Lake Monroe

This year we took our Klinker vacation earlier in the summer, since we didn't have to wait for any babies to be born ;)  Unfortunately Michael and Stacy weren't able to make the trip this year due to their move to Denver and it just wasn't quite the same without them.

The first day we met on the lake and rented a double-decker pontoon boat (a tiger-striped double-decker pontoon boat!) with a slide like we did last year.  Again, it was a BIG HIT!  The girls had no fear going off the slide, despite the two-foot drop from the slide to the water.

We spent all afternoon on the boat, which included a picnic lunch and lots of breaks to swim and float about.

The girls got to go tubing, which was great because the pontoon boat was just their speed...slow and steady.

Rose was brave enough to tube all by herself this year.

She had way more fun than it looks like in this picture :)

Ava and Madeline had tubing buddies.  Clearly the ride wasn't as exhilarating for them (hence the beer in Ben's hand ;)

The babies were just precious toddling about the boat in their ity-bity swimsuits.  They spent the day taking in all the action around them.  They could not have been easier (or cuter) that day!

The guys added a little danger to the outing, of course, by diving and flipping off the top deck.  Luckily, nobody broke anything!

Their form was near perfection!

After spending all day on the boat, we packed everyone up around dinner time and headed to the cabin about 20 minutes away.  It was a very spacious place (called the Snuggled Inn :), with a room for each couple as well as a separate room for the girls.  We were all so exhausted from our fun in the sun, that we just chilled the rest of the night, then turned in early to save up our energy for skiing the next day.



The second day, we rented a speed boat in the afternoon.  There was a big storm predicted to hit at the same hours we were supposed to be boating, so we were a little worried about how much actual ski time we were going to have.  However, I think the weatherman just wanted to get into our heads because it only rained for 2 minutes out of the entire afternoon!  The water was calm and the sun was in and out the entire day...perfect skiing weather!

We did a little wakeboarding...

...a little skiing...

...and Paul and Ben did a little slaloming, which was pretty awesome to watch, I must say.

Since we couldn't all fit on the speed boat at the same time, Joy and another adult took turns watching the little ones at the beach.

Once we got back to the cabin, we finished off the evening with a bonfire and smores....yum!

Rose came up with a fun idea for making smores on a stick...put M&Ms inside the marshmallow, then roast.  

It was chocolate gooey goodness!

Can't you tell? :)

After we got the little ones down, we finished off our last night there with drinks, a game of Buzz Word, and some late night chats.

On our last day of vacation, we spent the day at one of the many beaches along the lake, building sand castles, swimming, and catching some rays.

It was such a fun trip, we are already looking forward to next year!

Hugs!

Glam Girls

Yesterday, Rose, Ava, and I went to a birthday party for their friend, Whitney who recently turned 5.  It was at a place called Club Tabby in the mall...a dream store for any little girl.  They had about every accessory there known to man, a stage and dress-up clothes to use for birthday parties....AND they do hair and nails.

The girls before they got all glammed up

Each girl got her nails done with the color(s) of her choosing.  Rose chose orange and black tiger nails and Ava chose zebra nails with pink and black stripes.  Then they were given 5 or 6 different options of hairstyles they could choose from.  Of course my girls and Whitney all chose the Rockstar hairstyle,  despite Whitney's mom's futile efforts to get her to choose something more feminine.  The stylist twisted little pieces of hair from the top of their heads, put it in a ponytail, then added a crazy colorful hairpiece.  They each got to finish it off with 3 hair colors of their choice...and glitter, of course.  My girls were in glam Heaven!

Whitney, the birthday girl

Diva Rose

Diva Ava

Here are the Glam Girls showing off their new looks on the stage...high heels and all!  ...My girls are such posers!

Everyone even got to make rings from a ring kit Whitney's mom bought from Club Tabby.  They were so excited for all their flair!

Madeline and Ella stayed home with a sitter, but we did bring home a ring  for Madeline so she could share in the glam fun.  She always wants to be like the "big" girls.

Works of art!

Needless to say, this party was one my girls will never forget.  Rose is already planning her glamour party for her birthday!

My two little Rockstars

Hugs!

Summer Treat

It is always such a treat to have family come visit.  And every summer for the past 5 years, I have been lucky enough to have Jack and Luke come visit for a week and Olivia and Madeline visit for a week.  These are probably my favorite 2 weeks out of the whole summer.

2007

2008

2010

2011

This year, Jack and Luke came early in the summer and didn't get to stay quite as long as usual, so we made sure to live it up the 3 full days they were here.  We have made it our tradition to always buy some sort of craft while they are here to work on throughout the week.  Last year they picked these cool wooden sculptures that you build and then paint.  This year for the lack of time and selection, they got some cool pages to color with the girls.

