First River Stay of 2011

What a great night at the river.  After a successful camping weekend, we decided to follow it with a stay at the river.  Hotdogs/Brats, Fishing, S'Mores , Lightning Bugs and a Pontoon Boat Ride...what more could a kid want.  Unless you were Jake, then it would have been nice to feel better.  Poor little guy wasn't feeling well and ended up throwing up, more than once, but he wouldn't even consider going home.  So, puke and all, he had a good time.

The Fishing started with Leigh and Jake

Then the Girls joined in on the fun

Megan caught her first fish

Then Bumpa helped Jenna catch hers

Drama Queens

Onto S'Mores



Love It

Jenna Loves her S'Mores

Rare Family Picture

A Small Smile from a sick little boy

Fading, but not giving in

Jenna can make anyone laugh

Lightning Bugs

Jenna crashed hard.

A Great Night had by all.  Can't wait to do it again!!!









2nd Annual Camping Weekend

We had so much fun last year, that we planned another weekend at Indiana Beach.  We had just as much fun, if not more, as last year.  Again, we went with the Thompson's, the Shelton's and this year we added the Waggoner's.  The kids all got along great, and actually went to bed so that the adults got to enjoy ourselves too.  There isn't anything better than sitting around a campfire with great friends. 

The Park is great for the kids and the location of our campsite is perfect. We still went back for a brief nap in the afternoon before returning to the park for more rides and games. Although Megan didn't tackle the roller coasters this year, she went on everything else. She went on so many rides that went in circles, that I almost got sick just watching her. Leigh even got a little uneasy feeling on the couple that he went on. Megan's favorite was the Swings, Jake's was the Matterhorn and Jenna's was the motorcycles in kiddie land. Each of the kids also got to play a couple of games, and they each won 2 prizes a piece. We were shocked and they did great.

It was another great trip and we can't wait to do it again!!  Even a little rain didn't dampen our spirits...



YMCA T-Ball

Jenna and Jake before their first game...we should have known that we were in trouble from the beginning.

Team Picture. What a gang...

Jake's First At-bat

Leigh coaching 1st and Jenna telling him about her big hit..it was "THIS" big

Jake out running the tag....the boy has speed.

Shaking Hands

Why do they call it "Summer Break"???

For the kids, maybe...for the parents, NOT.

Sure, school is out, but my oh my, it seems like our lives are busier than ever.  Here is a recap of our last week.  Monday was Megan's FieldDay at Ottawa school.  I took the morning off of work so that I could help out.  The plan was for it to be at the school, but when the school didn't have electricity, all of the kids had to walk up to the High School for the "festivities".  FieldDay to Leigh and I consisted of obstacle races, potato sack races and competitions.  For the Ottawa Otters, it consisted of jumping houses and inflatable slides.  The kids had a blast, but other than standing around taking pictures, there wasn't much to assist with, but Megan was all smiles, so that's all that matters.

Megan, Jose, Lexi, Alyvia

Monday evening was Megan's Kindergarten graduation.  We arrived nice and early so that we took up almost the entire front row.  Leigh, Jake, Jenna, Mini, Peggy, Nana, Bumpa and me.  We were so proud of Megan.  She had a great year at school and truly enjoyed everything about it.  Next year, the schools are being reorganized, so this was the last Kindergarten class that will pass through the Ottawa Elementary doors.  Next year, Moccasin will house PreK - 2nd and Ottawa will be for 3-4 grades.  Megan made some great friends during the school year, and our only hope is that she continues to bond with Josie, Lexi, Katelyn and Jack.

I can't believe that she is going to be a 1st Grader

Love this picture!!

Megan and her Diploma

Afternoon Kindergarten Class - Ottawa 2011 Mrs Poole

Megan and Josie and their Graduation Flowers

Megan and Mrs Poole

Megan and Mrs Faulkenstien

Megan's Self Portrait - Before and After

A treat at the Sweet Shoppe with Jack and Josie

What a nut!!

Tuesday was Jenna's turn for FieldDay.  Jake and I both went to help out with Jenna's class.  Moccasin had inflatable jumpers, but they also had carnival games, face painting and hair coloring.  Hands down, Moccasin won the unofficial FieldDay contest. 

It was a "Rock Star" Theme

Only in Buchanan..."Toilet Paper Toss"

Check out the Hair and the Tats

After kissing the kids good-bye, I was off to work and had to travel to Toronto, Canada for a Sales presentation.  Thanks to our wonderful family for pitching in, the kids had a great time while I was gone.  With Leigh working nights, Nana and Bumpa stayed Tues Night, Mini was in town and stayed Wed night.  Megan's last day of school was Wed and Jenna's was Thursday.

Thursday, the twins had t-ball practice which is always an adventure..more on that later.  Friday was Jake and Jenna's last day at their sitter's, Marie Tumbleson.  Marie is wonderful and will be missed, but we transferred them to Louanne Wesner's so that they will be with Megan, and we will only have one drop off and one pickup place.

I was supposed to get home Friday evening, but after a delay with our flights, 3 of us had to drive from Toronto to South Bend and we got back around 11:30pm.  Not the best start to a weekend.

Saturday, the kids enjoyed an outing to Lake Michigan with Mini and the Tobolski's.  Leigh and I on the other hand, spent the day outside; cleaning the pool, mowing, cleaning the gutters, changing some land scaping...you know, the "fun" stuff.  Saturday night we went to the Tobolski's to see the fishermen (Grumpy and Tom) when they returned from their trip.

Sunday, we went shopping for T-Ball attire (ball pants and batting helmets) and the usual grocery shopping.  Megan had a friend over to play in the afternoon and everyone crashed early.

Monday night was T-ball pictures and a Game.  The following was an email which I sent out to family members to recap the evening...

• Had to be at the field for Pictures at 5. Game scheduled for 6, didn't start until 6:45, didn't get done until 8:45. Tired + Hungry = Grumpy kids. It was an awesome night at the ball park.
• Add in the fact that my kids are regular poopers. And, by regular, I mean between 6 and 8pm nightly. Let's just say that Leigh spend half of his time in the Port-O-Potty. Then Jake wouldn't pee in it and wouldn't pee outside. What little boy doesn't pee outside? That would be Jake, so Leigh left to take him to the near by gas station. Good thing that it takes about 30 minutes for his team to get through the line-up, he wasn't even missed. Jenna on the other hand wasn't much for playing in the outfield and always volunteered to be the person to sit out since they had an extra player.
• Jenna hit the ball and ran to 3rd..not a triple, just directly to 3rd because that is where Leigh was standing.
• Jake played 2nd and had no idea what to do with the ball once he got it.  He just looked over at us with a big smile on his face.
• Jenna was sitting in the grass for most of the game and would only go out onto the field if Leigh or I were with her.  Thank goodness we weren't the only parents in that predicament.
• When the ball was hit to Jenna, she let it go past and let Jake get it.  Why should she have to do something when she has always gotten Jake to do it for her?
• What a first game. I wish that I would have videotaped it. Good blackmail for later on....

It is going to be a long season....Good times