4th of July Weekend

On Friday we went to the Trumbull County Fair.  We go every year even though it is very, ummm, redneck :).  The girls loved the rides and road EVERY one! 

Then over the weekend we enjoyed play time for the girls and a lot of sitting/rest for me.
Hailey showed up in front of us to sing one morning, but when I went to take her picture, all she did was pout. SO CUTE!

 On July 4th we got a chance to see the Goodyear Blimp as it flew right over our house.  The girls thought it was SO cool!

That afternoon, we took the girls to the Austintown Parade, sitting next to our neighbors.  I sat in a chair with an umbrella, while everyone collected candy.  The girls loved it the first 45 minutes, then they were hot and tired and ready for air conditioning.

Kaelin's End of the Year Concert - 3 Weeks Later

Here are a few clips from Kaelin's end of the year concert.  Her class sang 8 songs, and then another 4 with the rest of the school.   I wanted to load 2 others as well (Jesus, the Lord, is Who I Believe and Pizza Hut), but I couldn't take the loading times anymore.  Enjoy!

Our Sticks Up High...

I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing

A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track

A week of fun...

The last week or so has been one fun event after another!  Friday our nephew, Dominic, turned 3!  We had a small family dinner with cake to celebrate on his 'actual' birthday.  Then on Saturday he had a big family party (probably 80 attendees) at Amy and Brad's home.  The kids all had a blast playing in the water and sand and enjoying as much cake and sugar as they could :).

Sunday was Father's Day.  Justin was able to enjoy golfing with his dad, and then we had dinner at our house for his step-dad and mom.  We all enjoyed the evening.  I made no-bake cheesecake for dessert (Justin won't eat a real one), but decided to top it with homemade blueberry topping.  Apparently, that went over well, because I was asked to make more topping and another cheesecake on Monday too :).

Monday we ordered from our Favorite chinese restaurant for dinner.  I had to take this picture of Hailey eating her Lo Mien.  SO Funny!

Yesterday was a different kind of fun....I had a bunch of errands to run in the morning and physical therapy.  Then after naps I decided to wash the girl's car seat covers, which led to also scrubbing the bases, and then the strollers and their cloth parts.  Of course when all was said and done I also had to vacuum out the car.  Why can't I do ONE thing, instead of making it a 20 step process??  Anyhow, to make it fun I had the girls help.  One bucket of soap water, 3 washcloths and a hose, along with the car seat bases and strollers in the driveway.  Needless to say, about an hour later everything was clean and drying on the porch, except for the 3 of us :).

Today we braved a trip to Pittsburgh Zoo, despite the forecasted thunderstorm.  It didn't rain, it was very warm and humid though.  The girls loved it - the penguins, aquarium, watching the mama and baby elephant throw dirt on eachother and sea otters playing.  After about an hour, Hailey's hair was just springy curls from the humidity - so adorable.

 We packed a lunch and enjoyed a break in the shade about halfway through.  However, the highlight was at the very end, when the girls got to pet a boa constrictor.  I was SHOCKED that Hailey (along with Kaelin) went to pet it - and was excited!  I expected her to not go near it!

Also towards the end the zoo had set up a misting station.  Kaelin and I enjoyed it, Hailey on the other hand, NOT thrilled!  She is so funny sometimes, certain things just take a while for her to warm up too.  Kaelin was a trooper and walked the entire 4 hours we were at the zoo, while Hailey had to get in and out of the stroller and be lifted several times.  I was so proud of Kaelin.  Being in a large public area with a lot of other kids always reminds me that I have GREAT girls (despite their bickering and whining at home).  They are very well behaved and I am so proud to be their mommy!

End of School...Beginning of Summer

Kaelin's school year has come to an end...and summer has begun!  I have a few pictures to post today ... and her concert video - but that will come in a few days.  

Here's our last two weeks:

Justin drained the hot tub, scrubbed it out and filled it.  Now the water is cleaned and stabilized.  However, instead of returning it to hot tub temperature, we kept it at 90 degrees.  The girls now think they have a built in kiddie pool :).  They LOVE it!  I remember swimming in my grandparents' hot tub when I was little, so it makes me laugh to see them doing it as well. AND we don't have to drag out their pool, blow it up, fill it, and wait for it to warm a bit!

Memorial weekend was a fun extended weekend for us with Justin home.  We had a picnic in Grove City on Sunday, and were able to visit with a few friends.  Monday was a day at home with the girls getting to play outside and Justin doing yard work.  Here is a picture of the girls from Sunday that weekend.

Kaelin's end of the year concert was SO CUTE!  Several classes sang 4-5 songs each, except for K's - they sang 8!  And were adorable doing it! Then at the end, all of the classes came together for 4 more songs.  We have it all recorded, but I need to load it and then edit down a few songs to post.  Here is a picture of K singing.

Kaelin's end of the year picnic had gorgeous weather!  I was very grateful!  We were out with the kids from about 9:30-11:30, including a picnic lunch.  Kaelin was excited that I drove and that she got to play with her friends.  

During the picnic she loved this thing.  

