While the Cat is Away, the Mice Will Play!

Josh had been looking forward to last weekend for a long time because his best friend/coworker from Utah (Ryan Spencer) was coming to visit! They had a fun weekend planned out and I didn't want myself or Austin to interfere with their "bro time." So Austin and I went with them to a buffet dinner the night Ryan came into town and then we peaced out early the next morning. Josh and Ryan both insisted that we should stay and have fun with them but didn't argue when I reminded them that there is nothing fun about dragging a screaming 12 month old up and down the hot Las Vegas strip and there is definitely nothing less enjoyable than trying to enjoy a rock concert, or a fancy meal with a baby right next to you. I was doing them a favor and they both seemed to agree that it was a good idea. Plus, I felt that Josh really needed this weekend. He works so hard and doesn't do much for himself. When I tell him that he should, he insists that there's nothing that he needs. So I figured he deserved a wife/child free weekend to do whatever the heck those crazy guys felt like doing. Yes, I trust my husband ;).

So the boy's weekend went a little something like this:

- Sleeping in without a baby crying
- Going to bed late without a baby crying
- Eating out every meal without a child throwing food or climbing out of his high chair
- A rock concert (Journey and The Steve Miller Band)
- Walking around the strip and seeing all the crazies (Josh had plenty of outrageous stories to tell!)
- A magic show (the professional kind, not the kind you see at a child's birthday party)
- Playing basketball at the park nearby
- A little gambling (nothing crazy)
- etc. etc....

That's all I can remember. When I came home, Josh bombarded me with stories from his mini-vacation and obviously he had a great time. But my pathetic Mommy brain can only hold so much nowadays. Ryan is hilarious and we had a great time hanging out and talking with him the night we went out to dinner. The three of us stayed up til midnight just talking and laughing about the old days, the new days, and all the crazy aspects of having children.

Some pictures Josh took of the concert at Mandalay Bay.

We saw Journey in Utah and The Steve Miller Band in Laughlin, but Josh said they were so much better in Vegas!

The two University of Phoenix troublemakers reunited.

While Dad was busy having a good time, we had a little fun of our own! We went to Logandale and stayed with my parents for the weekend. Austin LOVES Grandma's house and basically I don't exist when we are there. Actually, let me rephrase that. I don't exist whenever Grandma is around anywhere! Maybe it's the lolipops and chocolate she sneaks him when I'm not looking?

Anyway, Our Dad free weekend was spent as follows:

Playing with Buster, feeding Buster his crackers when he thought no one was watching, and pulling on Buster's ears. These two are so cute together!

Playing outside with Mom and Grandma in the water

He loved playing with the hose because it gave him control over the water and who got wet.

Playing inside the box full of stuffed animals Grandma bought him when we visited Auntie Briana at the garage sale she was having (trying to raise money for a concert she and her friends will be attending).

Lots of special Auntie Bri time.

And the fish..... this kid LOVES fish! Possibly more than he loves dogs! He learned on his own how to climb up that step stool and how to get back down again.

We spent one of our days in St. George visiting Great Grandma and Grandpa Wiegel. We had a great time playing at their house, visiting the Children's Discovery Museum, eating lunch at Chuck-a-Rama, and then attempting a nap at Grandma's house which of course ended in failure. My Mom owes me $10 because she bet she could get Austin to take a nap with her. I tried explaining to her that he's not like your ordinary kid when it comes to sleeping..... or ever. For Austin to sleep, he has to have his own room, his own crib or pack-n-play, complete silence, a bottle of milk sometime prior, and he can't know that there are people playing and having fun without him. Basically, if the situation does not meet all of those requirements, he is not sleeping! Grandma tried for an hour and finally gave up. Do I know my child or what? haha. I was actually glad she tried though because it gave me a baby free hour to sit on the couch with my Grandma W. and chat. I have so much fun talking to my Grandmas. They are both so adorable!

Playing in the castle at the Children's Discovery Museum with Auntie Briana.

This was by far my favorite! You can put your kid in the padded closed off arena and let him go crazy without the ability to escape! How wonderful would this be at home?!

Austin had a ball running around, and if he fell, it didn't hurt!

In the music room doing what he does best! Making loud obnoxious noise is Austin's specialty ;).

Driving his car. He is holding onto a plastic ice cream cone. For some random reason he loved that cone and carried it with him all throughout the day.

"Don't worry Mom, I've got this!"

The fire station didn't seem to catch his eye, so after saying hello to the fire-dog, he was off to the next room!

After our fun at the museum, we went to Chuck-a-Rama for lunch and then went back to Great Grandma Wiegel's house to play the piano and talk.

This kid loves the piano! I can't wait to put him into piano lessons.