Swimmy Day

 HIGH: We spent the day swimming and enjoying the beautiful weather :)

LOW: Claire was tired and didn't go in the splash pad :(

Today was Oliver and Claire's first swim lesson.  I forgot the camera chip and I didn't have my back up so I had to snap a picture with my phone.  It is not my best picture but you get the point.  Oliver LOVED it!  He was going under the water, jumping in, and swimming like a champ. Claire did awesome too!  She is a natural in the water and hopefully this session she will start swimming on her own!

 After swim lessons we headed to Green Lake to enjoy a nice picnic lunch with Claire's best friend Giada.

After lunch we suited up and headed over to the splash pad!

Oliver had a blast checking out the water.  He loved running back and forth across the pad with me.

But not as much as he loved running back and forth with Giada.

Claire was a little grumpy because the water was so cold.  She was having an internal conflict with the fact that she wanted to go in the water but it was too cold.  I think the last few days have caught up to her.

So we left the splash pad and got dressed to go on the playground.  After the playground Daddy took the kids on a nature walk and the kids had a blast!  Giada told her Mom "Uncle Mark takes us on the best walks!  We saw snake holes!!"

We ended our trip with few more minutes on the playground.  Claire and Giada took over the slide while Oliver took over the train.  It was another great day!

How Daddy Rolls!

As it says in the video, Claire and I will be guest blogging this evening.  Mommy went off to a jewelry party to have some some fun with the girls leaving Daddy home with Claire and Oliver to have some fun as well.  However, we don't want to skip ahead too quickly.  Today was a big day for Claire Margaret.  She had her first field trip.  Claire had the opportunity to take her first bus ride to Becker Farms with her summer camp class.  She pet and fed animals, had lunch prepared by Miss Sue on site, played on the playground, and picked berries off the bushes.  Claire's favorite part of the trip was, "seeing the pony." And, learning that the farm has, "been in their family for 100 years."  She was very impressed by the history of the farm.  Her least favorite part of her field trip experience was, "smashing my face on the playground."  But, the swelling seems to be going down and as Daddy's sometimes say, "no pain, no gain." :)  Just kidding of course.  Now, for the evening.  This is how Daddy rolls...  First, a night with Daddy always begins with ICE CREAM...

 Here is Oliver enjoying some of that double fudge with peanut butter and chocolate.  Awesome!  Once finished with the ice cream, we had to take a tubby...with bubbles of course.  Here are Claire and Oliver enjoying the bubble bath.

 "It was like a splash bubble pad!" said Claire.  I am not sure what that means but it sounds like she had fun.

Oliver alternated between having a great time and choking on bubbles, bubbles going up his nose, and just overall uncomfortable with having bubbles all over himself.  He had fun though too.  After the tub, it was time for a chariot ride in pajamas...

Then, we made it home, sweet, home...

...look at that landscaping.  Then it was time for a little tunnel fun.

...and a book about Daddy's before bed.

Oliver really enjoyed pointing out where his Daddy is.  As you can see, he is 100% correct in most of these.  It was like a quiz game.  I would never be caught in non-matching socks.

I'm not too shabby with a vacuum. 

 This one needs very little explanation...     





















Or this one really.  I have been known to wear
an apron on occasion...




Then, we finished up with a quick blog post.

An action packed and fun evening.  It was certainly fun to have a night to myself with the kids and to show them once again how Daddy rolls.  But, truthfully it is always better with Mommy around.  She is just as fun.  Oliver cried when I put him down and said, "Mommy kiss, mommy kiss, mommy kiss." And, Claire always wants a goodnight kiss from her Mommy too.  Mommy, we miss you and we'll see you home in a little while.  Have fun at your party!!  We love you!  Make sure you give the kid's a kiss when you get home.  Love you.  Hope I did okay with the post.

The Doctor and Bedtime

HIGH: Oliver did great at his two year doctor visit today :)
LOW: We never made it to the zoo today :(

Oliver had his two year visit at the doctor today.  He did so well!!  He chatted with the nurses and let Dr. Casey examine him and smiled the whole time.  He is healthy as a horse and weighs 28 pounds (last time we weighed Claire she was 32 pounds :).  I was such a proud Mama today while I watched Oliver cooperate with the nurses and the doctor.  He just smiled and answered all of their yes or no questions.  He was such a good boy! Dr. Casey was impressed with how well mannered Oliver is and how much he talks!!

We had big plans to go to zoo for membership appreciation night but we had the guys come to check our kitchen so we missed it.  But overall we had a great day.  We went to the doctor and then to Target.  After that we just hung out at home.  It is so nice to be on vacation and relax and not have to be rushing around all the time.

I didn't get any pictures throughout the day but I got some at bedtime.  I love bedtime.  Mark and I take turns putting Claire and Oliver to bed.  Tonight was my turn with Oliver.  I love reading to Oliver at night.  He is really getting into his books.  Right now his favorite is "Are You My Mother?"

Oliver loves to talk about everything that is happening in the pictures.  It is so sweet.  After we read our books he gets his binkie and blankie and snuggles up with me on his chair.  Then I tell him a story that always starts the same way "Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Oliver..." and he smiles and laughs each time like he never heard it before.  Then I sing him a few songs.  He usually requests the "ABC's", the "Rainbow Song", and then the "Mama Song" which is the song that I made up for him.  Then he snuggles up in his crib and says "Goodnight Mama, I yuv you!" as I close the door.  It is the perfect end to any day!