One night they watched the girls for us so we could go out for our anniversary...what a treat!  And they are so good with the girls.  They even coaxed Jack into playing 'doggie' with them.  He was either "walking" them or they were "walking" him.  Hilarious.

I love how Ava is 'texting' while walking her dog!

The next day we went to a holy half hour for kids at our parish chapel...they are such good sports..they each led a decade of the rosary...what a great example to the other kids!  After lunch, we went cosmic bowling.  None of us were on top of our games that day...I think Ava ended up winning (using bumpers and a ball ramp, of course)!  All that exercise of throwing the ball down the lane worked up quite an appetite, so with a Krispie Kreme across the parking lot, we naturally finished off the afternoon with a flavored donut!  Yum!

Wednesday was my favorite day...we went hiking at Bernheim Forest about 45 minutes away.  It could not have been a more beautiful day for hiking...low 70s and sunny!  We started off slow, walking down a path of kid-made fairy houses...think Tinkerbell size made out of nature.  Rose and Ava were in awe!  Next we fed the fish and turtles...well mostly turtles...I think they rule that pond!  We continued on that path and walked about 0.7 miles.  There was a playground area where we ate our lunches to gear up for our next hike.  We finished off with the Canopy Tree Walk.  It was a wooden overlook where you could see all the trees below...very cool, but the holes on the walkway were a bit scary with small kids...luckily I had extra hands to help!  The girls wanted to go down the path next to the overlook so we decided to try it out.  It was pretty steep to get down there, but leveled off after a bit.  There was a path marked with red triangles that we decided to follow...not realizing it was a 1.5 mile hike!  The girls actually did extremely well, with the help of a few piggyback rides along the way.  You wouldn't believe the excitement on our faces though, when we could finally see the van!  Carrying an extra 20 pounds of baby = soreness for me the next day!

The two-year old always lingering behind

While the boys are here, Paul likes to take them out for a bit one night to have some guy time.  This visit he took them to his favorite place ever, Home Depot!  He gave them each $5 to spend so he could send them home with a tool and a small item of their choice (Jack got a huge carabeener and Luke picked a giant sharpie :).  Awesome, right?!

I especially love the evenings with them.  We stay up late, play games, and watch movies.  I think they make me feel like a kid again and who doesn't secretly want to have their childhood back again.  The game Ticket to Ride is a must while they are here.  No one ever plays it, except when they come to my house and we LOVE it!  It is a game of strategy...trying to form the longest route, trying to block others, and trying to complete routes on your cards to give you extra points.  I am kind of a game-junkie...but in my opinion this one tops all board games...or maybe it's just the company I play with?!

What a blessing to have two high-school brothers who want to take a week out of their summer to come see their older sister.  I think I have the best family ever!

Hugs!

So Happy Together

June 4th, Paul and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary.  Each year we commemorate this day by watching a 15 minute video of our ceremony and reception and looking at our wedding album.  It is fun to watch the video with the girls.  They comment on all the fancy dresses and always ask us why they aren't in any of the pictures :)

June 4, 2005

June 4, 2012

This year, since we had 2 free babysitters (Jack and Luke were visiting), we were lucky enough to get to go out and celebrate on our actual anniversary.  We had a gift certificate to a Chinese restaurant called Tea Station, so we decided to check it out.  We ventured out of our comfort zone, not really being Chinese food connoisseurs, but were pleasantly surprised by the place.

It was a quaint little joint, with only about 10 tables in the whole place.  We sat at a small table for two, with a flower garden right behind us.

We had shrimp in honey sauce, mongolian beef, a homemade eggroll, and the best green tea I have ever had in the cutest little teapot...I want one.  

Afterwards, we took a stroll around the area...a neighborhood that made itself into it's own little town, similar to the Village of West Clay in Carmel.  I love the brick sidewalks and the small town feel.  We had a wonderful night...just the two of us.

I think it is awesome to have this day set aside where we celebrate the two of us, our marriage, and how our life together began.  Seven years ago, I said "I Do" to my prince charming.  4 kids, 4 homes, and 3 jobs later, life has been quite an adventure and there is no one else I would rather spend it with. God has blessed me with an amazing life partner.  I look forward to many more adventures together!

Hugs!

For Your Entertainment

Everyone needs a good laugh every once in a while...well, we laugh at this video over and over again, so I just had to share.  (Watch the little 2-year old in the background.)

I think she got her dancing skills from her dad ;)

Hugs!