Fun at the mall!

Well, we started out this Saturday without any plans at all. We just got up slowly, had some breakfast and stayed in our PJ's till around 10:00. Then I remembered that Alec had said he wanted to go to Lunar golf with daddy (it's a "glow in the dark mini golf place" inside our mall that Eriik and Alec have been to one other time)...so I mentioned it to Eriik and we were off to the mall...all four of us. Alec needed some "daddy time", so I just hung out for a little while and took some pics. Eriik let me have a couple of his turns...I'm not any good. Then Ava and I went off to do some shopping! Well...to make things even sweeter Ava fell asleep in her stroller, and I decided to get a pedicure! She slept the entire time, and then we met up with Alec and Eriik who were just finishing up their golfing. Eriik said that Alec loved it and was actually pretty good at it. We stopped to get a cookie, and drinks and then took a spin on the merry go round. The kids had a blast...and so did Eriik and I. Sometimes it's the unplanned, unexpected little things we do that are so fun!

I turned the flash off to try to get a picture of the "glowing"...but it turned out blurry. But you get the picture.

Ava sleeping during my pedicure....isn't it amazing how babies can sleep anywhere and in any position!

School's starting but Summer's still going strong!!

Last night was Alec's preschool open house. He gets to "keep" one of his teachers from last year. Ms. Katy (the one with the long hair) is moving up with the class. He loves PREP school and is counting down the days till he gets to go back. We had a great conversation with his nature teacher from last year who was going on about how sweet and "quietly intelligent" he is... ok...so we all know he doesn't get any quiet intelligence from me! She said that she see's a little engineer in the making...she didn't even know that Eriik is an engineer, so we got a big kick out of that.

Alec with Ms. Katy and Ms. Sheila last night

This morning we played in the pool again. It's been soo hot this week! Alec is observing a lady bug on his finger that he found floating in the pool.

Ava digging in the dirt...one of her favorite things to do. There are many little holes in the back yard as a result. As I recall, not wanting the yard all dug up was the main reason Eriik didn't want to get a puppy! Well...God gave us Ava to make the holes anyway.

Buds and Boo Boo's

Wow...so it's been a whole week since I last posted! A couple of you asked me if I was ok....so funny that I post so often that people worry about me if I don't! I assure you things are going great...busy, but great! We've had a lot going on over the past couple weeks, and I've just been trying to stay afloat! We had our small group over for a rainy BBQ saturday night which was a lot of fun...and a little crazy. There were 12 kids and 9 adults....good times! We tried to play Cranium while the kids played outside in the mud! :) I think we all know why the men won...the women were being the responsible ones checking on the kids...so we were distracted....give us a break ok! The night ended with only one injury which so happened to be Alec's. He busted his lip on the counter while goofing off...silly guy...this has been his second busted lip in two months! Can you believe I didn't take one picture the whole night! But I do have some from today....


Today we hung out with some friends at the park. We try to get together with Rachel, Bret and Eva about once a week or at least every other week (she lives out of town). Usually we go to the Library (for story time) and Chick Fil A afterwards so the boys can play while we eat and talk. Today was Eva's first birthday, so we went to the park, played and had a birthday picnic. It was fun as usual. The boys play well together, and it will be fun to see the girls (who are only three months apart) start to interact more as they get older. Ava fell off a little climby thing for babies within the first two minutes and it left a huge bruise on her cheek. But she's a trooper and got over it really quick.

Ok....so Ava has this little eye fetish...she's always trying to touch your eyes....so keep your babies at a safe distance :)

Sooo strong!

Alec is always spouting out funny/cute things that I can never remember, so I was glad that I had my camera nearby when he started this little monologue. Don't you just want to pick him up and put him in your pocket! Hope this video gives you a little giggle :)

MOPS gone wild!

Well...OK, not so wild, but we had about as much fun as a group of mothers of preschoolers can have! I get to be the "events coordinator" on the steering committee for MOPS this year, which will be the first year at our church. This weekend we had our steering committee retreat. What a neat group of women that I get to work with . We are all so different, and that's what makes it so fun. We got to stay at the Mitchell's home which is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! It felt like a five star resort! Anyway, we swam, slid down the water slide like kids, soked in the hot tub, stayed up late playing "Apples to Apples" (which is how I learned about the mysterious Earwig!). Basically, we just enjoyed having one night of no kids...Ahhhh. This morning we were all down to business...there is a lot to do to get a MOPS group started up. Then it was back to our families. Let me tell you, it doesn't take me long to miss seeing my family. I wish I would have had a video camera when I walked in the door....Ava squeeled with glee, and Alec jumped up in my arms...what a sweet moment. I'm very greatful to my sweet husband for watching the kiddos...from what I hear they had a great time too.

Who's Birthday is it anyway??

No...it was not Alec's birthday...nor the little blonde sitting to his left. We were just having a little fun with candels. The Osterloo family came over to have dinner with us last night (they are in town for a short visit and will be heading out to the mission field soon), and sometime during the visit they mentioned that it was Elise's 4th birthday (they had already had a little birthday party for her earlier). I had brownies for dessert, and with four little candels, and some old birthday plates I had on hand... VOILA it became a birthday cake! Well their little Ava wanted to blow out some candels too...and then of coarse Alec didn't want to miss out on the fun. We just kept lighting them and they would blow them out over and over. It's way too easy to entertain a preschooler! Anyway...we had a great visit with them...we are gonna miss you guys!

Happy Birthday Elise!

Having some fun in the back yard.

Trip to MeMa's...

When I was saying goodnight to Alec the night we got home from Missouri, I asked him, "What was your favorite part about going to MO?" I was expecting to hear something about the dinosaurs, zoo, park, or swimming. He answered,"getting to see MeMa". Sweet boy...Mom loved hearing that one! :) Ava was a little crankier than normal during our visit...but she has good reason to be. She is getting in 8 teeth all at once! She was happiest when she was in the pool....I think we need to get one!
It was so great to see everyone. I think Jimmy was a little weirded out seeing me as a mom. Four years and two kids can really change a person. I may have lost a little of my crazy hyperness...which is a good thing I guess. My niece and nephews are all taller than me now...really sad. Anyway...it was a really good visit...we did a lot of swimming at Pam and Mario's house, shopping, and hanging out at home playing games, a little "Guitar Hero", and the visit to the zoo as I've already blogged about. Here are a few pics...

Mom/"Me Ma" with Ava at the park

Swimming at the Ammon's
Alec got really brave and started jumping into the pool...then there was no stopping him! That's Eriik's hand reaching out to catch him.
Ava with Simon...it was soo funny to watch her with him. He would always turn his head away like this when she came over to him.
Ava playing with Uncle Jimmy!