Two Cute Critters

The kids received a treat in the mail today. I had found this great deal on these adorable bath towels. Shea picked the only pink one they had, a butterfly! Will received a really cute dog. I thought it was the cutest "boy" item. They really seemed to like them. Shea has already asked if she can use it to wrap up in when she gets out of our pool. Of course!

Here are the cute little critters!!

The back!

I wonder what cute things will creep up next? Keep your eyes out!

A Festive Time

Festive times have been happening around here!!! Shea and Will have been able to start playing together. They like to chase each other up and down the hall way. Will loves it when Shea takes him a ride in her jeep. He likes to figure out how the thing is moving, touches all the radio buttons...You know, is a guy! Shea is still in the learning process of sharing her domain with him but is doing well at it.

Shea and Will cruising around.

We continue to go to our weekly horse back riding lesson. Shea is doing great! Her trainer is very pleased with how Shea is progressing each week. She is trotting on her own!! She makes Little Debbie trott and keeps her going all the way around the ring. Emily, her trainer, and I both started hollering last week when she did this. Emily keeps telling me that for her age, she is doing amazing. Shea has graduated to wearing spurs on her boots...she is a real cowgirl! She likes this. It helps her make the horse go and go she does.

Shea and Little Debbie trotting around the arena.

The end of this week and this past weekend was London's annual Strawberry Festival. We thought it would be fun to go into town on Friday night and let the kids have a grand time. Will took everything in, lots of action for him. Shea had a great time, she picked a ride she wanted to go on and a game she wanted to play. The ride she picked was the Fun Slide. She went down it all on her own!! She then played the dart game, where you throw a dart at a balloon. She hit all three balloons and won a stuffed animal...yes, another stuffed animal and groaned and bared it. She was thrilled that she had done this on her own, how could we not be happy for her! Then she went through this bounce house style of obstacle course. We had fair food and then we left. It only took an hour to have our fun.

Wee...the Fun Slide!

Shea's prize.

We then headed to Jen and Barry's house for more evening fun! Jen made me home-made cookies and cream ice cream as a thank you. I let the washer repair man in a couple of days ago. No need for Jen to go to this trouble but I'm glad she did. It was YUMMY!!! Jen is working on perfecting my request of peanut butter with chocolate chunks (ie what I get at Grater's). The kids ran around catching fire flies and having a blast on a nice summer evening!

Jen with the home-made ice cream! Thanks Jenn!!!!

Saturday there was even more fun! After working around here most of the day, The Kuck's came over around 5 p.m. We ate pizza and then quickly gathered our selves onto the boat! The kids were very anxious to go swimming. They made us to this first thing. No problem, we adults chilled and had a beverage. Then we said ok, who is going to ski.... KENDALL! She wanted to try out Shea's new ski's. The first pull we had to figure out the rope situation...but...the second pull she was up right away!!!! I was holding a fussy Will, Jen got a few good shots & I'm sure she'll post them. Shea & Noah both wanted to tube. It didn't last long, but they did it!

Shawn & Will swimming.

Will crashes after swimming!




Shea and Noah on the tube!

This afternoon we took the kids out for more swimming fun! Despite Shawn's crazy-busy work schedule, we are finding time for lots of fun. We hope you are too.

Father's Day in Hocking Hills

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful Dads!!!! We had a very busy weekend, on Sunday we went to Hocking Hills for our Father's Day celebration. Shawn loved it! He told me so many times. I was very, very happy to hear it. He needed to get out and enjoy some time with family and nature. My parents, Aunt Linda and Uncle Mark arrived at our house and we met up with Danielle in Hilliard where we had brunch at Cracker Barrel. YUM! Then we went on down to Hocking Hills. We first went to the place where they would do their zip lining from. This is what I surprised Shawn with for his Father's Day gift. Although, we did have to tell him prior to the day. His boss wanted him to fly out to Texas, on Sunday...He couldn't since I already had this planned. Anyway, we get there and it was a nice place. Picked up a map and figured out where we wanted to head. We went to Cantwell Cliffs, it was close by. It was so nice and pretty. Shea was thrilled to be there. We all went down the trail. Then we found a set of very narrow steps leading to the bottom of the trail. Mom, Linda, Will and I stopped here. The rest of them went on. We could her Shea yelling for her echo. After this, the group going zip lining went back for their departure time where they met up with Wayne and Justin. Dad, Shea, Will and I went on to explore more of this beautiful area.

Our Family at Cantwell Cliffs on Father's Day.

We drove the loop around the Hocking Hills area. This picture Shea took from Cedar Falls. This is after we had already done a mile and half hike. I didn't want to carry Will up and down any more steps. Shea and Grandpa Chas went on this one. I have to say, Shea has a photography's eye!

