Gateway Discovery Childrens Museum

I had no idea that the Irish were into learning and hands-on fun. On St. Patricks day, the Gateway Discovery Children's Museum had a free admission day for anyone who wore their favorite St. Patty's day apparel. We donned our green and headed over once I picked up the boys from Preschool.....

Brenden really enjoyed the life-like sounds that came with this parked Helicopter. I have been to this place several times, but never made it to the Helicopter pad for some reason. This time, I didn't want the boys to miss it (Brenden's neighborhood/church/Preschool classmate came along with us), and this is the first stop we made once we arrived:

He has a thing for flying. Can you blame him? His Grandpa is a retired Pilot and his Aunt has her helicopter's license and his other Aunt works for an airline company.

Loved it.

Once back inside, we went to the block building station and I asked them if they could build a tower as big as they were. They were successful. (C is 2 years older than Brenden.)

But C wanted to try one more block.........

The wreck and crash didn't phase Brenden. He is tough. Wanted to build their tower up again and went right to work.

Kyleigh, on the other hand, was able to escape unscathed during the next block-tower crash.

 Once we hit the Construction zone, she hopped on the CAT. The girl loves trucks

 This is how she rides our dump truck at home, so the transition was an easy one.

Hey fellas, wanna scoot and make room for me?

 Thanks. I feel the need for some speed, and you boys just weren't cutting it.

 Uh oh, Pit Stop. Lost a shoe.

Speaking of speed.....
(this car lacked the real-life sounds that the Helicopter had, so Brenden had to provide his own)

Brenden is a little more patient than Kyleigh, so he let the other kids take him around town for a spin.
He's putting in his requests for the next sights to see.

 Oh dear, I hope he asked politely before taking over the reins....both of them.

All that driving makes a guy hungry. 

 This place has a pretend market, and some of the kids there play extremely well. This girl was taking Brenden's meat choices to weigh them before he could go to the till for the purchase.

Meanwhile Kyleigh was in the play house, trying to dodge all the mess. She is not one to just walk all over a messy room. She will take her time to side step any abandoned objects found lying on the ground. And she can't believe the kids negligence of this place! 

 Brenden, on the other hand, had no problem with the house and just cruised around the place (although he was in and out quickly....onto greater things...he didn't care much for the kid-sized house....he liked the construction blocks and crane, water pump and play river with miniture jet skis, cars, climbing wall, life-size horse and market. Oh, and the helicopter.
Before they fell asleep, they both told me that the Helicopter was their favorite of the day.

Queen Bee

Can I get some assistance over here, please?

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Poor Unsuspecting Kid

Never saw it coming. And I didn't have time to warn him.

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BYU Basketball season has ended

But the guys sure gave us a nice ride while it lasted. So, to put a finishing touch on a great year, I took the kids down to Provo Airport this morning to see the BYU Basketball team as they arrive from New Orleans and the Sweet 16. We were definitely not the only ones...


News crews, lots of cameras, and crazy people standing in the 30 degree rain and snow. Freezing. I was starting to question whether this was worth it.

But after meeting the Coaches and Players, getting some autographs on Brenden's jersey and pictures, it was worth it. This was an exciting season. 32 wins-most in school history. Probable Player of the Year-Jimmer Fredette. And exciting wins over tough opponents-in regular season, Conf tourney and all the way into the Sweet 16 for the first time since '81. Yes, it was worth it.

Coach Dave Rice. He played for Tark at UNLV and was a 1990 National Champ with the Rebels. Very nice guy.

Noah Hartsock. Stepped up big time to play Center when he was playing the 4 role very well.

Brandon Davies. Can't wait to see him play next year. A great asset to the team.

Brothers Chris and Kyle Collingsworth. I taught Kyle at Provo High. Great kid. BYU recruited him to be Point Guard and he transitioned to the 4 role very well. Especially picking up a career high 15 rebounds last night. Very versatile player. Looks like Chris and Kyle will have to wait 2 more years to play together since Chris redshirted this year due to an injury and Kyle won't be back for 2 years as he leaves on a mission to Russia.

Kyleigh went to Kyle so easily and was so content there, that I snapped another shot of her. I won't tell anyone what Kyle used to get on his Spanish exams.....at least he won't need his espanol in Russia. :)

Taylor and Kyle. I taught them both at Provo High, so a mini reunion. I went into labor with Brenden on the very last day of student teaching at Provo. Good memories of that year.

