Thanksgiving Point

October 9th we decided to go up to Thanksgiving Point and take advantage of our Thanksgiving Point passes, Ethan not having school on Thursdays, and the beautiful fall weather. October 9th turned out to be one of the best family outings we have had in the year of 2014!

We started the day by going to Thanksgiving Point gardens.

All the fall colors were in full bloom and gorgeous, but I can't wait to go in the Spring when all the flowers will be in bloom. Its going to be amazing! 

We stopped to literally smell a LOT of flowers.

And then we did a lot of running around and playing at the waterfalls

This path is really cool. Its actually on top of the waterfalls. Very beautiful

Okay seriously?! Kelsey sometimes you just are too awesome for words

The whole garden area was beautiful. I can't wait to go back.

After the gardens we went to the Thanksgiving Point Farm which was hands down the best stop of the whole trip. It was basically a giant petting zoo with free pony rides so obviously Kelsey was in heaven. The lines for the pony rides were a little longer than a two year old could handle, so Ethan and I took turns stand in line while the other person wandered around petting animals with Kelsey. Okay now on to the pony rides.

The whole time we were in line, Kelsey would run over and check to see if it was her turn and kept trying to climb the fence to ride the ponies. She just couldn't understand why she had to wait. We totally talked it up because we knew she would love it, but it was really hard to wait. We FINALLY got to go (like 20 minutes later) and it finally occurred to her that she was literally going to have to SIT on the ponies. Like I think she knew that but didn't think about it you know. Anyway this was her face for like a whole minute while other kids were getting adjusted.

No smiling, no waving, no talking, no BREATHING! Our little animal lover was a little unsure about what was going down. It was seriously awesome. 

The first time aroused the circle, she wouldn't let go of my hand but after one time around, when she got the feel for it and saw what was happening, all her animal love came flooding back to her and she took matters into her own hands. She was petting the horse, trying to give him kisses, and my personal favorite, trying to make him go faster!!!!!

I was in love! Kelsey loved what was happening so much. Naturally when it was time to go we had to give the pony a kiss along with the other three horses that we passed on our way out of the gate. This was followed by a major tantrum because we had to wait in line again and couldn't immediately ride the ponies. We only rode the ponies twice but I promise we will be back again to ride them. Maybe we'll go on a rainy day when the lines don't exist and we can just ride and ride and ride! Why can't we just have a pony in our yard?

This was when she sat down on the pony the second time. A complete 180 from the first time around.

 

Our kiss goodbye

 

After a few hours we decided it was time for our picnic lunch. Kelsey very reluctantly said goodbye to the animals, but I know she was hungry because she ate her whole sandwich and an apple and pretzels and gummy bears! She hasn't eaten that good since she was born!! 

Lunch was followed by  squish me daddy time. 

I'm telling you, nothing could go wrong on Oct 9th. Everyone was so happy! It was perfect.

Our last and final stop of the day was at the new Children's Museum. We have gone to a lot of really cool Children's Museums this summer but I gotta say that Thanksgiving Point really stepped it up! It was pretty darn awesome. The first time Kelsey and I went I couldn't really take her in the tree house part because I kept not being able to bend at the right times, but with Ethan's help we were able to play in the tree house and Kelsey had the best time of her life.She was a champ at the rope ladders.

 

We also showed Dad the cool water portion of the museum which was once again a major success

 

 I seriously haven't had this much fun with my family in ages. It was literally a perfect day. Kelsey behaved perfectly, the events went flawlessly, and it was just fun! I love my family so much.
Kelsey did finally give into a nap on the way home but not until Orem. She looked like this for most of the drive.

She got soaked at the museum aka no pants

Some Favorite Memories

I love order but sometimes I just can't let these pictures pass. Here's to random pictures that sum up our afternoons

I LOVE this outfit so much. I hope she never grows out of it

 

 

Kelsey got her pants super wet and so she was wearing just a diaper. I took a nap and I woke up to Kelsey saying "Mom I got dressed." I woke up and she was wearing this!

Kelsey LOVES to cook. Its super cute but every time she hears me in the kitchen she grabs her stool and as many measuring cups as she can. "I make too" she always tells me. I hope it never changes

Kelsey loves her dad so much

Mom doesn't get a lot of snuggle time so I'm really glad that Ethan got this picture

Kelsey and I often take walks up to BYU and just walk around to waste time. Last time we went she wouldn't leave the house without her purse. She walked around campus like this for like an hour. It was like the cutest thing in the whole wide world.

Nothing special, I just love the tippy toe thing

This is what conference looked like at our house

Kelsey loves her best friend Ralphie! They like never fight and are always happy. I just love it when we can capture the happiness.

The other day we went on campus with Elisa and Ralphie. We showed them the BYU river and then met Ralph at the Wilk because they were all going to eat lunch together. We all separated while the Johnson's ate lunch but ended up running into them again. Ralphie kindly shared his pizza with Kelsey and Kelsey kindly devoured the entire thing! She acted like she had never seen food! It was hilarious.

We also went to the JFSB fountain

Hands almost touching :)

Going in for the hand hold....

and the reaction! She is definitely my daughter!

 

And this is what you get when you scream yourself to sleep.