Road Trip...lets - Day 2

ANTHONY! That's right, day 2 begins with the loud and obnoxious family from the room next to us yelling at poor Anthony in the hallway right outside our door. I had a hard time refraining from giving them a piece of my mind! Oh well, I was up - so off to get some hotel waffles for the boys. I found myself wanting to explain to everyone in the breakfast room that I was getting breakfast for 3 kids but just kept my head down busily making a giant plate of waffles and stuffing butter, syrup, and yogurt in my pockets.

Casey and I lucked out big time and just happened to catch his Aunt Tina (who lives in Portland) on her day off from work so she agreed to come to the Portland Zoo with us. We also lucked out because Casey's sister also happened to be in Portland and was able to come along. It was SO nice having Aunt Tina and Aunt Kortni with us to help wrangle babies and give them the opportunity to walk around the entire time instead of riding in their wagon. The boys loved hanging with TT (as Isaac would call her) and KoKo!!

We thought that we would practically have the zoo to ourselves on a Monday but were badly mistaken! It was so busy and took us FOREVER to park but surprisingly it didn't seem as crowded once we were in the zoo. The boys were really excited to be walking around and we discovered their fascination with traffic cones. Maybe next time they will be just as excited about animals!

Isaac and Aunt Kortni

Isaac

Tina and Drew

Drew loves penguins! The cutest thing all day was when we entered the penguin area and Drew said "ooohh" and walked right up to the wood penguin cutout displays and started hugging and kissing them all while continuing to say "oooooohhh".

One of the zoo highlights for the boys were the African drums. They loved them! Even if they had to stand on their tippy toes.

Evan taking a little break from walking.

This is one tired little dude. After Evan tried playing the same drum as Isaac "The Boss", Ike-man had a total meltdown and we knew they were done.

What a fun day! Thank you Tina and Kortni for hanging with the Egger hurricane!

Once we got in the car the boys crashed immediately and Casey and I began our journey south the Myrtle Creek.

We did learn something important on this day. Even though the boys have a nap, on a really exciting and busy day they will still be tired, cranky, and prone to outbursts in the evening. Where did we learn this? Applebees. A few hours down the road we thought we would stop at a mall to let the boys stretch their legs and get some more walking in before dinner...wrong. They were hungry and everything was upsetting them so we hurried across the street to Applebess where we were "that family". Have I mentioned before how loud Drew is? He has no inside voice and has recently discovered how to scream. Go ahead and say it..."oh man" is right! It didn't help that we were using boosters for the first time but our food could not come fast enough! Eventually it came and the little devils who were moments earlier throwing crayons and Matchbox cars were little angels flirting with the waitress.

Back to car for more Elmo and Thomas DVD's that entertained the boys the rest of the way to Grandma and Grandpa Egger's house. They went straight up to bed and right to sleep!

Road Trip...lets - Day 1

After months of "talking" about going to Oregon to visit Grandma and Grandpa Egger we finally did it. Instead of driving the 8 hours straight through in the middle of the night while the boys were sleeping we decided to make a week long road trip out of our journey and really try to enjoy the last days of summer. Our first day we left at the boys' nap time hoping they would sleep for a portion of our 4 hour leg to Portland. It was a rocky start because we had to stop by my parents house to drop off Brewster which got the boys all worked up thinking that they were also going to play at Grandma and Papa's. So after a teary beginning the boys finally fell asleep and we were on our way!

We used to take Brewster with us to the farm before we had kids and would stop at this great park in Centralia to let him run around and burn off some energy. We figured if it worked for the dog it should work for the boys! They loved the park! They got to swing, slide, climb, run around trees, and even see squirrels and ducks. It was at this park though, that I realized that I am a magnet for wacky kids, you know the ones who are filthy and missing an article of clothing (shoes and shirt in my experiences). They seem to want to play with me...like friends. I end up helping kids on monkey bars, watching them jump, and holding hands. Makes me wonder what it is about me....youthful spirit, childlike attitude, overuse of the word 'cool'...no, must be my similar unkempt appearance:)

Back on the road and we realize we didn't make any hotel reservations...not unusual for a Casey/Jenny trip. I remembered a hotel that was listed on the Portland Zoo's website (where we were going the next day) so Casey called and reserved us a room. We pull in way past the boys bedtime to find that the hotel was not exactly the nice family place one would expect to partner with the zoo. We decide to make the best of it because it was only a few hours, right?

