The Griswold's...errr...Groesbeck's Family Vacation

Daddy devised a trip to Omaha with us, Auntie Darcy, Uncle Scott, Evan and Ryan.  We were super excited to see the zoo and Children's Museum.  Things were going great until 30 minutes into the drive the Jeep's AC went out, which wouldn't have been such a problem had we not been traveling on a sunny, hot morning in a black car.  Mom did not feel like commemorating part of this trip with pictures of everything so you will have to take my word on some of it.

Three hours later we reached Omaha. Sweaty, lethargic and ready for lunch. We checked into the hotel then headed to a picnic lunch.  When the valet asked where we were picnicking, we told him the park nearby and he got a strange look in his eye.  We figured out why about 10 minutes later.  It's a park where the homeless people gather.  We were able to find a spot free of beer bottles and urine and ate...quickly...next to a pair of unclaimed pants.  Not the picnic we had imagined.  Evan and I were completely unphazed though.

Then we headed to the Children's Museum.  It was amazing.  Reagan and Ryan hung out in the baby area.  Reagan cooked up some pretend food and crawled up on the table and did a little dancing. Again, Dad is not a fan of this...

 I was fascinated by the grocery store and kept filling baskets and checking out.  I gave kids the stink eye if they came near my cart...still not so into sharing.

Evan and I played fireman.  Shortly after this picture I went to the water table and drank out of it like a dog as kids and their germy hands played in it.  Mommy and Daddy were fairly horrified.

I played doctor.  Blood pressure cuffs go on the head, right?

Dinnertime went about as you would expect with no naps, three toddlers and a baby.  I fell asleep before the main course was delivered but rallied.  Let me say that my parents always judged and said, "Our kids will never use technology when we go out to dinner!"

 Well, Ha! Looky Here! Not only using phones during dinner but also under the table and I have my shoes off.  Parenting fail all around.

 As if my parents weren't batting a homerun on the parenting fails this trip, they decided a chocolate muffin/brownie/cupcake was a wise breakfast choice for me before the zoo.  In Mommy's defense, she was still reeling from being barfed on by Reagan minutes earlier while both were wearing the only clean clothes that had been packed for our short trip.  Daddy tried to redeem this by getting Mommy her treasured Scooter's Coffee that was birthed in Omaha, only to drive there and realize it was only open weekdays.  But hey, that's how this vacation went.

 Given how things were going, we were pleasantly surprised when we got to the zoo and were able to get in and see the animals.  Reagan was not a fan of the animals which was no shock if you've ever had the pleasure of witnessing her meet any dog/cat/living, breathing animal other than her buddy Leland. But Evan and I loved them.

 Since it was Labor Day at the zoo, they had fun bounce houses and slides set up.  Since I am fairly sure I am a VIP everywhere, I jumped in front of all the lines at said bounce houses and slides and nearly trampled kids.  Mom and Dad, again, were mortified.  I blame the chocolate muffin.

 Here is Mommy peeling me off of the alligator slide because I had scaled the wall at the end, yet again, to jump to the front of the line and do the slide all over.

 After a fun morning and afternoon at the zoo it was time to go home.  Remember how bad that AC problem was on the sunny, hot morning in a black car??? Try it on a 100 degree afternoon in a black car after an entire day out in the sun at the hot zoo.  So. Much. Sweat.

 Reagan was thrilled when we finally took a break.

Ice cream for everyone! Obscenely huge ice creams with loads of chocolate chips that made the terrible car ride more bearable.  Not sure when Mommy and Daddy will have the courage to take us on another family vacation...it might be a while.

First Day of School

It has happened. I am officially a preschooler. And while I am nowhere near potty trained or sleeping through the night on my own, my parents thought it was time for this next step.  They are hoping the peer pressure of being in a classful of other students who do these things will rub off on me. Ha!

 Here's another one of me and Reagan. No she didn't start preschool but she had to be dragged into the pictures so she didn't get herself into trouble elsewhere. She's a sneaky little thing these days if we don't keep an eye on her.

My first homework assignment was an All About Me Banner. This was it before I attacked it with a pack of Cars stickers.  You will notice I put all of my favorite things on this--family, my dog, Thomas, M&M's, chocolate chips, dinosaurs.  I am really pretty cultured as you can see.

This was me at the end of my first full day.  Don't worry, it was a quick nap and I made sure to stay up til 10. 

Reagan and Mommy miss me lots but I love Miss Patty and am already learning lots of things.  I can't wait to see what this year teaches me!

August

 August has been busy. We had family in town for a big party to celebrate Mommy's cousin Courtney and her husband Ben getting Mau'id.  Unfortunately we were all so busy that the only picture anyone took was when Uncle Andy was coaxing Cooper, Claire and I to unlock the door after we locked all the adults outside who were setting up for the party.  Try locking three parents, a baby and a toddler outside in 100 degree heat without anything to drink. Watch the panic set in...

Great Uncle Bobo got me and my cousins this fun bubble tub for the party.  As you can see, I still haven't quite figured out how to blow bubbles.  This has led to many a stomach-ache but also some laughs.

The next week, Mommy took Reagan and I with Mimi and Pa to spend some time in Plano.  We had so much fun.

There was lots of swimming, shopping and ice cream.  I even taught Mimi how to use my Kindle.  

 I was exhausted on the ride home and had to fuel up on a meal that would make my Uncle Ra proud...a milkshake and french fries. I am told this was a staple of his childhood diet.

In other news...

I got glasses. It turns out that the cross-eyed, hold the iPad right next to my face move was not normal.  Mommy took me to the eye doctor and sure enough I needed glasses.  I was overwhelmed when I first tried them on but when I finally could open my eyes in them, it was like a whole new world.  I walked around the store and kept saying, "wow..wow...WOW!"  The optometrists said it was the best reaction they'd seen in a while.

Reagan and I have been spending a lot more time playing lately.  As her big brother, I feel it's my duty to teach her things.  My favorite thing is to teach her how to run...errr...walk by holding her hands. 

 She is pretty fun.  She has walker/shopping cart races with me, she "colors" with me (and by color I mean, she eats my crayons), and she thinks I am hilarious and laughs at all my jokes. 

On a more serious note, my Mimi is struggling a lot more these days so our family has started a team for the ALS Walk.  It's only a mile and a half so even Reagan will be doing it.  The money goes to help people with ALS and their families receive the support and services they need and funds research.  If you'd like to join us or donate here is the info.  ALS Walk Mindy's Darlings 

We have been blessed with lots of family and friends loving and supporting us and are super grateful to the ones that have donated or pledged to walk with us.  We also started a Caring Bridge site for Mimi since she is struggling with talking.  If you'd like to follow her journey and send her some encouragement or smiles, here is her site: Mindy's Caring Bridge.  We love you, Mimi! We are so blessed to have you in our lives.