Family Fun Monday

(I'm really behind on blogging and plan to go back and fill in with posts from Christmas soon. But I'm starting with today and hoping to update more often in the future!)
Keri and Addie both had Monday January 21 off for MLK Day. After a laid back morning of chocolate chip banana bread, playing pretend, and snuggling on the couch we decided it was time to have some fun. We all got dressed and watched part of the inauguration on tv and also took time to remind the kids who MLK was and how he helped to change our world. Then Keri decided we would go on an adventure in our own town.




We loaded up and Keri told us he would drive us around town. If we saw somewhere we wanted to stop all we had to do was tell him and he would! Doak was the first to speak up and chose a fun park near his school. We all played on the playground and had a game of soccer too.




Brock fell asleep on the way to stop #2. But when we arrived he woke up and was happy to continue on the adventure. We never skip his nap so this was a big deal! Addie chose stop #2 to go to the Waterway area.




At the Waterway we watched the beautiful fountains








lounged on Addie's quilt on the grass,




the boys rolled down the hill over and over,




and we had a delicious picnic lunch from a few Waterway restaurants.




We watched the Waterway cruisers (definitely want to do this soon!) and had the best time just relaxing and enjoying each other and the gorgeous weather.




Stop #3 was another Addie pick. She has wanted to go ice skating for months and she finally got her chance! Doak and daddy joined her and they had fun trying something new!




Stop #4 was to Berri-Pop yogurt. Keri and I were still stuffed from lunch but the kids were up for some fro yo with toppings!




Stop #5 brought us back home. We watched a new Wild Kratts special on tv and snuggled together on the couch. Just about a perfect day!
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a walk to the museum

The day after Thanksgiving we walked to The Children's Museum that is near our house.  I love that we have so many fun things in close walking distance. 



We have been to museum before and the kids always enjoy it. 



The train table is a big hit for Doak and Brock. 



Although most parts of the museum is geared toward preschool and young elementary age kids, Addie always finds something to do.  She and Cookie took a look at various things under the microscope. 



Papa and Addie experimented with blowing air.  



 One of the new exhibits was this huge lite brite. 



It brought back lots of memories from childhood!



Addie spent a long time drawing a picture at the easel for us. 



cheese Brock!




Fun times looking at the fishies!  We're so glad we got to take Cookie and Papa to the museum.  

Walk to school

One of my favorite things about our new home is how close it is to Addie's school! We ride bikes or walk to school in the morning and again in the afternoon to pick Addie up most days.

I love the trees and trails and I pray I never get used to the beauty here.


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Fall in the backyard

Enjoying a cool fall day in the backyard!


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Team tilapia

So, I'm not the best or most adventuresome cook. I'm kind of a picky eater and I have inadvertently passed some of that pickiness on to my kids. I do not like any form of seafood. I've tried lobster, shrimp, fish, etc and I just can't stand the fishy-ness of it. The kids have tasted popcorn shrimp on a few occasions and liked it. Then a few months ago Addie tasted tilapia and loved it! So I broke out of my 'normal foods' box and bought some tilapia. (Pre-breaded and frozen from Trader Joe's) All three kids ate it happily and Doak and Addie loved it and asked for more. Mommy didn't try it and the kids were quick to point out that Daddy, Brock, Addie, and Doak are all on 'team tilapia'. I'm so glad they tried a new food, but please excuse me while I go eat a pb&j sandwich!

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weekend with Cookie

Back in mid September, Cookie came to town for a visit. She came early enough to go to the football game with us and then stayed all weekend! We played, read books, ate out, I got to shop alone, and went to the park. Here are some pictures from our visit to one of the kids' favorite parks.




Brock is saying "I did it!"

 

Beautiful Addie wiping off the equipment after the morning rain.

 

Sweet Doak was happy to play even though he had just been bit or stung on the face!



This picture gives me a flash forward to Brock as a teenager-I can picture him sitting just like that in 15 years being all grown up!




Brock took advantage of having Cookie around and led her all over the playground.



Doak and Addie took a ride on the little plastic car and planned road trips to far away lands.



Thanks Cookie for a wonderful time!  We love you!

labor day

I love that Labor Day comes after the first week of school.  One last day of summer was just what we needed!  Keri had practice in the morning, so the kids and I hopped on our bikes and rode to a fun park.  They were excited to visit this park again, but they didn't realize that they had to ride 2 miles there and 2 miles back.  They were exhausted, but they made it!

 

Big second grader enjoyed a vacation from school for the day.

 

I asked Doak to smile for a picture and this is what I got.  This boy is OBSESSED with Lego Ninjago, so naturally this was his pose of choice. 

 

The one thing the kids love best about this park is this tunnel/slide.  All three kids took their snacks in the tunnel and hung out for a while!  (Addie's face and Doak's dirty feet!)

 

Doak and Addie spent a big chunk of time pretending with this car.  They drove to England, Tennessee, and NYC : )

 

Keri made it home by early afternoon and I took the kids with me to the grocery store so that he could have a little nap.  We ended the day with a yummy dinner with some great new friends.  They have a precious newborn and Doak just had to hold him!  We're thankful for a great day to relax and rest!

summer sum up

As I look back over my pictures from the last 3 months I'm reminded what a great summer we had! Here are some pictures to sum up the summer.

 

We spent some time at parks.



We did LOTS of reading!



We spent time learning most week days.



We played LEGOS, lots and lots of LEGOS.



We played in the backyard.

 

During the week of constant rain we got creative with some fun indoor activities!



I froze plastic ocean animals and boats in large tubs of water.



Addie and Doak used hammers to (carefully) excavate the ocean animals and then they carved boats, ice bergs, etc.

 

We made houses with grapes and toothpicks.




We visited The Children's Museum in our town with some friends.



We had moments of sweet sibling bonding.



We had fun with non traditional toys.

 

We went to the movies (Brave-too scary! and Winnie the Pooh-perfect!)

 

We did chores and learned that earning money takes hard work.




We made homemade ice cream in a ziploc bag.




We rode bikes to TCBY and were so sweaty!

 

We went to church (and found one that we love!)




We rode bikes to the pool.




We met our new friend, Griffin, son of Chad and Christi, little brother to Cooper.




 We saw friends who stopped by on their way home from the beach.




We had lots of time for love and hugs!




We spent many days at the pools or the spray park.



Sometimes we met friends for water fun.







Sometimes family was the only friend we needed.

 


 







Here's to the summer of 2012!