Camping!

This past weekend we decided to do something we DON'T do... Go camping!
We met my sister n law and her in laws at Lake Waskasui where they had been camping for the previous week. We committed to one night in a tent (because we know our kids) and planned on moving to a lake house with some friends the next evening. We got to the campground around 1pm on Thursday chatted for a bit then made our way to the beach. The girls played in the water a bit but mostly played in the sand because unlike Oklahoma lakes the water here is FREEZING!
Brandon and Morgan took us out on their boat which was a blast. The girls (and Emery, their cousin) took turns riding with G on the tube. I couldn't believe how much Hadley loved it! I could hear her yelling from the tube "faster, faster"! Ivy Mae wasn't as big of a fan but I think mostly because she did NOT enjoy her life jacket being on.

Emery and Ivy Mae

Oh just driving the boat ;)

Loving it! 

It got chilly pretty fast that day so we went back to the campground to get ready for supper! Ivy Mae was exhausted (no nap, and late to bed the night before) and quickly fell asleep in the swing.

The evening was spent around the fire visiting and then the adventure of trying to get a 1 & 3 year old asleep in a tent when it doesn't get dark until 10:30 began... From 9-11:15 they wrestled and played before finally crashing out of pure exhaustion! They slept "ok" but it defiantly wasn't a great sleep for any of us, especially when the sun is back up at 4AM!!!! But we made it through it. I can safely say we will NOT be tenting with children under the age of 5 EVER again. It might work for some people and some kids, but not us.

The weather wasn't great Friday but we made the best of it at the playground and enjoyed visiting with family. When Morgan and her family headed back to Saskatoon we headed to the lake house just up the road. Graham and Hadley had naps while Ivy Mae and me went to for a swim at the lodge! In the evening we took the Quads (4 wheelers) for some off roading!

Its all fun and games until someone gets STUCK! It was a stressful half hour of G digging and pulling the Quad out with the other Quad but thankfully we got it out and it started!!!! We were in the middle of no where, with no cell phone service, getting eaten alive with bugs, the girls crying because they were so over the 'fun', and me trying to figure out how we going to afford to buy a new quad to replace the stuck one! It actually was a fun couple of hours minus that little hiccup.

This kid is so tough. Took a limb in the face at some point and we never knew it until we stopped! She never made a peep about it. 

Later that night The Prosofskys showed up and the rest of the weekend was filled with swimming, fishing, quading, smores, cards, a little booze, and LOTS of laughter!

We love our friends so much and consider them family! Our kids play so well together and love each other so much.

Hads and Presley! Hadleys face says exactly how much she loves Presley

Slade giving Ivy Mae a little push

We loved our lake weekend but were never so happy to see our own bed Sunday night!

Thanks to Morgan, Brandon, and Emery for inviting us and the great visits and the Prososfskys for sharing their weekend away with us and sharing so many laughs!

Swim Lessons

Hadley started a two week session of swim lessons on Tuesday! I was really nervous about them considering the last session in Feb had NOT gone so great.
I have been amazed this week! She has had NO issue with me not being in the water! She has become this fearless little swimmer! She dives her head under the water, tries floating, and kicks holding onto a flutter board! She is really loving it! The only issue is her constantly yelling Mommy watch from the pool and occasionally swimming off from the class to do her own thing or to 'show me something'!
I really hope the weather stays nice for a while so that we can be in the pool as much as possible (outside of class)! She has one more week of lessons and then another session in August, but I think we may just have a little swimmer by the end of the summer :)

OKC Cont...

I found a few more (and some of my favorites) on my photo stream...

Playdates with our friends! 

MiMi and Papa

Fishing with Auntie 

Auntie was awesome for getting in this freezing water with us :) 

There is no denying Hadleys love for animals (horses specifically) however this is a miracle shot because Ivy is NOT a fan! I couldn't believe she wanted on! 

This kid will be a cowgirl or a Vet, maybe both

This was an awesome day! 

OKC -May 2013

We have been back from OKC for almost a month but I still wanted to post a few pics from our trip...

OUR TRIP IN PICTURES...

Playing in the rain at Granny's house in Arkansas

Best Friends having a blast in the rain... 

Ivy Mae got in on the fun

Mothers Day with my Mom

Having a snack on one of our many Zoo Trips while in OKC

So much fun in the Childrens Zoo

Hanging with our Friends Blakeley and Briggs

Baby sister's Graduation! 

Our best attempt at getting the whole crew

Ivy Mae was loving the motorcycle(our little daredevil), Hads stayed on long enough for the picture ;)

And of course some horse time. Hadley's favorite! 

Grace and I before Taylor Swift!!! So much fun! 

Our sweet girls hanging out at GG and Grandpas

Despite 2 monster tornados and kind of a rainy month, we had a blast! There was still not enough time to see everyone and do everything, but we feel blessed to have gotten to spend a month at "home".

