Staycation

I learned what a Staycation was from the blog, What I Did Today. We wanted to go on a vacation. Ideally we would have picked Colorado, but were willing to stay closer and go to South Dakota. With all the flooding going on outside of Omaha, Nebraska and the recent status of our nephew Emerson; we decided to stay home and go on a Staycation. 

We got a hotel, and did things that we normally wouldn't do.

We spent a good two days at Mahoney State Park. I will blog with pictures about all the things to do there later. Only I have been there.

The kids rode pony's for the first time. I felt very comfortable about it because the horses were tied up and they just went in a circle.

We spent 3 hours at their water park. I really did not get pictures of our water park experience because I wanted our camera locked up. It didn't top our Great Wolf Lodge experience in Kansas City last year, but certainly was fun! One thing Mahoney State Park water park had that the Great Wolf Loge didn't was a wave pool. Mica tried attacking the waves with karate chops! LOL Then we climbed a huge tower. That I do have pictures of. The boy's climbed it twice. I had Crocs on and it hurt my feet; I only climbed it once.

We went back home to eat left overs. Then got a hotel. If we were thinking ahead, we would have scheduled to get a cabin at Mahoney State Park. We didn't want to mess with a tent because this year there are lots of bugs with all the flooding water.

The next day we went hiking at Mahoney State Park. I have lots of pictures of us hiking. I was so impressed with Isaak! He hiked with us without complaining too much about walking. Mica of course was ahead almost the whole time. We then went to the paddle boat area. A 1/2 hour of that was fun! We went to the Henry Doorly Zoo Safari. We've been to Omaha's main attraction Henry Doorly Zoo many times, but only Daddy's been to the Safari part. We like the actual zoo better. We went back to Mahoney State Park, so the kids could play on their playground and we visited their playground.

In the evenings it was cable TV. We don't have cable TV, so it's staycay for us! We watch Three Men and a Baby. Both boy's liked it. Then the next night it was the newest Indiana Jones. The boy's stayed up later then I! We swam in the hotel and they had a kick butt continental breakfast!

We went to dinner at The Cracker Barrel the second night. Mica loved their little store just as much as I did!

Day three we fit in sleeping in, watching more TV, Cabela's, The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall, we went home for a very needed nap and watched a movie called Rango. Rango wasn't rated the highest, but we liked it! I think it wasn't rated the best because it had a lot of adult humor. Johnny Depp was the main star, so it was sort of twisted/artsy like many of the movies he's in are.

Day four is relaxing at home. I did most of the laundry yesterday late afternoon and before bed. We may go someplace later. We're sort of winging it.

I asked Daddy if he felt like he was on vacation? His answer, "Yes!" I was glad about that. He was the one at first was the most disappointed in the idea of staying here. He loved Mahoney State Park! The boy's liked everything! I liked not having to drive, drive, drive.

Mica's Birthday is Coming Up

Mica's birthday is August 10. I'm still struggling with ideas for him. One things that I saw that looks fun is this:

It's The Cosmic by Build a Dream Playhouses.  Boxes rock! New Age Mama is giving away a playhouse (winner's choice)!

Happy 2 Week Birthday Emerson!

Emerson is beating his odds. Babies that have Trisomy 18 usually do not live long. He's had some up and down battles. Right now he's on an up swing. His color was good today.

We celebrated his two week birthday with cupcakes again.

"Nature doesn't like calculators." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson still has to have all the tape. Tape for O2. He also has a feeding tube.

Emerson with his Mommy

Emerson with his Grandma Spiehs

Scavenger Hunt

Today I picked up cousin's Evan and Elijah to participate in a scavenger hunt at our house.

They had to follow clues to find their snack. I bought a special snack that they never get, raspberry and blackberry candy.

Each kid got a few turns to figure out clues. Flying Dr. Evil Porkchop from Toy Story 3 was on top of Mica and Isaak's slide, one of Daddy's belts was wrapped around the tree in our front yard, silly hats were on the steps, there was a glass jar inside the grill and the list went on. Each item had a clue in it or under it to lead them to the next item.

I think they all really enjoyed it. I thought it would only take them 15 min, but it took them an hour. Mica likes to run ahead of the pack. Evan kept saying, "Mica it's not your turn to be ahead of everyone!" The one that had the hardest time with the clues was Isaak. He's just not there yet, developmentally to figure riddles out.

Wordless Wednesday - In the Dog House

We were walking back to our car after visiting a gallery opening. Along our path were these sculptures:

Isaak caught wind of the fact that we thought they looked like dog houses. Here he is sticking his tongue out like a dog:

I had such a hard time picking a photo to post for WW this week. I've been off of work a lot lately, so there were plenty of pictures to choose from. If you have the time, look at some of my other posts - pretty please! I'll make more then one comment on your blog if you comment on mine more then once! I promise!

Isaak Has New Tattoo's!

Since Isaak's been acting like a punk lately unable to take a nap during the day, we decided to take him out during nap time yesterday to get some tattoo's. Don't worry, he only cried for the first two hours. After that he passed out with exhaustion.

In all reality I just wanted to play with the photo. By the way having tattoo's, a wife beater shirt and a chain on does not make you a punk. Uncle Eric wears a wife beater shirt and has tattoo's; he's super nice. He's a firefighter that saves lives. Daddy has tattoo's and he's nice most of the time all the time. ;)

Isaak's tat's consist of: Mom heart flames on his right arm, barbwire band on his left arm, Elmo on his right ankle and Cookie Monster on his left ankle.

I Hope You Had a Good 4th of July!

This was the first year in a long time where firecrackers were legal where I'm from. People bought them in other states and shot them off anyway. This year there were local stands at many of the grocery and hardware stores. People went crazy and bought a lot.

We bought some. Our backyard neighbors always buy a lot! I'd hate to see their bill!

The boy's stayed up late! Isaak still refused to take a nap yesterday! This makes him act punk like! 

Isaak's shirt says, "Moms Little Sparkler!"

The boy's were really excited to find the parachutes! Mica demonstrated to our next door neighbor's what a firecracker is like when it's lit. He was jumping all around in a circle like motion making all kinds of noises! They were laughing. I should have video taped him.

Nature

Daddy went to get some wood and found this:

Snake Skin

There were about 3 or 4 snakes. Don't worry, we do not have poisonous one's that live here. They are just gardener snakes, which are perfectly harmless! In fact Grandpa Spiehs used to let me hold them when I was a kid. Daddy wouldn't let the boy's hold them. I let the boy's hold them once when we were on a walk. Don't tell Daddy!  

Then Mica spotted a spider web in our Magnolia Tree. I think their webs are truly artistic!

This is the Furnace That Daddy Built

Daddy made a furnace awhile back. He installed it into the hole where a tree used to be. We had a blazing fire last night. His furnace lid broke. :( He still got some cool pictures.

Flooding

If you have been following the news, you know that there are some huge flooding problems in the midwest area!

We went to the Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska to shoot some pictures.

It's taped off, so people can only get so close.

This was a site. I don't think the water is supposed to be that high up!

These are two different viewpoints, but look at how much of this sculpture is missing!!!!!!! The first one is what it looks like now, and the 2nd is what it's supposed to look like.

These trees look more like bushes!

It's still very pretty!