What a Summer...

 

 

 Words can't even  begin to explain how incredible the last 8 weeks have been for me and our family.

What an incredible opportunity to be home with Jake and the kids.

With a very heavy heart I will return to work tomorrow for the time being.

 

 Just love this little girl, she is so much fun! Can you tell Carrine was excited to open her first savings account this summer?

Just going to miss her so much during the day!

 Ah, and my BIG KIDS!

Truly 2 peas in a pod...What a joy watching them grow and interact this summer...in good times and in bad times!

 

 

Roslyn is so excited to start pre-school this fall!

 

Can't believe Andray will start kindergarten this fall...he is definitely more ready than I am!

Just so thankful for my time at home this summer. I've never been more exhausted or unorganized, but it was worth every second.

What a Weekend...Derby Days Never Disappoints!

 

WHAT A WEEKEND!

I look forward to going home for Catfish Derby Days every year - and now it's twice the fun celebrating it with Jake and the kids.

 

 So thankful we were able to spend Dad's birthday with him on Friday!

 

 

Carrine got a lot of "tummy time" with Papa Larry this weekend taking naps in the chair!

 

 

 I truly LOVE playing volleyball with this crew!

 

Look forward to this weekend all year!

 

Not sure if it gets any better than playing volleyball with this crew...THANK YOU for yet another awesome Catfish Derby Days! 2nd place isn't too shabby for a bunch of 30-year-olds :)  

 

 

On Sunday Jolene and I entered our kids in the Franklin Kiddie Parade...what a blast!

GO VIKES!

 

 Our first year in the Kiddie Parade.

And here the crew comes...

 

We threw out all our candy in the first 2 blocks - now Jolene and I know to bring about 4 times as much candy next year so the people at the end of the parade have something to eat!

 

Our beautiful kids in Purple and Gold!

 

 

Carrine was a champ at her first Derby Days - not a cry out of her.

She got passed around like a football on Sunday.

 After the big parade it was on to the Tractor Pull!

 

 

 Once Roz found out that she got a can of Dr. Pepper after the tractor pull - she only went about 2 feet and jumped off toward the pop - can't make it up!

 

Best part of getting the pop - she got to meet Miss Franklin Princess!

 

Andray was jacked when he saw the 5-year-olds got to ride the red tractor!

 

Talk about PURE DETERMINATION!

 

 Andray's not much of a pop drinker so he shared with the rest of us...

can't wait for next year's tractor pull!

 

And before we left we both kids just had to have a blue snow cone!

 

What a weekend!

 

 

 

What an incredible weekend with good friends and family...very thankful!

 

 

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

 

What a week for birthdays in our family!

A very Happy 67th Birthday on Friday to the best father and papa any child could ask for!

Love you more than words Dad!

 

A very special Happy 7th Birthday to our Godson Andrew on Saturday.

We are so thankful for your regained health!

Also, a very Happy 9th Birthday on Sunday to our special niece and Goddaughter, Ella Johanna!

Absolutely cannot believe it's her last year in single digits!

Love you all to the Moon and Back!

What a Day at the Hemker Park & Zoo

 

The five of us truly had a great day at the Hemker Park and Zoo yesterday.

Unbelievable all the animals to see.

 

One of our first things we saw were penguins and huge turtles!

Roz of course has no fear and wanted to touch the biggest turtle.

 

One of Roslyn's favorite animals...the Spider Monkey!

 

 Carrine was great at the zoo and her carseat was the perfect place to keep the map!

 

The kids loved the walls that they could stick their faces through!

Baby Carrine - aka - Baby Penguin!

 

 

Literally - Two Peas in a Pod.

 

 

Both Andray and Rozzy said these photo boards were one of their favorite things to do!

 

Kids weren't scared to go in the bird house - unfortunately the birds weren't very hungry when we went in, but it was fun to try to feed the birds.

 

 

An absolute perfect day for the zoo.

Roslyn's favorite animal - the Zebra!

I was excited to see the Zebras and the Camels - never seen either animal before in real life.

 

 

 Roslyn was pretending she was Dora and was "following the map!"

Jake and Carrine got a close up of one of the Camels! They are so huge!

 Hilarious

 

 

 

One of Andray's top-3 favorite things of the zoo, watching the camel scratch his "behind" on the fence in front of us!

 

Roz in deep conversation with the camel.

 

On to the Kangaroos...

Both kids were determined to jump as far as a kangaroo.

 

They both got an "E" for effort!

 

 Not sure why it was so funny, but watching a kangaroo hop in real life is hilarious!

 

 

 

 

Kids wrapped up their zoo experience on the playground...Andray loves the priate wheel!

 

We capped off a great day at DQ...does it get any better than this?!