Apple Picking

My favorite kind of apples are Honeycrisp.  Just a few days before school started we went to Eckerts to pick some.  Although the hail storms from the spring impacted the crop appearance, the apples tasted great!  I am very thankful for such a great apple orchard owned by friends of ours. 

Holiday World

We took a quick trip to Holiday World for a little fun before school started.  Grandma and Grandpa Wolter tagged along with us.  It was so nice having them along!  I of course have no pictures of the water park - we were too busy on the water slides!  Blake was so excited to be tall enough to ride some of the bigger slides.  He was very brave.  Lauren went on a few of the bigger ones but ended up scared so we just stuck with the calmer ones.  It was lots of fun! 

Girls Trip to the Muny

We went to The Muny to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  It was such an awesome production.  We all loved it and vowed to make a show at The Muny an annual tradition!  I hope Lauren catches the acting bug when she gets older.  I have such fond memories of being in my high school musicals. 

Ozarks

The annual Bartlow trek to the Ozarks was fun as always.  The kids swam all day, played so hard, and just had a great time.  Bear Bottom's was a hit as always for the water slides.  The adults became kids too taking turns racing down the slides.  All the kids took turns on the tube and ski trainer too!  So fun to see them enjoy boating just like their parents! 

Magic House

My kiddos dearly love going to the Magic House.  Who can blame them, I love it too!  Lauren's friend Katharine went with us and we had lots of fun.  The Magic Tree House display was up so that was fun to see.  Lauren climbed to the top of Jack and the Beanstalk and Blake LOVED the construction site.  I would love to find the picture my mom has of me as a kid at MH with my hair standing on end at the static ball.  I'm curious how much Lauren and I look alike. 

Zoo

On this trip to the zoo we finally got to take in a Sea Lion show and walk through the new tunnel.  We got upclose and personal with a gorilla and got to see the baby elephants!  Lauren loved petting the stingrays but Blake was not such a fan reulting in lots of tears!  We are so lucky to have such a great zoo so close to home.

2012 4H Fair

Lauren had a great 4H fair.  She showed two visual arts projects and one cooking project and earned blue ratings on all three.  Her glass/plastic project in visual arts earned a Best in Show award.  She was very excited! 

Trip to Branson

 

Go-carting!!!  The kids loved it!

  

 

Swimming at Still Waters resort.  Couldn't get enough pool time.

  

 

The Duttons!   One of our family favorite groups.

 

Playing put-put golf at Pirates Cove.

 American Girl store and Brave!

 

We spent a week at the end of June in Branson.  We went to Silver Dollar City and White Water two days, spent time shopping, played put-put golf, saw shows, and of course spent lots of time swimming at the condo!   We had a great mini-vacation and the best part was it was close to home.  We ended the trip in St. Louis at the American Girl store and watching Brave in 3D.     

Father's Day 2012

 

 

We celebrated Father's Day 2012 in Red Bud.  Sorry for the casual photos, Lauren couldn't wait to get her clothes changed.  At the father's request, naps were the primary  highlight.....

Trip to the Firehouse

 

We took a trip to see Uncle Keith's firehouse in Evansville.  The kids loved climbing around on the trucks and trying on all of Keith's gear.  Blake is really excited by firetrucks and firemen right now.  It will be very interesting to see what the future holds. 

Garden Harvest

 

 

 

The garden is really producing.  The kids and I have been heading out early each day to pick the ripened vegetables (hence the pajamas)  Zucchini has been pletitiful and rather large this year.  Blake's gator comes in mighty handy in carrying it all back to the house. 

Go Cards!

 

We went to a Cardinals game on June 13.  We were fortunate to sit in a suite compliments of a lawyer friend of Bradley's.  The kids loved having a space to play in with the other kids and watching the game (a little).  Go Cards!

Macie is 2! Braden is 3!

