Heath Home: Springville's Art City Days

From June 2nd to the 10th Springville had their annual Art City Days celebration. Each day of the week there were several activities you could attend or contests you could enter. For our little family, it was a time for fun and lots of new activities. So on Monday, the boys and I went to the library where they were having a teddy bear tea party. We got to bring blankets, our favorite stuffed animals, and wear our pj's. The library had fun skits, story telling, crafts, and treats for the kids. It was so fun. This is a picture of Isaac wearing his sheep ears that he made, he also got to jump over a little gate while pretending he was a sheep. You can't hear him obviously but he was saying "baa" as I took this picture.

The next several pictures are at the Springville swimming pool on Tuesday. During the Arts City week the pool was doing a rubber ducky activity and giving away free popsicles and popcorn. The boys loved picking their own ducks out and eating the popsicles. What I will never forget about this activity was that it was the first time Isaac swam without having us hold him. It was incredible. Yes, he had a floatie on but the fact that he would just swim without being attached to one of us was a huge milestone.

See, we aren't anywhere near him! What a big boy!

Andrew has decided that he actually likes saying "cheese" now to the camera. You will see him with his head tilted, mouth opened, and eyes wide in several pictures to come. It is his new thing. (see video)

These floaties have been so great for swimming. We highly recommend them. It was a fight at the start to get them on but once they realized they could float with them, they really started liking them.

"Cheese"

On Wednesday our little bunch went to check out the vendors and booths at the fair grounds. It also just happened to be one ticket per ride on that day so we let the boys experience their first carnival rides. They didn't react much, or at all but it was still fun for Austin and I. It also had to be one of the scariest days of my life as well. When we fist arrived at the carnival I went to the restroom and Austin went to the ticket booth with the boys. When he got back I didn't even think to look in the stroller so we head over to the booths and started looking at all of the neat stuff they were selling. After about 15 or 20 booths and about 15 minutes Austin turned to me and said, "Where is the baby?" I thought he was talking about our little girl inside of me so I just brushed it off but then he said it again and pointed to the empty seat next to Isaac in the stroller. Immediately my heart dropped from my chest and I started freaking out! How long had Andrew been missing for? Where was he? A carnival? Really, of all the places to loose your 18 month old. We instantly split up and retraced our path. I asked every one I saw and after 5 minutes of freaking out I had a group of people looking with me. Austin had gone back to the ticket booth and I kept searching the vendor booths. Of course by this time every horrifying thing possible was going through my mind about what could have happened to him. What seemed like eternity but I think was only about 15 minutes, Austin came back with a full stroller. I ran up to Andrew, picked him up and immediately started crying. I hadn't even realized it but I was also shaking terribly. I held him for a long time and I think he could tell something was wrong with me because he just looked at me and kept touching my nose. Austin said he found him next to the ticket booths where a man was holding his hand. The man told Austin that he saw this little boy walking around calling "mommy" out. He didn't want him to just wonder around so he kept him at the ticket booth with him and was about to get security. We are guessing Andrew just slipped out of his seat while Austin was talking to the ticket workers and just walked away. The shades on the stroller where covering them up so he didn't see Andrew slip right out.Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. That night I could not sleep. I just kept imaging my little Andrew walking around an insanely crowded carnival calling for me and me not being able to hear him or even know he was missing. Thank you Heavenly Father for watching out for our little family.

They did enjoy this train ride but their seat belts were so constricting that they were bent over like this the whole time trying to reach the steering wheels.

This flying one scared them to death. It would go up and down in slow motion but would also shake really fast every once in a while. Once the shaking started it was over, they both started crying and didn't stop till the ride was done. Austin and I were laugh at them the whole time, people probably thought we were horrible parents and that we were punishing them.

On Wednesday morning a friend in the ward and I took the kids to the art museum where they were doing a kids craft festival. Outside the museum there were probably 25 booths set up where kids could do a variety of crafts from sand painting and kites, to finger painting and wind chimes. It was so packed and busy that we actually only got around to the balloon stand, storing telling, and finger painting but it was still fun. I think if Austin were to have gone with me it would have been easier to do more activities but oh well. At least we got to be outside enjoying the sunshine.

Then on Thursday we went with the Howard's back to the carnival to eat some delicious scones and buy some adorable baby girl hair bows.

"Cheese" again.

Here are the kids waiting anxiously for the merry-go-round.

This jeep ride was by far their favorite ride. They aren't smiling in any of the pictures but I promise they were when the ride was going. All four of them loved having their own steering wheels.

Mommy and Andrew waiting for the next ride.

This is what Isaac looked like for a few minutes when he kept asking for food and I told him he had to wait.

Then here he is when the food arrived.

But of course not until after a prayer. What a good boy.

Family Picture at the Carnival!

Then came Saturday, the parade! Here Isaac and I were eagerly waiting for Andrew and Austin to get outside so we could start walking to the parade.

Trying to find a seat.

We met up with some friends when we were there. They saved my bacon by having brought grapes and cherries for the boys. Thanks guys.

I know, I am so paranoid about the sun. I have to have my shade, it comes with being so gosh darn white.

Our Springville motorcycle police did a little routine to start the show off. The boys loved that part.

Here is Isaac cheering at the police motorcycles.

Some of the floats threw candy for the kids. I too was also grateful for that because it kept Andrew in my lap for a little bit longer.

Here is Austin and Isaac fighting for some candy. It actually got pretty crowded with kids after awhile.

They also started throwing otter pops, I love parades, have I mentioned that? lol

Cosmo had to be there for sure!

Isaac loved this popcorn float. He really wanted to get down and run up to it to eat some popcorn, but I wouldn't let him. He settled for a picture with it instead.