Wrong. Worst night's sleep since the boys were new born! The walls were pretty thin so we could hear the family next to us yelling at Anthony who was crying while his mom and dad took turns seeing who could be the loudest. I was ready to start yelling at Anthony too! On the other side of use was a guy who had a TERRIBLE phlegmy cough...all night! We also had our own little drama in our room, which was our first time in a hotel with the boys. We started with all of the boys in one bed while they settled down and fell asleep which quickly changed to one of them in a portable crib, one in a bed alone, and one guy with Casey and I (something that never happens). As we settled in for the night cuddling my sweet little baby it was then that I got it. I understood how people end up with their kids sleeping in their bed until they are 5. It's your child at their best - cute, cuddly, sweet, and quiet. I changed my mind at 2am. How can anyone sleep with a toddler? Drew and Casey ended up in one bed, and Isaac and I in the other. Drew kept getting on all fours and ramming his head into the headboard and kicking Casey all night while Isaac spent the entire night trying to get away from me! I guess we have all gotten used to sleeping with plenty of space!

Hang Time

We have recently taken the boys to an elementary school playground that is on the island and have really enjoyed doing something fun that is close to home. The boys have REALLY enjoyed it. There is never anyone else at the playground so the boys are free to roam around and do as they please. On this trip we reaffirmed Drew's freakish strength by letting him hang from some playground equipment. We first discovered his ability to hang like a monkey at one of Isaac's developmental follow-up appointments using the physical therapy equipment when he was about 1 year old. He loves hanging and could probably stay like that all day. He never once let go - we would have to take him down! Once Drew impressed Mom and Dad, Evan and Isaac were quick to jump in.

Drew hanging and very pleased with himself.

Here is Drew hanging by himself on the low bar.

Isaac is an impressive climber...I mean it's scary at how coordinated he is getting up strange things. With all of his climbing, hanging didn't really interest him until his brothers were doing it - go figure!

Here is Evan looking unsure of himself with Isaac running in for a turn.

I think that it is funny how even in wide open spaces they just HAVE to test the gates!

Day Full of Firsts

Today was full of firsts for the boys and me, and boy was it exhausting! So exhausting they were actually quiet by the time we got home tonight. Notice I didn't say asleep - that would take another 2 hours of activities!

We started the day by going to our first story time at the local library where Grandma and Papa met us. Let me just start by saying that our boys LOVE books, they like reading in a lap or by themselves and they especially love story time with dad at our house before naps and bedtime.

So...we enter the library where Drew is immediately drawn to all of the books on the shelves. I was able to deter him from removing every book in the library at a height of 2 feet or lower by sitting all of them at an activity table with paper and crayons while we waited for the story time room to open up. Drew is about to jump out of his pampers at this point. A million books at an arms reach away AND a tub of crayons that he can pick out all by himself (very exciting for a crayon eater who is only given 2 crayons at a time)!

I would like to stop here and thank my parents for agreeing to come to story time. It would have been a DISASTER without them. Thank you!

We enter the story room where they are instructed to pick out a stuffed animal to hold during the stories. What? New animals! Again, so exciting for my little guys who normally contained and somewhat sheltered. The story starts and Drew is having none of it because there are a million books on the other side of the door calling his name. Drew and Papa leave. Evan sits quietly in Grandma's lap holding his purple lion. Isaac sits with me and squirms and says "no, no, no, no, no..." Drew and Papa return for about 30 seconds. Drew, Papa, Grandma, and Isaac leave. They all leave Evan and I just as an activity is starting where you take a colored felt crayon up to the front of the room when your color is called...each child only gets one...and here Evan and I are with his and his brothers'. All three of Evan's colors where called in a row and he loved going up there and soon thought it was the Evan show. As other shy children went to the front of the room with the help of their parents Evan took it upon himself to go back up and rearrange the felt crayons and even take some down. Thankfully story time ended after one more song with some musical instruments and shakers which I'm pretty sure one of my boys opened up a shaker (plastic egg with sunflower seeds inside) which an adorable little boy decided to snack on. Grandma, Papa, and mommy all sweating head to the car.

Next up, McDonald's. The boys had their first Happy Meals and didn't eat them in the car! After eating lunch I thought I would take each of the boys up into the playland slide maze since it wasn't busy. I forgot how on a warm day it turns the playland into a 200 degree hotbed for germs and stinkiness. Isaac and I went first and he loved climbing up the tubes. We came across a little girl and her brother who after some minor taunting consisting of "ha ha, we got here first", helped guide my sorry lost behind to the big pink slide! Next up, I decide I would take Evan and Drew together to try to speed things along. Not a great decision seeing as how they don't know their right from their left. Thank goodness they know their colors though! We finally made it down the big pink slide and I won't be entering that pee smelling prison again for a long while.

After lunch we went to a couple of stores looking for their first life jackets, where they rode their first mechanical ride thingy. A fire engine with Bert and Ernie could not be passed up.

