Camping Trip #1

In June we took our first (of only two) camping trips this summer. We went to Tri-Ponds which we went to for the first time last summer and really liked. It's a good place for families. Both trips this year were with Coppesses and Heukers.

We arrived Friday night before everyone else so we were set up and had had supper by the time they got there. Layla was having fun wearing her bike helmet:)...

Play-doh time...

Lindsey and Jane relaxin' in the sun...

We were right by the jumping pillow which the kids enjoyed (it got really hot in the afternoon--that's why they're wearing socks)...

Layla even got to practice her batting...not something she normally does:)...

Our set up worked really well b/c we could all face each other and we could keep an eye on the "big" kids while they played at the park or pillow...

Sharing cookies during bubble time:)...

Gibs loves dogs and loves attacking, er, hugging them...

Really excited about his food...

The playground (Jonathan and Layla are there if you look close...Layla enjoyed meeting an older girl--like maybe 10ish--that she played with a few different times at the playground, just funny how she really loves hanging out with "big" girls)...

Yummy corn...

And trying to clean himself up:)...

They had a wagon ride which the kids enjoyed...

We didn't make it on the first one, so Gibs, Joe, Darrell, Layla, Maddy and me had to wait our turn for the next one...

Having fun swinging...

They have a small petting zoo area that the kids enjoyed...(Kali, Layla, Mason, random girl, Gibs and Jonathan)

Walking back from the petting zoo using the buddy system:)...

Maddy and Gibs enjoyed their little cars that Layla and Jonathan always enjoyed when they were little:)...

The last day we enjoyed a little time at the swimming pond. We enjoyed time at the pool and Layla did really well swimming on her own (with swimmies that is)...it was the weekend after swimming lessons (actually the last lesson was Sat morning so we all went to her last lesson).

The "big" kids still enjoyed their cars a bit:)...

We had a great weekend camping and I'm bummed that I probably won't be able to go camping any more this summer:(. I just don't know when I'll go on bedrest and such so for now we aren't planning any more trips. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so hopefully all is well and I'm not progressing at all yet. I've been trying to rest when possible as I started having more painful braxton hicks last week so hopefully that's been helping!

Cousin Gavin Turns 4!

On July 18, Gavin turned 4! We had his party the following Sunday which was also the day we got back from camping (yet another post I'm behind on). He chose to have a Bob the Builder themed birthday party. Ever since his party Layla has been asking to watch Bob and Gibson likes it too a little bit--mainly when they sing (he's finally getting a LITTLE more into tv, not that I want him to love it, but at least for a little bit here and there it'd be nice, normally he just likes shows when they sing and dance since he LOVES to dance just like his big sis). Her favorite shows are still Mickey, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, sometimes Little Einsteins, sometime Handy Manny, sometimes Olivia or Backyardigans, and for some reason, rarely Dora or Diego anymore.

It's hard to believe that Gavin is 4 already!! I hardly remember him being this small! I always think that with my own kids too. I was looking at some newborn clothing the other day and to me now it looks like preemie stuff it seems so tiny!

Enjoying appetizers...

Then enjoying some time on the swing set...

Gibson sporting his Bob the Builder tie...

Present time!

A little sleepy from the big camping weekend--Layla that is, well, maybe Joe too:)...

Trying to get the excavators untied off of our gift:)...

A Mickey pillow case was one thing we got him, but we only were able to give him half of his gift b/c I couldn't find the main thing I bought him! I swear I know where I stuck it, but it's not there. I'm pretty sure an intruder must have taken it:). No, really, apparently I'm losing my mind! I never ended up finding it so we got him some Playmobile sets to go with the Police Station he got from his parents for his birthday.

Gibs liked the construction hats, just not wearing them properly on his head:)...

Opening more gifts...

His yummy cake made by the same girl that did Layla's this year...

Layla Turns 3!

On June 5 (the day after her birthday) Layla celebrated her 3rd birthday with our families! She had been talking for months about how she wanted a Dora and Diego party, so that's what she got!

I forgot to get a pic of all the food, but here was the set up...

Appetizers...

She loves Mexican (well, actually she just really loves all different kinds of food:D) so we had a Mexican themed meal of green sauce chicken enchiladas, red sauce chicken enchiladas and beef burritos...

Gavin brought his Jeep along since he knew what Layla would be getting for a gift...

We had a game for the kids (mainly just for Gavin and Layla, Gibs didn't really participate:D) where they had to follow a map just like Dora always does. The starting stop was at the grill.

One of their stops was the shed. Layla was really excited about the game and loved following her map--she pretends things are treasure maps all the time.

The point of the game was to rescue the stars at the end...if you've watched Dora with your kid before, that might make more sense:). I found star shaped marshmallows that were out for the 4th of July, so those were the stars they were saving and therefore got to eat. They were also on Em's fruit pizza, but I forgot to get a pic of it:(.

Diego, Dora and Diego posing at the end of the game:). The masks are a bit creepy but were just too funny to pass up:).

She followed the map a second time around she loved it so much:)...

Here's the cute map Joe made. Layla loved saying "Where we goin' next? To the grill (or whatever stop they were on)!" Again, you'll only get that too if you've seen Dora:).

Enjoying their meals...

Present time! She's opening Grampy and Gigi's gifts here...

Cousin love:)...

A big girl bike from Grandpa and Grandma!!

Opening her (and Gibs') gift from Gigi and Grampy partly from Christmas and part from Gibs' birthday...

A Gator!

Swimming time!

We probably should have gotten out our slightly bigger pool, but they didn't seem to mind squishing in the turtle:)...

Her cute and delicious cake made by the same girl that made Gibs' birthday cake...

Family picture attempt...