Auntie Melissa and Nana Visit

Auntie Melissa drove up to visit us for a a week.  It was great to see her and Camden and Graham.  On Sunday, we went to a pumpkin patch.  The kids had fun.  They really liked the corn pit and the hayride.  On Monday, she came over and hung out at our house.  The weather was great so we were able to play outside on the swing set.  On Tuesday, it was raining so we went to Cafe of Play.  Again the kids had a great time.  On Wednesday, our aunts from Cleveland came down and had a surprise birthday for all of the kids.  It was so sweet of them to do that.

I've had some pain and cysts on my left ovary.  It was decided it would be best to do surgery. This is was not ideal but needed to be done.  I did well after surgery.  I was tired, nauseous, and sore but I did fine.  Austin was great. When he got home from school on Thursday, he came up with a way to make a tray table by the couch.  The table was a bucket and he used a tray from his old booster seat.

My mother in law came into town on Friday.  She was very helpful.  She and the kids made lots of fun foods.  On Saturday, everyone hung out while I rested.

On Sunday, we got free tickets to Cedar Point.  I knew it was going to be difficult to go for me but I really wanted to do it.  I knew I couldn't ride any rides but I could walk.  That is what we did.  We got there when it opened.  The kids loved it.  They rode lots of rides.  They had trick or treat stations too.  Then for lunch the Cavs provided us with a fantastic lunch.  Kids even got to meet Sir CC there.  After lunch, they rode more rides.  We made sure we were at the parade too.  Austin and Sydney love parades!  We all had a great day.  I'm so happy we went.  But at the end, I was exhausted!

On Monday, Nana, Austin, Sydney hung out all day.  I was able to relax and get some work down.  It was a great day.  The kids had swim class.  It was great for Nana to see the kids swim.  Austin is in preschool level 3 and Sydney is in preschool level 2.  The next session they will both be in preschool 3 together.  They love swimming.

Sydney and Austin love each other so much even though they fight a lot.  The other night when it was bed time. They were each going to their rooms and Austin said "wait I need to give Sydney 1 more hug".  It was so sweet.  It's interesting to listen to the conversations they have with each other.  Austin usually leads the conversations but allows Sydney ideas and usually the come up with good plans together.

Sydney can now spell her name.  She is working on writing it.  She is doing the same writing homework as Austin.  Since Austin gets homework at school, Sydney is jealous so she will do it too.  We think that is impressive. She needs a little more help but her writing is pretty good.  Austin can now spell his last name too.

We are working with Austin with reading.  He surprised me the other day and read the word "me" to me.  We get several books at the library each week.  There are books that are for beginning readers.  Austin likes me to read them but he will repeat it after me.  He gets mad if I try to get him just to read it.  Sydney loves books more than Austin.  Austin enjoys them but usually he doesn't mention reading unless I say that is what we are doing. He has his favorite books which right now are The Berenstain Bears Books.  Those books are fantastic.  They teach great life lessons.  Brian actually brought over 60 of those books because we love them so much!

A sad thing that has happened is the kids no longer take naps.  For the past 4.5 years our lives had naps in them.  Sydney has always not liked taking the naps.  It would take me over an hour to get her to nap. I would get angry but it was a waste of time.  Then bedtime would take about an hour to get them to sleep.  Finally I decided let's try this no nap thing.  It was rough in the beginning because they were tired but bedtime was so much easier and faster.  They have been going to sleep around 8pm and getting up around 7am.  They still call us in the middle of the night but for the most part they sleep all night.  They will sometimes sleep at school but for the most part they no longer nap.  It makes me very sad.  They are growing up.

Start of Fall Fun

Last fall we went to Idlewild, we had such a great time we went again this year.  We went a little later than last year because the weather didn't cooperate.  However the Sunday we went the weather was perfect.  It was not that crowded either. We started off at the roller coaster.  Surprisingly, Sydney rode it.  She would cry a bit in the beginning but then she would want to ride it again.  She rode it 4-5 times.  Austin absolutely loved it.  He was concerned that there were no seat belts.  Just a handlebar to hold on too.

