Today

Today because it was beautiful out, because this is the last summer I have with Adelyn were I don't have school hanging over my head, because my kids needed a chill-out day at home, because I needed a chill-out day at home and because I needed them to be happy we played outside, in the water, all day.  When Adelyn woke up I was working on making some stick boats.  She was SO excited about them.  She helped me with them and we had to wake Brecken and Joelle up at 10.  They were tired.  We ate breakfast and headed outside.  I tried to make a tin-foil river that I had seen floating around on Pinterest for some time.  What a joke.  Nothing floated down it.  I tried on the grass which is a hill, and on the driveway which is a hill.  Nothing.  So we busted out a kiddie pool and played in there.  After that Adelyn asked to go for a bike ride and I thought it would be fun to bike with her.  Ha.  That was a mistake I won't make again.  I think I pedaled backwards WAY more than I pedaled forwards.  I'll walk from now on.  It's awesome that she is doing so great at riding a bike but she is nowhere near "fast."  We got back around 12:30 and had some lunch and naps.  After naps Adelyn and I watched Ina and had to wake up B and J at 4.  We headed out back for some hillbilly slip'n'slide fun.  I rigged up the hose at the top of our slide and voila! we had a homemade slip'n'slide.  Much better than the store bought kind.  Adelyn and Brecken loved it.  My little chicken Joelle hated it.

Let me just show off my super awesome camera skills with these great action shots.

 

 

Little B flying down the slide.

Maybe if she didn't go down the slide like a sack of potatoes (every time) she wouldn't hate it so much.  You should've heard her wail.

 

Super ticked that I sent her down a cold, wet slide.

  

Can I just squish those cheeks and kiss those lips simultaneously?!

Handsome man

::Some Garden Photos::

Hello delicious basil.  I will be making lots of pesto with you...and I should probably pick you since it looks like you are getting flowers at the top.  

My first little tomato.  It looks like its shaping up to be an excellent year for tomatoes.  Bring on the salsa and tomato sauce.

Our First Camping Trip.

We bought a pop-up at the end of the season last year and we took our first camping trip this past weekend.  We went to Holland State Park in case we had to evacuate because of our children.  I left with the kids Thursday after naps and Eric came after work.  We had it all set up and we were ready to have a blast.  Thursday night was probably the worst night of sleep I have ever had.  It was solely because I thought pack'n'plays were optional.  I know plenty of people who have their kids sleep in beds by 18 months so I thought it would be fine.  Ha.Ha.Ha.  We started bed time at 8.  We put Adelyn to bed and she thought sleeping was optional.  She played/jumped/sang while Eric and I were with Brecken and Joelle.  We each had one and they screamed off and on (mostly on) until 10.  At 10 we got in the van and went for a drive.  Brecken and Joelle fell asleep, Adelyn did not.  We got back to our site at 10:30 and put B and J down and I slept with Adelyn.  I woke up an hour or two later to Brecken crying.  I thought Eric would get him since he was sleeping right there.  I waited 15 minutes and walked over to find Eric sleeping.  Right next to a crying baby.  By then Joelle was awake.  So, you guessed it, we were up with screaming babies for at least another hour.  Thankfully Adelyn didn't wake up.  Then all four of us were "sleeping" (Eric, Brecken and Joelle were) on less than a full size bed.  Then Adelyn woke us all up at 6.  Brecken and Joelle slept in pack'n'plays the rest of the weekend.  Eric worked on Friday and my mom came to help me keep the kids in line.  She picked up the pack'n'plays on the way out so we could sleep.  I took the kids to Mount Pisgah in the morning.  Adelyn climbed all the way up and I carried B and J up.

The top of Mount Pisgah Thursday morning 

 

My three babies

When my mom got there we went for a walk and then ate lunch.  We went to the beach for the afternoon and came back in time for supper.  Everyone slept great Friday night.

This was after the beach.  They were beyond exhausted.

Brecken's first s'more.  He.made.a.mess.  I would have taken a picture of Joelle...but she looked like she hadn't ate anything.

I should insert here that I am a genius and brought the kiddie pool to bathe our children in.  I have bathed one child in a campground shower and there was no way I was bathing three.  Eric was mortified I was going to strip our children down and bathe them naked in the middle of the campground.  We compromised with Adelyn in a swim suit.  Later that night our neighbor walked over and informed me that I actually was a genius and she was going to remember that for next time.  Humph.  Take that.

