Thanks Jennifer!

Jennifer to the rescue! A couple of pictures from Monday...

Mandy and Livy playdate

We met Livy, Mrs. Jennifer and Maren for some playtime at McDonalds before we all go crazy getting back into our routines! The girls had a blast running, playing and eating. Kyler and Brianna had a good time too...I was too busy letting them play and visiting to get many pictures but here they all are finally still enough to eat.

A visit with Matthew and Aunt Kelli

This weekend Aunt Kelli and Matthew came for a visit. Caitlin didn't make it this trip and we missed her but totally understand...she is growing up! We had a great time just catching up and talking girl talk all night like teenagers. The kids had a blast playing together and played very well. We played at the house, ran around town, went for a walk/bike ride and played some more. Caitlin has a very exciting trip coming...New York at Thanksgiving, her dance group is opening for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! This is going to cost quite a pretty penny and they are having a fundraiser garage sale so we loaded Aunt Kelli's truck up with donations to try to help...THANKS for taking our "stuff"! I feel like I cleaned house. All in all a wonderful and much needed weekend with my best friend!

New room...

This afternoon after story time Gran met us at home so she could help us paint our bathroom. I need all the help I can get especially with my two little helpers! She was very patient and we got it done! It is beautiful! Thanks Gran! If I had a little more patience I may have gotten some pictures of the process but...it isn't my virtue! It took all I had not to lose it with my "little helpers"!

Little Leaguers Story Time

This morning we went to Little Leaguers Storytime at the the Legend of the Game Museum in the Ranger's ballpark. We arrived a little early so the kids got to run around the Learning center upstairs and had a blast! The story was "Mice at Bat", I don't remember the author's name but it was a good story...a little long for the little ones but a good story. The lady in charge of this program is amazingly patient and understanding, I was thoroughly impressed. Especially since Mandy chimed in every time the woman mentioned anything or a name that she new something about....yep, there was a story about a little boy named Matthew to which Mandy chimed in with "My brother and I have a friend named Matthew and he is coming to see us tonight!" There were many other instances some relevant to the story but he had some parents laughing for sure. Since the story was about mice the kids made mice finger puppets and put a Rangers emblem on it's back like a jersey. It was cute. They then proceeded outside to play some pitching games and they enjoyed that even though they were starting to get hungry. So we left a little early to head home for lunch. Next summer we will remember that you can bring a lunch!

Nursing Spike

Yesterday, Spike (our beardie) started acting lethargic and not eating. This morning was pretty bad. I was able to find a vet that treated Bearded Dragons on the phone to see if there was anything I could try to help him. He seemed to sad and like he was hurting...the vet essentially told me that I needed to force feed him. How do you force feed a lizard? WELL...it required either baby medicine syringes, baby food and water OR two people, one to pry open his mouth and a second to put the cricket or worm in...sounds like fun, I KNOW! I didn't have a second set of hands so I borrowed some baby food from a neighbor and off we went! His color improved a little shortly after eating a little of it and getting some water in his system too. I now have a warmer rock for him and when Kyle got home we were able to get a cricket in too. Hopefully we are on the road to recovery!

Dentist

This morning we got up and prepared ourselves for the pediatric dentist...yep FUN! Kyler and Mandy talked about it all night last night, even Mandy said she was ready ofr Mrs. Carol to brush her teeth! She wanted to know if she was going to get a new princess toothbrush and told me what a big girl she was going to be for Mrs. Carol and Dr Strolle. Kyler just couldn't wait to get shiny teeth! While we waited Mandy played and asked when Mrs. Carol was going to come get her for her turn...I was feeling pretty good about it...then we went in she talked Mrs. Carol's ear off all through Bubba's cleaning (He was a champ in batman sunglasses!!) until it got close to her turn. Then the tears came! She worked through it and did pretty well (meaning she didn't cry loud enough for them to have to shut the door). No "pictures" of her teeth this time, maybe next time. Kyler's "pictures" were fantastic! We just have to get by the gums really well and help him floss better. Her teeth looked good too...she didn't like it but she did let Dr. Strolle have a turn today (last time with Daddy she didn't cry for Mrs. Carol but didn't let Dr. Strolle near her mouth). Progress is Progress! You can see the look on her face...that is about how it went! You can tell how proud Kyler is too!

Back to Dance

For the past couple of weeks Mandy has been asking to go back to dance class. After all the drama this spring I wanted to make sure she really wanted to do this and we wouldn't have a repeat of tears...tonight she started back to dance and gymnastics with Mrs. Pam. She absolutely impressed me! I was so proud, we sat in the waiting room until she called for all her little dancers, Mandy kissed me and took off to Mrs. Pam...she didn't look back!! She told me all about dance class on the way home and I got to watch her gymnastics (she told me about that too!). I heard about the "boop boop didem doddum waddum shoo!" and the spider dance too! She had such a good time and wants to go back tomorrow...I did explain it is once a week so she can't wait for Monday to return! I am a proud Mama, it was her idea and she wasn't kidding when she told me she was ready to go back...a girl who knows what she wants, gotta love it!

Happy Birthday PawPaw!

Today after church we loaded up a fabulous lunch and headed to PawPaw and Grandma Sarah's to celebrate PawPaw's birthday. We had a great afternoon! We grilled steaks and corn on the cob (great job with the grill Daddy), had potatoes, broccoli salad, and cheesecake for lunch! Then we gave PawPaw a present a little birdie told us he had been wanting to do...a tire swing for their backyard! He was as excited as the kids were. These are pictures of getting it up there and playing. Kyler was a great help in hanging the tire and Mandy loved playing with the hose a little too much, I think she watered everything and everyone in the yard. Watching Daddy and Paw Paw on the tire swing to make sure it was "safe" was just as much fun as watching the kids. As you can see, Kyler and Gus are still a boy and his dog, I swear Gus remembers riding in his car seat with him! Those two can be inseparable. He even walked on a leash nicely for Mandy when she walked him to the mailbox. I am adding the video because to me, the giggles are priceless! Happy Birthday PawPaw (Daddy to me)! We love you! OH...and thanks for teaching Kyler to blow soap bubbles he is SOOO proud, I loved his quote, "Look at that bad boy"!

A day at the lake.

It was the first day of August and we headed out after the rain for some time at the lake. Thanks to all the recent rain it wasn't too hot out but unfortunately during the late afternoon we had some storms...ended up packing up and heading home. While we were there we had a great time swimming, paddle boating, jet skiing, skiing, ate some great food and Kyler and Austin even found some dead fish on the side of the lake and brought them back to show off. Despite our telling them to go throw them on the shore somewhere they carried them around for long enough that Kyler's life jacket STUNK to high heaven of dead fish, we made him go swim until he washed of the stinch. When it started to look like rain Nana Geri took the kids into the shop for snow cones...what a hit! Thanks Nana Geri! And thanks for inviting us out to play for the day!