Then we went to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.  Austin and Sydney both like Daniel Tiger.  I like him too.  It's a nice show for kids to watch.  We rode on his trolley which is new this year.  It was the longest wait for about 15 minutes.  Brian and I were not sure if it was going to be worth it, but it was! The kids used their imaginations and Daniel Tiger came aboard the trolley.  Then we made stops at all his friends and family to invite them to the party.  It was cool.

Next the kids road several kiddie rides.  They have lots of them and it's great for 3 and 4 year olds.  After riding rides, it was about time for Daniel Tiger to arrive for pictures.  We went there and luckily I got in line quickly so the kids could see him.

We went and had lunch that I packed from home.  We have learned that food in amusement parks are expensive so whenever possible I try and pack food.  We had lunch.  After lunch, we went though story book forest.  Brian got some neat pictures there as the kids ran though the forest.  We had to keep telling them to come back and not run ahead too far.  They were on a mission to run the entire path quickly.

The kids then played in the ball pit and rope course.  I was impressed because Austin and Sydney could climb the high rope course themselves.  I couldn't believe it.  We rode on a pull boat ride too.  Austin insisted that he pull the boat himself.  He basically did too.  He's strong.

We finished the evening riding some bigger kids rides like the Ferris wheel, air hot balloons, and scrambler.  Sydney loved the scrambler.  It went really fast and she liked it.  We were hoping to end the night with kiddie rides but they closed early.  The kids were sad about that but he did a few more bigger kid rides and then the park closed.  We stopped at Wendy's for dinner and drove home.  The kids fell asleep.

This fall the kids are playing soccer for one of my mommy groups.  Austin is very excited about playing soccer.  Unlike before, they are playing games instead of just doing drills.  Every Saturday morning, he eats breakfast and then gets his soccer things on.  He likes his cleats and shin guards.  He is good at soccer too.  Last week he even scored a goal!  Soccer is fun to watch.  Sydney enjoys playing too.  She is not a sure about what to do though.  Last week, Brian was her coach for the week, and she scored a goal too!

Austin and Sydney are back in swim class after taking the summer off.  Austin is in preschool 3 and Sydney is in preschool 2.  They both swim about at the same level though if you ask me.  They got a lot of practice swimming this summer at Wildwater.  Sydney enjoys swimming with her face in the water.  She is like a little fish.  Austin is getting more confident with swimming too.

We also went to Patterson's fall festival last week. They have so much for the little kids to do.  Austin and Sydney spent the entire afternoon playing on slides, corn mazes, riding cars, corn pit, and eating small apples.  I think Sydney ate 3-4 of them herself.  We stopped for lunch and then went apple picking.  The kids love to pick the apples.  We let the kids decide if they should go home or play more and they wanted to play more.  Brian and I separated for a bit because the kids wanted to do different things.  While we were separated, Austin met a friend.  It was a girl that was about 8 years old and given freedom from her parents.  They played for about a half hour while Brian just followed them around from a bit of a distance.  It made us a little sad because before we know it, the kids will be off with their friends and not with us.  We like playing with them!  I guess we should enjoy it while we can.

Labor Day weekend

We have been going down to my parents every Sunday for breakfast.  Brian stays home to catch up on things (recently to work on the tankless water heater project).  I take the kids.  The kids love it.  Austin helps cook the pancakes and he is starting to learn how to flip them too.  Sydney gets her nails painted by Meemaw.  She loves that.  My mom gets them tons of crafts to do each week.  They really have a good time!  They also feed the birds.  Austin goes with Papa and Sydney with Meemaw.  They have fun.  With fall coming, the kids are going to start Sunday school so breakfast is going to be different days depending on the week but the day doesn't really matter.  It's just the quality time they get to spend together.

Labor day weekend is always very busy for us!  We love that weekend.  It's sad because it means that summer is ending though.  This year is sad because in a year from now, Austin will be in school.  That is so hard for me to believe!  Time really goes by so much faster with kids.  I can't believe it!

