Big Girl Bed

So far, so good in the new big girl bed!  The first two nights she stayed in it all night long.  Last night was a different story, but for Taylor 2 out of 3 is success!

 Here they are "helping" put the bed together.

 Really they were just waiting to jump on it. 

 Of course Chase had to check it out too.  Thanks to Becky and Tim for the bed, Dad for painting it, Mom for putting it together, and Taylor for sleeping in it....hopefully ;)

The Weekend

Nothing too exciting this weekend, but a few pictures to show for what we got done!

 Haircuts for everyone: Chase, Bryce, Dave, my dad, and even Taylor...well we let her think so anyways.  She worked too hard to grow that hair, I'm not letting her cut it yet!  Then Chase made some friendship bread.  He's quite the (messy) chef!

We took a shopping trip at Dave's suggestion.  Proof that it was way too hot to do anything else.  It's usually the last suggestion on his list.  The kids each managed to find a new pair of shoes that they didn't need, but for $3 each it was a cheap way to make them happy.  They had to wear them out of the store.  The best part was when Dave asked why Taylor's shoes didn't have laces.  I told him he was getting old. 

 Later there was a storm and the electricity went out. 

Chase suggested we make flashlights "with glitter and glue" and that would make it better. 

 We bought Taylor a mattress for her big girl bed.  So far she loves it, but it's still in the living room!  The crib made it to the attic today, so we'll see how she does in the new bed tonight...I'm not too optimistic!

 Yesterday we went to a pool party without pool attire.  Not something you should do with a 3-year old.  We had to come up with some make-do suits so they could jump in.  Then they just sat there.  They finally made it to the float and were more mad about having to get out than they originally were about not being able to get in.  No win situation, but they had a good time.

 Goggles make everything better.

 We only had 1 pair extra shorts, one swim diaper, and one pull-up.  Taylor was the last one to want to get in so she got stuck with the not-so-pool-friendly-pull-up.  I will say they certainly can hold plenty of water, like probably 5lbs worth.

 Taylor is way more willing to put her face in the water and blow bubbles than either of the boys. Problem is she forgets to blow and probably drank about a gallon of pool water.

Pictureless Week

After two weeks of constant travels, I apparently didn't take a single picture last week.  I guess my camera was just too tired (or maybe it was really just me!)  We've been busy enough, just no pictures to show for it!

 My mom did email me this picture of Chase at Lisa's pool party last weekend.  He wouldn't think of getting in the water when we first got there but by the end of the night he was jumping in and swimming around like a little fish.  I hope it lasts!

I did take the camera outside this afternoon so we would have something to show for this week!  Here they are waiting for the pool to fill up.  Taylor picked out her own accessories, if you can't tell.

 A close-up so you can fully appreciate the footwear.  Socks were not optional.

 Playing nicely together - always worth taking a picture of, never know when it will happen again!

 Chase looks really mad here, but he was actually just saying "cheeeeese" really hard.

And a more pleasant smile!

Road Trip

The kids and I took a road trip to Cincinnati this past week with my parents.  We were only in town for a few days but we managed to see quite a few people, some I hadn't seen in nearly 5 years.  It was a good time and the kids were pretty good passengers.

 First stop: Steak & Shake.  We weren't even in town yet, just happened to see one on a road sign.  Many of our stops on this trip revolved around food.  Imagine that. 

 It was that exciting - a milkshake almost as big as he is.

One of our first stops - breakfast with Mrs.Shoemaker, Sandie and "Little" Charles.  He's not so little anymore.  Chase thinks he is the coolest guy ever.

We took a trip to the zoo with Kerry, Megan and Carl. Here we are ready to tackle it - it was HOT, but little kids don't care.  I almost didn't care since the kids had three other people to ask to hold them!!

Our navigator.  He was pretty good at figuring out what animal to see next.  Just don't try to tell him you saw a lion because according to his map it was a snow leopard.  He was pretty sure about that one.

       Carl as Mr. Mom.  He worked the stroller well.                   Petting some fat little goats.

Chase texted Kerry on the drive up to see if her friends could come over.  Here he is with Mallory and Sarah.  He looks just a wee bit excited about it, huh?

 Chase helped Megan out with sorting bags for the golf outing.  Taylor took the more relaxed route of eating ice cream on the porch with Grandma!

 Dinner with the Comps!  It had been a long, long time since this happened!

Enjoying his first Big Boy from Frisch's.

 Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa.

 Back at the hotel checking out the snack supply!

Fountain Square was a big hit. 

 With MeMaw and PaPa exploring the city.

(Taylor's shoes are off mostly because she gave them a bath in the fountain - not surprising!)

More food - this time Graeter's ice cream!

 We stopped in to visit with the Millers & Espelages - the kids were obvioulsy more interested in their rocket pops than in getting their picture taken!

 Chase was loving the kittens they had.  Not sure the kitten was loving Chase as much.  We thought about taking one home to Dave but then decided it probably wasn't the souvenir he was hoping for!  

 Final stop - Donuts with Fiona and Noelle!

The Beach

We spent last week at the beach in Sandbridge with my family.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time.  Between the pictures I took and my mom's, I had nearly 1000 to choose from for this post....scary, huh!  Don't worry there's less than 30 here I think!

 Chase couldn't imagine anything better than a week with Bryce playing in the sand and eating ice cream way too often! 

 Taylor is certainly my child. 

We both enjoy our sweet tea while relaxing in the shade watching the boys play - good times!

 She is also a daddy's girl too - but don't let the picture fool you, she didn't spend too much time sleeping!

We took a trip to the park one evening.  Chase will certainly not be the rock climber in the family.  No one will ever know if Taylor got to the top alone or if Dave was behind her.  I have a feeling she could have gotten there either way!  If she ever went missing in the house you just had to look at the top of the stairs.

 I mentioned we had ice cream.  Lots of ice cream.  We took no less than 3 trips to the frozen yogurt store.

  

And managed to catch the ice cream truck most days. 

It's a good day when the biggest decision you have to make is which ice cream on a stick you'll pick!

 The boys did spend a little time in the water.  Chase is hanging on for dear life here.  It didn't help that he got wiped out by a wave the first afternoon we were there.  He got over it but was happier staying knee deep!

 Three beach bums - so happy they all love the sand as much as we do!

 Fishing lessons with MeMaw - no big catches this year!

 Nap buddies - PaPa was the go-to guy for naps.  Chase outlasted him most days!

 Our first try at bocce ball.

 Jason took Taylor's pacifier from her about 1.2 million times this week.  Whenever she was looking for one she would ask me and if I said I didn't have one she would immediately say "Jason?"  He didn't keep her from them very easily (and I packed plenty extras in case he did!)

  The family photo.

More ice cream.

 Classic vacation moment. You never realize how much Dave is on the phone until you spend a whole week with him.  "Puts food on the table" as he likes to say.  I look like I'm about to pull my hair out - probably becuase the kids are torturing poor Macy, again.   

  Macy finally takes off and they are most excited to chase her down! 

 Chase and Taylor performing their favorite song and dance from VBS.  They can't get enough of it.  I found some of the songs for them on YouTube this morning and made a video of them dancing along.  That will get on here eventually, but probably not today!