Ice Castles!

This year we got to go to the Ice Castles. I've been wanting to go for the last couple of years but never got the chance to, so luckily this year we did. We had to rearrange the dates that we had booked to go several times and figure out who was going with us because we originally got my sister a ticket to come with us but than she couldn't make it so than we had to find someone to take her spot. Which finding someone to take her spot was a bit hard to do but lucky for us, we got a phone call about a month beforehand from my cousin from California asking if she could stay the night at our house for a couple nights since she would be in town for a wedding reception that weekend. And that reception just happened to be the same weekend of our dates set to go to the Ice Castles, problem solved! I am so glad she could come with us. Camila was such a huge help with the boys and it was so fun to spend time with her and take her somewhere new she hasn't been to yet either.

One of Jackson's goals he had set in his mind for the ice castles was to get a picture with him and Elsa from the movie Frozen, but Anna and Elsa were only there on certain nights of the week. Lucky for him, the night we planned to go, happened to be on a night that they would be there. And thank heavens the line to see them was short and that we thought to see them first before entering the ice castles because by the time we left the ice castles, they were gone! That would have been so sad to have missed them.

Braxton of course didn't want anything to do with them, he got scared. It was all we could to get a picture with him by them. He loves the movie "Frozen" but not the characters in real life.

I'm so glad we brought our camera too, because we were able to sneak a few pictures with our own camera.

I told Camila we had to get a picture with her and them as well!

After we got the few pictures we had, Jackson asked if he could get one of just him and Elsa. Yes folks, he kicked Anna out of the picture and just made sure it was him and Elsa, lol. He has a thing for Elsa from the movie, I guess it's a good thing for me that she is a fake.

Right before entering the entrance to the ice castles Braxton started to get scared, nervous, and cry about going inside. In fact I was afraid we wouldn't get him in. But I made Jackson pick him up and just carry him in. Thank goodness once we made it through the entrance/cave part of it, Braxton was totally fine to walk on his own and even quit crying. It didn't even cross my mind that he would possibly be scared of going in and crying the whole time.

Awe! It was so great to have someone we knew take our picture for us instead of maybe asking a complete stranger to do it. In fact she said, "You guys walk around and I'll follow and snap some more pictures here and there of you guys." So sweet of her!

Luv!

And this was pretty much Braxton's pose for every picture that night. I'm hoping one day he will just smile for the camera. He sees me edit pictures every now and than and loves to sit and watch what I'm doing and look at all the pictures I have on the computer, so maybe I just need to show him the camera right after a picture is taken to see if that would make him smile instead of make crazy faces.

I made sure we got some pictures of Camila, she would have kept the camera the whole night but I told her I wanted pictures of her too!

Look how tiny some of the tunnels are!

Some far away pictures of the ice castles.

Nope, don't know these people lol. Just focus on the scenery in this picture.

There was a little slide there for the kids to slide on and once again I'm so glad that Camila was there because the cave to enter the slide for the kids was really small and I don't think Jackson or I would have fit through that cave, in fact I didn't ever see any other adults or parents go through the cave or go on the slide with the kids. Some of them were standing there nervous and crying as well while the parents were standing where we were trying to tell there kids that it would be okay. I'm sure entering an unknown cave not knowing where it would take you can be quite scary. In fact, Braxton wouldn't go in it first, Camila had to first go in for Braxton to see it was safe to follow.
 

The little cave entrance for the slide.

Camila said it was really slippery in there after entering the cave entrance for the slide and that kids were falling over so easily because of it being so slick. I'm so glad Braxton had someone there to keep him safe and help him with it.

Braxton of course as you can see loved it and wanted to go again! Thank you so much for going in there with him Camila! You're so sweet to go in there and slide down the slide with him a few more times even. Such a good sport!

Going down the slide one last time!

I thought this ice chair was pretty cool. Would have tried a picture with all of us, but by this point it was late at night like around 7:30ish and the kids were getting tired.

Camila thought the lighting in the ice here was pretty good and suggested we get a picture of the boys together, what a great idea! :)

After we exited the ice castles, I told Camila we didn't have a picture of the two of us together and was determined to get a picture of the two of us real quick before leaving.

Thank you again for coming with us Camila! I'm so glad you happened to be in town that weekend. You were a huge help with the boys and Braxton warmed up to you real quick! Wish we lived closer to see you more often, but we will always treasure this time we did have together at the ice castles! Luv ya!

Just a few pictures of Camila and Quinn, her boyfriend at the time (now fiancé), hanging out around the house. Congratulations to you both! We are so happy for you! Welcome to the family Quinn!

 

Watching Frozen.

Being a good sport and playing with the boys.