Lake Monroe 2013

Every year, we have such a blast at the lake with Paul's family.  This year we went back to Lake Monroe.  It really is a beautiful lake.  There are no houses right on the water, just trees everywhere...a peaceful getaway from the busyness of life.

Friday we rented a double-decker pontoon boat...the girls' favorite part of the whole trip! It was a perfect day...the weather was warm and sunny, there weren't many boats out on the water, the water was calm, and the girls were all in wonderful moods.  What more can you ask for?!

Climbing the ladder to the slide

Paul taking Ella down the slide...she doesn't want to be left out!!!

I bet the girls went down that slide over 100 times that day. What a blast! The adults all went down too, except Brooke, who was 36 weeks pregnant.  She was such a trooper on the whole trip.   And such a cute pregnant mama.  We were so grateful that they came!

Rose going down

Love the excited expression on Ava's face

Madeline has her arms up like she is on a rollercoaster

The cool water was the perfect break from the hot sun.

The crew in the water for a swim break

Ben and Julia

Brooke and Julia

Lunch break on the boat

Mommy and daughter...so sweet!

The big guys always have to try to spice things up a bit, so after doing flips off the top deck, they started throwing the football and the frisbee to each other and tried to catch it as the dove off the top of the boat. 

Two little buddies.  Julia is deejaying the music & Ella is watching intently
 with her little hand on her chin...hehe, I love it! 

Madeline helping Grandpa drive the boat

The little girls also got to go tubing.  The pontoon boat is just the right speed for them.

Rose and Ava on the tube

Big huge Daddy trying to fit in the tube with Madeline

Mommy and Ella's turn

Rose being adventurous and standing in the tube

We were on the pontoon boat from 10:30 to 4:30 that day, which made it quite a long day for the little girls, but they all did great.  Especially Julia and Ella who missed their afternoon nap!

I thought this was adorable with the dads both snuggling
their babies on the boat

Chillaxing in their shades

Always has to have the paci...it definitely makes life quieter

Saturday, we couldn't have timed the weather better if we tried.  We had reserved a speed boat from 9-1, and storms rolled in around 2:00 or so and lasted the rest of the afternoon.  The boys took the boat out in the morning to get their skiing, slolaming, and wakeboarding in while we took the girls to the beach.  They picked a few of us up a couple hours later so we could give the little girls a turn.

Rose driving the speed boat

Paul slolaming

Ken has still got it...killing it on the skiis

Rose REALLY wanted to try skiing, so we rented little skiis, found a cove, and Paul hopped in the water to coach her through it.  Unfortunately, it didn't go well.  We forgot to tell her to let go of the rope when she fell, so the boat was dragging her for a bit before we realized what happened.  Needless to say, she wouldn't try again.

Rose, excited to try skiing

SOMEHOW, we talked Ava into trying after she watched all this happened to Rose.  She tried two different times, then gave up.  But at least she tried!!!  We were very proud of our little adventurous spirit!

Ava also gave it a go

Saturday afternoon, we just hung out at the house; played games, read books, watched movies, and sat out on the deck in-between the rain.

Bubbles in between the rain

LOVE her curls...just gorgeous!

Joy entertaining the little ones with a game of Go Fish.

Paul with a worn out 3 year-old

Ben practicing for 2 ;)

Although it's not easy getting everything and everyone ready for the trip (there is SO much stuff you need for an overnight trip to the lake!!!!), I am glad we do it every year.  It is one of the big highlights of the summer.

Ella Bella Turns 2

My sweet little Ella turned 2 on July 16th.  With her being our baby right now, it hit me hard that she was turning 2.  A two year old is a toddler...she is still supposed to be a baby.  She is still supposed to need me.  She just can't grow up...not yet.  Every day, Paul and I comment on how big she looks.  I want to hold on to Ella baby forever.

