Carmel Water Park

Mom and Abbie came up yesterday to watch the girls while Barclay and I went to our friends wedding (which was super cool and held at the Indiana State Museum on the canal). ANYWAY, today we took the girls to the Carmel water park. We took the girls there last weekend when our pool was closed...then I told mom about it and she wanted to go too. So we spent almost the whole day there today. It was a really good time!

Summer weekends

The last two weekends have been really nice b/c we've been (for the most part) without plans. We've been able to relax and play around home and Indy! Last weekend we went to the state fair. It wasn't too much fun b/c it was crowded and expensive. Then on Sunday we went to the zoo. It was perfect weather and suprisingly, not too crowded. This weekend we spent Saturday bumming around on the back porch. We got the pool and sandbox out and the girls did their thing while Barclay and I read books in lounge chairs. It was perfect! After dinner, we went on a bike ride with the girls. Lily loves wearing her Dora helmet. Addy tolerates her helmet, but takes it off at the first chance. We rode down to the lake to feed the ducks. They were rabid. The girls sat on the dock and tossed bread to them. At times, I was actually concerned that the ducks were going to attack. I've never seen them so hungry! After that, we rode over to the ice cream shop (again). I swear we are their best customers. They keep doing cooler and cooler things - for example, for the winter, they are going to start selling gourmet coffee! So I shall continue being their best customer. The owner told us last night that they're going to change the party room to a haunted house for Halloween. This morning we woke up and went to the children's museum. We spent a long time there today just letting the girls play and explore. Afterwards we went to the lunch and the girls were perfect in the restaurant! Is it too soon to say that we may have turned a corner??? We napped when we got home and then went to Betty and Peter's for dinner. The great thing is that next weekend, with the exception of one 3 year olds birthday party that is just 2 houses down from hours, we also have no plans. I love being unscheduled!

Welcome home Matt and Joe

We traveled to N.C. on Friday for a much needed long weekend together with family. The plan was for everyone to meet up on Friday when Joe was due home. Well, get this tale of our trip!!! First of all, Addy is a little tyrant on the airplane - she screamed and became every air travelers nightmare :) Joe was delayed time after time and didn't get in until Sunday morning sometime. Taryn had to have emergency surgery on Friday to get her appendix removed! Matt, Taryn, and Gabe shocked us all by still managing to get to N.C. on Sunday! On Monday Melissa and mom were pretty sick with flu like symptoms. Melissa didn't get out of bed once! Then on Monday night/Tuesday morning, every single other adult in the house (except me - so dad, Matt, Joe, Abbie, and Taryn) were all sick as dogs. There wasn't an available bathroom in the house. On our last day there, which was Tuesday, everyone stayed in bed or on couches all day long. Guess who wasn't sick? Moi and 4 babies :) So everyone was debating the reasons for the ailment - blaming everything from the pork chops to the tap water. Well on Wed morning I found out the real truth - Joe had on a shirt that said 'I survived the blue bottle". Guess what he did? While delayed in Spain Joe drank an unknown substance from a blue bottle just to win a free tee shirt. I'm convinced that he brought the plague back with him...

As a positive, however, it was fabulous to see everyone even if it wasn't under the best of circumstances. I hate that we can't get together more often now that everyone lives so far away! Everyone is doing great - even Melissa and Taryn were doing really well in their respective states of discomfort :) Joe and Melissa's house is beautiful. My little nephews are just as cute as the little girls - and that's a tough feat!!! 4 of the worlds most adorable children just happen to be cousins. Plus, we did manage 2 quick trips to the beach, which was FABULOUS. Lily and Addy thought the beach was the coolest thing this side of the Atlantic! On a side note - I've noticed that I no longer take pictures of grown ups unless they just happen to be in pictures with babies. So I never have pictures of anyone except cute little kids! Sorry - I'm going to try to improve on that, but my camera is drawn to adorableness :)