Family Cookout

Here are some photos from a recent family cookout. It was for no special reason other than to spend time together. The children spent the better part of 6 hours outside playing - they had a blast!

Helping Daddy

It's amazing David is able to get anything done around the house when he has a little helper under-foot! Or climbing on him!

Computer Savvy...

Today David had the day off and the 5 of us, along with my mom went to several garage sales. I think we hit five sales before lunch and we walked away with quite a few things...a few small toys for the kids, mom found couple of books, I bought a platter and table cloth (actually my mom did for me!). David, however, walked away empty handed - better luck next time!

One of the "finds" Gianna was a Thomas the Tank Engine laptop computer. She seems to be following in Spencer's footsteps with liking all things trains - especially Thomas.

After all of our shopping, we headed to lunch and then home for Gianna's nap.

Shortly after she woke up and we had our cuddle, this is what Gianna wanted to do next.

Doesn't she look like she's actually "working" on something? I hope she's not doing any on-line shopping!!! :)

Going To The Chapel

We had the pleasure of attending a wedding for some very special people over the weekend. Our neighbor's daughter Becky got married to "the boy next door". (Actually, it was the boy across the street.) David, Gemma, Spencer and I attended the wedding while Gianna took a much needed nap at home. (Her favorite cousin Libby stayed with her.)

Following the reception, we came home and got Gianna ready for the big party at the hotel. After dressing her, Gianna decided which shoes to wear - she actually walked in the heels better than I did!

The reception was a lot of fun. Gemma made some new friends and danced like crazy. Spencer wanted nothing to do with dancing, but he did find a friend to help pass the time. (Spencer was asking to leave before dinner was served.) Unfortunately, I don't have many photos to share from the reception (they are full of red-eye...my fault with the camera setting), but I do have this great video of Gianna at about 10pm tearing up the dance floor to "Dancing Queen". The audio is terrible since I was standing next to the speaker, but she had a great time dancing/running.

Hello, my name is Gianna!

Tea For Two (or three)

Gianna would stay outside for hours having tea parties if we let her. Fortunately, she has a few people interested in the idea!

Weekend Recap

Our weekend was filled with family, friends, fun and food. To kick it all off, we started with dinner at The Olive Garden with Bamma.
These are the only pictures I took of the evening - Gianna enjoying her menu and then enjoying her spaghetti. She also enjoyed the bread sticks and salad - but I didn't catch those on film!
On Saturday, we went to our very good friends house, Chris and Dominick, for an "M" family and "V" family gathering. David's family and Dominick's family go back over 40 years. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time visiting and eating. When these two families gather - you can always be promised a fun time.

Shortly after we arrived, Gianna threw Spencer's matchbox car in the pond. As you can see from the photo, the water wasn't exactly clear. After a few minutes of Dominick trying to reach in for it blindly, Mishka jumped in and pulled it out. I took a photo of her in the pond, but decided better than to post it!

Some of the M's and V's enjoying the beautiful weather and wonderful company.

Gemma and Spencer spent 5 out of the 7 hours we were there playing with the wagon. Dominick and Chris have a long driveway with just enough incline that the kids used the wagon as a bobsled. I don't think that wagon has ever seen so much action! Needless to say the kids slept hard Saturday night!

On Sunday, our neighbor Dan offered David to take his 4-wheeler for a spin. Since I didn't grow up with one of these, I'm not a big fan. David took both Gemma and Spencer for a ride in the yard and then brought it back to the neighbor. Gianna wanted NOTHING to do with it - I think it was too loud for her. (Which was just fine for me!)

Sunday evening, Gianna was outside having a tea party while Gemma and Spencer were working on their bobsledding skills with the wagon in our neighbors back yard. After a few runs, they had the idea to put Gianna, along with her table and chair in the wagon. Needless to say, David and the kids were out walking for over 30 minutes because Gianna liked being pulled in the wagon. It looked like a mini parade and she was the princess - if only she would have done the parade wave!

I think the pictures say it all - we had a great weekend!

Now That's A Croc!

I broke down and bought Gianna a pair of crocs ala Target.

I have to say, I don't care for the shoes - I think they're ugly. However, I bought Gemma and Spencer each a pair last year for our trip to Puerto Rico. It made sense to bring shoes that would work for the beach and double as sandals.

Gemma lasted about 1 hour in her crocs- they were rubbing her the wrong way and she ended up with a really nasty blister. Spencer, on the other hand, loves them. He's actually still wearing the same pair this summer!

Now, my baby girl has her very own pair. She seems to like them and she's able to put them on herself. I don't plan on Gianna wearing them to church, but I have a feeling they're going to be worn everywhere else we go! Plus, I think they may things a little easier for me! (easy clean-up!)

(I have to admit - because they are so small, they are cute!)

A Day at The Beach

We went to our favorite watering hole today with Bamma and Evelyn. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast. A co-worker of Evelyn's came with her almost 2 year old daughter named Gianna! The girls had fun - but I think it had more to do with being outside in the sand than playing with each other!

I love that cheesy face!

Here is Gemma working on a moat during one of the safety breaks.

I swear, Spencer looks like a model in this photo!

Lunch in the Park

We met David for lunch at a park just a couple of blocks from his office. The weather was perfect and Gianna stayed within the confines of our picnic area....for the most part! After we ate, we took a stroll through the park. Students from a local music college were performing by the water fountain. Gianna seemed interested in the music at first, but once she noticed that fountain - her interested shifted.

It was only an hour lunch, but it was worth the work (packing everything up and heading out the door in 30 minutes) and the trouble (Gianna knocked over our juice - all over the blanket, some on her and some on daddy!). It's always nice to spend time together.

Playdate

In an attempt to be efficient - we stopped at Menard's after church to get a few things David needed to finish a few home improvement projects and to let the kids play in the designated play area! It worked out quite well - we were together as a family, David shopped in piece and quiet and the kids played in a climate controlled environment!

Gianna looks interested in this new "home".

Gianna was trying to make some lunch - I don't think she managed to start the stove.

This is Gianna using the "secret" passage to escape from me after I tried to get her out of the house. Little did she know that the little door led right out of the play area!

Happy 4th of July!

Calling the wolves

We tried to see the wolves at the zoo, but they were taking a nap. Here is Gianna trying to get their attention - it was too cute not to share.

Keeping A Promise

David and I took the kids to the zoo in June - but we didn't get to go on as many rides as we would have liked. Because of the crowds and timing that day, we promised the kids we would come back to the zoo and hit the amusement park again this summer. (Normally, we only visit the animals and skip the rides.) Well today was the day to make good on our promise!

The butterfly tent

I thought this was an antelope, but it's really a Kudu.

The lion and his wife taking an afternoon snooze.
This is the baby giraffe - just born this spring!
In the conservatory enjoying the flowers and plants. David doesn't look like it, but he really was having fun.
Daddy and his little princess.
Me and my little princess.
Spencer on the roller coaster.
Gianna on her first ride all by herself! She did great and loved every minute of it!

Spencer at "Driving School"

Gemma at "Driving School"

Gianna and me on the train. She didn't want to get off after our trip!