Hadley- 3 1/2

This post is of course LATE by a few days but this last week as been insane (will post later)!

Hadley,

3 1/2! Wow!
You are sweet and loving, loud with those you know, but shy when you meet someone new or haven't seen someone in a while. You love your baby sister and are usually dragging her around, 'showing' her something. You are a Daddy's girl 90% of the time, unless you are hurt, tired, or sick, then only Mommy can help you. You have beautiful blonde hair that curls when its wet, and your Daddy's blue eyes! We still get comments on how long and beautiful your eye lashes are. You are a little Mommy to other kids, and are very concerned if anyone else is crying or upset. You are obsessed with talking on the phone! Your favorite shows are Go Diego Go, Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, and Curious George! You are a true animal lover! Riding horses is your FAVORITE thing to do right now and ask me to go everyday. You love to go for bike rides, taking Baxter & Addicus for walks, playing in the water table, going to the spray park and playground, and going to 'The Farm' a.k.a Lexi's house. Your nickname is the 'Plumber' because your crack is ALWAYS showing!!! It honestly doesnt matter what pants we put on you, you just dont have a bum!!!! Sorry for that baby girl because Mommy gave you that lovely trait!

We defiantly have had some struggles lately... You are going through a tantrum phase right now and it.is.a.struggle!!!! Everything seems to be a 1-3 minute long tantrum! All the books say its a normal thing at this age but some days it feels like it may be the end of me... Patience is not something I have ever had a lot of and you put it to the test daily but we are learning together as we go.
I know that I will, and have made many mistakes being your Mom, but hopefully I learn from them and dont repeat them (often)! Even through the tantrums and whinny days you are such a sweet little girl. I love your "big hugs" and sweet kisses.


I hope you always stay as sweet as you are.
Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!

Stats:

33 Pounds
39 1\4 inches (3ft, 3 1/4 inches)
Size 8 shoes

3T/4T Clothes

Ivy Mae - 18 Months...

Say it "aint" so! My baby is 18 months old today!!!!

Ivy Mae,

You are such a sweet, beautiful little girl! You have such a big heart and the attitude to match it ;) You are a take charge kind of girl. You know what you want and you usually get it. You still think your big sister has hung the moon and want to do everything that she is doing or does. You are still a Mommy's girl but think your Daddy is pretty awesome and LOVE to follow him around the yard "helping" anyway you can. You have warmed back up to dogs and cats but all other animals still scare you to death! We just went to Oklahoma for a month, and while you loved seeing everyone, you think your Great Grandpa is pretty cool! Pretty much everyday that he came home for work you would run for him!
I still get comments daily on how amazing your eyes are and how pretty you are! You love to give hugs and kisses, and you have the cutest 'pout' I have every seen! You have lots of words but your favorite is NOOOOOO! You say it often, even when you dont mean it ;) You are so sassy and your Daddy and I have loved watching you come into your personality.
Thank you for being such a loving little girl! We feel so blessed to be your parents!

Stats:

24.42 Pounds
31.5 Inches tall
18-24 Month clothes
4\5 Shoes

You love oatmeal and special K for breakfast, and will pretty much each anything, as long as you can feed yourself... You are very independent and HATE it when someone tries to feed you.
You are a water bug and will play in the water table for hours! You also love when the sprinklers come on so you can play in them, or taking a trip to the spray park! You.Are.FEARLESS!!!!

We love you so much baby girl! Happy 18 Months!!!!

Mommy and Daddy

Back again...

Hello Blogging world,

I have once again disappeared for over a month!

The month of April...
April absolutely FLEW by! Which I am very happy about since the weather was pretty miserable :(. The girls have done so good this winter considering we have been trapped inside for about 7 months now! Thankfully we spent November in OKC and a week in Cuba in February to break it up a little.

The Dominican- Graham and I just spent a week in the Dominican Republic for Graham's best friends wedding! He was the best man! The resort was great, the weather was amazing, the wedding was beautiful, and other than me getting the WORST burn of my life, it was a great week. We missed the girls like crazy and I lost count of how many times G or I said "I wish the girls were here". I am glad we got time away from everything but I certainly cant see us doing many trips away from them (for that long) in the near future! I was so happy at how well the girls did! They split time between our babysitter (whom I LOVE) and my sister n law! It went far better for them than it did when we left Hadley to go to Hawaii two years ago. There were no major crying episodes (that I know of) , they slept great and ate great! All in all, a success!

We are off to Oklahoma on Sunday and we could NOT be happier about that! We are lucky enough to get to spend a month there this summer! While its going to be crowed, we are so thankful that my family takes us in for such a long period of time :)
I know that is going to fly by like it always does! We already have way too much planned but we will make it all work.

I will leave you with a few pictures and the promise to right again "soon"!

Have a wonderful weekend