Dinosaur Park on Veteran's Day

I have to brag about Ogden. I saw this news article this summer saying that Ogden is one of the best places for cheapskates because they have so much to offer and everything is so affordable. Its so true. I found when looking for things to do when we go on vacation elsewhere, entertainment, food etc of any kind can be so expensive. The price is already good as it comes but with a little looking you can often get the price for even cheaper on Groupon, KSL deals, the home mailers, etc. Love this city!

Ogden ranked #2 and Salt Lake City ranked #7
http://fox13now.com/2013/08/26/ogden-ranked-no-2-on-best-city-for-cheapskates-list/

Anyways we decided at the last minute on Veteran's Day that it was too beautiful of a day to stay indoors. We went to Dinosaur Park with daddy since he had the day off and KSL deals had 50% off tickets.  It was light jacket weather and its a nice park to be able to walk and play. There were only a few other families there, which we love. They have a bunch of dinosaur noises on the trails and Alyeska kept asking "Do you hear that noise?" "Is that a dinosaur?" They both had a great time!

Tree House Museum

Another place Alyeska adores. I think we have been here enough that today when we were two blocks away she said "were almost there" which surprised me because we didn't go a whole lot this summer. The Tree House is the beeest, especially when it comes to those loooooong winters. Last year we got a pass for the year and I believe we will get one again.

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is a preschooler's dream come true. It is so fun and adorable! So much to touch, climb, build and imagine.  Alyeska had a great time with her friends Ezra and Noella. Elias loved watching kids play, he even played a little himself. We finished off our day with lunch by the musical fountain outside. I was pooped by the time we got home. Thanks Melinda, loved it :)

Zoo in September

I love getting into places for free! Chelsea got a pass this year and can bring a guest and kids under 2 are free. Yay for my sweet sister! Even better Michael my brother had the day off and was able to come hang out as well. We just needed my baby sister and it would have completed the four of us... miss you Brittany :)  

Oh happy happy day! 

Of course the kids loooooved the zoo. My favorite of the day was the Giraffes because we walked upstairs and they were just a few feet away at eye level. They were being fed lunch from some buckets with no window to separate us. My favorite picture was the grizzly bear staring at us from his bath. The zoo is so special because it just reminds me how incredibly amazing a creator God is, and how many animals I know nothing about. Hogle Zoo is building a new big Savannah Safari exhibit. They also built a splash pad this summer for those hot summer days. 

Cold Springs Trout Farm

I just found another North Ogden treasure. Have I mentioned that I love living here. Well I do. Today we went to Cold Spring Trout Farm. I went when I was in 4th grade or something so I vaguely remember it. It is such a cute little fish farm, a little off the beaten neighborhood path. We went during the morning looking for something to fill our time before nap time so the two year old doesn't get so.... you know bored and drive mom crazy ;) I love seeing my sweet daughter experience new things like touching a slimy fish in a bucket that someone else caught. The fish farm is free to get in and you can get a cup full of fish food to feed the fish for a quarter, the cup lasted us almost an hour going to the different ponds (one pinch at a time). Her face lit up every time she tossed in food and saw the trout splash to get it. Maybe when dad gets off of work one of these days we might catch a fish because I don't want to ask someone to get the hook out of the fishes mouth LOL. She kept talking about the fish all the way home. This place will definitely get a regular visit from us.

Potty Training Memoirs

Oh boy am I glad thats over!
I hate potty training!
Seriously my least favorite thing i've done as a parent so far :)

So my first attempt was the day after Alyeska turned two years old. My son Elias was 1 1/2 months old. I think it would have been wonderful if she was ready. See I felt she was ready because she already had the vocabulary and she was very interested in the toilet and was curious when I went to the potty. My thinking was yes I will potty train while my son is sleeping all the time and while its cold outside and we can't do too much outdoors with such a young baby anyways. I read lots of potty books to her a few weeks prior and we have a baby doll that pees starting day 1. We tried the 3 day method. Accidents beyond accidents which I expected. She had many successes, she actually peed the first time I put her on the potty. She even pooped on day 2 I think.  She was so motivated and determined. She would sit there reading books for over a half hour. She had lots and lots of accidents.  Day 4 things weren't getting better. I did this while my husband was out of town. I don't know what I was thinking. Day 4,  I cried to him on the phone thinking I failed as a potty trainer.  I wanted to surprise him when he got home. After getting advice from "experienced potty trainers" they said she was not yet physically ready. She was not able to will herself to pee yet but usually peed if we sat there for a loooong time or just had good timing. That my friends is called pee catching. We were good at pee catching, which was confusing and made me think she was ready, and I needed to practice more. Sometimes she would sit on the toilet after like 6 books she would get up and have an accident on the floor right by the potty. Day 4 I was exhausted from changing sheets, cleaning rugs, floors 24 hours living and breathing POTTY.  I was ready for her to be in diapers until age 4.