After I put Oliver down I head over to Claire's room and I usually find something like this happening.  While I am putting Oliver down Claire and Daddy are usually fooling around, building something, or playing a game when they are supposed to be getting ready for bed.  I always act frustrated and give it the old "Come on guys, it is time for bed!" line but it always makes me smile.  Again, it is the perfect end to any day.

Cleaning Day

HIGH: I got my makeup closet cleaned out AND my bathroom vanity drawers cleaned out :)

LOW: The kids had school today so I didn't get a lot of pictures :(

Today the kids went to school and I cleaned out my makeup closet!  My closet has gotten a little out of control lately and I have been putting it off so today was the day!  It took me forever and two huge garbage bags later I had a beautifully clean and organized makeup closet.  Then I was in the zone and cleaned out my bathroom vanity drawers too.  I am so glad these projects are done!

 Claire did a great job at lacrosse today.  She scored two goals and did a great job scooping up the ball.  She is working so hard!  Here she is scoring one of her goals.  Look at that form!!

First Official Day Of Summer Vacation

HIGH: Today was the first official day of summer AND it was Claire's first lacrosse practice :)
LOW: It was a little chilly today :(

Today was our first official day of summer.  No one had to get up early and go to work or school.  It was amazing!!  The weather was a little chilly so we just stayed in our jammies and relaxed around the house all day.  It was amazing!!! 

 

Claire had her first lacrosse practice today.  Last year she was so young but this year she is the perfect age!  Click HERE to check her out last year (scroll down a little when you get there) she was sooo tiny!  Not that she is much bigger now :)

Claire did so well today!  I think they could tell Daddy has been working with her :)

And of course Oliver was there to support his Sissy.  He had a great time walking on the white line.

 And singing.

And walking on the white line some more.  Notice his bookbag.  Aunt Erin bought him that for his birthday and he wears it all the time!  Thanks Aunt Erin!!

Last year we snuck Claire into the program when was still a little young but this year she is right on track.  I am glad we did it last year but this year I think she is going to really get into it (I hope)!

I am going to blog everyday this summer!  So stay tuned!!

Niagara Falls

Even though our summer vacation didn't officially start until today we decided to start our summer off right!  We decided to take the kids to Niagara Falls (the Canadian Side).  Even though we forgot the stroller (and I was pretty positive that the whole trip was ruined)  we had a wonderful time.

The kids loved walking around and seeing everything.  It was hot and sunny!  The perfect weather for the falls!

I even managed to get in a picture.

And we managed to get a nice family picture.  I was very nervous about giving someone my camera to take our picture, I just kept picturing Clark Griswald! Someone even came up to us and offered but I told them no thank you.  Finally, I kept my eye out for someone who also had a fancy camera.  I did this for two reasons.  One being that they already had a nice camera and didn't need mine and two they know how to take a nice picture.  Well it worked!  Even though the guy barely spoke English, he took a nice picture.

Here is the Maid Of The Mist.  I can't believe that they are going to stop doing this.  I have never been on it and after seeing it I would love to!  Plus Oliver loved watching it.  He just kept yelling "Boat!  Watch out!!  People on there!!!!  Oh no!"  I think he thought the boat was going to go under the falls!

I knew the kids would enjoy the falls, but I didn't realize that they would love it as much as they did.  Oliver loved every single part of it.  He loved the water, the scenery, and the people.  He just kept pointing at everything and saying what it was!  "Rocks, water, boat, people, birds..."  etc. He was just amazed by it all.

 Claire loved it too!  She was very interested in what body of water we were looking at, how it got there, how long it has been there.... etc.  She is so funny and very into science so this was right up her alley.  We did a lot of walking and Claire was a total trooper the whole time.  She never complained and had a blast!  Even when we walked from the falls to Clifton Hill (up hill in the 90 degree heat) she did it with a smile on her face.

Because it was so hot, we made sure to stop to rest and have a drink break.

Then we walked to Clifton Hill to have lunch.  We decided to go Margaritaville.  I was not sure if it was going to be kid friendly (due to the margaritas and Jimmy Buffet) but it worked out perfectly! The whole place had a pirate theme!  The kids each got a pirate hat and they were thrilled.

 Here is Claire's pirate face.

Oliver loved his hat too.

Here is his pirate face.

Then Bucky the pirate showed up!  I thought Oliver was going to have a heart attack! He loved petting his bird.

And giving him a kiss.

The kids loved our trip to Margaritaville.  There was a woman there on stilts making balloons animals too.  I didn't get a picture of her but she was awesome.  Oliver just kept staring at her and saying "She tall!  Wow!"

The kids favorite part of the falls trip was walking through the misty/rainy part of the falls.  They found it amazing that all of sudden it was pouring and you could walk right out of it.  It was perfect to cool us down and the kids loved splashing in the puddles!

It was such a nice trip!  The kids really enjoyed themselves and Mark and I had a blast too. I can't wait to see where our next adventure takes us!