Random

- The skies are getting dark and I see lightening! I'm excited, we need a good thunderstorm with some rain for this yard! I'm already afraid of our water bill this month! But you know what will happen, we won't get any rain...I'm thinking about going outside and trying to take some pictures of the lightening. Though now the sky is black and the wind is gone. Creepy.
- Presley plays so good by herself sometimes! I love the stories! This weekend she had brothers. One time she had 2 older brothers and boyfriends who were throwing ice cubes at her. Another time her brother was 6 and she was 6, I asked if they were twins (then tried to explain what twins were). Then we were playing preschool and we had to wait for her brother to show up. Once he did, he had an owie on his leg and had blooded all over the place. Daddy helped with duck tape!
- She didn't cry at preschool today!
-  Ugh, we want to go somewhere for our 35th birthdays in Feb/March, any ideas? I know if we don't book it soon, we'll keep putting it off and never do it.

Week in review

Ugh, after being on vacation it is hard to get back into a routine...especially for the kiddos. Presley of course cried when I dropped her off at daycare every day until Friday! So hopefully tomorrow she will be fine too....fingers crossed!
We have been trying to put Piper to bed earlier than normal. Her bedtime process always takes at least a half hour to an hour (dumb, I know) So we start about 7 in hopes she is asleep by 8. It has been working nicely this week!
Wednesday I worked late and Thursday I went out after work with some co-workers. It was fun to get to know some of the people that I don't normally talk to at work (mainly b/c we are all so busy that there are rarely opportunities to just socialize during work). I was still home by 8 and Steve had already fed them dinner, gave them baths and they were both in bed! Awesome!

Friday we got home and cleaned, ate dinner and got ready for my parents and my aunts from WI and TX were in town and came over to see the girls, the house and just talk.
Saturday morning I got up and went to work early and when I got home Steve left to go help Jerry and Holly. The girls and I literally hung out and did nothing. We did make a quick trip to the store, but other than that we played, cleaned and enjoyed the day.
We had lined up Andrea and her boyfriend Chris, to come watch the girls for the night. They didn't come over until 7:30 so we tried to get Piper in bed before then, which worked for the most part. Presley on the other hand, freaked out when we left. She hasn't had a babysitter (other than family) in over a year! Andrea had to hold her back from running out of the house with us. We had to run out of the house and quickly close the garage door. I felt so bad leaving these two teenagers with a SCREAMING 4 year old and a crying (almost sleeping) 9 month old, but I figure this is great birth control for them!
We went to Saints to meet my whole family, there were 15 of us and it was a really good time! Talking, drinking and just having fun! Once everyone left there, we met my friend Sarah at Cooney's for a beer and then of course we swung by The Boathouse on the way home too. We got home about 12:30, which is too late but it was a good night out!

Today we got up, ready and headed to my parents house for brunch with the family. It was super yummy and good to have more time to talk and let my aunts see the girls a little more. We came home, Steve and P went to the store, Piper took a nap and I went to bed for a nap too! I needed it! So it was a busy weekend but a good weekend!

Part 6

 

We told the kids to act funny....they did!

 

Summary:

- This was the least relaxing Okoboji trip we've had just b/c Piper is at a bad age. She wants to be down and mobile but when we are outside 90% of the time on a gravel/sandy area, it's hard for her to be cooped up in her stroller all the time! It was still a good time and we both got relaxing time to ourselves! Presley and I had our time on the beach, her playing...me playing and reading. Steve took care of Piper and hung out with the boys (not on the beach) or fishing.

- If I have to hear "I'm hungry" one more time, I'm going to scream!!!!! I bet Presley said this at least 50 times a day. She would have 6 mini pancakes and a banana for breakfast and not more than 15 minutes later she was hungry.

- We had more health issues on this trip than any other. Ella, Christie and Ava passed on a 24 hour stomach issue Mon-Wed. Steve has found a new allergy to pineapple juice and was sick Tuesday night from that. Thursday his sister, Roxanne started feeling sick and his brother, Jason was having canker sore issues on his bottom lip...so Friday Jason went to the walk-in clinic for his mouth (a virus that they couldn't do anything about) and that night Roxanne went to the ER b/c of the pain and vomiting (gallstones, she stayed and had surgery this morning!) Then Ava started throwing up Saturday morning! Thank goodness this has all stayed out of our family (so far!)

- This is one of those vacations where it doesn't matter if you shower. During the day you are sweaty and covered in sand and sunscreen...you take a shower after dinner, come outside all nice and clean and spray yourself with insect repellent and sit in the smoke of a bonfire!

- Presley has pushed every single patience button I have this week. She is bossy, demanding, spoiled and will do exactly the opposite of what you ask of her....especially if it has to do with Piper when she is sleeping. Presley CAN NOT be quiet...she said she doesn't know how to whisper! And of course we are in these tiny little cabins, so we can't really punish her in there b/c she'll just scream and wake up Piper! UGH!

- Piper did not sleep good. She was up ALOT...and of course, you don't want to let her cry it out b/c then she'll wake up Presley! So she got a bottle (or two) every night in order to get her back to sleep. She also ended up sleeping in bed most of the time too. We didn't stay up as late as we normally do mainly b/c we didn't know if we were going to be up with Piper (and b/c the teenage/20-something nephews weren't there to keep Steve entertained until the wee hours of the morning!)

- Presley eventually opened up to everyone. Even when we went shopping she said thank-you to the employees! She still has her 'shy' moments but it is getting better!

- As good as it is to be on vacation, it is so good to be home!

Part 5

One thing you learn on vacation, the kids are going to be dirty! Even after baths!

Piper sporting a mohawk courtesy of the wind!

 

I love this cheesy face!!

Piper ready for the water!

She was not impressed!

Ava, Sam, P and Gavin having fun!

Part 4

Thursday we made our way to Arnolds Park to do a little shopping and see if P wanted to ride anything. It was only $10 for her to ride and she loved it!

Riding the ferris wheel with daddy!

She likes the little kid rides, but she is almost bored with them. After riding the tilt-a-whirl at the Green Days carnival she is up for more adventurous rides! Adventureland should be interesting this year!

Of course, her favorite thing was the free playground, jungle gym area. Steve went with her the first time and then she was off by herself!

Cousins (Part 3)

Steve told them to laugh at each other....I think they slightly overreacted! Drama queens!

Part 2

 Blowing bubbles, (yes we buy small wedding bubbles b/c they are cheap and small and when they get knocked over....at least you have more!)

Ella did a little knee-boarding

Even the kids played a little beanbags

Presley didn't talk to anyone on Saturday, finally when Ava got there on Sunday afternoon she opened up. Her and Ava fought like sisters every night. 'You're not my best friend anymore', 'You aren't being nice!' It was rather funny!

Wednesday we made our way to the Barefoot Bar, it's a nice place to relax, drink and have fun. We put Piper down for her afternoon nap, letting Grandma Kathy 'watch' her for us (hoping she would sleep the whole time we were gone. She didn't and she wasn't happy)

The older kids took advantage of the water slide!

Presley enjoyed her first (virgin) strawberry daiquiri and loved it!