Cedar Falls

This gorgeous shot was of Shea when we were at the bottom of the Old Man's Cave area. This neat little waterfall was behind her. She absolutely loved this exploration, as she called it. Took her mind off of the fact that everyone else was zipping and she wasn't old enough to go!

The views we saw were so amazing. We already want to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing. By then the temps will be cooler and we can hike a further distance.

At the top of the trail there was a sign that told you about Old Man's Cave. I thought this was the perfect time for the kids and I to get a photo. We didn't know when Dad was taking the photo, no one knew when to smile! Plus, we just hiked a mile and a half, we were tired!

We headed back to "base camp" for the zip line tour to wait on our group. Will desperately needed a nap and the rest of us wanted to rest. We only had to wait about forty-five minutes. Here they are...all geared up!

They all loved the three hour tour and want to do it again! They had two guides and another couple with them. They said it was a fun group. The best part, for me, was when Shawn saw me and said, "This was the best Father's Day ever, great gift"!! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it. Too bad I'm too chicken to do it. They saw some wildlife and lots of pretty views. Wayne took his camera, hopefully I'll get some and post for you to see!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Father's Day. Shawn and I are very thankful for the wonderful Father's we have! Plus, my kids have the best Dad!!!

A long and winding week

Sorry folks that it has taken me way too long to update in the last week! We have been busy around here. Shawn is still continuing to stain the bar top and supports for it. That project it taking way too long and he is very frustrated with it. I know in the end it will turn out wonderful! Since last Wednesday we've done a lot! June 10th was Shawn and I's nine year anniversary. He and I went to Bonefish Grill for dinner and he showed up at the restaurant with these beauties!

Anniversary flowers- they are still blooming today!

I saw an ad in the Columbus Dispatch for a family pass to the new Huntington Ball Park, I thought it would be a great idea to go. We've been wanting to check it out. This stadium in downtown in the Arena district and it really is nice. Very family friendly. Shea thought it was so cool that she was able to eat peanuts and throw the shell on the ground! She couldn't believe we'd let her do that. Only at a ball game. The Clippers are the AAA team for the Cleveland Indians and they were fun to watch. That is when Will allowed Shawn and I to watch and not walking him all over the ball park.



While we were out walking we came across this big baseball glove (there was a statue of a bat next to it too). The kids were excited to get their picture in it. This was a huge hit, there was a line for it!



The kids received American Flag's when we went in and they had a good time waving them. Shea also learned a lot about the game of baseball and she wants to go back.

Last week, I also took the kids back to the Columbus Zoo. It was a cloudy and over cast Friday, great day for the Zoo!! We'd been wanting to see the new baby elephant but the last couple of times we went the line was so long. This time, the wait was only 45 minutes. We waited and were so glad we did. Beco, is adorable!!!!!

Beco and his Mom.

Shea loves to feed the Lorikeets when we go. Will enjoyed it too. I did not enjoy them pooping everywhere for fear they'd poop on us. There were so many people in there feeding them. Let's just say the ground was covered that day!

We've had our own animal attraction around here too. Bailey continues to grow and as Shea was taking him more water yesterday afternoon, she found this on our drive way. A baby snapping turtle!!

She named him Snappy.

Snappy was released back into the wild last night. That is our rule, she can keep it and learn about it for the day but then it needs to go back with it's family. Shea, Will and I took it over to the creek that goes into the lake, across the street from our house, and let him go. Shea is hoping he finds his way back to us.

Will continues to grow and be down right ornery!! He went on Tuesday for his 9 month check up. He weighed in at 19 lbs 9 oz. He will reach 20 lbs by his first birthday! Yea! He was also 17 1/4 inches long. That puts him in the 30% for both weight and height. His height leveled off the last couple of months but his weight caught up significantly. His head circumference also went up to the 20%! He's just been so ornery, especially to his sister! Oh the things to come with this boy. I'm sure to have lots of great posts in the future.

Will and Grandpa Chas.

This weekend will be another fun one. Shawn and I are going to head up to Michigan to look at a truck to possibly purchase. Keep your fingers crossed!!! Sunday, Father's Day, we are going to Hocking Hills. I purchased Shawn a Zip Line tour for Father's Day. Should be fun! I will remember the camera!

Summer Fun

Summer weather has arrived in the last couple of days. It's been hot and humid. Perfect to be outside having fun! Shawn still was not feeling well over the weekend. On Saturday we took the kids up to the beach for a couple of hours. They both really enjoyed it. The beach was packed! We even saw a wedding, the bride arrived to the reception via a pontoon boat. Shea really liked it because the bridesmaids were in pink dresses and the Bride's veil had pink in it.

Sunday it was again warm and there was a breeze. In the afternoon we took the boat out. The water is still too cold for me to do any activities and Shawn wasn't feeling up to getting too wet. We took a boat ride and then let the kids swim. Will sat on the back of the swim deck and played, he liked it. He just can not stand that life jacket! What is he going to do when he has to spend a week in it on vacation??!!


