We also learned exactly how competitive our son is. Whoa. Somebody was not happy that mommy won. Well, maybe two boys weren't happy. But one little boy was REALLY not happy he finished last. Especially when one of the other players was two.
Bowling
We haven't been bowling as a family since Lauren was in a car seat. So since it was nice and rainy on Friday we figured it would be a good time to break our non-bowling streak! I wasn't sure what to expect from Ella because I was afraid all the loud noise of pins being knocked down would scare her. I am happy to say it did not. And she had more fun knocking over pins than any of us did!! Each time she got done with her turn she'd dance the whole way back and wait to see her ball come up.
We also learned exactly how competitive our son is. Whoa. Somebody was not happy that mommy won. Well, maybe two boys weren't happy. But one little boy was REALLY not happy he finished last. Especially when one of the other players was two.
We also learned exactly how competitive our son is. Whoa. Somebody was not happy that mommy won. Well, maybe two boys weren't happy. But one little boy was REALLY not happy he finished last. Especially when one of the other players was two.
Day at the Pool
Wednesday we took the kids to the pool. We had been hoping and praying that the weather would #1 - stay hot and #2 - not turn to rain. And the weather Gods did their job and kept our planned pool day hot and steamy with plenty of sun!
Ella is terrified of water, among a million other things, so she spent the entire day coloring in the shade.
That is completely fine by me because I am just about as paranoid as you can get when it comes to her sensitive skin. I douse her with so much sunscreen that she turns all read because her skin can't breathe! Oh well, I can keep her hydrated but there isn't much else you can do to keep her from getting burned!
The other kids (and I am including Dustin when I say "kids") had a blast in the water. By the end of the day we were all exhausted and I was sooooo glad I had already pre-made dinner that morning. I'm not quite sure how a lazy day at the pool can wear you out so much....but it certainly does!
Ella is terrified of water, among a million other things, so she spent the entire day coloring in the shade.
That is completely fine by me because I am just about as paranoid as you can get when it comes to her sensitive skin. I douse her with so much sunscreen that she turns all read because her skin can't breathe! Oh well, I can keep her hydrated but there isn't much else you can do to keep her from getting burned!
The other kids (and I am including Dustin when I say "kids") had a blast in the water. By the end of the day we were all exhausted and I was sooooo glad I had already pre-made dinner that morning. I'm not quite sure how a lazy day at the pool can wear you out so much....but it certainly does!
Monday Nights
Toni has been kind enough to watch the kids for me just about every Monday night so that I can go to my workout class (which I love). It really is my favorite night because not only do I get to workout (I refer to myself as a "hot mess" afterwards and Toni can verify) but I get one night a week where I just get a couple hours to myself.
Anyway, each Monday the kids know that Toni is going to be coming over. The other Monday I came out to the foyer to find this....
Two little girls were pretty excited that Grandma was coming over, wouldn't you say? Just about as excited as mommy was! I honestly can't thank her enough for helping me out because the workout (and two days of pain following) are my favorite! No pain, no gain!
Anyway, each Monday the kids know that Toni is going to be coming over. The other Monday I came out to the foyer to find this....
Two little girls were pretty excited that Grandma was coming over, wouldn't you say? Just about as excited as mommy was! I honestly can't thank her enough for helping me out because the workout (and two days of pain following) are my favorite! No pain, no gain!
Koi Fish
Thursday was a pretty raining day so we didn't have much planned for the children. I wanted to run out to Culver's Greenhouse and I knew that the kids would like to feed the Koi Fish.
We seriously stood there and watched fish for an hour. And the kids squealed each time the fish would follow them around the pond. Talk about cheap entertainment!!!
We seriously stood there and watched fish for an hour. And the kids squealed each time the fish would follow them around the pond. Talk about cheap entertainment!!!
Kernels Game
Tuesday night we used my office tickets to catch a Cedar Rapids Kernels game. I'm not sure who was more excited me or the kids! The weather was perfect and I planned naps so that EVERYONE would be pleasant since the game didn't even start until 6:35. We got there nice and early and had dinner at the ballpark. Not quite the most healthy of dinners....but it sure was tastey and fun!
There were seven homeruns that night! The kids loved watching the crowd all cheer (well, for five of them - the other two were from the other team). And Josh not only got a baseball from a kind fan, but he also got a baseball cap from an older gentlemen in front of us. People really are kind and it brought him so much joy to get not one, but two special treats.
This picture cracks me up. Poor Ella was so concerned that the stadium chair was going to eat her up that she sat spread eagle and held the armrests almost the entire game. It wasn't until the 7th inning stretch that she finally relaxed. Too funny!!!
