The 4th of July

We had a great 4th of July. Kevin and Jenna had stayed in Ohio with Grandma and Grandpa all week, and had the time of their life. Thank you mom and dad!!! Derek, Jared and I drove back to Ohio for the weekend of the 4th. We had a blast. I remember many 4th of July's at the lake growing up. We always had a bonfire and fireworks. Usually my uncle would shoot the fireworks from the end of the dock. This year someone from the association did them from his boat in the middle of the lake. They were pretty impressive. The kids loved them, even Jared who is usually afraid of all loud noises. :) Thank you to everyone for having us, and making this such a great weekend!

Below is how we spent our weekend. I hope yours was as enjoyable as ours.

Jared helping me clean so we could go back to the Lake

Jared playing with an old VW Bus. This belonged to my uncle when he was about Jared's age. All of the kids loved playing with it. An oldie but goody. :)

My aunt braided Jenna's hair and I thought she looked so cute when it was done.

Jenna buried in the sand. The kids had a great time playing in the sand.

Kevin playing in the water. I love this picture!

The Lake at Sunset. It is so peaceful there.

The boat decorated for the 4th. There was a boat parade at 2:00p that day. Unfortunately we thought it was at 3p and missed it. Most of the kids were still napping. Oops!

Enjoying the festivities

Kevin and Jared

Kevin with a sparkler. When I first saw the pile of sparklers I thought there would be a bunch left over. Boy was I wrong. The kids blew through them.

Kevin with a burnt out sparkler

Mom and Jenna with sparklers

Kevin enjoying the bonfire

Kevin roasting marshmallows so that he can make a s'more

Me roasting marshmallows so Jenna and Jared could have s'mores (I don't care for s'mores). Not the most flattering picture. :)

Jenna enjoying her s'more


Jenna and Kevin watching the fireworks

The fireworks. I thought Derek did a good job taking these pictures.

Jenna and Kevin watching the fireworks

Family Reunion

I usually like to write my posts on Sundays, but we spent all day yesterday driving home from Ohio, so I am a day late with this post.

We had a family reunion for my mom's side of the family in Ohio this weekend. My grandparents and two aunts and uncles all have homes on the same lake. When I was a child I spent many a summer day at that Lake. We would swim and play in the sand all day. I loved going there (I still love going there). We have taken the kids there before, but this time they really got into it. They would get in their swimsuits in the morning, and play in the sand and water until dinner time. (They usually ate lunch outside, in their swimsuits).

It was really fun to see the kids have so much fun. It reminded me of my childhood. Even Derek said it was like living my childhood vicariously. Derek and I had a great time too. We swam and took the paddle boat out. We went for boat rides, and Derek even got to go tubing (along with Jenna and Kevin). We had a blast socializing with family. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time. It was very relaxing. It was the perfect vacation.

On Friday evening we went to my aunt and uncle's house (not on the lake) and had a swim party in their pool. We had the kids swimming in their life jackets at first. Jenna decided that she wanted to take her life jacket off. She could stand with her head above water in the shallow end, so we let her. She started putting her face in the water. Then she and Derek would go under water and swim a little towards each other. It was really cool to see her actually swimming.

Kevin was really annoyed that she could do this and he couldn't, but he refused to put his face in the water. He kept saying he needed goggles. Near the very end, my cousin (at whose house we had the party) put on a pair of goggles. Kevin said something to her, and she told him where to find several more pairs. He went and got a pair and then put his face under water. Unfortunately it was well past bed time at this point, so we had to leave, and he didn't get as much time as he wanted to try swimming underwater. I think it is time to put the kids in swim lessons. I think they are old enough to really learn how to swim.

Jared was funny at the pool party too. In the beginning he refused to get in the water. He would stand on the steps going into the pool, but would only go down enough to get his feet wet. We tried everything we could think of to get him into the pool (short of just taking him in - he was terrified to get in). Eventually he would say he wanted to get in, but then when I tried to get him, he changed his mind and wouldn't get in. Finally I just pulled him in with me, and he was fine. From then on, he wouldn't get out. He would swim around (with me holding him). He even put his face in the water a few times.

