Bug Hunting & Muffin Making

We spent the morning on a bug hunt (which could easily be a daily event here) and then made some yummy banana chocolate chip muffins after lunch. Here is our day...

Spying the first bug of the morning, a moth.

Caught it! Notice Alyssa's backpack...is full of "bug hunting & capturing" items. We even put the caught bugs back in it until we get home.

Aiden peers at a bug through his magnifying glass as Alyssa searches for the perfect container.

Looking some more.

Nothing here.

The 2 catches of the day are moths, since the roley poley (?spelling and if that is actually the bugs name) somehow disappeared on the rocker out front.

Making muffins, Alyssa mashing the banana while Aiden...

...yep, licks the flour off the counter.

This is how a boy helps with the baking...

& makes sure all has been dumped out of the measuring cup!

Fun Tuesday morning!!

Zoo, Again :)

This week a couple of friends and I went to the Indy Zoo for the day. Alyssa was especially excited that she got to ride in Ava's van all the way in the back and sit right by her. I swear Liv's van looked like a toy store had exploded in the back end...but we rarely heard a peep out of them :) The boys on the other hand seemed to have a lot to say, or occasionally yell (yep, I am talking about Aiden). Overall it was a relaxing trip and a fun day with friends! I am blessed to have such great friends!!

Again not much to update. Todd is out with the guys tonight to see a movie and I am going to curl up with a book when I am done with this. Looking forward to my next Bible study with the girls to start. We finished our couples Bible study and have decided to split off to ladies and guys for our next one...the ladies will be doing Beth Moore's Breaking Free and the guys have narrowed it down but not quite decided on one yet (I think). Again, I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such great friends!! So, here are some pics from the zoo and a few other random shots:

Ethan, Alyssa, Ava, Emma, Hudson &...

Aiden! I just did not want to get him out of the stroller one more time!

Hudson, Alyssa & Ava in the water part of the Zoo.

Todd got these little mega block trucks at the company store with "safety tokens" earned at work...Aiden loves to push it around.

Can you say cheesy smile?

Don't want to leave Alyssa out ;-)

Okay I am off to read my new found book love, Karen Kingsbury. If you haven't read any of her books...YOU SHOULD!! She is an awesome christian writer and I have read 5 books by her in the last month since I was persuaded to start reading her fiction novels. I am completely hooked, her books have totally taken over my TV time!!

Summer's End

This morning our Pastor was talking about the new sermon series he will start next Sunday, the fall series...I was taken off guard. It doesn't seem like fall should already be around the corner. Maybe because of the weird weather, but I am sooo not ready for summer to be over. Many schools have already started here with the last few starting this week. Alyssa doesn't start preschool until September 9th, but I am already sad this will be her last year before she heads off to Kindergarten :( But this summer has been packed with some serious play!! Recently Todd took a 3 day weekend and we headed to the zoo for a day. The weather (& the kids) were great! It was Aiden's first trip to this zoo and Alyssa hasn't been there for quite a while. She said her favorite part was the dolphin show, which was Aiden's least favorite as you will see in the following pictures. I think he enjoyed the bear fight the most.

I can't think of a whole lot of updates on the kids. Just getting ready for Alyssa to start school which means a new schedule since she will go Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. So instead of rambling on about nothing, here are some pictures:

Dolphin show, he did get better.

Bear fight that Aiden would not let us walk away from.

Awww...

This is what they are looking at...

& touching, Alyssa had her whole arm in. Aiden pulled his out whenever a shark got close.

Ring around the rosy with one of Aiden's favorite girls, Kyla.

And we all fall down!

The crew on a hike at the park, notice Alyssa is surrounded by boys (& there are 3 boys missing!)

Until this little girl,

and this little girl grow up :)
Alyssa will have them in dress up clothes very soon. Although she doesn't seem to mind all the boys. She can be all girly-girl and tomboy at the very same time. And besides all those boys are the one that will protect her on the school bus next year :)

Aiden even did some hiking on his own which was great for Mommy's back!

The ride home after a day at the park...

for both of them.

