Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Random photo opportunities

This week Reece was invited to two birthday parties.   One of them we went to, all the girls were suppose to dress up like a princess of some sort.  We didn't really have a costume for that, but I whipped up this tu-tu before heading out that morning.  Her favorite character from Strawberry Shortcake is Orange Blossom (whom she calls the pretty brown girl)...that is what her "costume" reminded me of.



Here are all the princesses at the party...oh and there were a few princes but only one in the picture
We also went to a Barbie birthday party...look at all the blonde girls!


Okay...so this last one is a doozey.  You know you run off to get your camera alot when your kids are doing fun, silly, or cute things when your daughter yells from the other room "Mom, get your camera!  Bubbie and I are holding hands and smiling...that would be a cute picture!"

More Michigan City images

Jill provided me with a cd of images from Michigan City.  These are much better than the ones I took.  I know some of you don't have facebook so I'll put some of my favorites on here for you. 

Eating Ice cream...
Brody made such a mess of his ice cream that we put it in a bowl...that didn't stop him.
At the zoo...look, both my kids are stealing snacks from another kid...BUSTED!

This was at the zoo visiting the sea otters...they had this cool tunnel you could climb through and the sea otters swam all around you.


He loves his milk

BFF's


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Michigan City, IN Vacation days 4, 5, & 6

The name of our vacation house was called "Lazy Daze"...that was often the theme during our early morning wake up calls.  It was pretty much guaranteed that when one person got up, everyone else got up too.

We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine the remainder of the week.  We went to the pool each morning until lunch or naptime and then the kids went down for naps.  In the evenings we played in the park, rode bikes, played games, etc. 












Daddy came thursday night along with Papa and Uncle Dave.  It was nice to have a few extra hands in there!  Once Brody warmed up to the idea of the pool, he loved it.  All he wanted to do was jump in off the side. 













We had a fun water gun fight!

Friday night while we were away for dinner, a big storm rolled through and knocked out the power from thousands of residents, including us!  Later that night we decided to put as much of our food on ice as possible as to not lose it all.  I cooked a breakfast casserole on the grill the next morning as we had no other option besides running into town for donuts or something else.  We headed to the beach that day regardless.  We decided if it was not back on when we got back that we would all head home after dinner.  Sadly, we all left at 6:15 that evening and there was still no power.  We had a great time despite of that and managed just fine with 6 kids and 8 adults under one roof.  My afternoon shower was icier than the waters of lake Michigan but meant for a closer shave and a wake up call for the afternoon.

Sheridan Beach, IN

Brody loved the sand but screamed when the waters came rushing in.  And once the sand disturbed his lunch and his eyes, he was way over it.  Which meant I was way over it.  We left prematurely and had a date at the pool.

She loved being buried in the sand...and loved running into the waters.  It was a precious site to see her footprints in the sand. 

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Day 3 and 4, Michigan City Indiana

Day 3 and 4 were just gorgeous!  It's been sunny and low 80s with no humidity (unlike Illinois from what I have been told).  Wednesday we headed to the swmming pool at 9am.  We packed lunches and stayed there til 12 or so.  Then we packed everyone up for naps.  Mimi offered to stay at the house so that Jill, Jodi, and I could get some rays by ourselves. 


Then we headed to DQ for dinner and icecream...
Then back out to the park for some play time before bed.
Here's our cute home...
Adam joined us Wednesday night and will be in it for the long haul.  

Day 4 - at the pool
We headed to the pool right at 9 am again.  First I went to the grocery store to buy gallons 7, 8 & 9 of milk!  I got too much sun yesterday so after lunch I offered to stay in with the kids while they napped so everyone else could go to the pool (now I am updating the blog!)

Our manly boys in their camo picking flowers for their mamas...
We've done at least 16 loads of laundry since we've been here!  Papa, Uncle Dave and Daddy join us tonight!

Day 1 continued and Day 2

Monday night after dinner we took the kids to the beach/marina.  It was only 63 degrees and windy but we thought we'd give it a shot.  Jodi and Jill captured some really neat photos of each family group, the fun and the chaos (more on these later).  These are just a couple that I captured.

It's really hard capturing a picture of all 6 of them unless they are strapped in!

Day 2

It was still cloudy and kind of cold so we just stayed around the house.  We got out the good ol "bounce house" for some fun!  Jill and I went shopping in the afternoon.  It's a huge outlet mall and we scored some great buys!!


Monday, June 14, 2010

Michigan City, Indiana Vacation Day 1

We made it to Michigan City, Indiana yesterday around 3.  Neither of my kids took a nap for the whole 3 hour car ride and they were such excellent car riders.  Everyone had fun playing the first night and everyone went to bed just perfectly.  I was up at 4am in a quiet house of 10 people.  I drank my coffee on the screened in back porch and did my quiet time there.  It was so peaceful.  Jodi and I went for a run up the beachwalk up to the beach and down the shoreline.  It was really neat. 

Here's the first morning with the kids eating their cereal.






Here is the back side of the house which faces a cool park that the kids love playing at.  We can literally sit on the porch and watch the kids play.  That is what I call vacation!





Here is the park...it has a fun zip line!




At Washington Park Zoo..."ROAR!!"

In the Eagle's Nest



Monkey around...
Lions and Tigers and BEARS

Feed the birds for a dollar...and a priceless reaction
Much better...
Mimi and Jodi went to the outlets after we got all the kids down for naps.  Tomorrow Jill and I get to go!  All the kids are getting up from naps now which means we have about 2 more hours with 4 less helping hands!  Hope we can survive!!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My little man

My sweet little man...words can't describe the love I feel for this little guy.  He's sooo sweet and cuddly.  He loves to hug and kiss on me and it makes my day.  He's so happy and smily.  I love how excited he gets when he sees me and I love to hear him say "Mommy?" when he is looking for me.  I can't believe how much he is talking and understanding the world around him.  Sigh...they grow so fast

Here he is all dressed up in his sunday best...
He loves to go places and outside.  If you get him dressed and put his shoes on, he immediately runs to the door and is ticked if you aren't ready to go.  He stands there like this and says "side...side" (outside)



A "barrow" of monkies

Our neighbor often gives the kids a ride in the wheel barrow.  The kids think it's the greatest and it's pretty cute.