Birthdays

Madeleine celebrated her 6th birthday on 4th of July and Tommy celebrated turning two on July 5th.  Madeleine also had a joint birthday party with one of her friends back in June.  We went to the Webster fair on her birthday and also went to Kirkwood Park for the fireworks.   On Tommy's birthday, we celebrated with lunch at Red Robin.  I can't believe they are 6 and 2!

The birthday girl sliding at Bounce U

Hadley had to wear a matching outfit with Madeleine

Tommy enjoyed the baseball game at Bounce U

The birthday girl

Ready to sing Happy Birthday

All the girls at the party

Tommy mowing the lawn with earphones and all

Madeleine trying out her new birthday present

Showing off he is 2.  I love how he uses his thumb

Madeleine has to use two hands now!

Ready to blow out candles

Lighting candles for Tommy

Fireworks at Kirkwood Park... wouldn't be complete without a shaved ice from Tropical Moose

Tommy was exhausted after the fireworks.

Hilton Head 2013

The kids and I went on a great trip to Hilton Head a couple of weeks ago to stay with my parents there.  I survived flying with all three by myself although I'm pretty sure the people on the flights on the way there were not too happy with us.  Tommy likes to see airplanes but didn't really like being stuck on my lap on one.   After a few days, Amy joined us.  And Holly, Abby and baby Grant came to visit.  We loved seeing everyone and meeting Grant.  I even played golf with my dad one day and managed to hit fairly well considering it has been a few years.  We missed Jim though and look forward to taking him to the beach with us next time we go!

Hadley loved playing in the waves.

Working on a sandcastle.  Tommy loved the sand but not the water.

Poppy and Tommy

Madeleine bringing water to her sand pool

The most coveted piece of playground equipment in Harbourtown 

PaPa and Hadley at Lawton Stables

Getting ready for pony rides

Hadley was more excited than she looks

Madeleine and her pony, Dusty

Playing at the beach with Aunt Amy and Holly 

The girls were playing sea turtles and floating in on the waves

Tommy liked this airplane at the playground in Poppy and PaPa's neighborhood

Madeleine and Poppy at the Dolphin Head playground

Pirate Princess Madeleine and Mermaid Hadley ready to board the Black Dagger for our pirate cruise

The pirates on the lookout for Stinky Pete after drinking the pirate grog

Hadley getting in a few more waves before heading back home

Summertime

Summer has finally arrived.  The kids are enjoying the time off from school... wish we had time off from work.  Hadley and Tommy are doing swimming lessons this week and Madeleine is in a dance cheer camp after a week of pom pon camp.  Last week, we took Tommy to the Cardinals game for the first time.  He wears his hat non stop and always wants to wear his shirt.  I think he was amazed to see so many people in Cardinals gear.  Then Sunday was the girls' dance recital.  They both did a wonderful job.  We are looking forward to a few months off from dance!  It will be nice to have Tuesday and Wednesday nights back!

Tommy on a family bike ride.  This is before he decided he had enough.  We only had about 9 miles to go at that point. 

Madeleine and I after riding up the massive hill at Clydesdale Park.

Very excited for the baseball game

Tommy was not in to having his picture taken. He wanted to walk around and not be sitting in the bleachers.

A visit with Fredbird... Tommy walked up to him and turned right back around.

Pre Recital.  Hadley's dance was Never Smile at a Crocodile and Madeleine's first dance was Surfin Safari  

Post Recital.  Madeleine is in her Put on A Happy Face Costume

Red Bluff Camping Trip

So we haven't taken very many pictures lately so I haven't had a whole lot to post on the blog.  But last weekend we headed on our first camping trip of the year.  We had a great campsite with a grassy field and very few bugs.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  The kids really enjoyed playing in the Huzzah River.  Although they weren't so keen on the river after I told Jim I saw a snake and he announced to them that there was a snake.

Tommy refused to take a nap in typical camping style but did fall asleep walking around with Jim around dinner time. He followed that up with staying up until 10.

Just can't believe how grown up Madeleine looks in this picture.  Only 5 days of kindergarten left.

This totally captures Hadley's personality.

Hanging out around the campfire.

Relaxing in the camp chair

Madeleine chose the picnic table to relax on

Tommy kept pointing back up the river to float again.

I even got one float in but the water was too cold.

The riverbank is always fun too

Another fun game was throwing balls into the river for Hadley to grab

Tommy and Hadley riding their bikes.  The girls never got this balance bike but Tommy loves it .  Glad Jim didn't agree when I wanted to get rid of it years ago.

Snow Day

The original plan for today was to have an Easter Egg Hunt at our house but instead we had snow day. We got probably about 10 inches of snow on what was supposed to be the last day of Spring Break.  The girls are now off school tomorrow.  They had a great time playing in the very heavy wet snow.

Madeleine adding some decorations to the snowman. 

Posing with snowman who unfortunately had his head roll off shortly after this

Tommy got sick last night so he stayed inside with me.  

Love you snowman! 

The pine tree has so much snow on it that the branches are now touching the ground

The final touch... hat and scarf.