Saturday morning Mt. Pisgah climb.  I had to get this picture in here because he's saying cheese.  So cute.

Pretty little lady.

 After we climbed the stairs we hiked on all the trails up there.  I had no idea they were even up there.  The kids loved it.

After lunch we went to the beach.

Silly girls eating, and showing off, their graham crackers.

Love their little hats.  They are 2T-4T.  They should last a couple years.

Sunday we were planning on heading back to Mt. Pisgah but a certain three-year-old woke up at 5:30 and never stopped crying/arguing/not listening.  We decided to just pack it up and head home.  We were home by 11.  I would say about 50% of the time we had an extreme amount of fun and the other 50% was pretty much torture.  We thought about cancelling our remaining trips but we are going to try Hoffmaster in July and see how it goes.  There will obviously be some changes ;)

The Zoo. With Papa and Nana!

We planned the zoo trip earlier this week because it was supposed to be beautiful today.  It was.  75 and sunny.  Love it.  Everyone else thought it was a great day for the zoo too.  Luckily, for once, we had more adults than children so it was actually an enjoyable trip.  Thanks for coming with us Papa and Nana!!!

The lioness munching on lunch.  I don't want to know what it really was.  They are never down by the window.  The zoo employees must throw treats down by the windows for the weekend guests.

So powerful.

Chimps loving on each other.  Or picking fleas.  Either one.

                          Silly boy                                                                                      Twins!

My three babies

Nana and Adelyn, Papa and Brecken feeding the birds.

Momma and her littlest youngest baby

Adelyn feeding a birdie

The petting zoo!

Aww.  So cute.

Petting the goat

Jojo LOVES animals.  She was chasing them all over the place and petting every one.  She is going to work with animals someday.

Little B playing on the train

             Adelyn and the walibi                                                                             Such a stud.

Papa, Nana, Adelyn, Brecken and Joelle with John Ball and his friends.

Same outfits. Two (and some months) years apart.

I had Adelyn's one year pictures taken in this outfit and I meant to get a couple with Joelle in it but it wasn't at the top of our list when we were trying to wrangle two babies at a one year photo shoot.  By the time I remembered they were covered in cake.  I planned on taking one of her sooner in it..and she definitely wore it a lot but I never remembered to do that either.  So now Joelle is almost 18 months and I had to stuff her her in it, one last time, to get a real picture.  I literally put it on her and took it off because the pant legs ended at her calves. 

                     Adelyn 1 year                                                                            Joelle 18 months

Ugh.  My flash went off.  Totally didn't want it too but oh well.

I asked Jojo to stand in the corner for me so I could take a picture and she would sit down.  Repeatedly.  So this is what I got.  Her running away.  Haha.  Such is life. 

The Petting Zoo!

We've been to the zoo quite a few times this year.  This is the first time the petting zoo was open.  Hence the excitement :)  We went with Tiff, Sophia and Charle, Tiff's sister, Joy and her kids, Rachel, Benjamin, Timothy and Solomon.  We were quite the crew!

Adelyn and Benjamin brushing the goat.

 

                     BEST Friends.                                               Caption::FUTURE ZOO MEMBER STAFF

 

Adelyn and Sophia attempting to feed a goat.

Most of our crew..except for the babies.

Memorial Day

We went to the parade in the morning, spread bark at Eric's parents house after that and had Eric's family over at night!  Whew.

We decided to drive to the parade because it was already hot out and we wanted to be able to get over to Eric's parents house ASAP.  I think it was the world's longest Memorial Day parade.  We left after 45 minutes and there was zero sight of the end.  The kids were hot, B and J didn't want to sit still anymore and Adelyn kept showing everyone her underwear.

This top picture is to mainly show you that my favorite jean capris fit again.  There isn't to much fat bulging over the top and they actually button.  Considering I had to start wearing stretchy waist pants at 12 weeks with B and J, it's only been 2 years since they fit.

aanndd this is the best group picture you get with hot and sweaty kids.

A big shout out to my brother who serves in the Marines.  Thank you for all that you do.