Circus!

Circus!

So last night we had tickets to the Ringling Brother's and Barnum and Bailey Circus!! I was just as excited as the kids! We had an extra ticket since Kenzie wasn't going with us, so my friend Tammy's daughter Angie came. It was awesome, I just love the circus. The kids had a blast, I think overall the clowns were the favorite, although Riley liked the motorcycles in the sphere, and Regan loved anything with animals, the horses, elephants, cats, dogs and white tigers.

The real fun began when the circus was over. David had to meet us there and managed to find a closer place to park, so he and Riley took off for his car, while me and the girls headed for mine. Well, it started to sprinkle. No biggie, we won't melt. Then, out in the middle of nowhere, the sky opens and we get drenched. No where to run, no where to hide at that point. And that wouldn't have been so bad except I was trying to find a shortcut back to the parking garage, and ended up going a block too far. We ended up carrying our sandals, I couldn't see for the rain pouring in my face, and we ended up in the wrong parking garage! So, by the time we walked up 3 flights of stairs, back down, found the right garage, and up another 3 flights, we were bedraggled and looking like drowned pups! Quite the adventure. I took pictures of the circus, none are great, but there were some funny ones of the kids wearing a funny hat and enjoying their snow cones and cotton candy. Man, I felt 10 again!!

Reganisms

My daughter is so funny (she totally gets it from me!!) but these are some of the things she's said the last couple of days.

Today I saw she put her own socks and shoes on, so I asked her which socks she had on (my obsession with trying to make sure they match) and she said so matter of factly, "I'm wearing my Snoop Dogg socks." Hmm...I don't remember buying any Snoop Dogg socks, and certainly not for my 5 year old daughter!! But she insisted, she loves her Snoop Dogg socks cause they're blue and blue is in her heart. I realized she meant her snoopy dog socks.

Last night she was telling me about the Scooby Doo show she watched at Mimi's house, and all about how this T-Reck was after Scooby. I said, "You mean a T-Rex?" "NO MOM!! There was only ONE!" I guess T-Rex is plural. So funny.

Camping Trip to Willis Creek Park

Wills Creek Park

We loaded up and left town Friday, got to the campsite and got everything unloaded, just in time for...RAIN!! All our plans for grilled fajitas and veggies and we end up eating fairly nasty Mexican food in Taylor Texas! Thankfully the rain didn't last too long, we got back to camp and finished setting things up and let the kids have some S'mores. Mostly we got every thing situated. Regan wanted to sleep with Angie, then Riley wanted to sleep in the RV also, so did Kenzie, so David and I ended up in the tent, while everyone else was in the air conditioned RV. It wasn't bad, the rain had cooled everything off, so I actually got a bit chilly towards the morning.

Saturday morning we got up, the kids rode up and down the trails on their bikes, made friends with other kids that were camping in the area, and mostly, we all ATE! We grilled burgers and hot dogs for lunch, David worked on smoking a brisket all day long, it smelled so good, while the grown ups hung around watching the kids play. After a brief run to Wal-Mart for the dads, we filled up a baby pool so the kids could swim a bit, as the lake was too full from all the rain we've had recently to do any swimming. We got out the water guns and they went crazy! Then, it rained again, not for long, but the wind kicked up, knocked the tent over, right into the smoker, knocking the brisket right onto the ground. Thankfully it was wrapped in foil at that point, so all was not lost. While it rained, we waited it out in the RV and let the kids watch a movie and Riley play on dad's computer (his new Webkinz game). We did S'mores again that night, I think that was everyone's favorite thing about the whole weekend. Riley said he enjoyed getting to throw stuff in the fire!

Sunday we made breakfast tacos, and spent the morning cleaning and loading. The kids swam some more while we got everything together, busy till the last minute. The kids were exhausted and Regan fell asleep within 5 minutes of being home. Riley wasn't too far behind her.

Got some great pictures of the kids, we all had fun playing with Baby Abby, I was surprised how much Riley was taken with her, always wanting to hold her and play with her. At one point when Abby was inconsolable and Tammy was trying to get some food for Andrew, Riley got torn up hearing Abby cry, and said to me, "Mom, do they just not care!?" Ah, a great time to explain to him how HE was at that age, and how he would cry just as hard when it wasn't ME holding him!! He can be so sweet and sensitive sometimes, which is great to see from my rough and tumble boy.