 

 

We celebrated Macie's 2nd birthday and Braden's 3rd birthday at Oak Run Lake.  Macie loves baby dolls so a Bitty Baby was a big hit.  Braden loved his new tractors to add to his collection. 

 

The kids loved playing in the sand and boating.  It was Blake's first time on the tube and he loved it!  Later we took the girls on the ski trainer and Miss Brenna took the prize being the bravest to stand the whole time.  Loving summer! 

VBS - Take 1

 

Lauren and Blake attended VBS at a friend's church in Okawville.  They had so much fun making crafts, singing songs, and playing games.  The shirts they are wearing they got to decorate with their handprints and wear to the closing program on Friday night. 

Pledge Class Reunion

 

My pledge class from 4H House (Class of 2001) got together for our 10 year reunion the first weekend in June at our house.  Although we should have celebrated in 2011, as usualy things got busy and we couldn't get our plans coordinated.  Everyone brought their families and the kids enjoyed playing together so much!  It was a beautiful weekend and the kids loved being outside on the farm and doing lots of water activities. 

 

Although it's been 10 years, these ladies are still some of my best friends.  Although we don't get to see each other often, we just pick up where we left off when we last talked.  It's so nice to have friends like that.  These girls made my college experience amazing!  I hope all of our kids go to college together as well so we can see each other more often!!!

 

 

Grants Farm

 

To kick off our summer vacation, I asked the kids to come up with a "Bucket List" of things they wanted to do and places they wanted to go over the summer.  One thing that made their list was a trip to Grant's Farm.  So we headed out!  It was great seeing the baby clydesdales, feeding the goats, watching the elephant and bird show and of course enjoying some beverages (slushies for the kids of course)!

Grizzlie's Game

 

Lauren earned tickets to the Grizzlie's game for being on honor roll at school.  Her friend Carissa tagged along with us.  The girls got to go on the field and have their names announced.  They only watched the game for a bit as all the fun games and activities they had for the kids caught their attention. 

Car Wash

 

We kicked off the "official" start of summer with a kids car wash!  I found the idea in a magazine and knew the kids would love it.  It was super easy to make and the kids thought if was great! 

Last Day of School!

At Lauren's request, we rode bikes for the last day of school 2012!  We aren't in good enough shape to ride the entire 4 miles to school so we drove into town and then biked four blocks to school.  The kids thought it was great!  Lauren has already requested to do it again next year. 

Slime

 

Lauren's school participates in the Jump Rope for Heart program each year.  If student's raised at least $100 they got to "slime" their PE teacher at the end of the year Fun Day at school.  Mr. E was a trooper having about 30 kids slime him.  Lauren was the top fundraiser in her class, all which went to a good cause. 

 

Fun Day was lots of fun for the kids with inflatables, face painting, and tons of games.  A great way to wrap up first grade! 

Little Gym Show Day

 

Blake had his show day at Little Gym on May 16th.  This was his final Funny Bugs class before moving on to the sports skills class in the fall session.  He loves little gym and has grown so much through the program. 

Children's Museum

Blake and I met some friends at the Edwardsville children's museum for a fun playdate.  Blake and Austin could not get enough of the pretend firehouse, fireman pole, and truck they got to drive.  What a fun day!

Mother's Day 2012

 

The kids made me feel really special on Mother's Day.  They both made projects at school for me to enjoy.  I love having homeade keepsakes from them! 

 

Blake's Preschool Program

 

 

Blake had his preschool program on May 10, 2012.  He did really well and sang his heart out in front of the crowded church.  He really loved his first year of preschool at Rainbow.  His teacher Mrs. Johnson made an awesome memory book for him of all the fun things they do at school throughout the year. 

Ok this is pathetic, it's been nearly a year since I've posted on this blog.  I desperately want to keep it updated but honestly have fallen to Facebook for most of my picture sharing these days.  After a conversation over the weekend, I'm inspired to get back on the horse and get this thing updated!  So wish me luck and if you enjoy the blog, let me know!