The Treehouse Museum

In our attempt to find something fun to do while Dad was busy at home doing yard work, Brykn and I went to the Treehouse Museum. I had heard a lot of good things about it and people said it was really fun for kids; and, they were right! It was so fun! Brykn had such a good time playing on everything.The exhibits are mostly all educational and just for pint-sized people, i.e., kids. They have a fire engine (which Brykn loved) complete with fireman coats and hats, an indoor slide from the top of a tree to the roots, a musical exhibit where the kids can pound on drums, play a keyboard, etc., and even an exhibit about all the presidents (I wondered if Lewinsky would make the bio for Clinton--she didn't). In the "Coming to America" exhibit, they had stuffed animals to represent animals that the pilgrims brought to America. Brykn dug to the bottom until he found a horse and that dang horse got drug to every exhibit from there on. The very best part was when we found the necklace making section (don't tell Dad!). I helped Brykn make a necklace from yarn and feathers. When his was done, he insisted that I have one too. He was so cute with his cubby little fingers holding the feathers while I tied them on the yard. We had a great time and will definately go back!

Happy Birsday to My Dad!

Yesterday was Brandon's Birsday and Brykn has been singing the Birsday song for weeks now! Just the other day he had to go potty in the store and just as I got him sitting on the potty he burst out in song, "HAPPY BIRSDAY TO MY DAD!" he sang at the top of his lungs. He was so proud and I was so embarassed! It was truly hysterical.

We bought Brandon the staples, shirts, cologne, etc. and some fun stuff too like a gift certificate for a massage and Brykn bought him a fishing pole. But, Brandon didn't get to open very many of his gifts because Brykn is convinced that everybody's birsday is time for him to open presents.

Happy Birthday, Brandon, we love you.

Rascal

We spent this past weekend visiting some friends in big, wonderful Wyoming. On the way there I really thought we had drove at least 30 miles past nowhere. Actually, we were about 35 miles past Lander. Everyone owns a lot of property, so the houses are really wide spread and it's about as rural as rural gets. I kept telling Brandon that I thought I grew up in a small town, but from the looks of this place, I didn't know what rural was! Gus and Cassie and their kids, Taylor and KC, were so excited to see us. I think they just wanted to see a familiar face--I sure would if we lived there!

The kids just ran wild while we were there and Brykn seemed to have the time of his life. They have a very unique pet--a racoon named Rascal. Brykn and Rascal hit it off right away. Brykn liked to hold him and Rascal like to eat whatever Brykn was holding, so the arrangement worked out well! Rascal found his home at Gus and Cassie's after his mother was hit by a car leaving him and 4 other babies orphans. Cassie told me that she fed him milk from a Visine bottle because he was so small. Now, Rascal is just like another child. He goes just about anywhere with the kids and even has a leash!

Lazy Days of Summer

I love the hot summer sun and I love watching Brykn play in the water. Everything from the BBQ grill to the windows and even the cat ends up soaking wet but he sure has a good time. And, it never really matters if he has on clothes, a swimming suit, or his skinny little birthday suit--he's perfectuly content in anything (or nothing...which I'm sure the neighbors wonder about).

Yesterday, it was blazing hot outside. Brykn turned on the water as soon as we went outside and immediately drowned his clean, dry clothes. So, off they went. He was having so much fun playing in the water and I ran to grab my camera. When I got back, he was drinking from the hose. I had to laugh. As I kid, I drank from the garden hose on a frequent basis--a lot of times right after the hose came straight from the horse trough. Looking back its a wonder I didn't get salmonela or some other disease. I think hose drinking is genetic!

29

Today was my Birthday and what a day it was...wow. They say getting older is rough and if the future is anything like the 29th birthday was I think I'm in trouble.

I wanted to take Brykn to the Living Planet Aquarium and for a ride on the train since he's been dying to ride it. So, we began the day at 10:00 am when we boarded the commuter rail, FrontRunner. We rode it to SLC and arrived in good spirits (good spirits is important, believe me). We hopped on Trax and headed toward Sandy since the Aquarium is off of 106th South. Funny thing, though, is that Trax doesn't take you to 106th like I thought it did...it drops you off at 98th--a good distance from 106th. We arrived at the Trax station at 98th at 1:00; and, we were still in fairly good spirits. I kept telling Brandon that it might have been a long ride, but that it was the adventure that we would remember. Wow was that an understatement.