Overall, it was a great weekend, weather was nice and cool for June, and the kids had a blast. No complaints! Ready to go and do it again!

Regan's Birthday Rainbow!

I forgot to post this last week, but this was a rainbow that looked like it was right over our house on Regan's birthday! It was a double rainbow, very bright towards the bottom, and Regan saw it and was so excited, she told me she had never seen a real live rainbow before!

Another Week Down!!

I'm a bad mom, I have no pictures to post of this week, I've been lazy. We started off by celebrating Father's Day at Ninfa's with the Fry's, yum. The kids and I met up with the Waite's and went to Chuck E Cheese on Monday, and the library where they signed up for the Summer Reading Program. We always sign up, and read the books, but never make it back to get their prize, so I am really hoping we can finish it right this summer. On Tuesday the kids had dentist appointments, since we're about to go 3 months without insurance on David's new job. Good reports for both kids, so that was awesome.

Yesterday, I was excited, Melissa and I made it to an organic farm stand, you can check it out here they had Heirloom tomatoes, they are HUGE almost black tomatoes. I also got some smaller, cherry Heirlooms, some tiny orange tomatoes called sugar sweets that Riley ate before the day was over, a bright yellow tomato and an Asian melon. Yum! I really really wanted peaches, but theirs were very small still.

Today we met some friends at Inflatable Wonderland and we were there from 10-3! The kids are exhausted, but they had a great time. Kenzie got her hair cut and some killer new Vans. Now I'm in Flight of the Bumblebee mode to get ready for our camping trip TOMORROW!! I'm excited, I know I took SO many pictures last time, so I can't wait to get some good ones this trip. We're going to Granger Lake which isn't far, and David has already threatened to sneak home in the middle of the night for the a/c. Then the kids have VBS next week, so we'll be back in GO mode before we know it.

Happy Father's Day

Walk With Me Daddy
Author Unknown

Walk alongside me, daddy
And hold my little hand.
I have so many things to learn
That I don't yet understand.

Teach me things to keep me safe
From dangers every day.
Show me how to do my best
At home, at school, at play.

Every child needs a gentle hand
To guide them as they grow.
So walk alongside me, daddy -
We have a long way to go.

Surf's Up Dude!

I took the kids to see this today. It's super cute. As we're leaving Regan says, "Mom, I'm gonna marry that Cody!" When Dad told her she's not marrying anyone until she's at least 25, she responded that she doesn't want to live here anymore. Think we have our hands full with that one??

Horsin' Around...

Here are some pictures of the cake I made for Regan today, and of her lickin' the beaters. I think it turned out cute, it actually looks like a horse!

So we asked Regan how it feels to be 5, she sticks her foot out and says, matter-of-factly, "Does this look like a 5 year old foot to you? It's not ANY bigger, it's still a 4 year old foot!" She never fails to crack us up.

On this day...

...a mere 5 years ago, I remember waking up super early to go to the hospital to be induced. Regan was due on June 18th, but my doctor was going out of town and I was considered "high risk" so she didn't want me to go into labor while she was out of town, so she scheduled me for induction. Looking back, I would have waited, but at the time, I was so dreadfully uncomfortable and having contractions and just plain miserable, that I figured, what's one or two less days in the grand scheme of things?

We dropped Riley off at his grandma and grandpa's the night before so that Friday morning we could just head straight to the hospital. I got all checked in and hooked up to all the monitors by 9am. I remember they had to break my water to get it going, and that wasn't so bad. Then after an hour or so, they decided to hook up some pitocin to get things moving faster. I could only take 30 minutes of that since I was on no pain medication. So after they stopped the pitocin, the contractions were going hard and fast at that point. I know I asked for an epidural then thinking that there was no way I could make it much longer, but before they could get an epidural in the room, it was time to push.

Of course my doctor was at lunch, thinking I had plenty of time, so even after scheduling to be induced, I didn't end up with my own doctor. Since this was about 9 months after 9/11, the maternity ward was full, we got the last delivery room available, and they were turning women away! So, needless to say, the doctors were worn a little thin that day. I remember the nurses telling me to stop pushing after only a couple of pushes, in order to wait for the doctor to come in to "catch" the baby. I distinctly remember arguing with them that anyone could catch the baby, but somebody better be ready cause I was not just gonna sit there any longer!! Finally the doctor came in, just in time, did his job, and had to rush right out to catch another one! Crazy day!! So, my little Nadia Regan was born, 7 lbs. 5 oz. at 12:59 pm, less than 4 hours after it all started.

