~Aunt Tessa in Town~

Have you ever experienced the feeling of getting a new pair or running shoes? 

All you want to do is put them on and wear them everywhere. 

And you still love your old shoes, I mean, they were there for you first...

... but those new shoes... 

Travis and I are those old shoes, and Aunt Tessa is definitely the cool new pair of shoes;) 

Those boys just think she is the BEST and want to hold her hand everywhere we go.

On the upside, Travis and I get to hold hands now, which we don't usually get to do! 

Needless to say, we've been enjoying our time having her here.

Week of June 17th-25th

Saturday: We drove to Minneapolis where we picked Tessa up from the airport and then took her to the Mall of America. For some reason Aaron was wimping out from every ride (which was frustrating) so we thought we'd try the Ferris Wheel... the first few times around were NOT successful and I thought his poor little heart would beat right out of his chest!! By the end he was better! 

Later we picked out Trav's Father's Day Present and then settled into the hotel before snagging dinner.

Their reaction to Aaron's blood curdling screams

By the end of the ride

Sunday: Happy Father's Day Travis! You are the best, and we love you! 

We explored the Como Zoo; our favorite part was the Sparky the Sea Lion show. Then we played at the Hyland (chute's and ladders) Park. Back at the hotel, the boys requested to snuggle Tessa during a movie, so Travis and I went out and walked around IKEA for a bit. 

Monday: While Travis took a test, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and swam in the pool. While swimming, Aaron was pretending to be a baby shark and Maddix was his big brother, who carried him all over the pool; I love those boys.

A quick Costco trip on the way home, and then we came back to find a giant branch from our front tree had snapped off. Travis and the neighbors used a rope to yank it down, then a saw to chop it all up; meanwhile, the boys made Tessa color and play ball with them. We then went to the boys' ball games and FINALLY called it a night! 

Tuesday: We showed Tessa around our Library, the McNider Art Museum (Bonus: the giant blocks were out on the front lawn so the boys got to play), over Music Man Bridge, and down to East Park before heading home. It was nice knowing that while I made dinner, the boys were having fun out front with Tessa, and not just watching a movie.

At night Tessa and I went to the R.S. Volleyball game & had a blast, then became so sad at finding out the Sister's are being taking out of our area and we will no longer have female missionaries in our ward (boo!!). Then we perked up again at Culvers where we ate some ice cream and had lots of laughs with Arianna. 

Wednesday: Left Tessa at home (needed break), and took the boys to the library's reading/craft hour. The boys went to play at Arianna's while Tessa and I went grocery shopping, then I ran to do Visiting Teaching. That night we watched Passenger while Travis was at YM/Basketball. 

Thursday: Rolling Thunderstorms= reading and deep cleaning... all day. Plus video games with dad at night;) 

Friday: We went to an activity at the Clear Lake Gardens where the kids made rainbows out of fruit and explored the plants/dirt with magnifying glasses. We quickly played at the Main Park and walked the pier before it was too cold and we had to go home. The boys were invited to Arianna's for a picnic lunch so Tessa and I took that time to watch a cheesy chick flick:) 

It was a wonderful day. I got to see Travis for awhile at work, and chat with he and few of his co-workers, and then Tessa and I made dinner together: Tacos, spanish rice, and fruit; yum! 

We then became horses for Maddix and Aaron's jousting tournament, played Nala tag out front, and a game Maddix invented "Hide and go Boo!" 

Saturday: Started the morning snuggling the boys and reading scriptures (see? They still love the old shoes...). In the afternoon we celebrated Cannon Days over at East Park. There were bouncy houses, treats, train rides, and best of all, dad showed up just as we were about to leave so he got to be with us during the celebration!
That evening I went to a baby shower for a friend (wife of one of Trav's fellow residents) and in those hours I was gone the boys NEARLY broke Tessa. I came back and could see a twitch in her eye. As soon as Travis walked through the door we left the boys for him to put to bed and we got some time out of the house ;)

Sunday: Aaron quietly came out of bed, snuggling his puppy. As he rounded the corner his eyes brightened, and he was instantly awake, happy to see we were celebrating his birthday! Paw Patrol Style this year.
Travis was able to sneak around for a minute after church, we invited our honorary grandparents over, and we opened Aaron's presents, then I ate some cake.
Aaron's food requests: Puppy Chow breakfast (reeses puff cereal), traditional bday nachos, and corn "dogs" for dinner.... and the cake was to be a chocolate/strawberry Everest (from Paw Patrol) cake; he's been including this cake in his prayers for ALMOST a whole year now!
Happy Early Birthday Aaron! One more celebration to come on the actual day ;)
(Lucky boy gets two bday's this year: one with Daddy, one with family in Utah on his real bday)