Zoo Train

Last week we enjoyed one last day with Tyler before school started back up. We went to the zoo and rode the zoo train. As always, Addelyn loved the zoo. When we got on the train she was soooo excited! She was squealing! She loves trains. It was a fun thing to do, but I don't think I would do it again. It doesn't go around very much of the zoo, but instead goes around Washington Park... so there's lots of trees to look at. AND the ride is 35 minutes long. Addy got kind of bored after the novelty wore off.

Utah... you were good to us!

After Tyler took the boards we piled into our car and drove to Utah. Addy was a gem! She didn't cry, she didn't throw any fits, she slept, she stayed accident free!, and she was very pleasant! We only had to stop one more time than usual to let her go potty... a huge success!!! I was very impressed with her. I almost go crazy after 9 hours in the car, and she was just awesome. Anyway, while in Utah we... ate food, played games, saw family (on both sides), talked, went for a hike, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves. As always, it was a great visit, but not long enough! We were so lucky to be able to go and for me to have a job where I can just take time off whenever I want!

Addy's First Dance Class

Our friend, Rosie, is teaching these little girls dance! She is so good at teaching them and getting them to do what she does. It took Addy a little bit to warm up, but then she had a blast dancing around with the rest of the girls. Her leotard was in the mail, so she's just in her tights, shoes, and a onsie. She looks so big! It was so fun watching her and I can't wait until the next class!

The Perfect Summer Afternoon

Recently, Marissa and I headed to Wilsonville to try out the amazing splash park that we have been hearing about. It's about a 25 minute drive, so we packed some lunches and headed down right after work. Upon arrival, we discovered that the city shuts the water off after Labor day... it was the DAY AFTER LABOR DAY! It looked amazing, even without the water. Imagine how fun it would have been with the water on! Well, Marissa made friends with a very nice woman with 2 kids in tow. This woman told us that she lived in an apartment complex up the street, which happened to be connected to Bally's fitness and she could get us in for free! They had a kiddy pool and a big pool. So, we accepted after little... or no hesitation! We were SO glad we took her up on her offer! The kiddy pool was perfect! There were no other kids there and it is the first time in a LONG time that I was able to just lay in my lawn chair and get tan without being worried about Addy drowning. The large pool was far enough away that the kids didn't even notice it until quite a bit later. It was wonderful! The sun was shining, there was an occasional walk through the pool to cool off, and Addy got to play! THIS is what summer is all about!

An Update on the One and Only... Addy!

Addy has the biggest personality I've seen in such a little body. She knows exactly what she wants, how to get it, and if it's not done her way there might be a problem. Addelyn is fun, loving, sweet, kind, a trouble maker, a joy, and a terror. I will take the good with the bad. :)

Things Addy is into right now:
~Addy loves picking her nose and eating it... disgusting! If you try to pull her finger away from her mouth after she picks her nose she gets fairly upset.
~Loves doing "deads" (more commonly known as Beads).
~Absolutely loves swimming and being in the water!
~Has the cutest little tan lines.
~Loves not wearing any clothes other than her panties.
~Likes to help to clean up.
~We taught her how to say Addelyn Nicole Bendixsen... however, Bendixsen sounds more like Benchicken. :)
~She knows that she is 2.
~Sings along to some songs on the radio.
~Loves nursery and her friends that are there with her, she talks about them all week.
~Loves playing with any friends... she especially loves playing with older "friends" (kids she randomly goes up to at parks).
~Demands on doing everything by herself.
~Loves anything close to a slide... especially daddy! When Tyler is sitting on the couch she will slide down his legs. Tonight, he was laying on with his head on the couch and Addy climbed right up and started sliding down him. She had a blast, Tyler... not so much!
~Doing really well with potty training!!!

Oh Addy, even though at times you can be a bit of a drama queen, we love you! Our little home would not be the same without you as a part of it. I love watching her grow, but hate it at the same time. It just means that she is getting closer to being even more independent than she already is!

Addy's Prayers

We've started trying to teach Addy to pray. She's not the greatest, but she's learning! Last night I tried helping her say the dinner prayer. It went something like this:
Tara: "Say, Dear Heavenly Father"
Addy: (loud burp)
Tara: "Say Dear"
Addy: "Dear"
Tara: "Heavenly"
Addy: "Yeah"

That was our first attempt. Our second attempt was for family prayer the same night. She almost said the whole prayer, with Tyler's help! This is kind of how that went.
Tyler: "Say Dear"
Addy: (nods her head)
Tyler: "What do you say?"
Addy: "Dear"
Tyler: "Heavenly"
Addy: (nods her head)
Tyler: "What do you say?"
Addy: "Heavenly"
etc.
By the end she would just repeat a word after he said it. She's learning! It makes me so happy to see Addy learning about praying and reading scriptures. I felt the spirit so strongly when she was saying the prayer last night with Tyler. I love her to pieces!