Some Fun Outings

We've done a few neat things with the kids lately, especially with our friends the Beutler's. It's so fun living closer to them! We are a little bit closer to the zoo now, and we've gone a a lot more than we did before. I think I'm trying to fit a few things in that I probably won't be up for once the baby comes.

The clothing in the first two pictures is very indicative of how our spring has been: randomly cold and hot. One week apart, we went from pants and coats to shorts, t-shirts, and lots of sunscreen. In fact, I froze on the first trip and thought I was going to get heat stroke on the second.

For some reason, the kids can't go to the zoo without posing in this spot.


In the polar bear viewing tunnel. Audrey is the one on the left, and little Tirzah Beutler is the look-alike on the right.


The Beutler's also invited us to take a tour of a fire station with them, which was so fun. I think I liked it even more than the kids, as I learned a ton. It was a very small group (3 moms and their kids), and the fireman doing the tour was really great. He answered about a million questions that we had, showed us lots of cool high-tech equipment, and even pulled the ladder truck out of the garage to raise up the big ladder as high as it would go for the kids.




One Saturday, Clay and I took the kids to one of the free Lowe's "Build and Grow" Workshops, and the kids loved it. I can't get over how goofy and cute Luke was with his safety goggles on! Audrey and Luke each built a race car, and I highly recommend this or the Home Depot workshops to anybody with kids.






This past Friday was free admission to the Troy Aquatic Center, which is about a block and a half from our house. It was a little bit crazy with so many people, but the kids had a blast swimming and going down the kiddie water slide they have. Yes, I was probably a little too brave and even went out in public in my maternity swimming suit. Yikes!



What better way to end a fun day at the pool than 4 cones for $2 at Cold Stone? The city was holding a special deal for Memorial Day weekend. The kids thought it was so neat that they could pick whatever add-in they wanted. Luke chose Reese's Pieces, and Audrey chose gummy bears. Summer has definitely arrived!

Settling In

Our "new" house definitely feels like home. In fact, it's hard to remember how we used to spend our time, since things feel so different now. One of my favorite quotes is from an obscure little book called Home to Harmony, and it says: "There's danger in thinking joy is a matter of location. If we can't find joy where we are, we probably won't find it anywhere." I think I did a pretty good job of finding joy in our last place, but, that being said, I am SO glad we moved! It is so nice to have the baby's room set up and ready, instead of a closet or a corner of already crammed living space. It's so nice to have counter space on which to prepare food and room for the kids to race, jump, and play indoor soccer on rainy days. We have barbecued at least 5 out of 7 nights a week since we moved in, and we're starting to make friends and discover parks and things nearby. We got a trampoline, which we all love, planted a little vegetable garden and some flowers, and love to run in the sprinkler. This whole backyard thing has brought on a whole new facet of life which is dirt and bugs, and it's so worth it. Luke says he doesn't want to move in a year. Hopefully we won't have to downsize!

P.S. I've had lots of questions about where the backyard actually ends. You may be able to make out the faint outlines of a chain-link fence a little ways past the fort. We are on just over an acre, so it's not too big, but definitely not too small. Bonus: the mowing of the grass is included in the rent.

Getting Bigger - Part 4

Beauty and the Beast


Just kidding. I try not to treat myself so meanly, although the van really is a beauty, and I often feel like I'm reaching beastly proportions. With my due date looming, we had to get a bigger vehicle, and we got extremely lucky that my parents were planning on selling theirs anyway. (At least they made us believe they were.) We're not complaining, as it is quite the van. The navigation system has already saved me more than once, and the kids love the built-in dvd player and 5-disc c.d. changer. Neither Clayton nor I thought we were mini-van people, but we sure are now! Clayton laughed like crazy when I told him he had "arrived", but he really does love driving it.

Audrey had to have a picture by the van with her baby as well.



Now we have a bigger house, a bigger vehicle, and we're ready for baby (I hope)! 6 1/2 weeks!

On The Road Again

A week after returning home from Toronto, the kids and I were off again for a quick trip to "misery". Just kidding! It wasn't the most fun trip we've had to Missouri, since we only stayed for two days and Audrey and I threw up a lot during the drive, but we still enjoyed ourselves. On the way there, my great friend, Kristine, let us crash at her house in Indianapolis for a night to break up the trip. It isn't the first time her and her husband have put up with the kids and I, but they are great hosts. They even took us to the Indianapolis Children's Museum, which is the biggest in the country, and Luke and Audrey had so much fun playing with their kids. I'm sad that I lost my camera and thus all the cute pictures from the museum!

Then, we travelled on to MO and had a blast with Grandma, Grandpa, Mitch and Alex. My mom even sent me to get a spa manicure and pedicure for Mother's Day, and it was really nice. Thinking back on it, I should have been sending her for Mother's Day! That sparked Audrey's interest in colored nails, and I painted hers for her for the the first time. Even though it was a really pale pink, she was so proud.

We drove our new van home (hooray!), and hopefully next time we go to visit it will be for longer!




Luke and Mitch - quite a bit alike and so crazy-fun




showing off the nails