Our two babies....

probably doing the same thing right now....

We went to an outdoor play last night, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Brycen loved it. They did a great job. The singing was wonderful and overall, very entertaining. I think sitting in the second row helped keep Brycen's attention a lot as he sat motionless on my lap for 90% of it with his mouth slightly open as he tried to take everything in.

At a few of the scenes, Brycen got emotionally involved such as when one of the young men was dragged off to prison-Brycen screamed, "NO!" and during the fighting scene, he turned his head into me. At other scenes, Brycen would just giggle and he always loved the singing. Overall, a wonderful night AND he was free! Always a bonus, these days :)

We did get home late though and since Brycen wakes up no matter what time he goes to bed, at 8:30am--after lunch and a bath, Brycen didn't even make it down the stairs to change before he curled up and fell asleep on me.

With the same pillow, he was propped up on in the hospital, one day old (the fingernail of it is on the right side of the blog page under the "ABOUT ME" section). It goes on all our trips as he sleeps with it every night. The only problem--it's Mommy's favorite pillow too (hence why it was at the hospital for Brycen's birth). It's a good thing I love him so.

22 weeks today! My sister tells me often that it just looks like I overate at Cafe Rio (rather than pregnant) but look at that belly button poking through the shirt! That little guy is there and growing. We are SOO excited to soon have TWO little boys...four months from Friday!

Now, THIS is what I call....

Much needed bonding.

"MIKE! MIKE! MIKE! (Brycen as he runs out of the airport)...where's Jenn?"

Last Friday, Brycen and I said goodbye to our lovely townhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana until AUGUST 1st!! and began our summer of travels.

This week, you can find us in Utah. We arrived 1am (3am our time) Saturday morning to Grandma and Grandpa's house in SLC after a long day of traveling. We happened to end up having nearly a 5 hour layover in Phoenix, AZ where luckily my brother (Mike) lives and was able to save us from the airport. He took us out to dinner and gave us some much needed entertainment and company. Brycen wouldn't dare sleep a wink on the airplane and was literally bouncing off the chairs as he said, "Mike and Jenn", "Mike and Jenn". Sadly, Jenn wasn't able to be there.

Flying has become second nature to Brycen (his 37th flight) and for weeks (ever since we ordered our passports), he asked me every morning if we would be going on an airplane. As much as it hurt having to buy him is own airplane ticket now, having somewhere for him to "bounce" and go crazy, almost sold me on the idea that it is worth it. Almost. I'm sure after Germany, I will be.

We then had a weekend full of this....

And only a little of this...

(Mohawk courtesy of Uncle Mike. What do you think? Mohawk, a keeper? Notice: the red cheeks. 110 degrees in AZ that evening).

Which I know, vacation is all about. But I think in order to survive THIS vacation...we will need to spend a bit more time ZZZZing. Brycen is in denial and fights it but falls asleep within seconds every time I make him lean his head on my shoulder or lay down for just a minute.

Next week: Oregon.

For 3 and a half weeks after that: Germany! Stay turned.

CAMPING!!

We went camping for the first time ever (as a little family) this past weekend--making it all possible when we were given a tent this past Christmas! I was amazed at how much work it was to plan, organize, and gather things since I have never been camping without my parents...but we had SOOO much fun.

We went to Shades National Park here in Indiana with our good friends and Brycen loved it.

Brycen with our tent in the backgound.

Fire and food sure has a way of bringing men together.

Diaper time.

All three kids are saying "cheese" and yet not one is looking at the camera :)

He was in heaven.

Playground fun. Notice how green everything is! We have and are still getting so much rain this year!

Brycen is in a phase that he thinks it's so much cooler to have other kids' parents do things with/for him. I find it kind of annoying at times (making other parents do things for my child) but Tifani is a great sport about it. He has always loved her-- she makes things so fun!

Look at that grin!

Isn't she adorable? She is 3 months younger than Brycen and we get to party with her every Sunday in Nursery.

The three kids swinging. Brycen insisted on being pushed by their dad.

Leaving us to do this :)

Family picture with matching legs and all :)

Scattered thunderstorms were predicted all week and nothing came of it but that night...our tents were surely pushed to the limits with the hardest rain I have ever heard. In fear of our tent failing us and getting us soaked...I didn't sleep from 3-7 am as the rain got harder and harder and the thunder louder.... while Brycen seemed to sleep better in the tent than at home. He loved having his bedtime routine in the tent and falling asleep looking up into the trees (long before the rain-fly had to go on) and slept right through the neighbor's loud music, the Mommies and Daddies playing games and making more s'mores, the crazy humidity, rain and thunder, and car doors opening and slamming as people frantically packed up the next morning. I was amazed.

We waited out the storm (by just waiting for the kids to wake up) and were rewarded because the rain stopped just in time to cook breakfast, build the fire again, and pack up. The next thunderstorm was just starting as we drove out. We had plans to try some of the beautiful hiking the park has to offer but due to the weather, flooding, and muddy trails; we didn't. We'll definitely have to go back sometime. I hope this marks only the beginning of our camping experience.

Well...what I call camping. Bryce thinks camping where running water refers to more than a nearby stream and you set up your tent next to your car...really, doesn't qualify. But he was sure glad that I had convinced him to bring air mattress to sleep on since that is what kept us dry from the puddle that formed in the middle of our tent that night.