Splash Day Playgroup

This was the second go of this event. It was scheduled a couple of weeks ago, but in true Ohio fashion the weather got all nasty so we had to cancel it. Luckily the weather was perfect today. It was fun to have a bunch of moms and kids from the ward over. I don't have much in aqua entertainment, but I soon realized I could have had just a hose and most of the kids would have been happy. We had a couple of little pools, a sprinkler, and water balloons (with painted picture to throw them at). Of course the real hit was once the popsicles came out. I was like the pied piper once I had those, you couldn't get the kids off me.

Cole has gotten so brave with water this year. It was fun to watch him just run wild and play. Jack wasn't quite as adventurous. He mostly just got ticked when ever someone splashed him in the face. Oh well, what can you do!

And That's A Wrap!

Cole is officially done with his very first season of an organized sport. T-ball was sure a blast. We will take away many great memories. Mostly of Cole getting bored halfway through and asking to be done, or him telling us that he was a crazy mad batter, or the time he yelled at his coach for picking him up and moving him. I love every second of it. I was sad to have it suddenly over and to realize that I may not see a lot of these people again.

We had awesome coaches who understood that these kids were just four. They let them learn and have fun without trying to make mini all stars out of them.

His last game was cancelled because of thunderstorms, but the team got together for a little party. Cole was so excited about his trophy. The team mom even put together little baseball theme treat baskets and a tiny scrapbook for each player. Super cute. What a fun time of life we are starting to transition into.

P.S. Cole came home and told us that the reason they gave him so many things tonight was because they thought he was an awesome baseball player.

Next, here comes soccer!

Cole and His Team--The Cubs

Happy Fourth of July

"Happy Fourth of July?" is what you are probably saying. Shouldn't the blog be titled "Jack Tries to Punt an Ugly goose"? Well, sure if you want to get technical. SO here is the explanation...We went to Andy and Melissa's in Kentucky for the 4th. This was when we were at the park having our picnic. Well of course there was a lake, so of course there were geese and ducks. There were picnickers and food, so of course there were geese and ducks. We didn't plan to feed them, but Cole and Melissa decided that they could find some tiny morsels to feed them. At first there were just a couple, but then they came in droves. We ran out of bread and were feeding them cheese, Cheetos, and grapes. Most of the geese/ducks were very appreciative of our offerings and they kept a respectful distance. HOWEVER, there were two of the ugliest ducks/geese ever, and there were not afraid to come right up to us. They not only were ugly, but they were mean. They kept hissing and the feathers on top of their heads would spike up. Well, they were getting too close to my kids so I decided to start kicking at them. No I didn't actually make contact. I just wanted to scare them. They didn't really take the hint to well, so I kept trying. All of the sudden I look over and Jack is totally trying to kick them too. We all bust up laughing. He would get up close, swing one leg back and then let it fly towards them. It was awesome, and the highlight of the park. Don't worry that didn't scare them either. Spencer actually ended up chasing them with a golf club down to the lake. Good times!

Here is a short "er" report of our fourth with Andy and Melissa. After our picnic we went back to their house, which is just about the cutest thing! We had dinner, which was awesome. Melissa had this recipe from a restaurant in Utah and it was just about the most awesome thing...you should ask Andy about the "sauce". That night we decided to forgo the big show and went to one of their friends house for a little firework show of our own. Cole was still a little leery, as you can see from the picture, but by the end he would hold a sparkler. We were so proud of him for being so brave! Jack was only slightly impressed. He would stand and watched but soon grew bored and opted for playing in the car...I know not safe! We were glad that we didn't go to the big show because we got home, had the kids in bed, and then right when the show would have been going on, it started down pouring.

Cole, not a fan of the noise

Patriotic Jack, a little bored

Brave Cole and Mom

Step back Uncle Andy!

The whole trip was so much fun. We were sad to leave. Thanks Andy and Melissa!

Our Little Kitchen "Ta-Dah!"

So after much planning, shopping, spending, procrastinating, cutting, installing, painting, and worrying, we are officially CELEBRATING!

We finally switched out our old yucky linoleum for some laminate flooring. We picked it out months ago. It was our combined and pooled Christmas and birthday presents. The installation of the floor was my Mother's Day present. I am so proud of Spencer because he did it all by himself. He had never done it before and was quite nervous, but after a couple of really grueling days/nights he got the floor done.

Our next task was to put in all the new floor boards in the kitchen. That one took us a little longer. First because, the kids were home now and so night was the only time we could do it. Second, Spencer was a little worried about starting the cutting process since we didn't have much wiggle room. Lastly, we uh sometimes put things off. SO after a pep talk, the work began. I primed and painted the doors and door jams during the day. We put the door casings up at night. Then Spencer got brave and realized he could cut the boards with relatively little problems. So he cut them, I painted them, and then he put them up. Everything looks so good.

Unfortunately we realized that this might be an ongoing project. We hope to extend the trim into the playroom and the living room. We also decided to repaint the bathroom while the toilet was up, but uh we haven't gotten around to finishing that room due to a wainscoting dilemma. BUT we are on our way to having the house look like we want. It has only taken us 2 1/2 years to get here.

I also wanted to include some "before" pictures. Unfortunately, Spencer forgot to take before shots of the floor and I forgot to take some of the doors and trim. So I took some pictures of places in the house where that stuff is still in place (for now!).

EWW GROSS!!!!!

Welcome Back Aunt Melissa

So Spencer's sister Melissa got home from her mission in Hong Kong this last week. Her flight was originally supposed to come in Friday night at 11:00, but she didn't make her last connecting flight so she got stuck in Chicago! Everything turned out okay, although you all know me and I was ready to pack up the car and drive to Chicago to get her, but everyone else calmed me down. The good thing about her flight being delayed until the next day was that the boys could go with us to pick her up.

Jack was only two months when Melissa left on her mission, so he obviously didn't remember her at all. We made this cute sign for Jack to wear and surprisingly enough, he kept it on the entire time.

Cole was carrying another sign and we put them right where people come out, so that she would see her signs right away. Cole remembered her so getting a hug was no problem. However, Jack had to be bribed with a sticker and some candy. He warmed up soon enough, okay well as warmed up as Jack gets. We had a great
weekend with them.


It is always fun to be there when a missionary returns home. I can't even begin to imagine it from their point of view. I will say this though, that Melissa was one of the less "weird" return missionaries. She seemed to adjust to life around her pretty quickly without too much shock. Although Spencer thought he was funny to suggest that the first movie she watch was I am Legend. Yeah right! I don't even want to see that one again!

So here is to Aunt Melissa being home. We know
she was a great missionary, and feel blessed to have her example for our family. We love you Aunt Melissa!