Saturday we had the actual family reunion. Everyone made it. We had 38 people total (my grandparents, their children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses or significant others (when applicable), and great grandchildren). We got some pictures before we ate lunch. I haven't seen them yet. Hopefully there is a good one. It is pretty hard to get 38 people to look at a camera with their eyes open all at the same time. Forget getting them all to smile. :)

On Sunday Derek, Jared and I left for home. Derek had to be back at work today. Kevin and Jenna stayed with my parents in Ohio. They are having a blast with their cousins. It is a little weird not having them around. I think Jared might be a little bored. :)

Kevin caught his first fish yesterday, a bluegill. He was pretty excited. My dad said it was a little bigger than an adult's hand. Unfortunately, my mom said they didn't get any pictures.

Hopefully Kevin and Jenna will have a great time without us. It is always fun for kids to spend a little time with grandma and grandpa without mom and dad getting in the way. :)

Enjoy the pictures!

Jared with his cars on the dock. That kid is obsessed with cars.:)

Jared at the Lake



Jenna at the Lake. She rarely looks happy in pictures.


Kevin at the Lake (notice the classic Kevin look)

Here he is on a boat watching people tubing

Jenna and Kevin playing in the sand

Jared and Grandpa

Grandma, Kevin and Derek hanging out on a boat

Here is a great shot of the Lake to give you a good idea of how beautiful and peaceful it is.

Happy Father's Day and Canobe Lake

Happy Father's Day to all the Father's out there. We have had a good day. The kids made cards for Derek, and Jenna also made one for Grandpa. We got Derek a green polo shirt. He is always in need of non-blue polo shirts (and non-girly, i.e. - no pink or purple, my rule, not his).

I enjoyed being here with my father for Father's Day. I spoke in my parent's church today. It was nice to be able to publicly thank my dad for being such a great father. I feel that I have been truly blessed with a wonderful loving father, and a wonderful husband that is a great father to our children. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures from the day.

This week my mom and I took the kids to a local amusement park here in New Hampshire called Canobe Lake. We had a great time. I was never able to capture Jared's expression with my camera. He had the best smile - pure joy- while he rode the little rides.

When we first pulled into the parking lot we were a little worried. School is still in session here, but it is the end of the year. That means several school trips to amusement parks (we went to an amusement park my senior year of high school). Anyway, when we pulled into the parking lot there were so many buses. We stood in line to get tickets for about 40 minutes. I thought we would be standing in line the whole time. It ended up being perfect though. The school age kids didn't ride the little kids rides (obviously), so the kids were able to walk on and off of all the rides. It was great.

In the afternoon Kevin wanted to ride some of the bigger kid rides. The lines were beginning to dwindle because the school kids had to go back to school. I think the longest we ever stood in line was about 15 minutes. It was a perfect day, not too hot, not too cold. The kids were excellent. They didn't whine at all. Jenna and Jared said their favorite ride was the Farris Wheel. Kevin told grandpa he liked them all. However, earlier in the day he said his favorite ride was a water chute that he and I went on. We got soaked (pictures below). We also went on a log ride (also a water ride, but we didn't get very wet) twice, so I think that he really enjoyed that one too. The kid loves to get wet. :)

I have to say that it was one of my most enjoyable visits to an amusement park. The kids loved every minute of it. I loved just watching them. I didn't ride very many rides, but I had a great time. It is such a cool thing to see your children having the time of their lives.

Grandma, Jenna, Kevin and Jared waiting in line for tickets. They were very excited!

Jared on Space Shuttle

Jared, Kevin, and Jenna in safari cars

Jared, Kevin and Jenna in boat

Jenna in car (the kids loved these little cars)

Jenna on space ship

Kevin on airplane

This is the chute ride that Kevin loved. It is very short, but I have never been so wet after a ride as I was on this one. I really should have put my bathing suit on. :)

This is a bridge that crosses the ride and allows you to get back to "safety." You have to cross it after the ride is over. The only way to avoid getting slammed by the water is to run. You can see that the whole area next to the fence (outside of the ride) is wet too. You have to really be careful where you stand to watch this ride, or you will get wet.

That is how much water the chute ride displaces. If you are standing in line waiting for the ride, that water will soak you. I am sure it's great on a hot day.

Kevin and Mom after chute ride. We were soaked. Kevin wanted to do it again. Mom didn't. :)


Kevin's moment of Zen:

"The 'M' in mom stands for mean. The 'G' in Grandma and Grandpa stands for good."

Jenna's moments of Zen:

We had some people over last night (Saturday) which resulted in a later than usual night for the kids. We told the kids we would wait to give them baths until the morning (Sunday).
Jenna looked at us and said "But Saturday is the day we get ready for Sunday."
They got their baths.

