Summertime Fun!

We took the kids to Adventureland again this year! They loved it so much! I think they went on more adult rides than kid rides though. They are such daredevils! They wanted to do the big rollercoasters, and we tried, but they sent us back after they checked the height of the kids! Claire really loved the fast, crazy, spinning ones! I think Nick rode more than he was comfortable with just so he didn't feel like he was being outdone by his 3 year olds!

The Log Ride was one of the first rides we went on at Adventureland, per Claire's request. She sat in the front and got soaked. She was not too happy with her choice after the ride! If you can't tell how wet she is, it is because we had to wring the water out of her shirt and skirt!

Weekend at Marcie's house!

Chad had to give them rides on all the farm toys!

The kiddy Tractor Pull was a huge hit, good call Chad! Cole won with a full pull, and Claire was the only contestant in a sleeping beauty dress!

The Wii (sp?) was a huge hit at Marcie's house! The kids loved the bowling!

Dike has a lake with a bike trail around it which the kids love!

I don't know why I can't fit in the car and go for a ride!

Katelyn is the daughter of my roommate from college, Abby. The girls both share a love for Disney princesses!

Ankeny Summerfest!

This was so funny to watch them try to keep their hands up!

This is classic Cane, he will suck on his pacifier upside down about half of the time, he usually puts in in like this!

The kids love to pretend they are camping and roast marshmellows by the fire!

Cane was not a fan of the 4th of July, he didn't really like fireworks or sparklers!

Cane wasn't a fan of the floaty at first, but quickly loved it!

Trip to Missouri!

No time to write, only a few pics to enjoy, but words to come......

Trip to Chicago!

For Nick's 30th b-day I got ticket to the cubs game and we made a long weekend trip out of it. One of Matt's good friends from Ankeny works in Chicago and hooked us up with a great priced hotel, but very nice and modern, in downtown Chicago. It was so great, actually, it was an apartment. It was a full one bedroom apartment with two bathrooms! It was so nice! Anyway, on the rooftop was a pool and hot tub, with a great view of the city!





We went to the Cubs game on Friday afternoon and had a great time! Cubs win!
Nick had never been to a cubs game, or a major league game, so this afternoon was very exciting for him! He was ready to buy season tickets at the end of the game, however, after the $7 beers, we were pretty much broke!Lucky for us, Sarah happened to have gotten tickets to come visit her friends in Chicago the same weekend we were there! The girl in the picture is Misty, Matt and Sarah's friend who lives in the city and who helped us navigate the city all weekend! She was on my speed dial all weekend! She is amazing, she had us on the train, the El (subway), the bus, and then a cab (after a few drinks to make sure we got back!) throughout the weekend.
We did have to make a trip to Navy Pier and the "Miracle Mile." I had never heard Michigan Avenue called that, but Nick's mom asked him if he was going to travel the Miracle Mile, of course he was clueless as well! Navy Pier would have been better with kids, but it was my first time being there.


To ease the blow when we dropped them off, I mentioned to the kids that we would bring the kids a present back from our trip to Chicago. Cole informed me that he wanted boy stuff, and Claire of course then said she wanted girl stuff. However, she got specific, she informed me that Chicago would have princess things! When I called home from Chicago to talk to my parents and the kids, the first thing that flew out of Cole's mouth once he got the phone was "Did you get me a present?" We went shopping the next morning! Nick picked out a light up sword and flip flops for Cole, and stuffed animal for Cane (he snuggles with anything soft, stuffed animal or living animal (Max)). We went to the Disney store and got Claire a Sleeping Beauty dress and flip flops. They all loved their gifts!

Nick hates the big sunglasses that are in style now, but a while ago Claire picked out these princess glasses at Walmart. Once she put her dress on, she decided she needed her matching sunglasses as well!
This is Cane showing off his three new teeth he is working on! He gave Grandma and Grandma a run for their money this weekend! I don't remember Cole and Claire ever acting fussy from teething. Poor Cane, he is not himself and has been running a fever off an on for the past week! In his defense, the twins never had to deal with three new teeth at one time!

Nick's 30th b-day and Mothers Day!

Nick and I celebrated his 30th b-day at the Casino in Waterloo. For his b-day gift we are going to Chicago for a long weekend. Nick is a big fan of the cubs, but has never been to a game, so I got him tickets for the last weekend in May! We are very excited to get away for a few days!


On Saturday night we celebrated with his family and combined his b-day with his sister's 15th b-day at Texas Roadhouse. This was quite a night! After the celebration, on the way home, I hit my first deer. Not a very fun experience, especially with three kids in the van! I will spare you the pictures of the dead deer and just show you the van. Nick was very "proud" of me, he said I killed a bigger buck than he shot this year! Lucky for us (not really), we killed a deer, but adopted a stray kitten. The sheriff told us "it was meant to be" when the kitten came running up to us on the side of the road, no houses within miles! He convinced us to take it home, so we now have another pet. An outdoor pet of course, those of you who know us know we are not cat lovers. We only agreed to try to keep the mice out of our house living out in the country!

On Sunday, we combined Nick's b-day and Mother's Day and blew out candles on our Strawberry shortcake!

Cane does love the kitten, although, the kitten doesn't really love Cane in return!

He always tries to cuddle with the kitten, but it doesn't last long!

Nick is loving life out here! Thanks to Greg, we got a great mower a couple of weeks ago. Nick loves it so much the first week he tried to tell me that he probably should mow twice a week (3 hrs to do the yard!). Right! Unfortunately, the kids love the mower as much as Nick. We have had for a couple weeks, and each time it comes out, the kids will ride with for as long as dad will let them! Especially Cane!

Bring on the warm nights!

The kids were begging me to fly a kite, and since we now have the room, why not! The cheap ones at Walmart work better than the more expensive ones I bought last year from Toys R Us!

Cane loves the trampoline! Cole and Claire don't slow down all that much, but he doesn't seem to mind!

There favorite games on the trampoline are tag and wrestling!

Can you see what I am thinking here?

I better close my eyes!

And after the shock of the water hitting my face wore off, this is what you get! I couldn't take and action shot in the water because I had to stop him from drowning when he about fell over!

My big sister just can't get enough of me, she doesn't understand why I don't want her to hold me anymore!