Weekend Update

Saturday Steve was able to talk his nephew Derek into helping him with the shed. He needed this, they got alot done and it is starting to look awesome!

The girls and I hung out and decided to get out of the house for a while. As usual I had my talk with them about how they were going to behave and what was going to happen if they didn't. We had 4 stops to make, I was hoping for the best.
First we got gas. This was a success! (hey, every stop counts!)
Then we drove up and down the Merle Hay auto mile looking for a Jeep. Steve wants a 4-door Jeep so badly! I'm just not a fan of having 2 car payments so I'm pushing it off as long as I can. So....Presley and I decided to tease Steve and take the girls pictures in front of one (I really wanted a picture of them IN one but that didn't work out).



Then we went to the grocery store, it was a quick trip and they were good! So then we decided to get ice cream for lunch on the way home! They love Van Dee's ice cream more than Dairy Queen and it's cheaper! So we enjoyed our ice cream and then went home!



We found out that our friends Todd and Cari were in town for the night so scrambled to find a sitter so we could see them. We got Lexis, who is one of P's favorite girls at KTC. It's always nerve-racking for us to get someone new but the girls went right with her, no crying, no worries. And of course, they were perfect for her!

We did dinner at Saints and then found a table on the patio at Mickey's downtown. It was perfect out! It was a good night but the later it gets the older I feel. The amount of bachlorette parties down there are out of control stupid. I wonder if West Des Moines has that problem?

BEHIND

I hate when I get behind on blogging, it's always just looming over my head calling my name...and then I sit down and read my book instead of doing other things that need to get done. Reading is an addiction.
So last week was the last week for the Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser at Wasabi Chi, we got my parents to watch the girls for 2 hours while we went to dinner there...knowing they wouldn't like anything. It was really good! I've only heard good things about this place and love them even more knowing they help to contribute to CF!

Wednesday Presley had gymnastics and Piper and I had our date night at El Mariachi. DON'T JUDGE! I know it's a problem. I have an addiction to cheese dip and margaritas! (I might need meetings and help for my addictions!....of course, those meetings will have to be held at El Mariachi with my Kindle!)

Thursday was my late night and I didn't go until about 11 b/c I wanted to watch Presley on her last day of swim lessons! So mom and I went and watched her, of course she still can't 'swim' but you can tell she is just a little more comfortable. I wish I could get more than 2 weeks of lessons in for her!

I got home about 6:30 that night and the house was just destroyed, so I tried to do quick organizing while Steve mowed the yard and the girls kept busy playing. It's so hard to get them to bed early these days when the sun is out and they have having fun!

Friday we decided to do dinner out (which Piper was not cooperative during!) and then head to Prairie Meadows for the horse races. We love to go and this is the first time we have been able to go this year. The girls were good, Piper just wanted to be held alot (b/c we didn't take a stroller). There is room for them to run around, they can cheer on the horses. Every time a race got over with Piper would say 'let's do that again!'...and every day since then she says she wants to see the horses! HA! We did win enough money to cover the amount we bet, so that was pretty good!

Sunday Funday

Sunday was more of the same....Steve working on the shed, the girls fighting, me leaving the room while they fight. Then they follow me into another room, start fighting again and I leave again. It was a fun game.

I did get the pool and sprinkler out for them, but that was short lived after Presley wouldn't listen and they continued to fight. So we went back inside for no fun. Piper had more quiet time (which wasn't so quiet this time) and Presley and I went back outside to enjoy a little time in the sun.

My dad, Scott and Andrea were supposed to go skydiving this morning, but it got cancelled b/c of problems with the plane (kind of an important part of skydiving). But Susie had invited us all over for dinner to their house, so we went and it was so nice! We hung out, ate too much, the kids played in the pool, it was a very nice dinner and evening! Thank you Riders for having us all over!

Now for another week of heat!

Weekend Update

Thursday I had my monthly (or every-other-monthly) work outing. The weather was HOT but we braved the heat and sat on the patio at El Bait Shop. As always, it was good....SO many laughs!

Friday we didn't do much. Steve did take them on a walk after dinner (while I took a very short cat nap) but it's so hot out that no one really wants to be outside for too long.

Saturday Steve got up and started working on the shed. The girls and I hung out, they fought, cried, got in trouble, fought, cried and it was loads of fun. I had to go to Target and knew I was going to have to take both of them with me. Noooowwwww.....it really shouldn't be THAT hard to take my 2 children to Target, but after the last time when I had to carry Piper out b/c she wouldn't stop running around and knowing that they can't get along for more than 5 minutes these days, I was VERY leary to go. I had a nice, stern discussion with them before we left about how they were expected to behave and what was going to happen if they didn't. And they were good! I made it a quick trip b/c I knew that time was not going to be on my side but it worked out!

We went home, Piper had quiet time (seems napping is minimal on the weekends with her anymore but when she doesn't get up until after 9), Presley and I hung out, did laundry, watched a little High School Musical 2 and then Steve and I got ready for our date night.

