Boxing Gloves

Casey brought home boxing gloves and head gear this last time he left Missouri and Illinois. They spent the after noon thumping on each other. being a girl i guess i don't really understand it- but dad's hanging out with their boys.. I get that.

Bridal Veil Falls

We rode our bikes (beginning roughly 1/3 of the way up) to and from the falls, Max Casey and I on our bikes and the other 2 in the trailer. Perfect weather, just before the summer gets too hot to have fun.

Max, always the collector, has found some rocks he'll need to bring home with us.

Lucy is starting to fade here, and before we were back to the truck, she and Sam had both fallen asleep - just the perfect way to enjoy one another's company (the bike ride, not the nap :) )

Mascara Lashes

Addi had a tea party to celebrate her 3rd birthday this year. she invited Lucy and Jessie over and they got to dress up in their princess dresses and shoes.. but they came home with their hair up in curls, mascara, lipstick and eyeshadow and every nail painted. That night she called Casey and told him how beautiful she was - every girl loves to be pampered.

FHE

Nana and Papa came over for dinner, story time and a Family home evening lesson too.
My kids are so lucky to grow up being surrounded by so many people who love them.

Icecream bowl

i don't think this is the kind of thing that needs to be taught, but just in case - big brother will show you how..

Duck pond

Yes mother I see the ducks however I will not be going near the ducks. Perhapes he's been listening to his Aunt Paige, can you say Ornithophobia?

We visited the Highland Glenn park today..
Sam was initially a little apprehensive near the ducks but then they started to waddle away and he begins to yell:
da-gucks! where you going? da-gucks, come back!

- there are a couple of fish to be seen and roughly a dozen ducks. we took bread, but Highlands ducks are well fed and seem to be uninterested in crusty rolls.

Wall worthy

MyKel took these of the kids at the zoo - she is so talented, and my kids are so dang cute!

Zoo

Hayli and Max riding the Hogle Zoo train (with Sam's little voice repeating"toot toot" in the background)

it takes a lot out of a little kid to see lions, and tigers and bears (or
bats, monkeys and alligators - as the case may be). Memorial day is a very busy day at the zoo, by 3:00pm the kids were exhausted. But then that's how you recognize a really great memory - if the kids couldn't make it home before falling asleep.
i love that my kids love my sisters kids. we are so lucky to live close enough to create friendships that will last through their growing up years. Hayli makes Max giggle until he can't breathe, and Lucy had to call Kate to find out how to do her hair before we left - that's friendship.