Splash Park Fun

Today we went to the Powell splash park (yes, more pictures of us playing in water!). It was a perfect day for splash park fun despite that Ella was a little scared to run and play in all the fountains. She was content running around the sides and occasionally would walk up as close as she could without getting sprayed. Both daddy and I finally ran through some holding her to try and help her get brave but it didn't help. I think next time we go we will take a friend with us because she might do better under peer pressure ;)








Here is Ella last summer at the splash park wearing the same bathing suit (that wasn't on purpose) I can't believe how much she's grown! She definitely enjoyed herself more this time then in this picture where she is running for dear life :)

More weekend fun

My wonderful and amazing husband surprised me Saturday night by getting us a room at the very nice Polaris Hilton. He arranged for my sister to take the kids overnight so we could have a little getaway. We had a delicious dinner at Brio and had fun walking around the mall together. It was a much needed break for me, especially after a difficult week, and I wish it could have lasted longer! I'm really looking forward to our five year anniversary in September when we will be able to get away together for a little longer!

Sunday was a nice and relaxing day for us. I was able to get ready for church in the morning and not have to scramble getting two kids ready :) After church, the kids (including us) took extra long afternoon naps, and then enjoyed spending some time outside helping daddy wash the cars.

Night Swimming

We had a pretty busy weekend full of fun surprises! We kicked it off by going to the dollar swim night at the Orange park pool with a group of friends from church. It's usually pretty expensive to swim there so when we heard it was only a dollar a person we were excited to check it out! The pool was awesome! It put poor little Waldo pool to shame. The kids had a blast and we had to practically drag Ella out when it was time to go.

Concert in the Park

Last night we enjoyed a fun summer concert at Gallant park. It's the first of many this summer and I'm excited to go to all of them! We brought our picnic blanket and sat and listened to a steel drum. Micah enjoyed the music and was getting up and shaking his little booty! Ella had fun too despite a couple of meltdowns. Fortunately there was a play ground right next to us so she was able to go play as soon as she became uninterested.

Can you tell Ella was upset?

I love this picture because it pretty much sums up my week. Ella has decided tantrums are the best way to try and get what she wants and Micah has been extra mischievous! :)

She got up and joined the conga line

July 4th

I figured I could take this quiet time to post some pictures of our day so far.

Last night we went over to The Clases' house (relatives of my brother in law) They are kind enough to invite us every year to their 4th of July party. We had a great time! Ella had so much fun playing with all the kids and found her new favorite toy, a power wheels. She was on that thing the whole night! She was either driving it, or sitting in the passenger seat, or sitting in the back :) We played corn hole, volleyball, and even went on a hay ride at sunset through the beautiful corn fields. The Clase family are so much fun to be around and we are thankful they let us tag along at their family functions.

The chocolate cake I made for the party. I just took a Wilton cake decorating class and it's been a very long and hard road to get to this cake.

Beep, Beep!

Just enjoyed some chocolate cake

Ally and Kylee

She loves her sweets

The beautiful corn fields

He loved the hayride!

Ally and Kylee are two of Ella's favorite friends!

The grass isn't on fire, those are sparklers

This is Paul's boss (also my sister's brother in law) who Micah LOVED!

We went to a parade this morning in Ostrander and Ella enjoyed getting a bag full of candy! She was waving her little heart out trying to get the people on the floats to throw some her way. The best was when someone didn't throw her any and she looked at me very concerned and said "mommy, they didn't throw me any candy." I enjoyed looking over at Micah during the parade and watching him wave and smile at all the floats.

Once the parade ended we rushed to our car to make it back to Delaware for our second parade! This one we were able to watch in our front yard! (I love where we live) Ella was able to score even MORE candy and now has a stash equivalent to what she got going trick or treating.

We are heading out tonight to watch the big firework show downtown. There is no better place to celebrate the birth of our great nation then in the good ol' midwest! :)

Getting her candy bag ready

The parade crew

Waving at the floats

Getting ready for parade two

This was my favorite part of the Delaware parade. If that doesn't capture the essence of the midwest i don't know what does.

Horrible picture but one of the only semi descent ones from the fireworks. The flash was so bright I couldn't keep my eyes open. Micah was so into the fireworks! He kept pointing at them and jabbering away.

If you click here and here you can see that we have defenently established our Independence day traditions :)

Mcklinky Blog Hop: Favorite Photo

This is a beautiful picture of Ella taken by the AMAZING Beth Armsheimer. She really does look like an angel in it, if only she would act like one all the time ;)