Storyland/Maine Trip part 2

So, for the second part of our "escape from Ithaca" trip we made it to Maine. We got there on Thursday night and on Friday we jumped in the van and headed to the coast. I've visited Maine now a few times. Not once have I made it to the coast. This time I decided that wouldn't happen. So off we went. We went to a place that Josh remembered as a child - Perry's Nut House. It's just a shop with a lot of little trinkets and things to look at. The kids had fun looking around. . . maybe not as much as Josh, but it was fun.


Next we stopped, got some lunch and headed off to a park. Thank goodness Grandma Moxcey was with us. . . she knew right where to go. The park was right by the ocean and so we took our blanket down on the rocky beach and ate lunch. This was my favorite part of it all. I love the ocean. Cute Addison made it through all of Storyland without getting sun burnt. One hour at the beach and her little arms did get a little red, but they weren't too bad, they cleared up in a day or two. She is so cute.


Andrew enjoyed watching all the birds and just eating whatever we would give him. . . kinda like the birds!!


I finally braved the rocks and took my shoes and socks off to walk in the water. Brayden jumped at the chance to join me. He was so cute. I was showing him that we could bend over and put our hands in the water and he kept laughing and giggling. He thought it was cool we were in the ocean. He was cute though, he would bend down with his knees instead of his waist and so by the time he got out of the ocean his shorts were mostly wet. . . especially on his bum.


Evan saw we were having a lot of fun so despite his aversion to getting wet (previous post) he took his shoes off too and came in with us. This was such a great picture Josh captured of the two of them on our way out of the water.


I just had to include cute Addison. This is at Grandma Moxcey's place. She was nice enough to let us squish in and stay at the house.


This is Evan and Brayden enjoying the loot they got from their Grandpa and Grandma Cobb. Grandpa Cobb likes to go see what treasures he can find at the dollar store before each visit. He always comes away with great things. I never find such things at our dollar store.


On Sunday we had a Cobb reunion. We got together at a park and ate lunch and visited with family.


Great-Grandpa Cobb just loves these babies!! It was good he was able to hold them both at the same time. They are quite squirmy, but seemed to behave ok on his lap for the pictures!


This is Aunt Sue holding both babies. The babies were tired and ready for a nap.


After a short nap we were able to get some other great pictures taken. Here is Grandma and Grandpa Cobb with the babies.



Here is Grandma Cobb with both babies - both even smiley and cute!!



This is the whole clan minus about 3 people or so. It was good to see everyone.



Here is a cute quick video of the cute Addison squeals at the beach.

Storyland/Maine Trip part 1

We had a lot of fun this last week. Our family took a little break from Ithaca, and went to visit family in Maine. On our way to Maine we stopped at a place called Storyland. It's like a little amusement park, really set up well for families. Each ride is set up so an adult can ride with the kids. Some rides I think Josh and myself liked more than the kids. We had fun.



This is the entrance to the pirate area. The boat ride was a little boring from what Josh said but Evan and Brayden thought it was great!


Josh actually really liked the swans. He got to sit back and be driven around a small pond. Who wouldn't like that? The kids liked doing the driving around.


This is the family on the train that goes around the park. A big hit with the kids! Even Addison and Andrew were able to get out of the stroller to ride this one!







These are the cute tractors. The interesting part was that they were actually growing a real garden with real vegetables (in the background) along this ride. Perfect for a "farm".


Classic flying whale's. They had this same ride in wooden shoes as well. Ok, mostly the same. The kids liked them both.


This is us on the log ride. Evan was TERRIFIED of going. Not because he thought it would be scary, but because he thought he would get wet!!!!!


As you can see I put him behind me. . . hardly a drop got on him. After the ride he was pretty relieved to walk away dry. He said nothing about the drop or the speed of that drop!! So funny.


Many cute water fountains were found throughout the park.


The balloons were fun for them also. I don't think there was a ride they didn't like.


This was Evan's favorite. Josh rode with them, then I did. Brayden was ok going on the slow roller coaster. . . funny story. We rode this ride before we went on the log ride. The first time they road this "Polar Coaster" Brayden came off saying that he wanted to only ride the slower rides. We said ok. The next morning when we came back we rode the log ride (previous picture) he didn't say anything really after it. He liked it though so I didn't think anything of it, but when Evan wanted to go on the "Polar Coaster" again Brayden kept asking if this was the slow roller coaster. I didn't know what he was talking about because it was the only one. He kept on insisting on riding this one again even though the day before he said he didn't want to ride the fast rides anymore. Finally when we got closer to the front of the line for our second time through I was able to deduce that the log ride had now taken the spot as the fast roller coaster and that the Polar Coaster was now the slower coaster. He was happy it wasn't the brown logs!! I was laughing. How funny, his perspective changed when he was able to compare to faster rides! He loved this the second time through!


Poor Addison and Andrew. . . had to play in their stroller most the day. They did really well though. They are so cute and so many people stopped us so they could look at the babies! I love Addison in this picture!