We decided on Nadia because it means "Hope" and Regan which means "Royalty", so she will always be our little Princess.

And now, 5 years later, Regan is most definitely our little Princess. At 5, I can't believe how much personality and attitude she already has. Full of spunk, with a great sense of humor, she is always making us laugh and can brighten your worst day with a smile and a dance, and sometimes a silly face. She is so loving and caring, and loves to take care of her family, and her animals. She was an easy baby from day one, and has always been an easy going child, full of life and wonder. I just can't believe she's about to start kindergarten and won't be my little helper all day anymore.

I know she would be making her Nana proud, especially with how much she LOVES to talk!!

Pony Party and Petting Zoo

Whew, what a day! Traveling Zoo came out and brought a pony named Cloud, and some baby goats, one was an Angora goat, so soft! A baby lamb, a duck, some tiny chicks, and a baby bunny rabbit. The kids had a great time riding the pony around the yard and petting and playing with all the animals. There were even some neighbors we had never met before that sent their kids over to get in on the animal action. There are some great pictures of the kids, they just love animals, any kind!! Riley loved that he could hold the baby chicks and they would fall asleep in his warm hand. Regan loved the pony, and the Angora goat the most.

After the animals, we had a pretty laid back day, the mom's sat around and talked, the kids played upstairs, for probably two hours. We had cake, did presents, and just let them enjoy hanging out. Then Tammy and her kids and Uncle Pete stayed for dinner, we grilled hot dogs wrapped in bacon and covered with cheese, Cajun Pork Burgers (a Rachael Ray meal) and veggies on the grill, yum. Then we all hit the trampoline and watched Uncle Pete try to give the kids rides on his back. Angie is spending the night with Regan and they are exhausted, having too much fun.

Fake Mustaches are FUN!

This is totally cheesy, and maybe cause it's super late and I should be fast asleep by now, but these made me laugh (thanks Tam)...
Riley
Regan
Kenzie
Click on the names and have a laugh. Or not. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and be like "what the...?"

Party Eve

Amy's Playground

So tonight we took the kids to this awesome place to eat. In my mind, a place is awesome if the food is good and the kids have fun. This place fits the bill! Phil's Ice House, which is owned and next door to an Amy's Ice Cream. They have a huge playground out front with the famous cows, a shuffleboard, and lots of outside dining. David and I both had a burger with a jalepeno cheese bun, topped with avocados, Monterrey Jack cheese, grilled onions and chipotle mayo, and the fries were a mix of regular and sweet potato. We ate, then had some ice cream (coffee for the boys, chocolate for the girls, although Regan always has to have gummy bears on top!) and the kids got to play on the playground. Riley made an instant friend when he saw another boy about his age with an earring.

They just finished off their week at Camp Double Creek, and they are tan and exhausted! They had so much fun. They rode horses everyday, had swimming lessons, archery, tennis, gun safety, kick ball, arts and crafts, baby animals, miniature golf, and many other things. This is definitely a camp we will go back to every year.

Wordless Wednesday

One week down...six to go!

I can't believe a whole week of summer is gone already. It's odd, for the last 3 months of school we count down the day until summer, then with one day of having half the neighborhood in the house, juice spills, running out of chicken nuggets, trying to feed the neighborhood, the cat escaping while the door is open (and shut, and open, and shut) the kids fighting, hide and seek in the house, cartoons blaring, my computer being taken over by Webkinz, and then to cap it all off, the ever dreaded phrase..."MOM!! I'M BORED!!" it's amazing how fast I hope summer will go.

We spent several days at the pool last week, with some friends from school. The kids tans have already started, their hair is getting lighter, they look so cute and sun-kissed. Today the kids started summer camp at Camp Double Creek. Regan is the most excited about getting to ride horses. Riley is bummed that he's too young for the paint ball and rock wall, but I think he'll find plenty of other things to hold his interests. I'm hoping to be able to get some pictures of them at camp this week to post.