Our date night was good, we were able to enjoy the nice night, some good food, drinks and music and of course, the girls were perfect for Carlyn! (Carlyn, who is leaving us to go to college in 2 weeks, so we are sad).

Back to life, back to reality

So Monday morning, this woman was up at 5:15...knowing it was going to be a struggle to get everyone else up was my motivation. Piper randomly woke up a little after 6 and I just decided to keep her up....and that girl was ready to go! She was up and dressed and talking with no problem! Daddy and Presley on the otherhand....

We signed Presley up for swim lessons thru the KTC program, we knew she was going to be hesitant...just NOT knowing what to expect and having that fear and nervousness....I know exactly what she was feeling. And she freaked out at drop off. Steve said it was like the first day of kindergarten...she didn't want to leave the house and then the staff had to take her away from him, crying and screaming (all the other kids watching). UGH!

But actually swim lessons went good and she didn't end up HATING them! I think now she knows what to expect and it's less scary! (and she seems proud of the things she is learning!)

Tuesday after work, I picked up Piper, dropper her off at home and got Presley. The two of us went to watch Boston's teeball game! Presley fell asleep in the car on the way there! That never happens with my kids!!

Tonight she had swim lessons, then they went to Chuck-E-Cheese and then she had gymnastics! I picked Piper up and she had scraped her knee so she didn't want to walk anywhere b/c her knees hurt! HA! We had our date night at El Mariachi and she was VERY good for dinner (b/c her knees hurt!). Presley got home about 6:30, Steve went to meet his sister and a friend out for dinner and both kids were in bed and asleep by 9! Success!

Thursday/Friday and the weekend

So Thursday morning Presley woke up at 7:30 and threw up?! WTH? She was running a fever and just slept. Well, we all slept in again. Steve took Piper with him to get Spudnuts (super good donuts at a place in Okoboji). Piper didn't want to leave Presley alone and all Presley wanted to do was lay on the couch, watch TV, play with her barbies and sleep. The water in the lake was dirty from the rain the day before I decided to take Piper to the local splash pad (to keep her busy and away from Presley!)

 She was only interested in one water fountain.

I got the perfect picture of her peeing like a boy! HA!

She mainly enjoyed the playground and swings over the water, but it was good for us to get away for an hour!

Friday started off like Thursday. Presley throwing up about 7:30 and then again about 10.  Piper slept until after 11...I even went in and put my hand on her back at one point to make sure she was still alive b/c it just didn't seem right that she was still sleeping!!!The weather was HOT and with almost no wind and honestly it was hard to stay outside for very long, so good thing the kids wanted to stay inside. Presley did start to feel better about noon, actually started eating and coming outside!

We just hung out and then as it turned out about 4:30 we decided we were going to pack up and head home! Normally we leave early Saturday morning, but almost everyone was leaving Friday night and we thought it would be good to get home, get unpacked and have all weekend to do laundry and recover before going back to work and daycare!

We got home about 9:30 and all took showers! Oh it felt SO good to take a good shower without having to put bug spray on afterwards....and then sit in camp fire smoke! So none of us got to sleep before 11 but we all slept in anyway!

 

Saturday was alot of laundry, cleaning, organizing, grocery shopping....then we met mom, dad, Holly, Boston and my Aunt Ellen from Wisconsin at El Mariachi for dinner! It was nice to have dinner with everyone and talk. Then we went back to my parents house and talked some more....then of course th girls didn't get to bed until after 10! (Monday morning was going to come as a SHOCK to all of us!) Our plan was to wake them up by 9 Sunday morning, but of course I didn't wake up until 10. So we got up, got ready and met my parents at 1908 for brunch at about 11:15. The girls were actually pretty good and we were able to do some more talking, which we don't do with my parents one-on-one very often. The weather was perfect and we were able to enjoy the patio with no one else around!

 

Overall our vacation was a success! Lots of laughs, good time and memories! Now back to reality!

Wednesday

Wednesday we decided to go to Arnold's Park and walk around, shop, maybe ride some rides.

The girls sitting by the door waiting to leave.

 Steve in the mirror house...I can't go in there, makes me dizzy and sick!  So good thing he can go with P into this and the tipsy house!

Piper played on the playground since there isn't much for her to do since she is scared of rides.

Presley was 2 inches short to ride the roller coaster and log ride, really the only two rides she wanted to ride so they did the go-karts instead. She was scared last year, so I was happy she did it this year!

We took Gavin with us and he joined the fun too!

After the park we went with Jordan and Sarah to lunch at The Ritz, again, right on the water but this time the kids were good!

We got back to the cabins and Steve took Presley fishing, she doesn't have much patience though.

Then the rain moved in and they played in the rain, one of their most favorite things to do!

The rain didn't last long and then we had another great sunset!

Photo courtesy of Presley! (yes, she told me how to pose!)

Gavin holding the sun