Boat/Camp Trip

I didn't actually get any pictures of us camping b/c my camera battery died.HA! But I got some of the kids on the boat. Here they are pre-boat inside at Uncle Bob's:

Samantha checking things out

Patiently waiting their turn on the tube

getting attacked by a daddy monster

taking a little drink break

hanging out on the tube

They had SOOOO much fun. Paige and daddy and I got a little burnt. But we got to makes smores and watch fireworks from the house 2 over from Bob's. Bob was nice enough to take the kids and I back out later after everyone was done and let us tube a little and swim some more (all 3 of the kids would spend all day, every day in the water) We had yummy pizza for dinner and Mike made us a very delicious breakfast. It was a lot of fun.

Some from the last few days

Some pictures from the last few days. Samantha wanted to out her headband on by herself, this is what you get: ADORABLE!

I think she looks a bit like a hippie.

The kids have had a lot of fun in the kiddie pool. The first day I got it out Ethan played in it for hours.

The kids had Sammy play in the water with them for so long that when I took my shower and got out I found this:

She had pulled the blanket off the end of her bed and layed it down. And then fell asleep. How cute is that!

Sailors Dress

A few months ago you read about my success at the store with a Sailors dress for Samantha. Here it is on her. It came with a dress for a doll but she refused to hold the doll, so Ethan said he would hold it for the picture. What a great older brother.

Bike Ride

I rode my bike to go get Paige from school yesterday. I still have a headache from the lack of oxygen. lol. Needless to say, it kicked my butt, twice. I had this grand idea in my head that it wasn't that far (2 miles each way). Piece of cake! I put Samantha and Ethan in the back trailer, filled up the kids and my water bottles, grabbed my inhaler, quickly taught Ethan how to call 911 on the cell phone ("Now, what do we do if mommy passes out? Press 9 -1- 1, then send") And off we went.

The ride there went fine. Don't get me wrong, I was exhausted, but I was feeling alright. I rode down the HUGE hill into her school and then around the side and everyone said "You rode here? How are you going to get back up the hill?" (Seriously, until that very second, I hadn't thought of that. WHO DOESN'T THINK OF THAT?! AM I CRAZY?!) I laughed it off, played cool. Acting like OF COURSE I had thought of that, why wouldn't I have? And then quickly thought to myself, Crap.

Paige came out and was way geeked that we were riding home on the bike. She quietly whispered that she would help me walk it up the hill. (precious child could see her mothers exhaustion). Once we got to the top I put Sammy into the front carrier on my bike and Paige hopped in the back with Ethan.

I made it about half way home and thought to myself, "Never again." Once I got to the end of my street (which goes up hill to the house) I told myself, just do 20 more cycles. Once I reached that, I stopped, we were 1 house away, and told the kids to hop out. I barely dragged my body in the house before I collapsed, legs wobbly, head aching, hands shaking and layed there while the kids turned on a show to watch.

I made it though! WOO HOO. I think I should have worked my way up to that, you think? HA! I think that DEFINITELY counts as an "Abenture", don't you?

Success

Abenture's

Ethan came upstairs the other day acting like he was choking, I said, "Are you choking?" he said, "No, But I swallowed the game piece!" It turns out it was a glass piece to a game called Mancala. They are sort of like Marbles, but oval and flatter.

I called the doctors office and they had us come in for an x-ray, then ended up telling us he would just have to pass it. He did, the next day, thankfully, but here's Sam and him in the room, while we waited for the Doctor to come back in. This is the only thing that would keep her busy, emptying my purse and coupon book.

Ethan showing us his bum.

We were lucky to be able to go to Cottage in in downtown A2 a couple days ago and eat with some of Jim's family. Ethan can't take a serious picture for the life of him. :)

Baby, making her "thinking" face.

Daddy trying to decide what to get. Paige playing with the bendaroo's they give kids to play with.