The aquarium is on 106th and 7th East which means the train dropped us off about 4 miles from where we needed to be. I figured we could just take a bus that would drop us off near the aquarium so we didn't have to walk. But, there are no bus routes up 106th or remotely near the aquarium. So, that it was the "adventure" and not really knowing it really was 4 miles, we (okay, I) decided we could walk to see the fish. BAD IDEA! There were hardly any sidewalks, we walked in the dirt and had to carry Brykn the entire way. It was 97 degrees in SLC and we arrived at the aquarium at 2:30 pm hot, tired, and in mild spirits.

The aquarium was pretty interesting, but it was sort of hard to enjoy the fish when we knew we had a 4 mile walk, and 2 very long train rides ahead of us. After all, it did take us four hours to get to our destination and, it was going to take us just as long to get home. We had as much fun as we could and set off for home.

We only made it a block when Brykn fell asleep on my shoulder. I had a thirty pound kid on the front and a 30 pound purse on my back since I packed it chuck full of everything knowing we wouldn't have the car. When I just couldn't carry him any longer, Brandon took over carrying him.

We boarded the Trax train with Brykn still sleeping. He was sweating and so were Brandon and I. Not anticipating the walk, I wore sandles and my feet were killing. At this point, we're not in good spirits at all. I did have to laugh when Brandon said, "This is all fine for your birthday, but I'm planning mine."

Finally, we made it to FrontRunner and the last leg of our exhausting, terrible "adventure." Brykn woke up and all he could say was "My need a drink of Pepsi," and "My no want to ride the train."

At 6:30 pm, we made it to our car, dirty, stinky, and exhausted. I was so grateful Brandon took the day off, but I felt terrible that the day was so rotten. I promised right then and there that my adventurous days were over!

Pioneer Day

Since before Brandon was born the Ogden Pioneer Day parade and rodeo has been a tradition in the Jensen family. Sally made the comment that she hasn't missed the parade in 52 years; and, she is 52 years old. So, for us, the Pioneer Day festivities are a given. We go to the parade in the morning and the rodeo at night. Lucky for us, Grandma Sally goes early to both events to save seats. Brykn didn't think much of the floats at the parade, but was facinated by the tractors. And when the horses came down the road, he was so worried that they would get hit by the cars. He just kept saying, "Get outta da road!" and swishing his little hands.

In the past few years the rodeo has gotten to be quite the production. But, despite the action in the arena, Brykn had a hard time sitting still. When he couldn't take any more sitting, we took him for a walk and a hot dog and chips. We stood next to the bull pen which was all good and dandy, especially since he could feed the bulls his potato chips--which they really liked too. The funniest part was when the bull riding began started he said, "That one ate my tato chips!"

Mr. Independent

This year is going too fast! It's already the 4th of July. I can't believe it. This year was especially fun because we had a lot going on over the holiday. On the 3rd, Grandma and Grandpa came to our house and we did fireworks. Brykn didn't like watching them go off nearly as much as he liked helping Dad light them....hum...wonder if I have an arsonist in the making...

On the morning of the 4th, Mom and I ran yet another 5K. It was a lot of fun, mostly because it was a flat run. It's the hills that kill ya! I bettered my time at this one--34 minutes and 4 seconds. And, I probably could have run it faster if I would have known they were timing! Oh well, we had a great time anyway.

Next, we were off for the annual breakfast at the West Weber church. Last year we went to the breakfast (Brandon went really begrudingly) and I was stunned when they did a bike parade for all the kids. I was so bummed that we didn't know about it and that Brykn didn't have an entry. So this year I vowed to make sure Brykn had a bike to ride as well. But, he still hasn't got the full concept of peddeling yet, so we opted for the wagon. He really didn't know what all the fuss was about...he was just excited to finally be able to wear his chaps outside! Everyone at the parade thought his wagon and get-up was wonderful. And, I am likely a little biased, but I thought his entry was the best one!

Finally, we headed off for a weekend of camping. We didn't go far from home, but we had a GREAT time. We went to North Fork by Pineview Dam. There were lots of highlights, but the two best were going to the annual Liberty celebration to watch the fireworks and seeing a huge moose not far from our camp. Brykn was serious as could be when he asked Grandpa in a really quiet whisper, "Where's my rope?" He was determined to rope and ride that huge bull moose! We didn't get any great pictures of the moose since the camera wasn't close, but it's a picture in my mind I doubt I'll ever forget. Happy 4th!