Keeping tradition, I made her an Elmo cake via the method my mom always used

She really wanted a Dora cake, but I talked her into Elmo because Dora takes
forever and I have already done 3 Dora cakes in past years...maybe next year

But I do have to accept reality, and the reality is that she is getting more independent, saying more words everyday, fitting right in with the "big girls," and needing Paul and I less often.  She really is a sweet little girl.  She is a wild spirit who is either constantly in motion, screaming at the top of her lungs (either in delight or disgust), playfully growling at someone, or climbing up something.  Whatever she is doing, she is often giving us a good laugh.

We celebrated with the Klinkers on our trip to Lake Monroe.  It was nice to celebrate with family, especially her buddy and cousin, Julia, who often looked at Ella like she was from another planet.  Although their temperaments are quite different, I can tell they are going to be best buds.  Julia will be the one trying to keep Ella in line and Ella will bring out Julia's crazy side.  They will be trouble together :)

Very delighted with herself

Shoveling in the goodness

I pray she keeps her sweet disposition, even through the terrible twos...high hopes, I know.  She has been such a joy and a pretty easy going child...it would be nice to have one like that! 

Happy Birthday Ella Belle!  

You are such a blessing!

A Superhero Kind of Day

One Sunday afternoon, I was outside with Ella when next thing I knew the big girls came out in full superhero garb and fully immersed in their Superhero roles.

Super Girl running to save the world

Ava keeping the bad guys away with her super powers.

Spider Girl's stern and sometimes scary stare

Spider Girl posing with attitude

Bat Girl calling Spider Girl on her Superhero phone

Ready to attack!

Even Ella played a part

They played superheroes for a little while, then started making up songs and dances.  I know I post a lot of videos of them singing and dancing, but I can't help myself.  I get a kick out of them each time.  Rose's rhyming lyrics always crack me up!  I hope they never become self-conscious and lose their desire to perform.  

They spend countless hours each week dressing up and playing pretend.  I love their little imaginations and to see their innocence acted out.  It will be a sad day the day they are "too old" to pretend anymore.

Friday Funnies

Rose:
"What are you....a mean sister, or what?!"
Rose said this to Madeline when she was mad at something she did.  Madeline responded, "No, a boy." They were playing pretend and she was the husband.

Ava:
"I know what makes people holy...holy water!"
Ava's proud response when I asked a question about the saint we were reading about after dinner.

"Holy Christ of the Lord"
What Ava said to the girls instead of "Body of Christ" when they were playing communion.

Madeline:
"...when I was only three and my name was still Madeline."
Madeline responded when we were talking about something she did when she was little.

Ella:
The little destroyer strikes again!  When Brooke and Julia were here, we thought all the girls were playing upstairs when we see a little pink dress run by.  Clearly one little girl was not upstairs, but instead getting into Brooke's diaper cream.  She left a trail on the steps, on the wall, and all over the chair in the extra room.

How could I be mad at such a sweet little face?!

HAPPY Friday!!!

Camp In

Paul had the whole week of the 4th of July off work.  Between weddings and family gatherings, Paul found time to do something extra special with the girls.  He has taken Rose and Ava camping a couple times over the past two years and they LOVE it!  We didn't really have time to do a big camping trip this week, but he decided to get creative and do a camp-in.

He set up the big tent in the basement and had the three big girls bring down their sleeping bags and pillows.

They even ate real camp food in the tent...smores!  (Not cooked over a fire unfortunately...we did use modern conveniences, like the microwave :)

Not sure who decided smores were good camp food...I don't think there is a messier dessert!

Paul even found a little video of a campfire on the internet, so he pulled it up on the tv to help set the mood.

Then they laid in the tent and told stories.  Paul's story was a little hard to follow, even for him :)  He loves to tell the girls silly stories.  They don't appreciate his humor yet, but they will...once they understand it.

Although you can't see anyone in this video, I love to hear all the laughing...brought on by our goofiest child, Ava.  Can you tell they are having a good time?