What we've been up to . . .

Camping with 7 other families out in the wild.... well without power or running water but there was an outhouse within 15 feet :)

Sprinkler time in the back yardplaying in the boxes from our new patio set :)
Getting the BEST frozen custard ever on a warm summer day
the end of soccer season and maybe for good.
visiting the state capital and learning a bit about our 16th president
summer programs at the library
The boys doing so practice writing... gotta keep those brains from getting mushy
Hitting the splash pad with some friends
having civil war battles in the living room
eating cupcakes around a campfire.

and it's only July 1st :) can't wait to see what we do this weekend!

Come one come all to the big top!!

There was a small circus in town last weekend so we decided to take in the show.
It was small, much smaller than Ringling Bros but it was still nice and the kids still got a huge kick out of seeing the action. Jaxson loved the elephants and kept asking when the jugglers were coming out and Hayden loved the death defying motorcycles in the cage and the tightrope walker.
It was a really fun night with friends :)

4th of July, K style

So yes this is a picture of beer because that is how we roll for the holiday :)Lucky it wasn't terribly hot and it did not rain. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves eating and drinking said beer.
The kids playing it up in the backyard.... or making a mess, which ever way you look at it. :)
Me and the wee man
Sabrina and her little diva, Taegan. She's such a doll!
The kids and their ice cream thanks to Pa!!
Gram and the wee man
and of course the fireworks. I tried the whole set up this year. Tripod, remote.... and read up on how to take the perfect fireworks. I think they turned out good.{{insert the pat on the back here}}

Lake County Discovery Museum

is where the action was at! Nice little museum for little cost. Kids had a blast and so did my friend Tracy and I. Lots of stuff for the kids to touch but nice displays of county history.
Jaxson found the only picture of a train in the whole place :) He was happy.
The kids enjoying a short movie about the history of Lake County. Good thing it was roller coaster themed :)
Brothers goofing off.
The girls goofing off as well :)
Jaxson found a Thomas the Train set to play with and was happy for a good 45min just to push those things around.
The older kids found a room that was set up like a wilderness Native Indian area. They played just as long as Jax did with the trains. It was nice to see everyone so happy and occupied.

Train Park... brings back memories.

This is a park that I used to visit with my friends from the campground. We would pack a picnic lunch and go loiter at the kiddie park even though we were too old for it. It was just someplace nice to get away from the same ole at the campground.
Jay, Lisa, Kris, and Brooke. (funny that that tube is still there)
Me & Brooke on the train.
A friend and I were nearby so we decided it would be a good place to take the kiddos for lunch.


Hayden and Erin are two peas from one pod... both silly crazy! :D
Rachel helped me watch Jaxson since he was running all over the place. I can see her being a very good babysitter in a few years.
Even though it was really hot and humid it was a nice day.

My Texas Trip

This beautiful little baby bundle was one of the reasons I left my husband and kids and flew to Dallas at the crack of dawn :) My cousin Kris and her husband Justin are the proud parents to Olivia Rose... only 5 weeks old in this photo. I just had to see how my oldest friend was adjusting motherhood and love on the baby for a few days plus the added bonus is all of her family is there in TX and I got to see my Godmother too! She is doing amazing and created such a cutie!!It didn't hurt that this is her backyard either ;) wink wink ;) We spent one evening in the spa with some drinks and good conversation. It was a great end the weekend.
I was also there to take baby portraits and family portraits but those will follow in a separate post. She took me to she her horse Pecos. He is a beauty! I dragged along my camera, of course, and took his portrait as well.
Here's Kris with her oldest child Ronan. Ebi is standing behind him wondering what is going on. He must stand at least 6' when he's standing like this. BIG dog but very gentle and loving... well he tries to be gentle. With feet like his you're bound to get under them. When I got home I was looking at my foot and wondering what happened that I had a big bruise on the top.... Duh! Ronan stepped on my foot :) LOL
and here is Kris and I and Olivia. We've know each other since she was in her mom's belly. We grew up together camping and holidays and in each other's back pocket some of the time. We always didn't get along, me throwing her Hot Wheel cars under a cabinet and in high school we grew apart a bit. But we've come full circle... she is the godmother to my child and one of my dearest friends. We don't live close by but I think of them often.

Rockford Reunion

Tim's friend Dawn was in town over Memorial Day, from Maine. He hasn't seen her in 5-6 years and I haven't seen her in 12 years. It was a great day with Shelly, Dan, Sabrina (Taegan), and Dawn. We had a nice BBQ and enjoyed the nice day and good times.

Growing UP

Hayden had his very first sleep over at our house on Friday with his friend Cody. It went great as far as I can tell. We ordered pizza to make the children's taste buds happy and then later made popcorn and watched a cute movie, Aliens in the Attic.
Here's a pic of the two of them, plus one. :)
The boys and their amass of blankets and pillows to watch the movie.
They both were really good. We only had to mediate a few arguments but I don't think either of their mouths stopped moving all evening. After letting them stay up late and have lights on late they finally passed out around 1030pm. Not too bad. And I didn't have to drive anyone home at 3am like I thought I might. :) In the morning there were waffles and more playing and trashing of the room, and video games before we returned Cody to his parents. :)