Roller Boy

I picked up a pair of roller skates at a garage sale the other day, the kids have been having a lot of fun with them, they also change into rollerblades! Pretty high style in Urbandale!!!!!! :) Porter thought he was pretty cool with them on the other morning b/4 Stella woke up.

Watch Out Michael Phelps!

Stella has been doing great with her swimming this summer. I took a video of her tonight at the neighbors. We let her go off the board w/o a life-jacket for the first time tonight. She can swim all the way across the the pool without stopping and she can almost swim the entire length fo the pool. Go Stella! :)

Ashby Park

Anna and Vada are spending a couple of days in Des Moines, much to our delight! Today we took all the kiddos to Ashby Park which has an awesome wading pool with lots of spray fountains. We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed playing in the water.
I tried to get a group shot of all 5 kids, needless to say no one wanted to cooperate for me!! :)

Hannah

Stella

Haydn

Porter

Vada

Daddy Saves The Day!!

Yesterday we stopped at Old Navy, while Mike was trying on clothes the kids found a huge bouncy ball machine, picture a huge gumball machine in the middle of the store and that is basically what it was. Of course they *HAD* to have one! I obliged and gave them each 25 cents for a new bouncy ball (I'm such a big spender!). Well they were obsessed with these balls and couldn't wait to get home and bounce them. One of the perks of living on a cul-de-sac is the lack of traffic there is. So they were bouncing them on the street while Mike and I were standing there with them. Stella's started getting away from her and ends up in the storm drain! She was devastated!! Poor thing, if you know her, she is pretty much a drama queen and she was beyond upset. So Mike, bless his heart, tried to rescue this 25 cent bouncy ball from the drain! It was hysterical to watch and as you will see, most of the neighborhood had to to watch, too.

Mike with a garden rake trying to get to the bouncy ball....Porter is assisting.

Obviously not much was happening on Golf View Circle last night, as many of the neighbors had to come over and watch! :)

Success!! Mike (with the help of our neighbor Sara) rescued Stella's ball! You can see Stella in the bottom left of the corner reaching it up for it. I kept telling her we could go get another one later this week---but Daddy saved the day! Although I should add, I don't think either child played with their beloved bouncy balls for more than 5 seconds today! Go Figure!!!!!!!!!!

And no wonder my back isn't improving!!!!!! The kids loved to be twirled around and around and around....

Weekend In The Ayr

We've had a busy past few days!! Tuesday Sara and I went to Mt. Ayr and stayed with mom and dad, Wed morning, Sara, Mom and I traveled to Kansas City to pick Anna and Vada up from the airport. We spent 2 days in KC shopping, eating, talking and just having a good time! Stella and Porter were with their grandma and grandpa in Okoboji having a great time! We headed back to MA on Thursday and then the craziness began! Hannah, Haydn, Stella and Porter were crazy over Vada! We have not seen her since Christmas and she is such a good baby. We golfed on Friday night and hired a couple of babysitters. Saturday evening my cousin Gina got married. It was a beautiful wedding and the reception was a lot of fun. Today we celebrated Vada's first birthday, she'll turn one on June 30th. We are back home now and everyone is pooped!

Stella riding a bike at Nana and Papa's house.

Vada in the baby pool.

Porter

Vada

Mom and Dad with all 5 grandkids, this was the best photo we could get!

Family photo

Mike and Porter

Hannah and Haydn

Vada with her birthday cupcake

Opening gifts--Vada had lots of "helpers"!

Get Your Ice Cold Lemonade Here!

Yesterday at the library Stella picked out a Max & Ruby video. One of the episodes was about Ruby having a lemonade stand, Stella thought that was a pretty cool idea and wanted to do one of her own. So today while Porter was napping we opened a lemonade stand! :) I wasn't sure if we would even get one customer since we live on the end of a cul-de-sac and it was in the middle of the afternoon. We do live on walking trails, but I assume most people that are out exercising aren't carrying money with them!! Stella lucked out and the retired neighbors across the street both came over for a glass and a neighbor a block away walked by 3 times and bought a glass each time. Mike came home to grab a tool or something he needed and bought a glass and even left her a 75 cent tip! She made $2.75! I think we'll reopen tonight so that Porter can join in the fun and maybe catch some of the other neighbors on their way home from work. :) When I asked Stella how much we should charge for a glass her response was $60!!! Too funny.