County Fair

We had a great time at the county fair as a family.  I was debating going, but Jadyn was so excited after we talked about it that we had to go.  So, Friday night after Nathan got off work we headed to the fair!  It sure was fun...but pricey.  Our entrance fee, 3 slices of pizza, 1 philly cheese sandwich, 1 ride each for the girls, and an elephant ear came to a total of $43.50!  It was a fun time though and got me excited for the girls to enter things in the fair soon.

Maya's favorite animal we saw were the horses

The girls wanted to know the name of each horse

Bennett was trying to eat the plate too!

Maya would not put her head in this at first and was throwing a fit.  I couldn't figure out why and then she said, "but I don't want that to be my ride"  We had told the girls they could each pick one ride to do and she thought this would count as her ride.  After I explained this was free, she happily popped behind it and smiled

Maya picked the Merry Go Round ride

Jadyn picked the little roller coaster.  She was afraid to try it, but she was all smiles afterwards and said it was so much fun.

The kids loved the bunnies

Bennett was the first to be brave enough to pet them...he just stuck his hand right in!

Bennett was fascinated by the bunnies

Maya looks like she is doing the potty dance in this picture, but she was actually just jumping back because the bunny kicked out some shavings on her

Bubby loved the elephant ear

Jadyn's prayer

Tonight in her prayer, Jadyn asked for "Please help us to be able to go to Disneyworld sometime soon.  And please help me to see an elf or the Easter Bunny or Santa or a reindeer or something like that."

Well dear, I will work on the first request :)  You will need a little divine intervention for the others!

Princess turns 4!

Maya turned 4 today.  Wow!  Can't believe she is already 4.  She is such a sweet (and spicy :) part of our family.  I am so grateful I get to be her mom.  She teaches me daily how to truly love someone and show them that you love them through kind, genuine compliments and little moments of affection.  She is a great example to me.  

We had an awesome day.  Grandma Julie came up for the weekend.  We love how Grandma Julie tries to come for our birthday celebrations.  It is nice to live close to her.  The children definitely know that she loves them.

We started the morning with Maya getting to open Grandma's present (Mini Cupcake maker) and one card (She chose Aunt Autumn's :) Then the kids played with Grandma.  Then we headed to the beach.  It was a little overcast/cold at first, but shaped up to be a nice beach day.  It was a riptide warning so we couldn't get in the water, but the kids liked playing in the sand just as well.  After the beach, we napped :)  Then, we headed to eat at Chili's.  We had a coupon for free kids meals so it was a fun, inexpensive time.  When we came home Maya opened her gift from us (Barbie Squinkie House) and from Jadyn (Squinkie bracelet and ring).  We then had cake/ice cream and played Squinkies until bedtime.  It was a fun-filled family day.  We love you Maya!

*Note: I convinced Maya to use leftover decorations from her party 2 years ago.  I had to make note of this for you observant folks who maye think it looks familiar.  Yes, I am lazy.  However, I am also enjoying not stressing about the decorations/perfect cake, etc.  I am enjoying just being with my children and having a fun-filled day on their birthdays.

Bennett took the frosting tip from Maya's cupcake maker and accessorized!

He proceeded to walk around the room with it on his foot

On our way to Chili's for dinner: happy birthday girl

She was so sweet and let Bennett have her chocolate milk

Maya absolutely adores her Dad

Giving Bubby a pat pat

Sisterly love (still can't get Jadyn to smile showing her teeth most of the time)

Party!

Maya opening Aunt Beverly and Aunt Loretta's card

Wahoo, money!

Barbie Squinkie house

Maya was so excited to blow out the candles...we told her to wait until we sang her Happy Birthday....so she blew them out as soon as we started the song :)

Minimal effort cake...I mean, how exciting can it look when I only took 5 minutes to decorate it.   I have realized my efforts to make pretty cakes were too time consuming and it tastes the same!

Part of Jadyn's present to Maya: I love what she wrote to her.  They love each other so much and truly are best friends.

Sous Chef

The bubster loves to help in the kitchen.  As soon as I start making anything, he wants to pull a chair over to help.  He gets mad when I don't let him help.  Tonight we made baked ziti, salad, and breadsticks.  He especially loved picking all the little pieces of remaining breadstick dough off the table and eating it.  Too cute :)

Whew: blog is updated!

It is amazing how daunting the task becomes to update the blog once I slack for awhile.  However, since this is my only form of a "journal", it is always at the back of my mind.

We have been having a fantastic summer.  I love summer: our days our filled with the beach, or swimming, or parks, or berry picking, or sprinklers/baby pool at home, etc.  We have fun-filled days that wear us all out and therefore the kiddos sleep very well :)

I wish we had two seasons of summer....we could just skip winter.  I really don't think I need cold, snowy weather to appreciate the beauty of summer.  I would appreciate it just fine without experiencing the cold :)

Swim lessons

The girls are taking swim lessons from a friend.  It has been great.  We have had 5 lessons so far and my timid little girls are now jumping off the side and swimming (with some help still) to the side of the pool.  Jadyn even jumps into the deep end and brings herself up to the top of the water.  This is amazing.  The girls were so scared of water at the beginning and now they are getting super comfortable.

Maya is itching to get in.  If I don't watch her like a hawk, she tries to jump in the pool as soon as we arrive

Sisterly love

"Alligator" Maya

Getting the mask just right

Jadyn listens well and really tries to follow the instruction

Super cute little swimmer :)

DQ, jewelry boy, and other random fun :)

We went to DQ to use free coupons from the library program.  Bennett LOVES ice cream

He would take a bite and some would get in his nose and he would wipe it and say "Nose Ice Cream" and repeat the process!

Maya did not want a cone and cried to the cashier then promptly turned it to a smile when the cashier said she could just have it in a bowl.  This girl can go from hot to cold in 2 seconds flat....it is a skill!

Jadyn chose the mint dilly bar.  She said she could not decide whether she prefers the regular dilly bar or the mint one.

While I was organizing closets and the girls were otherwise engaged, Bennett got into the girls jewelry.  He used the stick on earrings like stickers and the girls were mad

Getting ideas for Maya's birthday.  Bennett was hilarious with this big stuffed animal

Typical dinnertime for Bennett.  I was excited because he actually tried 3 bites of his chicken, but then he pushed his plate away and proceeded to take the peas out of the shells and chuck them at Maya across the table

Jadyn currently either wants to be a chef or an art teacher when she grows up.  Today she made herself a chef hat out of paper.  It is amazing the things this girl dreams up to make out of paper....which is why I am currently almost out of the entire box of computer paper I bought not too long ago :(