To start out, we had to play on the Wii. It's sad that they are able to beat me at the games, but I'll just claim it's because they've had their's longer than I have. (I won't think about whether or not they play a lot.) So for "punishment" I took them into job #2 to fill some animals that I've had in my car for a while. One of the things I've done with each of my nieces and nephews is create an animal for each of them (kept at my house) so I had those. Zach and AJ did get to pick out the outfits for those ones and then name the other ones. I won't admit how many that takes me up to, but I freely admit that stuffed animals have always been an addiction for me, which is part of the reason this job is a little bit dangerous for me to have!
Zach filling Ryder's bear. 
AJ bathing the ones she helped out with.The highlight of the night was going to the Real Salt Lake verses FC Dallas soccer game. The first half was actually a bit of a snoozer. I think our team kind of forgot they were there to play a game. However, they definitely redeemed themselves in the second half. They scored all four of their goals then. This meant we won 4-2. We had amazing seats and it was just so much fun. There were several yellow cards and two red cards (I think I'm a little more blood-thirsty then I realized since that's one of my favorite parts of the game). Zach and AJ were also fun to watch as they danced and cheered. I did feel a little bit (only a little bit) bad for Zach when it came time for halftime and the lovely bathroom break. I didn't give him a choice and made him come into the women's restroom with us. Yes, I am paranoid and job #1 doesn't help with that - there was absolutely no way I was going to send him into the men's room alone! He just kind of grinned and bore it. What other choice did he really have?
Before the game. They look pretty cute, don't they? It's a pretty nice stadium - although they really didn't think through the parking very well.
Taken from our seats - without the zoom lens. We had awesome seats! Yeah, KFC corner!
Cheering after one of the goals. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite pictures.
And one of my other favorite pictures. Zach can be really reserved so when he bust out dancing, cheering, and screaming it was awesome. (Granted, he can also be really weird and funny so it just depends on his mood.)
A quick picture after the fireworks (we had to do something to celebrate Pioneer Day). Zach just looks thrilled to be there. And the awful truth is, I may be stooping, but so is AJ. My ten-year-old niece now comes up to my chin. It won't be long before she's taller than me I am sure.The next day (after they were both nice enough to sleep in - is it wrong that I was the last one asleep and the first one awake?) The idea came up to go to the Living Planet Aquarium. I can honestly say it wasn't a place on my list of places to visit, but I think these guys know I'll do just about anything for them. It's an unfair advantage in their court. It was kind of cool. Still the funnest part was watching them. They got to pet stingrays and a shark. Zach was quick to volunteer in the shark class and the other people in the class got a kick out of him.
AJ taking her turn petting the shark.
And then it was Zach's turn. I was pretty proud of these two. They patiently waited their turn and stuck with me (again, they were with the paranoid aunt). Kudos to their parents because I can't take any credit for it. I wanted to be mean and push a few of the kids who at different points in the days kept trying to butt in front of them when it was obvious they were there first and hadn't finished what they were there to do. But, I was nice.
Don't you just love that grin? It's cheeser time?
AJ taking her turn to cheese for the camera.
Again the three of us. Yes, it was a little bit crowded in there, but we could handle it for a quick picture.
Petting the stingray.
I figured if the six-year-old and the ten-year-old could be brave enough, so could I. They felt so funky! Again, I was proud at how well they both listened - only pet with two fingers, away from the eyes and tail, and just on the wings. While I was petting, another adult who apparently couldn't read the signs, kept grabbing one by the tail. Fortunately for her, nothing happened, but I wouldn't say it would go down as one of her most intelligent moves.
To end the evening, we did a trade off at Applebee's for dinner. And, this was when I learned Zach gets car sick. I felt so bad. I did not know this when I gave a little hand-held connect four game to play. Right as we were pulling into the parking lot he announced he had to throw up. Sure enough as we tried to run into the restaurant, we left a trail behind. AJ was very sweet as she kept offering to get into their travel suitcase to get his toothbrush for him (again paranoid aunt wouldn't let her leave the restaurant to do that). I thought it was a little weird that the hostess didn't seem at all concerned about the trail because it was in the parking lot. I'm thinking it can't be good for business for other customers to see that, but that's just me. They were very nice and gave him a free cup of 7-Up to calm his stomach. And the rest of the meal went off without a hitch. I had to laugh when their little sister, quite earnestly, asked me if I liked her hair. She's a little princess, which can be quite entertaining.
All in all it was a great weekend - at least for me and I hope for them.. Thank you, Russ and Shauntell, for letting me semi-kidnap them for the weekend!
AJ taking her turn petting the shark.
And then it was Zach's turn. I was pretty proud of these two. They patiently waited their turn and stuck with me (again, they were with the paranoid aunt). Kudos to their parents because I can't take any credit for it. I wanted to be mean and push a few of the kids who at different points in the days kept trying to butt in front of them when it was obvious they were there first and hadn't finished what they were there to do. But, I was nice.
Don't you just love that grin? It's cheeser time?
AJ taking her turn to cheese for the camera.
Again the three of us. Yes, it was a little bit crowded in there, but we could handle it for a quick picture.
Petting the stingray.
I figured if the six-year-old and the ten-year-old could be brave enough, so could I. They felt so funky! Again, I was proud at how well they both listened - only pet with two fingers, away from the eyes and tail, and just on the wings. While I was petting, another adult who apparently couldn't read the signs, kept grabbing one by the tail. Fortunately for her, nothing happened, but I wouldn't say it would go down as one of her most intelligent moves.To end the evening, we did a trade off at Applebee's for dinner. And, this was when I learned Zach gets car sick. I felt so bad. I did not know this when I gave a little hand-held connect four game to play. Right as we were pulling into the parking lot he announced he had to throw up. Sure enough as we tried to run into the restaurant, we left a trail behind. AJ was very sweet as she kept offering to get into their travel suitcase to get his toothbrush for him (again paranoid aunt wouldn't let her leave the restaurant to do that). I thought it was a little weird that the hostess didn't seem at all concerned about the trail because it was in the parking lot. I'm thinking it can't be good for business for other customers to see that, but that's just me. They were very nice and gave him a free cup of 7-Up to calm his stomach. And the rest of the meal went off without a hitch. I had to laugh when their little sister, quite earnestly, asked me if I liked her hair. She's a little princess, which can be quite entertaining.
All in all it was a great weekend - at least for me and I hope for them.. Thank you, Russ and Shauntell, for letting me semi-kidnap them for the weekend!
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