Life is A Journey...Come Follow Our's

Monday, June 27, 2011

A Few Pics

Can you believe I didn't take a single picture at Popes' Dock...our annual lake party?  I was having too much fun to pick up a camera and now I'm regretting it (kind of).  But here are a few more pictures from the past week.



Who's Cute?

Must Be Me!!!

Looking Strung Out Like A Member Of The Drumming Band

Riding His Rocking Horse

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Road Trippin'

This past weekend we had the opportunity to take our first solo-road trip, Mr. Quinn and I.  Quinn and I packed up the car and drove to St. Louis for the weekend to visit with my mom and her friend Joy.  I was really curious to see how Quinn would do in the car without anyone to entertain him for 5 hours, but he did GREAT!  A few books, a cell phone, plenty of treats, and 2 McDonalds stops later, we were in St. Louis.

I LOVE Priceline and had used it to bid on a 4 star room in downtown St. Louis.  For more than 50% lower than the weekend's cheapest rate, we ended up getting rooms at The Marriott Union Station.  This hotel was AMAZING!  A historical monument in St. Louis, the Marriott is built literally inside the old train station.  It was absolutely stunning.  See for yourself:


Marriott Union Station at Night

The Hotel Lobby

Even better was that the part of the building that was not a hotel was a large mall.  There really were never that many people around so Quinn had a blast just running (yes he's running now) all over the place.  He learned about escalators and how fun they can be going up and down them for 20+ minutes at a time, he learned that "Slippery When Wet" signs can be pushed all over the place and make a clapping sound when they collapse, and he learned that you cannot get into every fountain you see everywhere you go.

No trip to St. Louis would be complete without a trip to Trader Joe's so Saturday morning, since it was terribly rainy, Mom, Quinn, and I headed out shopping.  I was like a kid in a candy store buying Two Buck Chuck, meringues, fun sauces and marinades, dried fruits, and so much more.  I have to say that my one complaint about Northwest Arkansas is that we don't have amazing grocery stores.  I used to LOVE grocery shopping.  In fact, my favorite store was the grocery store, but since we've moved here and Walmart is one of my only options, grocery shopping has lost its thrill.  Take me to a Trader Joe's though and I am quickly reminded of how things once were.

After our shopping trip, we picked up Joy and her friends that she was visiting with and headed out to the St. Louis Zoo.  The St. Louis Zoo might be one of the most underrated zoos in the country.  I was so totally impressed by it.  First of all, it is FREE!  Yes...you heard it right...FREE!  Of course you have to pay the $12 to park, but other than that, FREE!!  Secondly, it is so well laid out with not super far walks from each exibit and thirdly, the animals had beautiful habitats.  Quinn was so excited to get to the zoo that here's what I found as soon as we arrived there:

Mr. Quinn...so sleepy

Luckily, it only took about 20 minutes and a few monkeys to wake this little man up.  He had the BEST time watching the monkeys and playing at the Children's Zoo.  Go figure that he wanted to spend the majority of his time looking at the fish - the same fish tank, mind you, as the local Chinese restaurant has.  That is of course to say until he found the splash park and the petting zoo!  He then also really enjoyed chasing the chickens and playing with the goats! 

Just a few more pics from our wonderful weekend Road Trip.  ENJOY!

Gigi, Quinn, Mommy, and Joy

Quinn Riding The Frog at The St. Louis Zoo

Petting Goats with Mommy

Ready to do it BY MYSELF





Time to Go Home!




Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Mr. Independent

It must be so frustrating to be one.  Quinn is trying so hard to be independent, but when you can't talk, it's pretty hard to express what it is you are wanting to do.  He loves to stand in the refrigerator and "eh eh eh" until I figure out what it is he's wanting to eat or drink.  He loves to try to feed himself with his spoon (just a big mess for me to clean up).  He loves to take off and go walking after whatever it is that catches his eye...most frequently one of the six fox living in our neighborhood or fountains.

The splash park seems to be the best place to let Mr. Quinn try to be independent...I don't really care to drive home soaking wet so he's on his own to wander and explore all the fountains.  Tuesdays this summer it's our plan to hit up "Tunes and Tales for Toddlers" at the public library with Quinn's buddy Kenna (she has the same birthday and is older by just 14 hours) and then go to the splash park.  Yesterday was our first day and we had so much fun!  We sang songs, read books, clapped our hands, and played with bells in group at the library then put on our swim duds and headed out to play!

Just a few pics of Mr. Independent himself.

Quinn So Excited To Be At The Splash Park


Mr. Independent Running To Get In The Water


The Fountain Just Blew Up In His Face


Surrounded By Fun!

 After a GREAT morning, Quinn was asleep before I even pulled out of our parking space.  To any mom...that is a successful morning!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Our Water Baby

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!!  What a relief to be able to fully enjoy each and every sunshiney day with my boy without that evil 4 letter word (work) gettin in the way!  We've already discovered the splash park in downtown Bentonville, sleeping in (until 6!), and heading out on the lake.  Tonight will be the official kick off to summer with our first concert in the park.  We are (okay, I am) so excited!

Brad and I assumed we wouldn't have any trouble with Quinn and water since he loves his bathtub so much, but he's even more of a water baby than we could have ever imagined.  Check it out for yourself:


So happy to be heading to the Splash Park


At the Splash Park

 
Mr. Independent


Mommy and Quinn were both SOAKED!


Yeah...I had a good time!


Driving the Boat