On Saturday we went to the airshow.  Brian loves the airshow!  Austin has really started to love it too!  It was a great weather weekend but it was HOT!  Temperatures were in the 90's.  There was a chance of rain Saturday but it was the cloudiest day (less sunburn potential) and coolest with a high of 90 so we went then.  It was great because it wasn't as crowded as last year when we went later in the weekend.  The kids got to go in several planes and helicopters. We watched the show especially the Blue Angels. Austin won a free hockey shirt from the Monsters and he was so proud of that.  It's currently his favorite shirt.  He reminds me that it needs washed as soon as he wears it.  We all had a great time at the airshow.

Since it was so hot, we decided to go straight to Wildwater after the airshow.  The kids were tired and took a nap while we drove there. Once we got to wildwater though they were wide awake.  They love that place.  We love it too!  We played until they closed at 7pm.  We often cramp multiple activities into the same day.  Our family is always busy having fun.

We ran to McDonald's for dinner and then Brian had a great idea to get Austin to see the sunset near a high elevation spot.  Austin has been wanting to do that for a while.  Austin was so excited that he got to do that.  Austin had Brian's camera and took lots of pictures of it.  Afterwards we even took them back to McDonald's for ice cream cones.  It was a great day!

On Sunday, we were at Wildwater when it opened with our friends.  It was their first time there.  It was great.  The kids had so much fun playing with each other.  Kaitlyn even got Sydney to go down the orange covered slide.  She loved it.  The kids played for hours there.

After nap time on Sunday, we went to the Taste of Hudson.  We have been going there since the kids were born.  It always a fun evening out.  The kids like doing the crafts and playing on the bouncy houses.  Last year, Sydney needed some help doing the bouncy houses but not this year.  She ran around like crazy playing on everything.  We had dinner there.  The kids had macaroni and cheese and Brian and I had pineapple rice. We stayed until they closed.  The kids were sad to leave.  Austin made us promise we will bring him back next year.

On Monday, it was a Wild Water day.  We were there when it opened.  We played for several hours.  We went home for nap and lunch. Then we came back and played until it closed.  Since it was a special day (the last day of the season where height restrictions are a bit more generous), Sydney got to ride on the big water-slides with us.  She loved it!  When they closed, Austin cried.  We were sad too.  We enjoy taking them there while they are young and enjoy playing with us.  We know before we know it, they will be there on their own.  That makes us sad.  We are enjoying them so much right now.  These are priceless memories.  We will definitely get passes again next year.  We look forward to it!

Labor Day weekend is always bittersweet.  We always have so much fun that weekend.  However that means summer is over.  Even so, we love fall and have tons of activities planned in the fall.  I love summer and it's sad when it's over!

Sydney's Birthday and a New School Year (4.75 years and 3 years old)

Sydney wanted a Dora party for her birthday.  She loves Dora the Explorer.  I found some invitations that I liked online.  Brian told me that he could make a cute one for her and, sure enough, he did.  We used our movie screen and had her running across it so he could cut her out and place her in the background.  Sydney loved being dressed up as Dora.

We thought the best place for her party would be at the Little Gym.  They do a great job with parties.  It was challenging this year because she was in between rooms at school.  We had to invite two classrooms.  It's difficult that her birthday is right at the beginning of the school year too.  All the transitions happened after her party but before her birthday.  I feel bad that she has an August birthday.  We are going to have a tough decision on when to start her in school too!

Sydney loved her birthday party at the Little Gym.  We paid extra to have it Dora themed for her too.  She enjoyed it.  Her friends had fun too.  Sydney could remember Austin's party.  She could not wait for the party to be all about her for once.  She doesn't remember her second birthday.  Hopefully she will remember this one.

She got a lot of cool toys too.  Several princess pajamas, princess shoes, and dress up accessories.  Sydney wore kids high heels around the house all night.  She got the game candyland. Sydney and Austin love playing it!  She got some crafts and play-doh too.  I am always amazed at what cool gifts the kids get for their birthdays.  She really had a fabulous day!

On her birthday, it was unseasonably cool.  It was rainy and cool.  I took them to the Science Center in the morning to play.  They really liked it!  They watched a bubble show and learned all about bubbles.  Then we came home and took a nap.

After nap, my parents came over for a little party for her.  I made dinner and they had an ice cream cake.  She got her first cabbage patch doll.  I loved my cabbage patch dolls growing up.  Those were my favorite toys.  We got her a Dora doctor kit and a my little pony.  She likes her pony and brushing her hair.

