Daddy - Daughter Day at King's Island

Tim took Grace with him on a volleyball trip to King's Island just before school started.  She had a BALL!  From what I hear she wished they were there "yesterday" on the ride down there.  :)  But she loved her first amusement park rides - the swings, bumper cars, and roller coasters.  They took is some street shows (she is dancing along) and also hit the water park where she balked at the top of a ride, only to conquer it and insist on doing it "two more times"!  She got to take lots of pictures and loved taking the Peanuts pictures because "Grandpa will love this!"  (He's a big fan of Snoopy and gang.)  I love the picture of her taking a water break - she looks so grown up! And she finally conked out a little after 11:00.... putting them home, in bed around 3AM!  Tired but happy thrill-seekers!  (Sorry - the pictures got all out of order when I uploaded.... grrrr....)

Last of the Pool Fun?

Nanna Deah spoils us!  She got us these really cool water squirters and we LOVE them!  Our pool days are numbered with the cool nights keeping the water right at 80 degrees or below.  A little too cold for Cooper, and only just slowing Grace down a little!  The water squirters are great for game playing on the deck, though!  Thank you Nanna Deah!

Through their eyes

A little Bret Michaels imitation... :)

Family Fun Day at the County Museum

A little dress up, a little serious posing, a little candle making.... Good times. 

Cooper was being a poop most of the time.  :(  Well that and it was past nap time. 

More Quiet Time Fun

Our first day ALL up and ready to go by 7:30 - Daddy's dream come true!  She had a FANTASTIC time and is ready to go back tomorrow!!



The Zoo

We took cousin Jessie to the zoo with us last week.  The kids were crabby until she treated them to ice cream!  She and I had a great time - and eventually the kids did too!  :)

Quiet Time :)

Good friends from afar

5/6ths of the "Chad and Tessie" clan came for a visit this week.  Sooooo great to see them!  We haven't seen them for about 4 years.  That's one kid we haven't met and three who were MUCH smaller!  I had done a good job preparing Grace that 4 kids would be coming to play, but failed (miserably) to prepare Cooper!  When they arrived and immediately set out exploring, Cooper burst into tears and wouldn't come swimming for a good 20 minutes!  He worked past it eventually and enjoyed being a boy with the boys!  Grace eventually warmed up to Levi - who, come to find out, is the ladies man of the group!  Cooper hung out with Jacob quite a bit, and I overheard him say to Jacob, "Your mom has a lot of kids."  Ha!  So great to see them after all this time.  It was fun to meet their kids  - like a bunch of little Chads and Tessie's running around!   

Moon Sand - Oy Vey!

We are trying to get Cooper to sleep through the night without whining, so sticker charts and prizes are ON.  He painted a piggy bank first and Moon Sand was his second prize.  Kind of cool stuff - VERY messy!  It was a beautiful cool morning so out they went - for like an hour!!!

And, we're making progress in the nights, I think.  :)

All dressed up and no place to go :)