Scared me, but she climbed through/over it several times.

Kaelin's class with Ms. Doyle 

(the ones that attend on Fridays, each day is a bit different.)

The girls like watching Uncle Ray walk on his hands when we are out in the yard, so they wanted to try too.  Here are pics of them 'walking on their hands', or as I remember from childhood, wheelbarrow style.

Cute pic of the girls one night with Mommy getting a treat while everyone else was traveling.

Side Note: Our baby birds flew away.  At least that is what I am choosing to believe.  They were there one day and just gone the next. :/

Upcoming this next month:  Dominic's 3rd Birthday Party! Carlee's Graduation Party! 4th of July! RJ is coming for a visit!

Babies R Us Contest

Hey all! If you have a moment please go to: Babies R US Ultimate Shower Sweeps.  I have entered a contest to win all the items of my baby registry - up to $5000! If friends and family play they they get a chance to win an egift card and increase my chances of winning!

Thanks for your help!!

May Update

We have had a lot going on in the past 2-3 weeks.  We had our ultrasound, and found out the new baby is a BOY!  Time to start shopping! hahaha Actually we have received promises of a ton of clothes, towels, blankets, even boys' bedding.  It appears we are only really low on Newborn-3months clothing.  We are so blessed and thankful to everyone who has offered to help: Mom, Caitlyn, Mandie, Josette, Josh and Mandy and Carrie!    Baby is measuring well and appears to be healthy.

I had some issues with palpitations and rapid heartbeats, dizziness and migraines - on top of the nausea.  I am on some new medication that is working well with the nausea.  The dr. had me get an EKG, and Ultrasound of my heart, as well as wear a heart monitor for a week.  Unfortunately she is now on vacation till later this week, so all I know is what her partner dr. told me - I have an elevated and rapid heart rate.  Apparently it isn't too serious, because he wants to wait until my dr. gets back from vacation to take any steps (aka medications) if necessary.  For now I am only to be working short, 4 hour shifts, and 'taking it easy' -- whatever that means! :)

Monday was my birthday - I am now 30!  Doesn't really bother me as much as I thought it would.  We had a fun day. (weekend actually).  We met Justin's Mom and Keith for dinner Saturday night, and then went out with his Dad, Barb, Amy, Brad, Dominic and Jason Monday night.  Justin got me a pregnancy massage (I just have to schedule it).  Ray took me to the movies - we saw Pirates 4.  I also got some new charms for my charm bead bracelet and some money (which I will probably use to buy more charms).  :)

Tuesday was our wedding anniversary - 8 years.  Justin and I went out to dinner at the Springfield Grille all by ourselves (Thanks Ray!).  It was fun, and because our steaks were very undercooked, we got free dessert!  Overall, it was very yummy!!!

Other happenings:
Justin has been traveling - busy, busy.  He has a trade show in New York coming up and a Sales Meeting in Chicago in the next few weeks.

We received a package from Grand Grandma Jan a few weeks ago.  In it there was a tin of Pink Hot Chocolate Mix.  The girls recently had a tea party with it and thought it was so cool!

Our baby birds hatched!!!  We have been watching them constantly!  I try to take a picture every other day.  We haven't touched the nest or babies, and mom doesn't seem to mind us getting near the bush to take a peek.  However, she doesn't like Ray!  hehe  she has dive bombed him a few times.  These pictures were taken May 16-23.

Coming up:
Kaelin is finishing preschool.  She has a field trip Friday to the local library on a school bus - just like she will ride to kindergarten - and is very excited.  Then next Wednesday is her end of year concert.  Next Friday is her last day of school - which is a picnic at a local park.  I can't believe she is almost done and will be in Kindergarten in August!

On Kaelin's last day at school, Ray's friend, Matt Bob is flying in for 10 days!  The boys should be busy.  They are going to NY with Justin for a few days, hoping for a trip to Niagara Falls and also to Cedarpoint Amusement Park.  It should be a fun visit. 

Mother's Day

Today was a busy but fun family day!  Justin (and the girls) got me a Tiffany necklace - it is very pretty and simple (very my style), so I can wear it a lot!

We had a nice brunch at Ironbridge Inn with Justin's Mom, Keith and siblings etc. (Thanks Cin and Keith!)  It was YUMMY (as it always is), and thankfully, not as busy as we had feared!

We then stopped at the outlet mall and bought a few summer items for Hailey (the poor girl has NO 3T summer clothes, apparently Kaelin didn't wear 3T during summer months when she was that age).

After that we headed to the Magee Farm to visit Tom and Barb and later Great Grandma and Grandpa.  We took a golf cart ride and saw some of the new calves.  I received a new bracelet with a MOM charm on it that I hope to add too soon (very similar to a Pandora style bracelet).

Picture of Daddy and the girls on the pond dock at the farm:

Pictures of tired girls (no naps and poor Hailey is sick) on the way home - but they did VERY well today! I was SO proud of their behavior both at the farm and the restaurant this morning!!!

After we got home we had some crockpot stew dinner and then enjoyed some time outside!!! YEA for sunshine!!!!