Staycation 2015

Steve was on vacation last week and we had such a fun week. We decided to do a staycation this year so that Caleb could take his afternoon naps and it just would be more pleasant if we could all sleep in our own beds every night. Vacation started with the 4 of July and I love this holiday! I love what it stands for and am so grateful to live in this country! We went to the city parade, it was soooo hot but the kids loved it and I think we have enough taffy to last us for the next little while. 

 

 My favorite part about the 4 of July is the fireworks at night but not really the fireworks (although they are fun) but the part of hanging out on the grass with friends and family before chatting, eating treats and the kids running around having fun!
Chase is growing up because this year their have been no tears when it comes to fireworks. He did get a little nervous at first but then he was fine. I was expecting Caleb to be the one crying. He did for a second when they started and then he could have cared less about them the rest of the time. He was off doing his own thing.

On Monday we went swimming and enjoyed playing in the water. Makenna still is my fish and could stay at the pool all day!

 Tuesday we had some things to do at home but I took Makenna and Chase to the movies to see Inside Out.

 Wednesday we went to the Dinosaur Park at Thanksgiving Point. Their were lots of interactive things for the kids to do but their favorite was digging for dinosaur bones in the sand. They did not want to leave that spot, so now I know what I need in my backyard!:)
QOTD: Chase asked me before we left if the dinosaurs would be resurrected when Jesus comes. I was stumped and told him that they would be if that's what Jesus wanted.

 On Thursday we went on a hike. We had fun being outside but its a good thing we aren't pioneers because we wouldn't have made it very far! Chase had to climb on all the big rocks so after not too long he was complaining about being tired. I kept telling him he wouldn't be so tired if he didn't climb on all the rocks and walk around them instead but because I'm his mom he didn't believe me:) It was a great hike, shady and their was a stream going by. Supposedly at the end is a really nice waterfall but it'll be a couple of years before we get there.

 Not sure why but Chase felt like he needed to act like a monkey every time I took a picture!

This is my favorite picture, on the way down they were holding hands to help each other because they were "so tired."

 

Friday Steve took Makenna and Chase to Grandma J's and camped in the backyard while Caleb and I stayed home and caught up on laundry/housework and slept in our own beds. I think we all had a good time. I love a clean house and a little more peace was nice too. Caleb and I were starting to get bored though on Saturday and I was trying to remember what it was like when we just had Makenna. What did I do??

It looks like they had fun at Grandma's though.....this picture of Chase cracks me up!!

Summer so Far...

We have been keeping busy so far this summer. Steve took Makenna and Chase to the Pinewood Derby for scouts a couple of weeks ago and the kids thought it was pretty cool.

Chase, Makenna and Olivia

 It was a safety derby so each car had an egg put in the driver's spot and you build your car so that your egg stays safe and not break. From what I was told our car was safe!

 Makenna hosted a last minute tea party with the neighbor girls. We hurried and made some cookies and she wrote their names on the napkins and they all got dressed up. They loved it!

Chase, Lily, Olivia and Makenna

 Poor Chase is always playing with the girls since we don't have any neighbor boys around.

 I love her sign she made and posted out on the railing:)

The kids dress-up every day. If Makenna hasn't changed her clothes at least 5 times a day, something is wrong (I'm not exaggerating!).

 Caleb wasn't so sure this one morning about the dress-up commotion...

 And summer wouldn't be summer without getting wet which is something we've done almost every day too!

Tori, Audrey, Makenna, Chase, Olivia and Lily

 Caleb has been loving his water table! He splashes and has a great time.
A quick update on Caleb. He still isn't walking on his own, he's not brave enough to let go of my fingers. I did kind of trick him tonight and he took 2-3 steps on his own. He will be so much happier when he can go on his own!

 

 He hasn't really been a fan of eating lately. All he wants is cheese and cherries. I think he is going to be my climber. He has figured out how to climb on Chases' bed, the couches and the lawn chairs, I need gates everywhere!! Plus all he wants to do is go up and down stairs.

 These last two were actually from March and I forgot they were on my phone but I couldn't leave them out. We were at the neighbors and she had all of these necklaces and Caleb loved having them all on, my little Mardis Gras baby!

  

 This one we had gone to the paint store and while we were waiting the kids lounged on the stack of chairs and had a sucker.

Memorial Day

We made it to all of the graves this year for Memorial Day this year, not all in one day though. The kids loved walking around and looking at the different graves. They would ask what the names were on the graves and how old they were when they died. I'm not sure if it was a little creepy with how entertained they were but it was nice to walk around.

Saturday before Memorial Day we went to my Grandma/Grandpa Schicks...

Saturday evening we went to cousin Derek's but it was raining, so no picture.
On Monday we went to Grandpa Jasper's and Uncle Bruce, and also saw Steve's Grandparent's which are in the same cemetery.

I hope that I can teach my kids to remember their ancestors and learn about them!

Photo Shoot and 1-year old facts

The kids have all gotten their hair cut within the last week and they all look adorable so we had a little photo shoot. Makenna was in desperate need, it was getting so snarly and long I was going crazy. She just is looking so grown up!:(

 My cheeser Chase always looks better when I can see his eyes.

 And this little man even though he has had his hair cut before it was just around his ears and above his eyes, this time we broke out the clippers and scissors and cut it all. He looks so much more grown up.
Some 12 month old facts about Caleb: He is just my little boy, he is the 4%tile for height and 7%tile for weight. We're still army crawling although I have caught him a few times the past few days crawling on all fours but it's just not as fast as army crawling! He loves holding our hands and walking around, he gets mad when I put him down. He also has been going along the furniture.

We're up to 6 teeth. He loves being with Makenna and Chase. He is just so busy. I don't think he holds still for a moment while he's awake. He is definitely a boy and thinks he's so funny when he toots or burps or when anybody else does!

 Still doing 2 naps a day and sleeping all night!! He loves cheese. He gets so excited when I get it out and I have to put it right away after I cut some or he keeps pointing to it and whining for more if its up on the counter. We sure do love this little boy!

 This picture is just random but it's so cute. Makenna and Chase had a little restaurant going on the other night and I had to take their picture.

Love my babies!!