This Isn't On The Bucket List, But It Should Be

We visited a carnival with the family and had a blast.  We did the usual carnival stuff.....ride rides, play games, and load up on sugar.

Austen was all about this motorcycle ride and Brian kept telling him to make sure and stay on the track, so he was super focused and kept looking down to see if he was still on it.

 Climbing a wobbly bridge to get to the top of an awesome slide

So much sugar, but we had to make sure he could stay awake for the fireworks (which he liked for about 2.5 seconds)

Watching Daddy play a loud shooting game

 In a giant spinning berry with cousins.

The Blocks That Changed Our Lives

I have to admit that I have been having a lot of trouble with Austen lately.  He has not been his sweet normal self for a couple of weeks now and it was really starting to get me down.  It made me question everything from my parenting abilities to my child's innate naughtiness.  I cried many times thinking that we were raising a spoiled brat and not knowing what to do to turn it around.  It was so confusing because normally Austen while curious, independent, and determined, was actually really sweet and sensitive.  Then, not knowing my situation with Austen, my sister in law told me about her new discipline system and how to implement it.  I started doing it the next day and it totally changed Austen's crazy behavior.  Since then, we only have about one meltdown a day compared to a meltdown all day everyday.  Also, he hasn't thrown a fit in a store since then, so that has been nice.

So here is what we do.....there are two colors of blocks.  Blue for bad choices and yellow for good ones.  He gets to put them in the jar and then at the end of the day we ask the jar if we can go get a treat....if we get a yellow one back, we go get a snow cone or ice cream or something, but if we get a blue one, then the answer is no and we can't go.  Also, I bought this really awesome rescue hero's firetruck that he can earn by getting no blue blocks for a whole week.

He has really taken to this new system and it also gives him a visual reminder to make good choices.  It is also helping him take responsibility for his actions.  So far we are LOVING it!

Summer Bucket List: See A Parade

We went to a parade!  It was Austen's first ever parade and he absolutely loved every second of it!  There were floats and police motorcycles and fire engines with the sirens on AND flying candy.  He was collecting as much candy as he could and stashing it in his chair.  By the end of the parade, he had so much candy that he started being selective and would only pick up the suckers.  This is definitely going to be a yearly tradition. 

The marching bands were his favorite.

He finally got to use his new chair outside and was so excited.....he even carried it all the way to the parade himself.

Summer Bucket List: Drive Up The Canyon

We are getting through our summer 2012 bucket list pretty fast.....I may have to add a few things.  I guess I'll see how things are going with school....so far I've had some free time, but I have a bunch of tests coming up, so we'll see if our adventures get pushed back.

Austen is always asking me how we can get to the mountains, so on Sunday afternoon I showed him.  We drove up the canyon and it was so beautiful.  Austen loved that we were in a mountain and he was loving all the waterfalls and huge boulders everywhere.  Next time I think we'll get out and play at one of the campgrounds.  I'll let him get dirty and collect all the sticks and rocks he wants.  If I'm feeling nice, we may even have a picnic up there. (Maybe THAT should have been on the bucket list instead.)

You can kinda see one of the waterfalls, but this pic doesn't really do it justice.

Beautiful view of the city.

Summer Bucket: List Have A Sleepover

First of all I'll just start off with the fact that today is the summer solstice and the day with the most daylight hours.  This was my Dad's favorite day and every year my Mom and Dad would watch the sunrise and sunset together.  Now we have a new tradition that we started this morning.....we all went up to the cemetery to watch the sunrise and we'll be there this evening to watch the sunset together.  Just one more way to honor our Dad and the legacy he left.  We love and miss you Dad!

Enough of the sad stuff.....back to the bucket list.

Austen had his first ever sleep over with his

awesome cousin Skyler who he idolizes.  They went on a scooter ride, to the playground, and Skyler even read Austen his favorite book at bedtime.

Summer Bucket List Outdoor Pool

We get to cross an item off our bucket list......we went to an outdoor pool!  Not only that, but it is a really fun private pool that my sister in law was nice enough to invite us to.  Austen had so much fun with his cousins!  I think he would have stayed there all day!

Farm Fotos

I got some cute pics of the little man at the Farm the other day.  It was a little difficult because he won't hold still (as usual), but he also had a piece of gum, so the chewing made for some interesting shots.

I can't believe how grown up he's looking.

LOVE that cute face!

I wish this pic loaded bigger because the raised eyebrow look is SO Brian!

Making tractor noises.