After taking a nap at Grandma and Papa's the boys went for their first ride in the boat. Up until now they had only played in Papa's boat in the driveway. The boys were so excited to get in the boat and once we got going...Drew grabbed onto me for dear life, Isaac sat on Grandma's lap stiff as a board and Evan grabbed the wheel and drove the boat. Eventually Isaac relaxed and started breathing, at which point he decided he also wanted to drive the boat. Evan was a little upset, interpreting this move as mutiny. After a small squabble at sea they were both sitting on Papa's lap driving the boat. Drew meanwhile has a death grip on me and won't say a word....except when asked if he wants to go fast he says, "Yeah". We exit the boat and Drew talks about it like he had a blast. Yeah, boat. Papa boat. You would never guess he never even saw the water because his face was buried in my shirt.

After the boat ride I decided to jump in the lake for the first time since I was pregnant, which was not the relaxing floating experience I was told it would be. I sank like a rock and had to doggy paddle with some serious drag thanks to my giant belly. I wanted to let the boys see me jump in the water so they would see me swimming and think that it looked like fun. When I ran and jumped off of the dock my mom told me that Isaac said "uh oh". Maybe he thought I fell in, which would not be a surprise seeing as how I'm not exactly a graceful ballerina.

All of these firsts and I didn't get a single picture - which ironically is also a first! I decided to share a second though. Yesterday I gave the boys their second haircut.

Beating the Heat

It has been so hot lately, over 70 degrees, which makes our house feel like 400 degrees so we have had to move outside in the late afternoon to beat the heat! My $5 investment at the drug store for a small baby pool has been worth every last cent. The boys LOVE playing in the pool and recently discovered they also like the sprinkler (after a warm up introduction at Grandma and Papa's house). Add a couple of balls and some toys and you end up with a fight to get them inside!

When we play outside our house looks like a daycare. Casey is so good about picking up after us. We wouldn't want neighborhood kids thinking our yard is a park:)

Isaac getting hit by the sprinkler - and it was COLD!


Drew trying to decide if he likes the sprinkler.

Drew has a hard time keeping his shorts up.

Isaac is starting to like the sprinkler.

Isaac

Evan running from the sprinkler.

Evan loving the sprinkler!!

Baby Stew

Look how much has changed in 1 year! I continue to be amazed by how fast time seems to be passing me by!

Evan

Isaac

Drew

Beach Bums

Finally! We made it to the beach! All of the stars aligned-we had a sunny day AND low tide just after nap time. We couldn't resist and headed to the beach.

Our first dilemma was whether or not to go to a more populated but easily accessible beach or hike down to a more remote beach with fewer (if any) people. We chose the remote beach so we could let our dog run wild while we chased after the boys. We had a great time but my legs are still sore from the hike. To get to the beach we hiked down a HUGE hill and then about a 1/2 mile down the beach once we got there to get to the sandy area. This wasn't so bad, but going up hill with a pack and carrying a toddler was more than this soft body had bargained for! Poor Casey had to carry 2 toddlers up the hill! Evan and Isaac were nice enough to give him "power hugs" to help get him up the hill though!

Our decision was a good one because we were the only people at the beach so Brewster was able to run free. He probably had the best time out of everybody. Our poor, out of shape little dog was trying to fall asleep in the car ride home - which is only 2 minutes!

Before we get started with fun pictures let's talk about what went right and what went wrong and lessons learned at our first outing to the beach.

1. Once we made it down the hill/trail and to the beach I noticed that one of the boys had stepped in dog poop...and it just happened to be the boy that I carried so I had dog poop smeared all over my shorts. Bad. Good- I packed wipes!

2. I quickly realized that I should apply sunscreen before we leave and not try to do it while they are in the water. Lesson learned.

3. Sand does not come out of cracks and crevices even if you use wipes. Bad. Just stick them in the tub at home. Good. Really dirty tub. Bad.

4. Pack an extra pair of clothes (done) including a sweatshirt or long sleeved shirt. Lesson learned.

5. Packing cookies. Good. Packing a cup of ice (good) but no bottle of water to put in it. Bad.

Ok, let's continue.

Once we got to the sand the boys ran and went nuts! Evan immediately took a header right into a huge puddle and didn't mind at all, except for the fact that his shirt was wet and stuck to him.

Here is Evan running for new waters.

Drew loved splashing!

Even when his face would get all wet!

Isaac loved just standing in the water. He didn't like any waves at first but after we showed him he could kick the waves he LOVED it. Now if you ask him about the beach he says, "kick, kick".

Here are the water babies. We quickly learned that we should have started out shirtless.

Isaac and Evan helping Daddy build a sandcastle. Just after Casey got done rinsing Drew off he came running to me and fell right in the mote of the castle!

Isaac and Evan.

Drew spent 98% of his time in the water throwing sand. He stood in this spot forever! He was having a great time and really enjoyed cracking himself up.

Drew

Isaac checking out his toes under water - weird!
Look at those white little bodies! Notice mommy and her white legs were not captured on film!

Smartest thing I packed was a bunch of animal crackers! It was helpful in luring the boys out of the water and helped get them to sit still. I love this picture of them, but it makes it painfully obvious that I need to invest in some beach towels!

Family sandals.

What a great day!!!