Summertime Fun

Here are lots of pictures from the past week.  We've been having fun enjoying the summer sun!

I took the kids over to a park nearby we call Turtle Park & then we walked to the bakery for cookies:

JP is excited that there is a new King Tut exhibit in town!

We went to a Karate picnic in the park on Saturday.  The trio enjoying some treats with Dad:

One of the best things about Central Park is the great rocks for JP to climb on:

Caitlin checking out the "sprinkler trees":

Madison loved the fountains:

Caitlin wasn't so sure about them:

What a blondie!

JP showing his brother how to do the slip & slide:

Off to our first trip to the pool.  Daddy & the girls:

R, C, & M loved it!

Brothers:

Warming up:

The girls have such cute suits & hats from Aunt Erin.  The cover ups were also great during mandatory rest time:

I had just put the milk cups from lunch up on the counter and noticed the water cups there as well.  All the bright colors made me smile.

Happy Father's Day!

We started out the morning with a big breakfast.  JP helped me make macadamia baked french toast and I added bacon & fresh fruit.  JP couldn't wait for Dad to open his presents so that was next.  We were told that all Dad wanted this year was an ice cream cake from DQ & nothing else.  We surprised him with a few other little things for fun.  He received 2 new pictures for his office in frames that said "Brothers" and "The Girls", we also got him a new electric fly swatter (he's been wanting one), a new Avalanche hat, and some black licorice which he loves.  To go along with his Beer shaped Father's Day card JP picked out, I also bought him a huge Heineken which I know he'll love. :)

We attempted to walk off our breakfast by heading up to the farmer's market.  It was opening day and there were so many good booths this year.  We're already planning on coming back next week with appetites.  In the afternoon, Joe took JP to his first golf lesson of the summer.  This is JP's 3rd year and Joe loves to take him.  (Anything to get closer to a golf course!)  Joe spent much of the rest of the afternoon watching the US Open and hanging out with all of us.  We hope Dad had a great day and he knows how lucky we all are to have him!!

How I really get the kids to pose (I tell them they will get fruit snacks if they sit for a picture!)

Daddy & his beers:

The Very Best DAD In The World:

It was a great day to capture some new pics of the kiddos:

Caitlin:

Madison:

Ryan (pointing to his brother):

Where was JP? Climbing something, of course!

JP and Mom's Big Adventure

First of all I have to say how lucky we are that Grandmom and Pop flew out from Massachusetts for a week to help Joe watch the trio.  Without all their help the Big Adventure would not have been possible.

On Tuesday the 5th, JP and I headed off to South Carolina to see my parents.  What a difference it makes flying with only one kid!  I let JP get some snacks for the trip and he picked out a box of Good & Plentys which he had never had before.  Joe laughed with me that he would be eating the candy by 8am.  Well our flight took off at 6:55am and I looked at my watch.  The first candy was consumed at 7:15am.  That's what vacations are for!  We had no delays and arrived in Augusta, SC on time.

After the 45 minute drive to McCormick, SC JP went out to explore.  He checked out the woods, the golf course across the street and of course all toys that were anywhere in sight.  I took a nap. :)

We spent the next 2 days checking out McCormick.  We went to Nana & Pa's new church that Pa had helped organize the building of.  It was beautiful and JP loved having his picture taken with all the statues around.  Nana took JP and I for ice cream at the old soda fountain and then we walked around town.  I think the highlight for JP was going on Pa's boat.  He literally could have spent all day in the water if we would have let him.  Because he was wearing a life vest, he had no fears and loved jumping on their little raft tube and playing with the noodles.  He and Pa also were able to get in some fishing and biking while we were there.

On Friday morning we headed out on a 12-hour road trip to West Palm Beach, FL to visit JP's cousins and Aunt Erin & Uncle Steve.  This was JP's first ever road trip and he did great.  Between the movies and the games we played he did great.  We stopped for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as gas along the way.  We also made a quick stop at the Florida Welcome Center when we crossed over from Georgia to get a free glass of orange or grapefruit juice.  We only had one point along the way when JP got upset with me.  Poor guy, he wanted a souvenir in the worst way.  But everywhere we stopped just had a bunch of junk.  I kept telling him when we got to Florida there would be some better stuff, but there wasn't.  I just couldn't bring myself to buy him something that would just end up in a pile somewhere.  He had to wait a few more days, but he ended up getting a couple fun things.

Once we arrived at Erin's house, it was instant fun for JP.  Brendan (8) and Reilly (almost 6) kept him entertained nonstop.  He had such a great time.  They have a pool and again I think JP would have been happy just to swim for 3 days.  For a boy that used to be afraid to put his head under the water he did great.  In no time he was trying to dive down and reach things on the bottom.

On Saturday, after some more pool time, we headed off to watch Reilly & Brendan perform in their dance recital.  They did a great job and JP was such a trooper sitting through over 2 hours of dancing.  We ended the night with a trip to Buca de Beppo and a great meal.  On Sunday we went to church, stopped at Dunkin Donuts and then off to Fort Lauderdale to Wannado City.  This was such a fun place that was geared just towards kids allowing them to try all types of different 'jobs'.  We spent all afternoon there and JP, Brendan and Reilly had a great time.  JP finally got his souvenirs.  He picked out a stuffed snake and a Wannado City t-shirt.

On the last day of our vacation we went to the actual beach in West Palm.  It was a beautiful day and I'm glad that JP and I were able to see the ocean before we left.  We had so much fun with Nana, Pa, Aunt Erin, Uncle Steve, Brendan & Reilly.  Everyone treated us so well and gave us great memories to last a lifetime!  I made JP a photo book to remember our vacation and to always remind him of all the fun we had.

The old soda fountain in McCormick, SC

JP having fun with St Francis

On Pa's boat the Panana

Noodlin with Nana

Welcome to Florida

At Steak & Shake

Group Shot

Where's JP?

Dr. Erin off to work

Nana, Pa & the kids at the recital

A great dinner

Being miners at Wannado City

On the beach

The Longmont Girls Arrive

It's been almost a year since cousin Willa stayed with us. This time big sister Eloise came too and they spent 5 days.  We had so much fun!  It was so much easier than last year now that everyone can run & play and are much more independent.  Having Eloise here was such an added plus because of all her help.  JP especially loved having her here because it was someone to play chess with and do other bigger kid things.

The weather was great and we were able to spent quite a bit of time outside.   Willa loved the kids playhouse and we also went to a couple of neighborhood parks during their stay.  I think the trio are so lucky to have cousins within a few months of their birthday.  Willa is 3 months older than they are and cousin George is 4 month younger.  I'm sure they will have more and more fun together as the years go by!

I think we have finally maxed out the capacity on the Radio Flyer!

Eloise entertains at the park.

Caitlin waiting her turn.

Getting ready for a race:

On you mark, get set

Go!

On the way home from walking uptown to get ice cream one night, we saw a rainbow!

At the sand park:

Playing on the slip & slide.  Madison wasn't too sure about this thing:

Willa loved it!

JP warming up between runs:

There he goes again!

Daddy & the girls:

Ryan & Caitlin wouldn't get wet, but they couldn't say no to snack time!