The day after her birthday the kids started the school year.  They go all year around, but right now they are moving up into new classes and starting the school year.  Sydney is officially in preschool now and Austin is in pre-kindergarten.  It's hard for me to believe that next year Austin will be in kindergarten.  I am really sad about that.

Every morning I work, Brian takes the kids to school while I go to work early.  Then I pick them up.  Often on Fridays we both pick them up.  Brian or I will get the kids up initially and situated downstairs.  They usually get a bowl of cereal on the couch and will want to watch their Kindle.  I leave for work around the time they are getting up.  I will often get them dressed.  From there, Brian will get them breakfast.  He showers and eats breakfast too while the kids are eating.  Then he tells them its time to go brush their teeth (and they usually ask for more food to try to buy more time).  Sometimes he'll make them frozen pancakes or cream of wheat too upon request.  After they brush their teeth, they race outside to play.  Both kids jump on their bikes and pedal up and down the driveway a few times.  Brian loads the car and then they ride their bikes in to the garage and get in.  All summer, Sydney has been riding a big girl bike just like Austin with training wheels.  She's very good at it.  She's never fallen off yet, although she's had to catch herself a few times.

Once at school, Brian unbuckles the kids and gets them out.  They each carry their own backpack and lunch and walk in the school.  Brian takes Sydney to her room first.  She gets her heatable (the part of her lunch that needs warmed up) and puts it in the bin.  Then Sydney gives daddy and Austin a hug.  Sometimes Sydney will run to hug Brian and want to knock him over in the process.  He plays along and will fall to the ground.  Sydney and Austin sometimes play and chase each other a little, but eventually give each other big hugs.  Sometimes Austin will pick Sydney up as he hugs her.  She seems to like it.

Once Sydney is dropped off, Brian takes Austin to his room.  Again they get their heatable and put their things in their cubby.  Then Austin gives Brian a hug.  For a long time, Austin would demand a super huggy.  Sometimes Sydney would too.  This is where Brian sits on the floor with the kids in his lap.  They put their knees to their chest with their arms around them (canon ball style).  Then he wraps his arms around them and hugs them while he shakes them back and forth and yells "Super Huggy!".  They laugh and want him to do it again.  All summer, the kids asked Brian to do this.  After Austin's super huggy, he always opens the door for Brian and tells him which way to go.  He's either told to go left or right (the direct or indirect way back to the front of the school).  Austin often says "And don't forget to pick me up" too.  It's a fun ritual and Brian typed most of this.  It changes over time.  It wasn't long ago that the kids were helping Brian load Sydney's milk in the fridge in the baby room before school.  Now their getting so big and independent and often even are greeted by friends who already want to talk and play with them!

The preschool years have been so much fun!  I'm so lucky I can be home with them several days a week.  It's difficult at times, but so worth it.  However I do believe by next year, Austin is going to be ready for kindergarten.  He has grown so much socially that it will probably be really good for him to start school.

Brian has been working on installing a tankless water heater.  It's not been a simple task.  He has run so many different pipes (new PVC venting, new water lines, new gas lines).  It has been so time consuming for him.  Hopefully just a few more weeks and it will be done.

As fall is approaching, Brian pressure washed the swing set so I can stain it again.  It's been 2 years since we stained it.  The kids love the swing set and we want it to last so we have to do it even though we really don't have time for it.  I am hoping it won't be too bad but I am sure it could be.  My dad said he'll help me which is nice.  I just need the weather to cooperate so we can get it done!

End of Summer Fun

On on our favorite things to do in the summer is Wildwater Kingdom.  We think it's great for the kids and they love it.  Sydney loves going down the blue slide.  Austin is big enough this year to go down the bigger water slides on the play area.  He usually goes down first and waits at the bottom for Brian or I.  Sydney tried the bigger orange slide in the back.  She was scared at first but now she loves it.  Sydney likes to say she doesn't like something but in reality so doesn't know because she hasn't tried it.

