Bad weather...Good times!

This past weekend we decided to stay home from Sandy Pines. We knew that the weather was not going to be very good and so we thought we would stay home. We were sad about it and I wondered what we would do all weekend, but it turned out to be a very busy and very fun weekend!

Friday we stayed home for the day and cleaned. I put the kids to work cleaning the tile floor. I don't let them do this very often due to the huge mess it makes- so they were very excited to take on the task! This process is a mess because the floor becomes more like a pond when they set out cleaning it and there are always injuries due to a slippery floor- but we survived this round!

Friday night we headed out in search of something to do! We were not exactly sure what we were going to do, but it turned out to be so much fun! We went out for dinner (Russ' at 5:00PM on a Friday night- yes we are dutch!!) The kids love the food and have fun coloring the menus! As you can see Avery did a great job of keeping clean at dinner!!

After dinner we headed to the mall. We really had no plans of shopping, it was just something to do! As a special treat we let the kids play in the play area AND ride on the carousel! I am kind of a mean mom because I do not let the kids play in the play area or ride the carousel if we are at the mall shopping. So, when we told them they could do both tonight- you would have thought it was Christmas!

I believe that this was Avery's first time on the carousel (unless Papa and Mema took them!) and she wasn't so sure about the whole thing, but she got used to it and had fun!

On Saturday I had to work for the day and Tim took the kids to the Zoo. Isn't he a great dad!!! The kids were full of stories and excitement when I got home from work! Awesome dad and kids bonding time!

Later that night we went to Todd and Carmen's house. They have a beautiful new pool that the kids couldn't wait to try. The problem was that it was about 60 degrees out. That did not stop them though. They were all about getting in the pool. Needlesss to say they only lasted about 15 minutes and then it was time to head in the house to warm up!

After dinner the kids all played and around 9:00 we put in a movie for the kids to watch in the basement. Avery of course does not sit and watch movies, so she was bumming around the whole time entertaining us. We are so blessed to have such awesome friends who love (and tolerate) our children. What's not to love about Avery though!! She was the center of attention all night and loved it. Here she asked "Uncle" Brent if he would watch a movie with her and he kindly said yes. So he sat with Avery and chatted and watched to movie for awhile!

Next Avery decided that she needed to look at pictures with Todd. She asked him and he kindly said yes- so here they are checking out the photo albums!

Monday was a beautiful day and we decided to spend the day at Grandpa and Grandma Koster's. Here were are going on a family tube ride!

The day was finished out with some fishing with Papa. Suprisingly Jackson and Jaideyn both caught fish. Jackson was very nervous about having the fish on his line and did not want anything to do with it. Thankfully Papa came to his rescue before he had a complete meltdown.

Jaideyn on the other hand loved catching the fish. She thought it was great. She still needed Papa to take the fish off the hook, but she wasn't scared. And in true girl fashion she decided that she had to name each fish before Papa threw them back in the water!!!

Here is Jaideyn petting the fish that she caught. I believe this one's name was Bruce!

So, although the weather was not great we had a wonderful family weekend and really enjoyed the time that we spent together!

Happy 4th of July!

As I often do- I did the pics backwards. So, you get to see the parade finish to start, but oh well. Here are Jaideyn and Avery checking out their haul of candy that they picked up during the parade.

Jaideyn and Jackon discovered that if you wave directly at the people in the parade they will throw you lots of candy- so of course they were waving maniacs!

We can see the parade coming and are patiently waiting for candy to come our way.

Hanging out with friends before the parade.

Uncle Mark and Aunt Diana were in town for the weekend and we enjoyed spending alot of time with them.

And of course we must do sparklers while waiting for the big fireworks show.

Avery enjoyed doing the sparklers.

Here is Avery while the fireworks are going. This was her first time seeing fireworks and we were not sure how she would do. She is very frightened by loud noises and so we thought that she would freak out at the fireworks. She actually did very well, but had to keep her fingers in her ears at all times! She couldn't even eat her Tootsie Roll because then she would have to use her hands!

The end of fireworks. The kids were exhausted and happy to snuggle with Uncle Mark!

Our lives....

Papa and Mema got the kids a new sprinkler to use at their place when needed! The kids love running through it and having fun. They even talked Uncle Mark and Aunt Diana into running through it with them (too bad I didn't have my camera with me that day!) Anyways, here is Aves having a ball! She loves the sprinkler so much and the wetter she gets the better!

Here is Jackson adjusting the sprinkler. He was all nervous because Avery hit the sprinkler and it tipped over a bit. Jackson had to get all up in there and make sure all was well. I am thinking he has a bit of his papa in him!!

Oh the joys of being a kid.....

Jaideyn and Avery's new toy. We picked this bad girl up from a garage sale and she is a hit!!! Each summer Sandy Pines has garage sales and everyone has a sale on their lot. Sounds strange to those of you who have never been, but it's great! Anyways, Papa and Mema spotted this little jeep and thought of the girls. They stopped by and told us about it and we knew that the girls would love it! So, we went back to the sale with them and bought it! It is perfect for the girls because it is only a one seater and it goes extremely slow! I was nervous at first having Avery ride it, but once I realized how slow it went I was fine with her riding it. It's funny because now she just hops in and hits the gas and doesn't even put her hand on the steering wheel. She has no use to steer, she just hits the gas and goes -and then throws it in reverse and goes right back! Please notice Jaideyn's stance in the background of this picture!!!!!!

Jaideyn loves riding it too. It makes her feel like such a big girl because now she has a "gator" to ride just like Jackson does!

Our fabulous $8.00 target special! I saw this slip 'n slide in the add and I was so excited. Who doesn't love a slip 'n slide really! It has provided the kids with hours of fun while we are at home. Avery has not quite figured out how to do it yet, so she usually just ends up sitting and watching, but as long as she can still get wet- she doesn't mind!

Jackson is the now the slip 'n slide pro!

Jaideyn tries really hard and loves it, but she usually just ends up falling and off she goes.

Water park fun. We are so thankfull for the water park at SP. We have spent many a day and night at the water park enjoying life!

The water slide is definately the main attraction.

Avery even got our fav "Auntie" to join in the fun!

We had some friends out for dinner and a fun night at the water park.The girls had so much fun.
Our summer is flying by, but we are loving every minute of the warm weather and being outside!