So remember how I said that Evan was worried about getting wet on rides? and how I previously mentioned that the kids liked all the rides? well I had to add this video of the raft ride. Evan says he likes all the rides. . . except this one, it got him wet!! :)

4th of July

So, let's begin with my cute little twin firecrackers. . . they are just sooooo cute!!


Isn't Addison so cute in her 4th of July shirt? I love her smile.


Andrew is looking suave while sporting this grey 4th of July shirt. . . again, so cute!


And just in case you needed a closer look, well, here you go!! Fabulous smile!



We decided to have a camp out for the fourth. We invited some new friends over that just moved into the area, and we roasted hot dogs and s'mores over a fire. We let the kids play in the water and tried our best not to roast ourselves. Here are Brayden and Josh in their cute T's.


Evan loves silly pictures. The kids got glow sticks instead of sparklers because we live in NY. . . enough said. Anyway, he was having fun.



Josh makes this blog again with his fabulous s'more eating technique. We were trying to make sure we had enough pictures of the day and this was one I couldn't resist.


The two older kids got to sleep out in the tent with their Dad. They had a TON of glow sticks to look at and they even got to see fire flies, and some fireworks - provided illegally by our neighbors. Thanks neighbors. I was happy the kids got to see some.



And to end. The cutest girl in our family in her fourth of July dress. . . on the actual fourth of July!!



Evan was reading scriptures before they went to bed, so I decided to video it so everyone could see what a great reader he is now. He seems to get better every day. It's such an amazing thing watching someone learn to read, not to mention so quickly. . . Three months ago this wasn't happening!! Good job Evan!

Twins 7th month

So, they are more precious than ever! They are almost sitting up by themselves without tipping over, the are almost getting their teeth in, and they are almost moving around the living room WAY too well. . . Almost. Thank goodness for almost. Not so good for the near future! But when they're this cute we just enjoy it!












Did I mention I finally bought them their swings for the swing set? No? Well, I finally just took the plunge and boy was it worth it!! They love them! Especially Andrew. One almost forgets he is still in his swing. . . I said Almost!!









Besides, the swings give such a cute back drop for these two cuties!


Now, this video is titled "traffic jam". You will see why. They are funny on the floor together. There isn't enough room sometimes. Should be interesting later, but I think that as they sit more the room will get a little larger. . . that is until they start crawling (which Addison is currently working on - video later on that one).

Evan's 6th Birthday Marathon!

Well, here we go. . . Evan's 6th birthday was full of pirate fun! Our first pirate adventure showed itself in some treats for Evan's kindergarten class. These are pirate cake pops. Very very rich, but cute and a smashing hit with all his classmates. . . and teachers.


Once he got home from school we decided to go get Dad and head to the store. Being as perceptive as Josh and myself are, we first had him open his birthday cards. He got money from his Grandpa and Grandma Cobb, as well as his Grandpa and Grandma Dance. Total amount to spend however he wished - $26.00. Here is one of those videos.



He ended up getting three different things, a rocket, a double feature movie, and a toy story 3 alien toy. He was pretty happy with the whole thing. After shopping we went and grabbed some Chinese food - Evan LOVES Chinese food, well at least the egg rolls and sweet and sour chicken. Then we hurried home to open more presents.



We got him a new laptop and a remote control airplane. He also received some clothes and a toy story Lego set from his Grandpa and Grandma Dance. Oh and Brayden gave him a glow stick. Possibly the best of all the presents!

Here is the video of him opening the Lego set.


This is the laptop.


This is the whole lot of toys.


After presents we watched a movie and had a birthday treat instead of a cake. They were yummy triple chocolate pre-made cones we got at the store earlier. It was a busy day, but a fun introduction to Evan's 6th year.

The next day (Saturday the 12th) we had Evan's pirate party. We had nine kids come over and three parents. Evan had a blast. Here is his cutest picture ever. I love his pirate aaarrrrggg. He is so cute!




This is our cute pirate Brayden. He was enjoying all the festivities. He has created an extensive list of what he will have for his birthday. . . he's mostly thinking glow sticks and flying frogs. Not sure how to do that yet, but I've got a few months!



The first activity we had was the making of our own pirate flags. It was a lot of fun and they all turned out looking great!


The next was a treasure hunt. I made the coolest maps which I have yet to take a picture of, but they were cool. The main map lead to an actual treasure. This is Evan pointing out the X to Sheila with his friend Reo in the red shirt. There was a box with smaller treasure chests inside. One for each kid. They thought that was cool.


Next we had hot dogs and hamburgers followed with some playing and running around time.

Then Evan got to open up a few gifts from his friends - walkie talkies, a puzzle book, a marker set with coloring pages and some strawberries. He had fun.

Then came the big cake reveal. Evan wanted a treasure chest cake. I've made one before, so the design was easy to do. I made his bigger, though. It was a HUGE success. Everyone loved it!


This is Evan blowing out his candles.



After cake and ice cream his friends left and we relaxed the rest of the day!! Good by pirate Evan and HAPPY BIRTHDAY we really hope your 6th year is a fabulous one!!


AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!