I took the kids 2.5 times by myself for the first time this year.  They did great.  Austin fully understands we have to stay together and he always lets me know what they want to do next.  Brian met me one day there so I only had them less than an hour by myself.  It's a great family activity that we all like to do.

Brian photographed his first wedding this month.  He put a lot of work into it.  The pictures turned out great.  It's so nice what he can do with the camera.  We have great kids pictures because of him.
The day of the wedding, Austin had a friends birthday party so I took him to that.  Then we came home and the kids took a nap.  After nap, I decided to let the kids have a picnic in the park.  We got McDonald's and went to the park and had dinner together.  Then they played on the playground.  We went swimming at Katilyn's.  We ended the night at fireworks.  The kids love fireworks.  I really didn't want to go alone with the kids but they wanted to go.  I let Austin pick where we sat and he was so happy with that.  I really enjoyed my time with them that night.

We are getting ready for the start of the school year.  This is the last year they are not officially in school.  Austin will start the Pre-K room and Sydney will start the preschool room.  I do enjoy all the deals on art supplies during this time of year.  My parents took them shopping and got them backpacks, lunch boxes, and lots of art supplies.  They had fun with that.

I am loving the preschool years.  I really don't want Austin to start Kindergarden next year.  I can't imagine him not home with Sydney and I.  It will be an adjustment.  We are going to enjoy this year while we can.

The Cavs had an ice cream social for season ticket holders.  We took the kids and they loved it.  We went at 5pm so they didn't have dinner before we went.  Basically that night their dinner was ice cream and chips.  We get parent of the year award for that.  Usually I make them eat a well balanced diet but it was a special night and they enjoyed it.

We've had outdoor movie nights several times this summer.  We even invited the kids friends from school one night.  We didn't have a lot of people but it was still fun.  The kids love it.  The neighbors come to a lot of our movie nights.  That works too but Austin and Sydney would rather play with them than watch a movie.  They still have never watched an entire movie in one sitting before.  Some nights we let them watch their TV shows outside on the movie screen.  They like to watch Umizoomi, Fireman Sam, and Dora.

Sydney likes to call herself Sydney Broccoli.  She really loves broccoli and at times I think she thinks that is her real name.  It makes Austin mad when she says that but she does all the time.

We went to the Botanical Gardens so the kids could see and play in the tree houses.  The weather was great the day we went.  They kids had fun running all over and playing in the tree houses.  Brian got some cute pictures of the kids there too.

During dinner every night, we try and talk about our day.  What we liked, etc  Dinners are getting better.  The other night even Sydney started our by asking what we liked best at the Botanical Gardens.  They do fairly well if we keep talking but once they get off track, it goes crazy.  I really want to enjoy family dinners but I find it the most difficult time of the day.  They like getting out of their seats, stand on chairs, and yell.  I have found eating more around 6pm helps because they are hungrier and actually eat dinner instead of playing.  I usually don't give them an after nap snack either.

Austin has outgrown one of his favorite shirts.  It's a yellow cookie shirt with a small pocket on it.  He loves that shirt.  He likes the little pocket and will sometimes put snacks in it like goldfish crackers.  I'm sad for him that he doesn't fit into it.

Sydney loves wearing her high socks (that go up to her thighs!).  Ever since she got lime green bowling socks at home days in Solon, she loves wearing high socks.  They are so cute on her.  They are so Sydney!  It's great that she has her own sense of style.

July Birthday fun

The other week at daycare, Sydney got very upset.  It was a few hours after Brian had dropped her off.  For whatever reason, she kept crying for me.  She has never done that.  She always loves school and is usually fine.  But for some reason she was really upset.  The teachers tried calming her down but nothing worked.  So her teacher decided to take her for a walk to see Austin.  They went into Austin's room.  Then as Austin said, he was confused on why Sydney was in there.  He thought maybe it was because maybe it was picture day.  The teachers were impressed and told us how Austin was concerned and went over to her to help.  Sydney told him that she wanted mommy.  Austin told her that mommy will be here after work and not to worry.  And then he gave her a big hug and picked her up off the floor.  Sydney felt so much better and then went back to her room.  He calmed her down when no one else could and she stopped crying.  Austin was a great big brother and was so good with her.  Austin is very caring does a great job helping Sydney when she needs it!  All the teachers were impressed.