The other funny story from the night is that Ella REALLY got into all the clapping. They would play a few clapping songs in between innings or while the batter was coming up to the plate and she would get all excited and start mimicing the clapping. Even when we were walking out and they started to play it again she was clapping in the parking lot! Between that and her reaction to Shucks (the mascot), she gave us quite a few laughs!
There were seven homeruns that night! The kids loved watching the crowd all cheer (well, for five of them - the other two were from the other team). And Josh not only got a baseball from a kind fan, but he also got a baseball cap from an older gentlemen in front of us. People really are kind and it brought him so much joy to get not one, but two special treats.
This picture cracks me up. Poor Ella was so concerned that the stadium chair was going to eat her up that she sat spread eagle and held the armrests almost the entire game. It wasn't until the 7th inning stretch that she finally relaxed. Too funny!!!
The other funny story from the night is that Ella REALLY got into all the clapping. They would play a few clapping songs in between innings or while the batter was coming up to the plate and she would get all excited and start mimicing the clapping. Even when we were walking out and they started to play it again she was clapping in the parking lot! Between that and her reaction to Shucks (the mascot), she gave us quite a few laughs!
Gymnastics
Lauren loves gymnastics. We hear about it constantly and she is always putting on her leotards. So when Grandma and Grandpa asked me what she'd love for her birthday....I told them gymnastics!!! Well, last Tuesday was her first session and boy, oh boy, was she excited!! She is actually in a class for children at least a year older than her, but they said they'd let her try it and if she did fine they'd let her stay in the class. Well, she did great!! So she gets to stay in the older class with all her friends!
These are the only pictures I could get of her! She was moving too quickly and I was on the other side of a glass partition. But....you can definitely tell she's having fun!
These are the only pictures I could get of her! She was moving too quickly and I was on the other side of a glass partition. But....you can definitely tell she's having fun!
Lauren's FOUR!!!!!
We had Lauren's birthday party a few weeks back - on my own birthday, in fact. The poor girl had been looking forward to getting the bouncy house out for weeks and wouldn't you know it, the morning of her party it rained cats and dogs!!! Thankfully, the distraction of presents and cake difused the situation!
The birthday girls
Her theme was Olivia. Olivia is a dancing, princess-y pig and Lauren loves the cartoon. As soon as the Birthday Express magazine came she was whipping through the pages to find Olivia. Thankfully, they had her.
The rain ended up stopping but it was still too wet to play outside so everyone just watched the birthday girl open her presents and visit. It wasn't exactly as we planned....but perfect, nonetheless.
I truly, honestly cannot believe she is four already. It seems just like yesterday I found out we were expecting her! But four years have passed and each day she has given me another reason to love her. Some days more.
Happy Birthday, Lauren!!!
The birthday girls
Her theme was Olivia. Olivia is a dancing, princess-y pig and Lauren loves the cartoon. As soon as the Birthday Express magazine came she was whipping through the pages to find Olivia. Thankfully, they had her.
The rain ended up stopping but it was still too wet to play outside so everyone just watched the birthday girl open her presents and visit. It wasn't exactly as we planned....but perfect, nonetheless.
I truly, honestly cannot believe she is four already. It seems just like yesterday I found out we were expecting her! But four years have passed and each day she has given me another reason to love her. Some days more.
Happy Birthday, Lauren!!!
Last Day of Second Grade
Seriously. Where is the time going?!?!? I took the day off so that I could take Josh to school and pick him up on his last day. Of course we were running late but I made time to take a picture of my soon-to-be THIRD grader!!!
Last Day of Preschool
My, oh my. Lauren's first year of preschool is over and she loved every day of it!!!
First Day of Preschool
Last Day of Preschool
She had been talking about the night of her closing program for weeks. And I'm pretty sure I'd heard all the songs they were going to sing about a hundred times a piece. So when I went to drop her off in her classroom before the program and she clung to my leg and started crying I was shocked. I fully expected to have them bring her back up to me before the program even began but those magical teachers at Little Lambs got her to go up and do her best!
I was so proud of her and she was obviously very proud of herself! Her first year of school is over and she's already excited for the next!!!
First Day of Preschool
Last Day of Preschool
She had been talking about the night of her closing program for weeks. And I'm pretty sure I'd heard all the songs they were going to sing about a hundred times a piece. So when I went to drop her off in her classroom before the program and she clung to my leg and started crying I was shocked. I fully expected to have them bring her back up to me before the program even began but those magical teachers at Little Lambs got her to go up and do her best!
I was so proud of her and she was obviously very proud of herself! Her first year of school is over and she's already excited for the next!!!