Here is our little surfer dude! This is his spf shirt and swim trunks. He looks so cute!! He's obsessed with playing with the mirror and compass in the boat. At least he is entertained.


Shea was a brave girl and went swimming in the chilly water. Hopefully the nights stay warmer and the temp rises in the lake. I want to knee board. Shawn did get in the water so he could lift Shea up on top of the front of the boat. She likes to jump from there. Here she is, preparing.

Shea swimming at the beach.

Will putting his feet in the water at the beach. He liked to curl his toes around the sand.

After having his feet in the water we took him back to the shade and gave him a shovel to dig with. Will has entered this phase where he has to get his head a millimeter from something to examine it. He also has an occasional runny nose due to his teeth trying to come in. Here he is...after he put his face in the sand.

Gross!!!

We are having a lot of fun with the kids this summer. Today they went over to a friends house and went swimming in their pool. It was warm! Swimming lessons start in a couple of weeks. Hopefully Will cooperates! We shall see.

Fun in the Sand

Today was a very chilly day, it is June for crying out loud!! Shea was bound and determined that she had a new bucket and shovel and she wanted to build a sand castle. Our sandbox was not good enough. The lake is putting new sand down and it just happens to be white sand, that's what she wanted to make her sand castle out of. Off we went on our bikes!

Will wasn't sure what to think of this new play area at first. Once I took the shovel and showed him what you do with it, he laughed. It did not take him too long to ditch the shovel and start using his hand. Of course, he kept trying to eat the sand. I tried telling him that wasn't good fiber!

Shea, on the other hand, ran right off and started to build her master piece. It was a small sand castle but she was very proud of it, as was I. She even found three goose feathers laying around and a few small rocks. She used those to decorate the top of it. There was also a large pile of sand that hasn't been spread around. Shea was so excited to see it. She asked if I'd take her pictures. Sure thing Missy Lu!

Will adjusting to the sand.

On top of the sand world!!

Look Mom, I can do it!!

Shea's castle.

After a half hour, I was cold and said it was time to bike back home. It was fun but we will wait to go back until it is warmer. The breeze coming off of the water was chilly! Summer weather is soon to come.

Sparkle

We had a sparkling last few days. Last Saturday afternoon Shawn decided we had some trees the trim and debris to burn up. Shea immediately said, "Can we have smores"? A girl after my own heart! Of course we can do smores!! We had dinner and at sunset I broke out the smore materials. Will was more than thrilled to be getting a graham cracker, he loves them recently. Shea just wanted to eat the chocolate...she is my girl! Chief just wanted to steel everyone's cracker. He was none to happy when I moved the kids closer to his electric fence boundary. He won't come near it.

Shawn had to go into the shed to get something and found a bag of sparklers that I've had for a long time. Shea was very excited that we were letting her do some. She was a little nervous at first about holding them, she must not remember that she did it last year just fine! Will liked watching the action. We had some that were colored. But, they didn't have that sparkle to them like the good 'ol fashioned ones. Shea also had the opportunity to use snap pops. She thought this was way cool, as she says. The old fashioned items never fade!

Shea, sparkling!

By the time we were all finished with that Will was done with his cracker. He thoroughly enjoyed it, it was all over him. It kept him entertained for a good bit of time. You'll also notice that Will is sporting "Daddy's school" on his shirt. Our friend, Shannon, went to Miami with Shawn. She passed this down to Will when he was born. She figured he needed one. Guess she was right.

Will at 8.5 months!

Shawn and I even did a sparkler or two ourselves. It was fun, being like a kid again. Just to clarify, Shawn seems to always wear this particular t-shirt when he's working (i.e. getting dirty) on a project. He'd been sanding, trimming trees so again, he has this shirt on in a picture. I'll try to update his wardrobe! Haa....

Shawn sparkling too!

Our good 'ol Chief loves the fire pit. He just lays beside it. Hoping Mom brings out the smores so he can steel something from the kids. Although, in the last couple of weeks, Will has learned that he takes a few bites of something (like a cracker) and give the rest to Chief. I tell you what, those two are going to get into some major trouble together. I can for see the future here!

Chief

We continued to sparkle last night. It was just a Tuesday night here but we all had hair cuts scheduled. Shea wanted to cut her hair. A few weeks ago she told me she wanted to let it grow. I figure she is five, she can make a few decisions on her own. I knew when she went last night that she was wanting a trim. When I got home from my appointment, Shea greeted me at the door. I LOVED her hair cut! She looks so good! This is the shortest she's had her hair but it will be good for when it gets hot this summer. She really likes it. I'm so glad!!!

Shea's new sparkling "do".

We hope you are having a sparkling week!! Today we are off to a play date, with more to follow this week. Have a good week, everyone!!!