I'm On Vacation...

So I'm not updating as much as maybe I should, sorry, but I am on summer vacation here.

Last week Brendan had his yearly summer furlough so we took a short trip over to the Wisconsin Dells and Tegan got to experience his first indoor water park. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate so he only experienced the indoor water park and not the indoor and outdoor water parks... another time. Regardless, he was none-the-wiser and had a truly wonderful time :) I was a bit tired (having T 24 hours a day, 6 days a week does that to me - it's 6 not 7 because he does still go to daycare 1 day each week) so I mostly sat by the pool and enjoyed watching Brendan and T have a fabulous time, but T and I did some slides and lazy river rides together, too. One of Tegan's favorite features of the resort we went to (The Polynesian) was that there was/is a "big, big bridge" that went over the lazy "rviver" (his pronunciation, not mine). He's really into bridges and stuff so he spent a good amount of time on that thing with Mommy AND Daddy. Hahaha!

While in the Dells we also go to ride on a 1/4 sized steam engine! It involved a 45 min train ride and we even got to go over a "big, big bridge" on that, too! Tegan was in HEAVEN. It was SO cute. I'm not sure which part of the trip was his favorite - the water park or riding on the choo-choo. I do know that when the conductor announced "All aboard!" Tegan's face lit up like I'm not sure I've ever seen. It was the sweetest expression of innocent excitement!

After 2 days in the Dells we returned for a day and then it was off to the Des Moines, IA area to visit Brendan's extended family (his mom's side). After thinking back, we realized it had been 2 years since we'd seen most of that part of the family, so we were well overdue. Tegan had a great time teasing and being teased by Brendan's cousins (most in their teens and 2o's now) and of course seeing Grrrama (he really enunciates the 'r') Moore. Needless to say he didn't need or want much to do with Mommy or Daddy for the weekend. OH - Tegan also got to experience his first 4th of July parade complete with a military helicopter fly-over. In Tegan's words "Very, very LOUD, Mommy. Very windy!" I think, though, that the excitement of the helicopter was enough to cancel out loudness (he's very sensitive and alert to all sounds around him right now). The firetrucks and Harleys were another story -those were much too loud to enjoy, the poor guy was shaking like a leaf each time a motorcycle would rev it's engine or a firetruck would beep it's horn/sound it's siren when directly in front of us. Did I mention the "best" part of the parade (in Tegan's eyes at least) was the candy. OH BOY! Did that kid get sugared up!!! After 2 Laffy Taffys, 2 tootsie rolls, a mini-sucker, 1/2 a beef stick and who knows what else we put our foot down and insisted people (a-hem, Grandma) stop giving him candy when we weren't looking. He was pretty upset, but we redirected his attention to a police car or something coming in the parade.

OK - I think that's about it for now - OH, except for one thing. Tegan's latest saying. Usually you hear of kids asking the ever-famous "Why?" question. Well, Tegan isn't to that one yet, but he is to "What's that?" to every - single - thing - he - sees, even if it's something he already knows what it is. It's cute for about 1 minute, but after that it begins to be frustrating, ha!

Hope all's well with everyone and that you are all enjoying a wonderful and relaxing summer (even if you do have to work, unlike me - hehehe).

Love to all!

~j