Family Museum with Daddy

We celebrated Father's Day a few days early by taking Daddy to the Family Museum. Curtis was gone on Father's Day this year on a mission trip to Chattanooga, TN. On the 13th of June we visited the Family Museum together and got lunch at Red Robin together. The boys have been to the Family Museum a number of times, but never with Daddy so this was an extra special time. Cade got to show Daddy the clay studio, one of the top things he loves about the museum. 

I know Daddy would have enjoyed a trip to Bass Pro Shop so thanks for sacrificing to do something the boys love for your special day. Happy Father's Day Curtis!

Summer Bowling

We had a friend invite us to join a program called Kids Bowl Free this summer. It is a fantastic deal. Kids have the opportunity to bowl 2 games everyday of the summer for free! We have already gone three times in June. We have been working on improving our form and technic, which works most of the time. We have definitely had a few mishaps down the way - throwing the ball down teh wrong lane, throwing the ball down the walk way into the back area, throwing the ball and knocking down the bumpers, and walking on all the tables in the build (that was on Grandmas eye). They have let us come back each time, but I am concerned they will turn us away soon with our crazy behavior. 

So far this summer, Cade's high score is 112 and Joel's is 64. 

Fly Killer!

In the last 2 weeks Joel has killed 3 flies in our home. I seem to chase them for days and he gets them in no time. He loves using The Pampered Chef Super Swat. The tweezers are his favorite for transporting the fly to the garbage. 

Dinner

We stopped at Cracker Barrel (or Crackers in a Barrel as Cade calls it) on our way home from Chicagoland to enjoy dinner together. The boys had a nice game of checkers before dinner. What a great daddy they have!

AC!

We took the plunge and got air conditioning put into our home!! Yes it was a costly investment, but it has been wonderful this June. We haven't had to worry about turning AC units on and off and up and down. We have had consistent air. It has been wonderful! Thank you Curtis for coaching track to help pay for this great investment!

The AC unit is in our attic. We do not have duct work in our home because we have radiator heat, so we have a different system that will work wonderfully! Unfortunately we did loose closet space in each of or closets to get the AC downstairs. Oh well, well worth it!!

Legoland Chicago

We took the boys to Legoland for their birthday outing this year! Legoland is in Schamburg so we had a couple hour drive to make it to our location. The boys were very excited to check out this fun filled place. Curtis and I were not impressed with Legoland for the price charged. We were so glad we had a coupon for the kids to be free. It was too expensive for what was provided. 

The boys enjoyed a couple of rides, looking at Lego sculptures, playing in a big climbing play land, visiting a Lego building class, leaning how Legos are made, and visiting the movie theater. The boys were very stimulated and enjoyed the adventure. 

Happy Birthday!

Seven Months and Gardening

Callie is seven months old!

Exploring the garden! Pop and Grandma always have an amazing garden! I love how they have taught the boys how to work hard and eat from God's amazing provision. 

Grandma Bev

Cade and Grandma Bev have been reading The Last Battle together this summer. We have spent a few Sundays at their home listening to Grandma share the joy if Narnia. 

Generosity

We have some friends who just moved into town from the country. The home they bought included an out if ground pool with it. They have been generous to us to allow us to swim in it at the start of this summer! Thanks Mitch and Katie!

Cousin Birthday Party

We were invites to come to our cousins' Maelah and Abree's birthday party in Mt. Morris. We had a nice HOT day with family chatting and playing. Big cousins Aaron and Andy were so kind to play badminton with Cade. All of the other cousins but one are girls and younger. Cade has a fun time playing with them but it is nice when he gets boy interaction. All if the kids played in the baby pools. Cade seemed to fill them all up at one time. And my boys were definitely more rough on the pools than the girls. The joy of boys!!

 

Rockford Children's Museum

We visited the Rockford Children's Discovery Museum the week after school got out, May 30, while Daddy was at the State Track Meet. We met our cousins Joy, Allison, Isaac, and Hailey at the museum to play for the day. And boy did we have FUN! This is the best museum we have been to. And probably what made it the best museum was the outside playground. It was fantastic! Like a normal playground on steroids!! Plus the kids had each other to play with which really helped make things more fun. 

The only bad part was loosing Joel for 15 minutes. Yikes that makes your heart pound. Thankfully the Lord's hand was on him as he played inside when he was suppose to be outside. Plus Callie screaming in the car was a bit stressful too ,but not as heart pounding as my Joel disappearing. 

Check out some of our fun stops on the way. What I thought would be a three hour adventure turned into a five hour non-stop playtime! And ending with a Pizza Hut dinner was a fun way to finish the day. 

First Bike Ride

Callie went in her first bike ride in her new bike seat. We ran into a problem this summer with the boys wanting to bike ride, but Callie not having a way to come with us. In the past we always used the bicycle trailer but she wasn't quite sitting up with full control when bike weather came. I found this bicycle seat new on a garage sale and it was perfect. Curtis got it all attached to the bike and she was ready to go. We couldn't really find a helmet that fit but this one looks like it does. Her little head is so petite. 

Our first ride was a great success and she even feel asleep in her seat in one of the rides that was soon to follow her first. 

New Foods

We have had a lot of issues lately with the boys teeth and weird reactions in their bodies. Cade has had a strange sore on his leg and our teeth issues are on going. It is exhausting. I am always trying to read more about things I can do to help the boys health. One of the main things we are trying to do is get Cade to eat more veggies and fruits, and less carbs. We have discovered the carbs are turning into sugar, and that is what is staying on his teeth to create so many cavities. We are also trying to avoid sugar as much as possible because we feel sugar may be a factor in his skin sore. Our bodies are a baffling thing. Through all of my research I have learned that I can't wait for heaven. I can't wait for new bodies and a life without sin. It will be so refreshing and amazing. This life is so tasking.

Here is Cade trying a mango. He liked it!

All Clean!

We just got all clean!

Water Balloon Fight!

I was working on being he cool mom this first week of summer! I filled up water balloons and we had a little splash action. I think we filles about 70! If only I had enough time and energy to do this everyday. I hate how the worries of this world get me down and I can't just not my children. I loved their innocent laughs and joy while we played. It will be gone too quickly. Teach me how to balance it all Lord. Please. 

Peoria Riverfront Museum

We made an afternoon trip to the Peoia Riverfront Museum on Tuesday, May 27. Curtis had a track meet an was gone most of the afternoon and evening, so we needed to do something to keep our minds off of missing daddy. 

There wasn't much to see at the Museum but we wanted to use our museum pass. There was an interactive car building and racing exhibit. There was an exhibit about the Illinois River, including its history (which was inaccurate talking about millions of years). And Cade's favorite was all of the sports exhibits that tested your strength, accuracy, balance, jumping ability, and more!

If we ever go back, hopefully we can catch a planetarium show! Other than that, there wouldn't be much more to see  or do. 

We enjoyed playing on a playground after we left the museum and throwing rocks in the river. 

Mr. Cinnamon

Cade finally got to go to the library with us on a day Mr. Cinnamon came. He was so excited to get his own balloon creation. It has been weeks that Joel has come home with fun creations and Cade hasn't seen them from the beginning stages. Joel has kindly brought him creations, but Cade was thrilled to be a part of it!

Thanks for the dragon fly Mr. Cinnamon. We love your work. It is amazing!

Happy Memorial Day!

We had red, white, and blue yogurt parfaits for lunch on Memorial Day! Plus Joel even dressed in the USA colors!

We were all home and didn't have anywhere to go on Memorial Day. It was nice to all be together, and not have to think about running somewhere else!

The boys enjoyed some sprinkler time! Finally warm weather!