Before we left Virgina for New Hampshire we stained our deck. Derek picked out the stain without me. He couldn't remember what color our deck was (even though I told him what color to get - but he didn't listen :) ), so he ended up getting something that was way too red. Derek went ahead and started applying it. He knew right away it was the wrong color (way off), but decided to apply it anyway. By the time I got out to see it, he had already stained half of the floor. I was pretty annoyed. It was bright red. I wasn't annoyed that he got the wrong color, but I was annoyed that he didn't stop as soon as he knew it was wrong. Anyway, everyone knew I was bugged. Kevin kept trying to help by saying things like "I really like the color, dad. It looks like Lightning McQueen!" Not helping buddy. Jenna, on the other hand is our little diplomat. She said "Dad, does it make you sad that your wife says she doesn't like the color you chose? Because it would make me sad if my husband said he didn't like the color I chose." Pretty smart girl for a 4 year old. :)

Fun Adventures from this Week

This week my sister and her little boy, Levi, headed back to Virginia. We were sad to see them go. We had a good time hanging out with them. The children loved hanging out with their cousin. Kevin was especially good with Levi. They had fun together. Kevin could really get Levi laughing. It was really cute.

On Thursday, while Derek and my dad were at work, my mom and I took the kids to Maine to Fort McCleary. It is an old Fort that has been around for more than 275 years. The original buildings are gone. The "newer" building were built in the early 1800s. The fort sits right on the Ocean so that they could see ships coming in. However, as they said in their flier, being that the fort is in Maine, it saw very little fighting. :) Kevin really enjoyed the fort. Jared did pretty well, except when I held onto him so that he couldn't fall out of the open windows. :) He hates to be restrained. His favorite part was looking at the boats in the ocean. He loves water. Jenna wasn't really a fan. She kept saying she wanted to leave. She also enjoyed looking at the ocean.

After we finished looking at the fort we sat in my mom's car and ate lunch. While we were eating I was reading the flier I had picked up. It said there was a park and picnic area located across the street. We drove over and let the kids play for a little bit before heading home. The kids had a great time at the park. Kevin and Grandma even went for a little hike on a trail off of the park.

Today the kids got a special treat. Derek's mom, Nana as the kids call her, came to visit. She was only here for a few hours, but the kids really enjoyed seeing her. They had been looking forward to her visit. Thank you for going out of your way to see us. Enjoy the rest of your eastern vacation Nana!

Other than that, we have just been enjoying spending time with Grandma and Grandpa (my mom and dad). We are all being spoiled by our time here. :) Enjoy the pictures.

Jenna and Kevin running through the sprinklers at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Jared has the cutest little run. This picture doesn't really capture it

Kevin in his new swim suit. He really wanted one with a shirt.

Levi and Rachel

Levi playing with a football. He really such a happy little boy.

Grandma, Jenna and Kevin looking at the Ocean at Fort McCleary

Grandma, Jenna, Jared, and Kevin at the entrance to Fort McCleary. You'll notice that Kevin is making a funny face in all of these pictures.

Kevin, Jared, and Jenna in a window at Fort McCleary

Amanda, Jared, Jenna, and Kevin. Amanda is trying to get the kids to all look at the camera at the same time.

Obviously it didn't work

Some Random Pictures

Not too much to report this week, so I am going to post some pictures from the last little while that I haven't had a chance to post yet.

For Christmas my grandparents bought us a soft serve ice cream maker...yummy, and my parents bought us molds to make ice cream sandwiches. A couple of weeks ago we made some ice cream and a big cookie from which to cut the outer pieces. Then we assembled the ice cream sandwiches. They were really good. Unfortunately we ate most of them too fast for pictures. We took pictures of the star. There is also a pig and a cow. Maybe I'll get pictures of those next time we make them. (Sorry these pictures are a little blurry...I don't have a very steady hand).




These are pictures from Jenna's actual birthday at Poppa and Muzzy's house.

Jenna with her ice cream cake


Jenna is taking out the candles so that she can lick the ice cream off of the bottom of them :)

Jenna and Muzzy checking out Jenna's new baby doll


Jared and Poppa



At my parent's house we have Kevin and Jenna sharing a bed and Jared on an air mattress (which is working as a great transition bed between a crib and a "real" bed). The other night we went in to check on the children before going to bed and this is what we found. (Kevin is supposed to be sleeping on the big bed in the background). :)