Oh dear. Well, I guess when Brenden heard "Let's go to the airport to see the BYU Basketball team", he stopped at "airport", thought planes, and when I brought him back inside from watching the plane land and the players get off, he was mad at me and kept asking through sad tears why we weren't getting on the plane. Planes to him was more exciting than meeting the guys fresh from the Sweet 16, but hopefully he'll thank me later. :)       
(This sad shot made it onto Deseret news online: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700121634/BYU-basketball-Fans-welcome-home-Cougars-from-NCAA-tournament.html  )

Senior Logan Magnussen 

We didn't take a picture with Steven Rodgers, but he signed the jersey as well as Anson Winder. I also didn't feel like pushing my way through to get Jackson and Jimmer to sign it since they were being attacked and were led upstairs and through a side door to their cars. Personally, I think they should spend 20 more minutes and sign the kids shirts, balls, posters since this is their last year, last game. Not going to go through this again at the Collegiate level, so give it one last hurrah for yourself and the fans. Brenden now has the 2010-2011 BYU Basketball team sans The Jimmer.

Kyleigh to the rescue....at Gateway Discovery Museum

Construction, building things....it's in her blood. She was clutch when the boys needed her most....

Chums for Life

Kyleigh had just woke up from a long nap. She had a fever and slept for 4 hours. Brenden knew just what to do to get her mind off the fever.....go grab a good book. (But she was 'slippery' on the way up). 

More friend stuff

This was yesterday as I was gathering their shoes and jackets to go to Costco.
A friendly (or not so friendly, depending on which side of the kiss you're on) kiss good bye. He'll probably outgrow this in a few years, so no worries for Kyleigh's well being. Her face couldn't handle this abuse much longer, no matter how well intended.

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Don't get mad at me.....

I was not the stylist of this do. I finished cutting the last of her banana (have to do only three bites at a time to discourage pure playing with it and encourage eating), go grab some toast that just beeped, slather the butter on, look back and this is what I see. Guess I have to be a quicker butter-toaster and more aware of when she is done with the bananas so that I don't have to undo a banana-do.

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Stair stepper

Mom wont let me go outside for exercise, so I guess I'll have to settle for stair stepping. Please hurry UNLV, let my Daddy in! I need more outdoor activities to expend all my balled up energy.

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All dressed up with nowhere to go

Well, maybe not quite ready. She should probably calm down the bed head and take off her brother's shoes...and wait till it warms up to at least 50 outside (scratch that, it's only supposed to get to 48 today...guess we have to lower our standards). Punxsutawney Phil is a liar. Spring isn't supposed to mean 1-2 good hours of outside play time. We need a min of 4 to get out of winter completely.

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Copyright Protected

Apparently I walked in on what was sure to be the next instant classic...

I should have knocked before walking in cause now I'll never know what she was drawing. She can be a very private artist.

Brenden and UNLV vs BYU

Brenden went to Lowe's for their Build and Grow project. He and his dad built a Ball Toss.

Must have worn him out, cause he fell asleep at the back of the love sac watching "Real Trains for Kids". And such a comfortable position to fall asleep in.

Brenden also got to accompany his Mom and Dad to his very first BYU Basketball game. I hope he liked it and could feel the exciting atmosphere that the Marriott Center is so famous for providing.

I think he did.

 BYU likes the quick transition game.

Now that Selection Sunday has passed and BYU was very fortunate to receive a 3 seed, Wofford and any other team we play, will most likely adopt the same strategy as UNLV, San Diego St and every other University has tried....stop Jimmer, put 2 and 3 people on him, rotate defenders, try length, size, quickness. And sometimes it will work. But even when the journalists write that he was 'bedeviled' in the Tournament Championship game last Saturday, he still managed to score 30 points. I'm confused a bit, I thought 30 points was good. But his 'off night' is still better than most players 'career high' nights....and perhaps they were expecting another 40, 50 point game? Then, yes, I suppose a 30 point game means he was really stifled by San Diego State. Way to go, White and Leonard.

Brenden will be able to say, like I can say about the late 80s Phoenix Suns (Tom Chambers and KJ), that he watched some of the best play in person. All I remember is that I went to one or two Suns game with my Dad and got a Sprite at the game. That's probably about all Brenden will remember, but for records sake, now he has photographic evidence that he saw Brandon Davies and Jimmer Fredette play College ball.

Speaking of College and NBA ball, you sure don't see alot of this in the NBA. They wouldn't want to hurt their ankle or wrist in the process. College guys sure play with a whole lot more heart....and makes it far more entertaining to watch. Not these whinny millionaires who change cities and loyalties to the highest bidder.

Whoa, Brenden! Did you see that?!

Nope, by this time (2 hours in a hard seat in one place can be a bit trying) he had withdrawn and was watching Bugs Bunny.


Another day on the job.

And a very content little boy. Hope Kyleigh had fun with the babysitter. I knew that a 3 year old could probably sit still for 2 hours, but not a chance with an 18 month old. Sorry, Kyleigh. Most likely we won't be living around here to even have a chance of bringing you next year....and who knows if basketball would even be your 'thing'? It better be. Or you're going to time out 'till you change your attitude!