Trip to Wisconsin!

Just now getting to posting some of our pics from our WI trip! This is always one of our favorite weeks of the summer . . . getting to see G/G, cousins, fishing, water park, etc.  Last summer was the first time we went fishing, and I think it's safe to say it will be a summer tradition!

 Tyler not sure what to think of it all . . .

 It was the group consensus that Tyler caught the biggest fish of the morning!  

Not big enough to keep, but fun to catch nonetheless!

All smiles!

Not wanting to get too close . . .

Ahhh . . .much happier now!

When fishing gets a little "boring" for the little ones, we hit the sand . . .

Going with Grandma to get more water for the sand castles . . .

 Guess we should have packed the suits!

 Fun picnic!

 Kayla is posing . . .Joshua is not.  We tried to wear them out most days!

Extended family meal at Culvers!  Have I mentioned that I LOVE their ice cream!!!

 Since Tyler is still in his train "phase" we tried our hardest to see a train, but had to settle for a pic with a train car.  Such a typical vacation picture -- can't get them to cooperate to save our life!

This also, is classic!

 Nope, never saw a train -- even though we made no less than 5 attempts at differnt 

parks, restaurants, etc.

 Lots of trips to the park!

Joshua and the twins . . . even their shirts are stained the same!

The 5 youngest cousins on Bryan's side!

Water park!  Didn't get a picture, but Joshua was proud of his accomplishment of going down this particular slide backward in the tube!

 Daddy and Kayla!

So fun to see how they get stronger and stronger every year!

Fifteen minutes after we got there, Tyler said, "Mommy, I cold.  Mommy I go home."  Lovely.  So, Tyler and I had A LOT of time outside walking around the building, riding the elevator up and down, etc.  We were there for over 5 hours, but he hung in there!

We decided at the last to take a "detour" through St. Louis to see Grandpa Smiley.  He turns 97 in September!  Had a fun meal together with Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Barry . . .so very grateful that my kids have very real memories of seeing their great grandpa.  Blessed indeed!

Kayla's always right ready to join grandpa in his chair!

Once again, the typical "I don't want to smile for another picture."

We ended up staying the night in St. Louis at a hotel, going swimming really late (like 10pm . . . kids LOVED it!), catching a service Sunday morning before heading home.  

Great, great week of spending time with family.

 I'm only about one month late on all of this -- ugh!  J and K did a two-week "Fun Factory" -- singing, dancing, crafts, keyboarding, etc. and really enjoyed it. They had a short "program" at the end --

 Joshua's group . . .

 Kayla's group . . .

 We're still not sure how he did this -- but Tyler somehow managed to piled ALL EIGHT cushions BY HIMSELF on this couch.  We didn't even realize what he was doing until he was DONE.  He was pretty proud of his accomplishment!

This pic is sweet for so many reasons . . . When the kids finish swimming in the backyard, they like to go to the driveway in the front to warm up.  One day last week, they had finished "warming up" and decided to practice some batting.  J was doing a great job helping Tyler -- except that poor Tyler is left-handed and his batting coach is right-handed:)

 Not sure why the piano practice needed to be done at the same time as chewing on the blanket???? 

Yuck!  I didn't complain though . . .he was practicing!

K had her first sleepover . . .across the street!  She had a blast!  I think she told me 10 different times all the things she needed to be sure and remember for her sleepover!

Summer Catch Up!

Last week, we wrapped up several summer activities -- swimming lessons, softball, and baseball!  We had a different venue this summer for lessons -- and I LOVED having all three lessons at the same time and not having to worry about the heat and sun.  With temps into the 100's each day, that was HUGE!  In hindsight, we probably should have waited an extra year with Tyler, but after the first several days, he got through lessons with tears (and bribery of Skittles!).  He never intentionally put his head under water -- one day a kid bumped him into the pool and he went under!  But, it was a great "intro" to swimming lessons!

It was hard to get good pics in the natatorium -- here was K doing a back float.

 Goofy boy!

Like I said, Tyler wasn't too keen about putting his head down:) 

This was the ritual . . . as soon as class was over, they would shiver their way through the lobby, and then lay in the sun.  Pretty cute! 

 Joshua's baseball wrapped up their season-end tournament.  They entered the tourney as the #3 seed, and ended up placing 3rd.  Let's just say that B and I realized we definitely have a competitive side about us:)

 Getting their trophies . . . so proud of them!

 One last team huddle!

 Very proud of this!

K's season wrapped up too -- with a 4pm game at about 101 degrees.  It was warm:)  Lots of water.

 Kayla always "swung for the fence" -- no wimpy girl swings for her!

Like I said . . .

 This pic just cracked me up . . . I'm thinking that we didn't quite hit the ball off the tee . . .

Always time for a little social time! Great summer -- but we must admit that the schedule is much more free now that baseball and softball are over.  Between the two of them, they had 28 games -- no wonder it seemed like we were at Ken Berry A LOT!!!!  Totally worth it though -- proud of both of you!

Happy July 4th!

 Happy July 4th!!!!  I'm way behind on blogging -- but I'll at least get this post up in decent time:)  We started the day off with our Neighborhood 4th of July Parade -- always fun to get the 

bikes all dolled up!

This was Tyler's first year to ride -- and he was right ready to be in on the action! 

 Love this pic!  Bryan was the designated bike-rider . . .I was the on the sidelines picture taker!

Joshua had fun catching up with neighbor kids and kids from school he hadn't seen during the summer!

Kayla and our neighbor friend, Alec.  

 "Uncle Sam" giving us instructions . . . DO NOT GO IN FRONT OF THE FIRE TRUCK!

 And they actually obeyed!

 Tyler made it -- he was one sweaty boy, though!  His head sweats more than anyone else I know!

 And of course, the kids couldn't wait to set off some fireworks . . .

 Kayla thought it best to change into her KU skirt to keep them blue and red theme consistent:)

 Family came over . . . so much fun to have babies around.  Well they weren't totally digging the fireworks when they got cranked up, but it was fun to have them around!  Mr. Jordy is almost 4 months old!

And Mr. Westin is sitting up on his own!  Seems like just yesterday I was putting Tyler down early in his crib on 4th of July night so he could just sleep through it!

 The team working together on the sparklers . . .

Is this really our baby?????