For my mom's birthday, we went down to Menard's.  Brian needed to get supplies for our hot water tank. Then we went to Rockne's for dinner.  The kids were fairly good at dinner.  We don't eat out often.  After dinner, we went back to their house for cake.  The kids made the cake.  They are good in the kitchen.  The kids made her a planter with their footprints on it.  I thought it turned out really cute.

We took the kids to a Rubber Ducks game with my parents.  We were supposed to go in May but it got rained out.  My mom exchanged the tickets for us.  Our new seats were right behind home plate.  It was awesome.  The kids made a duck hat.  Then they got a duck whistle.  I am not a fan of it since it is so loud, but the kids love it!  They also got to go down the bouncy slide.  They saw Jake the Pirate and mascots of the rubber ducks.  It was a great day.

After the game, we went back to my parents house for pizza.  The kids love pizza now.  Sydney really only eats the pepperoni and Austin likes cheese pizza.  Then we had cake for Papa's birthday.  Again the kids made it.  It was really good.

Our garden is doing okay.  The green beans are doing fantastic.  We have had a lot of them and they are good.  Nothing else has grown enough to eat yet.  We have a few green tomatoes and it appears watermelon and a few cucumbers.  Austin and Sydney have enjoyed the garden.  The like to water it and pick the green beans.  Even though I don't like gardening much, it has been fun with the kiddos.  We'll probably do it again next year.

Myrtle Beach

In the springtime I decided that I would be driving down to Myrtle Beach myself.  We love to travel so Brian doesn’t have much time off for Myrtle Beach.  I have more time since I only work part time.  I knew the kids would have fun and I felt it was some thing I needed to do. 

I really didn’t know what to expect during the trip down.  As the day approached I was having second thoughts.  But this was something I committed to doing so I had to do it.  I wasn’t supposed to leave until Monday so Brian could spend the weekend with the kids.  It was going to rain during my drive on Monday and Brian has started installing a new tank less water heater (which is a major project requiring reworking of lots of our home's plumbing).  So it seemed better for me just to leave on Sunday.  I really didn’t want to drive in the rain.  Any work Brian could get done would be a bonus. 

So Sunday morning, I woke up at 4:30 am and got the kids in the van.  Brian helped me set everything up.  By 5:15 am we were on the road.  I would lie if I said I wasn’t nervous of all the “what ifs” that could happen. But I am not one to dwell on it.  I needed to just do it.   I was scared the kids would be a nightmare and I would want to lose my mind.  But deep down I knew they could do this, especially Austin.  We stopped at a rest stop in Virginia.  The kids ran around for a little while.  Then we made it to about an hour away and we all needed a potty break again. 

They did fabulous in the car.  They played on their Kindles, Leapfrog games, stickers, books, and Sesame Street audio player from the library.  Austin would help Sydney whenever she needed it.  It was really nice.  I could not have been happier with their behavior in the van going down. My GPS had me going in the back way of Nana’s house.  However the gate was closed.  So she came and got us and showed us the long way around.  The kids were a little hesitant of her at first but Austin warmed up nicely.  Sydney was a little shy but took Austin’s lead.  They had pizza waiting for us when we arrived.  It was nice.  Sydney just ate the pepperoni from the pizza and Austin had a cheese piece of pizza.  That is how they always eat their pizza.  

Melissa, Jonathan, Camden and Graham came over too.  The kids played for a little bit.  Then we went on a golf cart ride to the beach.  Austin and Sydney love the golf cart.  They taught Camden to push his hands out and say stop to cars when the golf cart is crossing.  After the golf cart ride, we had s’mores and got ready for bed. 

On Monday, Nana and Melissa had to work.  I took the kids to the local Myrtle Beach Park.  They had a great time except it got hot fast.  They only played for about 30 minutes.  Then we went grocery shopping so we had food for the week for lunch and everything.  By the time we got back, Nana was home from work. The kids played outside in a little pool and played with bubbles.  Then it was nap time.  After nap we were going to the beach but it started to storm.  The kids were sad about that.  We played inside and then went to Melissa’s for dinner.  Everyone had fun playing there.  Then Melissa and I took the kids for ice cream. After ice cream, I took the kids to Barefoot to walk around and wait for fireworks.  Melissa and Jonathan and the boys joined us for fireworks.  We all enjoyed it. 

