Family swim

Last week the kids and I went to Ohio for the week, but I left my camera there so I'll have to post those pictures another time. Saturday we went swimming and took Aaron's camera so I'll post some of those. Someone at the YMCA told me about this pool. We don't have a public pool here in town so we had to drive about 35 miles, but I think it was worth it. Madelyn loved the slide and they were kind enough to let us go down with the little ones. Will and Justin loved the high dive. Fun times!

Just the girls. The sun was pretty bright so it was hard to look into the camera!

Justin going off the high dive

Will on the high dive

Playing in the "junior pool"

A look at the slide. This is where we spent half of our time at the pool. The kids loved it!

Happy Father's Day

I decided to do a post today in honor of a great Dad...Aaron! I had so many pictures to choose from because he's always doing fun things with the kids! Sometimes I'm not sure who is the bigger kid... Our kids love weekends and evenings when he can spend time playing with them. I just love watching the interaction between him and each of the kids. From his sweet little girls he adores to our wild little boys, he's a great Dad!

Five months

Naomi turned five months old on Sunday. Last night we gave her cereal for the first time. I am always kind of sad for this step because I feel like they aren't a little baby anymore and soon I'll have to start bringing food with me when I go out. It's much easier to nurse so I don't have to pack anything! Naomi did pretty well with the cereal. She didn't love it, but she didn't spit it out. Madelyn, on the other hand, was hilarious. She of course wanted to try some when she saw me feeding Naomi. She literally gagged on it and spit it right out.

How could you not love those cheeks and thighs? She loves playing with her toes. She is sitting up with help and rolls over as soon as we lay her down. She's still not great with napping or sleeping at night. Hopefully the cereal will help that situation.

Dad with his two little girls

Elizabeth the ballerina

Elizabeth had her annual dance recital Saturday. She danced in two recitals and did a great job! In the past, Aaron and I have always gotten a babysitter for the other kids and just the two of us go. This year we decided that Justin should go and support her. After all, how many soccer and basketball games has Elizabeth sat through for him? I think Aaron's true reason for having Justin go was because misery loves company. He enjoys watching Elizabeth dance, but the rest of the show bores him to tears. So Naomi and I sat in the middle of Justin and Aaron and watched as they swamped sour patch kids and other assorted candies throughout the recital (despite the posted "no food or drink in auditorium signs"). Elizabeth was a little nervous at first, but relaxed and danced beautifully! She loves wearing her costume and getting to wear make-up!

Everybody's zoo-ing it!

This was the theme of the Toledo Zoo which we used to go to all the time. We haven't had a zoo membership since we moved from Toledo two and a half years ago, but we became official zoo members again yesterday. Maybe it's a good thing that we've only been to the zoo twice in the past two years because the kids had a great time yesterday and couldn't stop talking about it last night!

Yesterday was the opening day for the new African Adventures exhibit at the zoo so the lines were long, but there was a lot going on too, like petting the ball python snake (above). The hit of the day were the maps the kids received. Bruce came home and ran over to our neighbors house so he could show Mrs. Roe everything he saw! Madelyn loved watching all of the monkeys because they are about the only animal that is entertaining and not just lying around or eating. We didn't get to see everything today so we're looking forward to many more zoo days this summer!

School's out!

Yesterday was the last day of school...yeah!! The last couple of weeks have been busy with mostly fun at school. We have been able to watch some of these activities and have enjoyed watching what Justin and Elizabeth have been doing in school. All of the classes give out awards on the last day of school. Elizabeth received achievement in reading, kindest girl award, and honor roll award. Justin received a social studies award, art award, and honor roll award. They have both had wonderful teachers and had a good school year.

Last week Justin's class put on a play called "Blame it on the Wolf", a spoof on the traditional 3 little pigs story. Justin came home from school the night before and went straight to Elizabeth's closet to pick out his costume. He was so proud and got many laughs from the audience when he walked out on stage. It was a cute play. Happy summer vacation!

Memorial weekend

We went to Ohio for the weekend and had a great time! Aaron's sister had a daughter get baptized on Saturday and blessed a newborn baby at church on Sunday. Two weekends ago her husband graduated with his master's from Bowling Green so it's been a very busy month for Janey and her family.

After the baptism, we did a 4-generation picture with Grandpa Allen, Aaron's dad, Aaron and his two brothers, and their boys. I thought the pictures turned out pretty well and I know we'll cherish them!

Aaron and the boys

Elizabeth and cousin Morgan

The kids enjoyed their first swim in the pond for '09. (Second for Will and Bruce - they went skinny-dipping a month ago and froze!) They played in the water all day and had a great time!

Madelyn wasn't interested in the water, but she loved wearing her swimsuit and cried when she had to take it off. Just a side note - Madelyn is playing with her belly button in the picture. She is obsessed with it!

Sunday afternoon Aaron's grandpa wanted to take the kids to the cemetery to see his brother's grave, as well as some other family members. I thought this was a great opportunity for them to learn more about the holiday and their own family history. Justin was able to march in a parade Monday morning with his cousin Hunter and his Cub Scout troop, but I don't have any pictures of it. Now it's back to the grind of work and school. Thankfully, the kids only have six days of school. Too bad Aaron doesn't get the summer off too!