Phew

The kids and I went for a bike ride this afternoon. It was a blast. Paige said she wanted to be the leader the WHOLE time. I thought we'd go around the block, maybe the "long way" around.... we went about 2 miles! :) We did go the "very" long way and then went into "the place where the dead stones are"(the Cemetery), according to Paige. We went alllllll around. She took us up and down and around and back and up and everywhere......twice. I kept telling her, "Make sure you leave enough energy to get home from the cemetery." When I was really thinking to myself after a while, "please stop. I'm dying here." :) I kept telling her, "Paige, I think you're kicking my butt." She thought that was really funny and said it the rest of the day. When we got home she walked in a said "Daddy! I kicked mom's butt!" While I layed on the floor in the dining room (that's as far as I could make in into the house) and passed out as sweat poured down my face. It was so fun though. She'd stop every now and then to "check" her bike. She would spin the pedal's and squeeze the tires, or she'd stop because she thought she heard a weird noise coming from her bike and needed to "take a look" (her own words.lol) She would also stop quiet a bit to have a sip of water out of her water bottle. She loved it, I loved it and Ethan and Samantha, in the trailer attached to my bike, loved it. They got to sit with the wind in their hair and be pulled everywhere while eating a Popsicle, who wouldn't love that!

Earlier today, since daddy was home, and awake, we went to Island Park (a huge park) to play for an hour and then to Arby's (don't judge, it's yummy, and we hadn't been there since I worked with Tyler, and Janette would come meet us for lunch and we would go there. So 6 years ago)

Then we walked around the Mall (fun for kids)

Then onto The Spotted Cow for ice cream (The kids giggled the whole time. There's cow print everywhere. On the walls, the parking lot, the toilet..etc. They thought it was hi-larious!)

Then home. It was a fun filled day!

Abenture for today, check!

yay

a second little post for today. I went to walmart today, and they are getting rid of their fabric section. I bought a TON of fabrics and tassels and such. I am SO excited about some things I got to make the girls tassel skirts and dresses and finally (after 2 years) finish Ethan's superman cape. I will start working on them tomorrow. Wish me good luck!

In love

I have fallen in love with something. You have to check it out. It's called Shabby Apple. Go to Shabbyapple.com You will love their clothes. Modest and ADORABLE!! I want this:

	and this: and this: and this: two more: last one: Arn't they cute! Ooh wee

Happy Birthday Little Man!

Yesterday was Ethan's Birthday. He is 4 now!!! Crazy how time fly's. I was going to post yesterday but we were out having to much fun. Paige got to stay home from school to celebrate with us. Daddy is on day shift this week and took yesterday off, so we got the whole day together as a family. What a treat! We started the day by going to Mill Pond Park in Saline, one of my favorite places. (In high school we would comes here and play tag) This is Paige and Ethan "ducking" under the telephone wires that cross the road. :)

Ethan just being his cute self.

Goofy kids

Crossing the ropes

Moments later Daddy jumped up from there and they screamed. :)

The whole play ground behind her to play on and she spend 20 minutes doing this. :)

Whheee

Then we went to Grandma and Pappa's house and hung out with Aunt Kat for a while.

Then to Red Robin, Where we all had some delicous food.

After this we went to Walmart and Ethan got to pick out whatever cake or pie of cupcakes her wanted. He picked the most sugar filled cupcakes there, and loved every minute of eating them. Then we went home and had presents and cupcakes. It was a lot of fun. Happy Birthday Ethan, We love you.

fluffernutter

The kids and Jim played on the bed and we got some cute pictures:

This is not a very good picture of Paige and Ethan, but look at Samantha! She is so cute in this picture!

Ethan is so cute in this one:

They were all doing a surprised face

I just love this one of Paige.

She was asking Sammy to give her a kiss on the cheek

Everything Paige did, Samantha did.

Ethan as one of the guys.

Today was Ethan's birthday party. He will turn 4 on Monday. Man oh man. Where did the time go?