery Island in the late eighteen hundreds. Today Tabasco is still manufactured there, and the company is still family-owned. McIlhenny's son, later turned 170 acres of the island into today's "jungle gardens" - full of exotic plants, alligators,a 900 year old Buddha (gift to McIlhenny), and a bird observatory. Thousands of migrating snowy egrates return to Avery Island every year. We had the chance earlier this summer to check out the factory - but due to the weather we weren't able to walk through the gardens. We were very excited to return, and the gardens are definitly worth the extra trip. Get ready for picture overload:
The boys are standing in front of some bamboo - this was one of the smaller plants. The island is full of huge bamboo plants
The boys on top of the bird observatory tower
Can you see the alligator behind us? Just to the right, you'll see the reflection of the sky..Then right where the reflection of the trees come in is the alligator.
another alligator
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
4th of July
When I went to louisiana, I was expecting our 3rd baby - due mid-January. However, on July 3rd, I miscarried at 12 weeks. To say the least, this year's 4th of July festivites were not the greatest. On top of that, I was already struggling to make sure the boys had fun on the 4th, being 36 hours away from any family.
Scott was suppose to work on the 4th - but due to the circumstances that took place the day before, he was able to stay home. I managed to get up long enough to go eat breakfast with the boys at IHOP. I laid down all day while Scott played with the boys.
Since Scott's workers had to work all day on the 4th, the company did a big BBQ for lunch. Scott took the boys back to the job site for the BBQ.
Here are a few pictures of the job site. It's a big Chevron refinery that is being dismantled and moved. Scott's company removes the asbestos from the pipes and towers and dismantles them. This picture isn't scott - I just put it on to give in idea of what Scott does all day. Scott is one of the supervisors so he's also running around doing logistic stuff, but a lot of the day he's in a harness, higher than I like to think about.
My Mom sent the boys a 4th of July party in a box. I can't get over the faces that Parker makes for pictures:)
While I laid around at home, Scott took the boys to a ward members home for food and fireworks. The boys don't love loud sounds, and it takes them awhile every year to warm up to fireworks. So they watched for a while from inside the truck
I couldn't decide which picture I liked the best
Sunday before the 4th
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Independence Day
Happy 4th of July!!! It was a fun day. We had intentions of going to Julia Davis Park to eat breakfast, but of course it didn't happen (like it hasn't happened in years). Instead I spent the morning at doc-in-the-box dealing with a bad case of swimmer's ear/perforated ear drum. Once that was taken care of Katie and I rode bikes down to Ann Morrison to check out the scene. People were already setting up camp for the fireworks. We played at the park, walked down to the river, and had corn dogs. Then came the long walk up Americana Blvd (niether of us were strong enough to ride bikes uphill) and back home. By that point we were all very aware how hot Alex was and how much he wanted to be home. Natalie was content playing with my ipod.
We spent the afternoon playing in the big room. Grandma/Grandpa and Mortensen's came to swim and have dinner. Natalie really enjoyed the older girls. Alex lasted as long as he could, and then had to crash after too much fun on the 4th (at least that way he would be fresh for fireworks).
The kids ended up staying late for fireworks. Alex had been looking forward to sparklers. Natalie didn't disapoint and squealed with delight at the fireworks. During the city fireworks display she kept creeping up to join where the Mortensen kids were sitting; it was cute. I think I finally bought the right amount of fireworks this year (we weren't up super late trying to hurry and go through them) Happy 4th of July - remember to have Alex sing you the Star Spangled Banner sometime :)
We spent the afternoon playing in the big room. Grandma/Grandpa and Mortensen's came to swim and have dinner. Natalie really enjoyed the older girls. Alex lasted as long as he could, and then had to crash after too much fun on the 4th (at least that way he would be fresh for fireworks).
The kids ended up staying late for fireworks. Alex had been looking forward to sparklers. Natalie didn't disapoint and squealed with delight at the fireworks. During the city fireworks display she kept creeping up to join where the Mortensen kids were sitting; it was cute. I think I finally bought the right amount of fireworks this year (we weren't up super late trying to hurry and go through them) Happy 4th of July - remember to have Alex sing you the Star Spangled Banner sometime :)
Yes Days
We decided to let each of the kids have a Yes Day - they got to pick what we did for that day (within limits of course). We might have more Yes Days in the somewhat near future, but the stipulation will be choosing activities that don't cost any money.
Natalie got her Yes Day on Monday, July 2nd. Kristi needed a last minute sitter so we had last minute guests for Nat's Yes Day. Owen ended up spending the whole day with us. Her main thing she wanted to do that day was pick out a new baby, because she thinks she doesn't have enough babies around the house. We ended up with twin babies and a toy diaper bag complete with "grown up" toy ipod and cell phone. While the boys swam and drove power wheels (thanks for sharing) Nat and I took care of babies. Then we all drug downtown to see Brave. (you'll have to gear Spencer up for major bear action).
Alex had his Yes Day on Tuesday, July 3rd. He has been desperate for that Dinosaur Hot Wheels track and wanted to go to Target to pick it out. His other main thing he wanted to do was go to Roaring Spring's water Park. Natalie hung with Grandma while I took Alex. He had a blast and played hard non-stop. He especially liked the wave pool. After that, he wanted to spend the rest of the day doing his new favorite thing - playing with Mom in the big room. He was worn out by the end of the day.
Natalie got her Yes Day on Monday, July 2nd. Kristi needed a last minute sitter so we had last minute guests for Nat's Yes Day. Owen ended up spending the whole day with us. Her main thing she wanted to do that day was pick out a new baby, because she thinks she doesn't have enough babies around the house. We ended up with twin babies and a toy diaper bag complete with "grown up" toy ipod and cell phone. While the boys swam and drove power wheels (thanks for sharing) Nat and I took care of babies. Then we all drug downtown to see Brave. (you'll have to gear Spencer up for major bear action).
Alex had his Yes Day on Tuesday, July 3rd. He has been desperate for that Dinosaur Hot Wheels track and wanted to go to Target to pick it out. His other main thing he wanted to do was go to Roaring Spring's water Park. Natalie hung with Grandma while I took Alex. He had a blast and played hard non-stop. He especially liked the wave pool. After that, he wanted to spend the rest of the day doing his new favorite thing - playing with Mom in the big room. He was worn out by the end of the day.
New Fish
Alex changed his mind about not wanting a new fish right away. He is very happy about his new pet, and so is Natalie. He picked a blue Betta, it's a notch lighter than most. He named it Blue. Natalie picked out a purplish colored one and it's name is Ponyo Pearl. (the picture quality is not great, they actually look quite a bit different in real life)
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