We took a break from the potty completely unless she asked to sit on it.  I waited 3 months for her to go longer periods without wetting her diaper. Finally a few days after the 4th of July I wanted to try again. I guess I forgot my tears and the messes all over the house and the double laundry.  I decided to be waaay more laid back on my second attempt and put diapers on her at nap, bedtime and public outings. It felt good to take it easy and go out whenever I wanted not letting potty training hold us back from enjoying the summer or just be able to relax at nap/bedtime. I decided that i would not feel like a failure this time. I could tell right from the beginning she was a lot more ready. She was also able to pull up and down her pants on her own easily. Everyday was a little better. Finally after casually potty training for about 3 weeks I felt she wasn't getting any better and I knew that the diapers were holding her back. I decided I would get pull ups because I really was sorta scared to go out in public and her wet herself and worse wet someone else's carpet or the store floor. I tried pull ups for about 3 or 4 days for that reason. We tried and she always chose to pee in the pull up instead of the potty so I knew I had to ditch diapers and pull ups altogether. It only took a few days and it clicked that her only option was to use the potty now that I knew she was physically ready. Yes she did have a few accidents in public but I went to places that didn't matter too much and brought her little potty along. She will be happy to know when she older that she went potty in her potty chair in parks and parking lots for all passerbys to see LOL. We woke her up at 5 am to use the potty in the morning for a few mornings but now she can make it until she wakes up. She has been accident free day and night for the past 4 days! YAY!!!

My mom had it right when she said that you are also training yourself. Isn't that the truth. I know my daughter will have her accidents once in a while and it would be smart to bring extra clothes just in case. I know our outings will have to revolve around her little bladder but hallelujah potty training is over! No more sticker charts and candy bribes, changing clothes 5 times a day and all the other wonderful things training brings :)


I hate potty training. Maybe next kid i'll know the signs a bit better and he'll be one of those kids trained  in a few days.... or maybe next kid Ill read this blog post and laugh at how easy my first kid  was compared to the second kid. I hope not.  I hate potty training.

Snow Basin Concert

Every Sunday there are free concerts at Snow Basin. Andy has been so busy being at church all day this summer so we didn't go until yesterday after I looked into it and saw bands play at three as well... YAY! The band that was playing was called Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats. They are sorta blue grass which is just the right kinda music for the beautiful venue and nice laid back summer day. Alyeska watched a few hula hoopers, got sprayed by the misters and danced with some other kids. We are hoping to get some friends to come with us next time.

Go Raptors

We were waiting to go to a free Raptors game this summer because free general admission tickets usually pop up somewhere. The end of the season was coming up soon and I still didn't come by free tickets so I asked on Facebook. Some awesome people from the Genesis Project hooked us up with their season ticket seats on Wednesday. They are seriously the best seats in the park, especially having kids because there is space in front where they can play which just happens to be right behind the batter. SWEET! Our friends Zach and Talaya and their baby Cora came along. The regular season ticket holders that sat behind us were so sweet and had a two year old boy who Alyeska played with. They also shared popcorn, candy and a glow stick. Thanks Lisa and Brian! We had a great time!

This was our view from our seats with no one in front of us. 

WATER SUMMER FUN!

Alyeska LOVES the water! Since it is impossible for just me to bring both kids to the swimming pool while Andy is at work, we go to the splash pad at least once a week if not more. It helps that we have a splash pad so close to us but we also try to coordinate with our friends or cousin because its always more fun to play with friends.

We also got couple groupon for North Shore swimming pool so we went with the babies a few times and we get to go once more with our Home Owners day. We went on the big blue slide and Alyeska would say "again". Its so cute to watch Andy play in the water with her. We both took turns hanging out with Elias in the shade and playing with Alyeska. The water was a little too cold for a 4-5 month old this year. 

One Saturday we took a spontaneous day and went to Pineview Reservoir with the babies and the dog and went swimming. Dakota ignored all other people and dogs and kept fetching his toy the entire time. Alyeska played in her raft and Elias fell asleep on the blanket. What a great day!

Yesterday we went swimming at Chelsea's inlaws house. They have the biggest above ground pool I have ever seen, such a great alternative to an underground pool. Elias went swimming for the first time and Alyeska used some floaties. She did great doing it by herself. 

If we are just hanging out at home this summer which we took many days to stay home due to potty training she would just go swimming in her plastic swimming pool or she went over to the neighbors to play on their slip and slide or trampoline with the sprinkler underneath. This summer has been a splash!