On Tuesday, we went to the beach first thing in the morning.  Austin and Sydney were so excited to play at the beach and pool.  We went to the beach first.  They played in the sand and Austin played in the ocean a little bit.  There have been shark attacks in North Carolina (due to our warmer and wetter summer) so we didn’t want him in the water too deep.  He only went to my knees in the water.  They found sea shells too.  After beach time, it was time to play in the pool.  Austin and Sydney

love swimming in the pool.  Camden loved playing with them too.  It was a fun morning at the beach and pool.  After nap, we went to Melissa’s for dinner again.  The kids played in the sprinkler there.  Then Melissa and I tried taking the kids to play putt putt but the lines were too long.  Austin was extremely sad that he couldn’t do it.  He had wanted to play golf so bad before we came down.  But I told him we could do it some other time.  We took the kids to the park and got ice cream.  That made up for it a little bit. 

I was very happy when it was Wednesday because Brian was flying in.  I really needed his help with the kids. It’s very difficult with them especially at someone else’s house.  Wednesday morning we went to the beach and pool again.  We ended up having lunch at the pool this time.  By the time we got back to Nana’s house, it was basically time to pick up Daddy from the airport.  The kids fell asleep in the van on the ride to the airport.  Because they fell asleep, we didn’t go inside the airport.  Austin woke up as soon as Brian got in the van though.  It was great he was back with us again. 

We went to Melissa’s for dinner again.  It was so nice of her to make dinner for us every night.  The kids enjoyed playing at her house.  The made Camden a box house with a light inside of it.  All the kids, loved it.  That is where most of the fights happened because everyone wanted to play in it.  

After dinner we went back to the pool so Brian could see the bouncy water slides at the pool.  They were only set up for that day.  Austin was proud to show Daddy how he can do the water slides.  We made Sydney go down it but she did not like it.  Then we played in the pool for a while.  We went back to Melissa’s for brownies and ice cream. 

On Thursday morning, we went to out to breakfast near the pirate boat ride.  After breakfast we went to the pirate ship.  It was a mess because we didn’t count Graham as a person but he counts in the numbers so Nana stayed back with Graham.  This pirate ship was different from the one in Virginia Beach.  This one was smaller.  The kids sat up front and the adults were in the back of the boat.  Austin and Sydney went right up front with the other kids alone.  They have been more independent and not as shy in these types of situations now.  Camden did not like it.  He went to the back with his mommy and daddy.  Austin and Sydney participated in all the activities. They really had a great time. Hopefully next time Camden will enjoy it too. 

After naptime, we went back to the pool for a while before dinner.  The kids love swimming.  We really got a lot of use out of the pool.  After the pool, we had dinner at the country club at Nana’s house.  It was pasta night.  It was perfect because pasta is the kid’s favorite meal.  They got to pick it out themselves.  Grandpa found some M&M’s with the kids.  He put them in a cup and they had them after dinner.  They were excited about it and didn’t even try to eat any before dinner. 

Friday morning we enjoyed our last beach and pool day.  Again the kids had a great time swimming and playing at the beach.  Austin learned the game of ping pong.  He said that ping pong is even better than basketball.  Austin really likes basketball so that’s impressive.  He played ping pong with Nana for at least 30 minutes.  Austin and Sydney enjoyed playing football in the pool with Jonathan.  He would throw the ball up while they jumped in.  Austin would catch it midair.  Sydney would catch it before coming into the pool.  Everyone had a great time. 

Brian, Melissa, Jonathan, and I went out to dinner that night.  Nana and Grandpa took the kids putt putt golfing.  This was their first time doing it.  They had fun.  Austin keeps asking when we are doing that again.  Then we went to a café for milkshakes with everyone.  It was a nice evening. 

Saturday morning Graham was baptized.  After the baptism we drove home.  Traffic was terrible and it took us over 13 hours to get home.  We were glad when we got home at 1 am.  We were exhausted but the kids enjoyed the trip.