Swing Set, Swimming & Fair

Here are pictures of the kids new swing set. Todd and my Dad worked on it for hours and hours.and hours.and hours.and hours. But the kids love it, so it was so worth it...right guys? Alyssa is a swing lover, while Aiden is a fan of the tunnel. We (and in we I mean Todd :) still have to water seal it but then it will be completely done...except for whatever we decide to do under it...replant some grass or cut it out and put rock or mulch? Still thinking on that part. Alyssa has been in swim lessons this week and goes next week as well. She loves the water and enjoys the lessons. The teachers are fun and she is learning how to do lots of different water animals. A few mornings were downright cold, but we all know that doesn't bother her one bit. And lastly the fair...we went last night and Alyssa rode one ride with (her pick) Uncle Todd. We went through the barns where Aiden did not care for the animals looking at him and of course ended the evening with a funnel cake and an elephant ear! On to pictures:

Uncle Todd and Daddy pushing on swings.

Aiden in the tunnel.

Alyssa climbing the rock wall. Check out the rain boots, she dresses herself :)

Floating like a starfish.

Aiden watching swim lessons.

Alyssa with Uncle Todd on the "Dragon coaster".

Aiden watching the roller coaster.

Don't you love how I always snap a pic of poor Aiden strapped in the stroller? Don't worry he was in heaven once the funnel cake was ordered! Which by the way the family is perfectly split on now. Aiden & I love funnel cakes and Alyssa & Todd love elephant ears :)

West Beach

We went to West Beach on Friday with my parents and had a great time. When we first got there it was sunny and warm, but then the sun went away and it got quite chilly. Really, it's the middle of July, I should not need a sweatshirt on the beach. Oh well, the weather didn't bother the kids at all. All Alyssa wanted to do was swim, which she did manage to get soaked in the frigid Lake Michigan waters from head to toe and she did not complain about the cold once. Aiden on the other hand was unsure of the entire situation. First he wouldn't even step in the sand and when he finally did he would not sit down. He walked out to the water, kind of, until Todd picked him up and carried him but one splash from a wave sent him crying to go back on the blankets. Where he found food with Maw Maw and Paw Paw. He was pretty much content sitting still and eating snacks all day. This was a huge bonus for me...it is the first time since he took his first step that I didn't have to chase him all over for hours!! He did eventually get in the sand and play a bit. I think it was when he saw me bury Alyssa and found a prime opportunity to torment her :) Overall it was a really fun day and we are already looking for another (hopefully warmer) day to go back. So here is a slide show of our day:

My 100th Post

I am not sure if it means anything, but this is my 100th post and I think at least 3 people read my blog so I will keep going ;-)

Summer is chugging right along at lightning speed and we are having a blast! Although some days you would think we are already experiencing fall with the cooler temps...I don't like this as I am a summer person! We had a great 3rd of July party at my parent's house and spent the 4th sleeping the rainy day away, I don't know the last time I took an afternoon nap! Todd turned 36 on July 7th and the two of us went out to dinner thanks to my wonderful parents who watched our kiddos :)
Alyssa is enjoying her ballet classes and will start swim lessons for 2 weeks on Monday. She loves to be outside and is super excited about her new swing set Daddy just finished building (those pics later). Aiden is talking up a storm. I can not believe all the words he can say and that he speaks sentences. He will actually answer my questions and tell me things he wants...I love it! He finally warmed up to the kiddie pools and likes to crawl in the new tunnel part of the swing set. Okay, so here are some pictures. Sorry there are a lot!

3rd of July parade

Emma, Jakob & Alyssa

Aiden & Uncle Troy, these two definitely have a special bond, Aiden loves him!

Alyssa & Uncle Todd, she has a special bond with this Uncle and whenever he is around you will find her right by him (not necessarily good)...kidding, kind of.

Aiden playing washers with Trevor & Uncle Troy.

Alyssa, Emma & Uncle Troy.

Alyssa, Emma & Sydney.

Aiden not interested in the slip n slide.

Enjoys water balloons though, as long as he is throwing them.

Water balloon fight!

Aiden & Uncle Troy again.

Great Grandpa and Aiden.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Swimming out back.

Uncle Todd playing on the Barbie laptop as Alyssa plays on his iPod touch. He is babysitting while Todd and I are at our couples Bible study. Mom & Dad come too, but like I said you will find her by Uncle Todd.

There's an end to my exciting 100th post :)