April 2016

Spring Break means a trip to Missouri! Always a fun time and we try to do new things each trip. This time Bella and I went to the Titanic exhibit, but you couldn't take any pictures inside. First stop: the Butterfly Palace.

We searched for poison dart frogs.

Ryan waited patiently for a butterfly to land on his flower.

Bella had luck! She is much braver now than in the picture below from this post

!

We marveled at all the beautiful designs God thought up for butterflies.

Bella got to pet a blue-tongued skink.

One gorgeous day we went out a-shootin'! The kids had a blast and I'm pretty sure that this first for them will be just the first of many trips to learn how to shoot properly!

Oh, go fly a kite! We had a windy afternoon and found some vacant property on a hill that was just perfect. The kids wimped out pretty early on, so Joshua and I took their spots!

Braum's. This is always a MO tradition!

Boat rides are always fun. Yes, they drove as they always do, but I just didn't capture it this time.

Another first: Talking Rocks Cavern tour. We've been golfing there before, but never paid for the tour. It was worth it! Tight squeezes, a salamander sighting, and cave bacon!

There's no way to take a good shot with a cell phone camera under ground!

Some pretty cool stalactites.

Cave bacon! It's just long "strips" of stalactites, but looks exactly like strips of bacon.

We hiked the nature trail around the cavern property and climbed to the lookout tower. Great view on a clear day like that one!

Since we never did an Easter egg hunt here, Maga was on the case! The kids had a blast searching for their eggs all over the yard.

Camp fire! Another tradition. Maga found some fun fire logs at Walmart that change the fire color. We had blue at first, then threw this one in for an eerie green. It was so cool!

Stay tuned for May's post!

July Flew By!

 WOOHOO!! July completely posted - and it's only August 15th!!

Can't believe how fast July went for us. We spent most of the time waiting for uncle Jeff and aunt Donna's wedding to happen, and then in a blink, the month was over. Here are some highlights.

Blowing bubbles with Sasha.

One day the kids and I visited the park. I took this picture because it reminded me of another one from October 2010...

I absolutely love this picture. The two kids by a creek, with Sash watching over them.

We dropped Sasha off at home and headed to ANOTHER park, because this one they get to splash in...

And it was early, but we let Bella get rid of her booster seat! She was so excited!

Birthday celebration! My girl is 8. That sounds old. I don't like it a bit. I keep asking her to stop growing, but she refuses.

Getting her skates from Grammy & Grampa.

Raven Queen from the book "Everafter High" that we're reading together. Love that we're doing that.

And then it was time to go to Chicago to celebrate Uncle Jeff and Aunt Donna's wedding!

My crazy animals at the zoo.

We met up with my cousin Erika and her family, so Bella had a friend in her cousin, Sophie.

And then it was on to all the wedding hooplah!

Thunderous applause!

As it was Bella's actual birthday, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Donna were nice enough to recognize it on THEIR big weekend.

The cutest flower girl and ring bearer that ever were.

All my favorite people.

Our family picture.

What I got to see of the big day from the back of the church (I was the wedding coordinator).

The kids went back to MO with Maga and Pap for the week before I joined them for another week.

Maga in her happy place, with her two babies.

Sasha's thinking, "Where did the little noisy ones go?"

The two early birds on the deck.

I love this picture of him. Staring off into nature.

And no trip to MO is complete without Braum's ice cream. Bella asked if I was going to take their pictures because I always take their pictures. She got extra messy on purpose for hers.

On to Silver Dollar City!

Bella covered in tiny droplets of water.

Always one for a roller coaster ride!

Ryan's first year riding by himself.

Forcing the kids to slow down a minute and enjoy the view.

Honestly. This girl cracks me up.

 There is so much for the kids to do in MO. Here are few highlights of our day in Branson.

Getting meet Tow Mater...

...and Lightning McQueen.

Ryan was tall enough for the "rookie" go-karts. He passed two other kids!

Bella had a kid bumping her and trying to pass, but she maintained her position.

First time on the bumper boats. They came off completely soaked but smiling.

 Photos in the giant rocking chair at the Grand Village Shops.

 

 

Bella decides to surf on the chair.

More to come next month!