weekend getaway

One evening last week we were talking and realized it had been a while since our last Boise trip so we made a sort of last minute decision to have a weekend getaway. Nic was able to get Friday off work and despite a minor setback of what we thought might be an ear infection for him, we were on the road by 9 AM.

Take me back to the weekend because family time and sunshine is where it's at!!! As always, picture overload!

We spent most of Friday outside. My mom has a mini sandbox for Liam on her patio and he had the best time shoveling away until he got freaked out by an ant. haha I don't know where he developed this fear of bugs but anything from spiders to harmless ladybugs freak him out!

This little sweetie was cooing away while watching her brother play in the sandbox and it was so nice not to have to dress her in five layers because it was so warm!

My mom has the most beautiful backyard and the whole thing was in bloom this weekend! 

Even Lyla girl wanted to touch all the flowers!

I'm usually the one behind the camera, so pictures like this mean SO much to me ... me and my girl!

Two of my favorite faces she makes right now, the sweetest smile with her bottom lip tucked in and her lips pursed as she coos with giddiness!

Another favorite from the weekend! Love these two so much!

When Liam was over the sandbox, my mom found a spot in her yard to dig with him in the dirt. Her yard is little boy heaven!

This was a very dangerous move because can't you just see her tearing down that entire strand of lights right now?! haha Thankfully her fingers barely grazed it once but she was very entertained to be up on top of her daddy's head.

Her hair is starting to get a little more wild and fluffy and that tuft on top, almost long enough for her first pony!

On Saturday morning Edie and her friend were having a garage sale (not pictured). She is seriously the garage sale queen! Liam had the best time scoping everything out and trying to convince us we needed this set of pedals that I think you use while sitting in a chair for some biking exercise? haha One lady's trash is another little boy's treasure. ;) It did not come home with us.

Nic really needed some new dress pants for work and shorts for summer so we met my mom at the mall. While we shopped, she helped entertain Liam the way grandma's do best, buying him suckers at the candy store and letting him ride this moose around the mall. haha He looked at us like, what parents?! I don't know who they are but Sita is my world. haha By the way, he crashed this thing into another animal at the very end so don't anyone give him a set of keys for at least 20 more years!!

And you just can't go to Boise on a sunny weekend without a trip to the ZOO! This cheetah looking cat was pacing back and forth in 2 foot increments and entertaining allllllll the people. 

Kind of silly being surrounded by a whole zoo full of exotic animals but one of my favorite things we saw all day was this goose with her nest full of eggs. It was so sweet! We watched her sit down on top of them and fluff a bunch of feathers all around herself to keep her babies warm. I'd love to be there to see them hatch!

Lyla woke up from her nap a few minutes into our zoo experience and wanted to be carried the rest of the time. haha The stroller became our diaper bag/purse/camera carrier instead and we just filled it with a bunch of stuff.

It was amazing having the lion so close to the glass this trip!

Right as I was taking this picture, a plane flew over the zoo and they both turned and looked for it!

Lyla living her best life, barefoot and getting to walk around. 

LOTS of bribing had to take place to get Liam to leave this giraffe slide. 

And to keep things real, here is some 3 year old attitude shining through. ;) He didn't want his picture taken with his sister. haha 

On the other hand, she's like, "Dad, you can let go now. I'd like to explore this by myself thank you very much." She practically jumps out of our arms lately because she is so wiggley. haha

Saturday night we went back over to Edie and my dad's house for a bbq with the family!

Pa took all the grand kids to the park! I love this picture my sister-in-law took of all of them crossing the street together ...

Liam and Maddox, slide buddies!

And all the girl cousins!

Ava loved holding Lyla. She's like a real life baby doll! ;)

We also celebrated our nephew's birthday. Happy 4th Birthday Maddox!!

Can't take pictures seriously these days and cracking up everyone around him!

We had hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner and cheesecake for birthday dessert. 

Last but not least, Maddox opened some gifts and the cousins all played them together. 

As always, the weekend went too fast. It was such a good one and even held a couple firsts for Lyla. I'm pretty sure I can't deny it any longer after other people started recognizing it too that her first word is '"da da". I'm 0 for 2 in that department! haha She also mimicked Liam clapping in the car!! Both of which I did not catch on video, darn it. That's my mission this week! Hope you have the best one! It's hard not to with this sunshine on the forecast! XO