Girls' Trip to Bass Lake

I decided to take the kids up to Bass Lake for a few days.  We had two days with no swim lessons, gymnastics, dance class, or working....and that doesn't happen too often.  We wished Daddy could come with us, and he really did too, but he had to work, and we don't want the summer to come and go without enjoying the lake as much as possible.  Luckily, Nana had some extra time off to take so she came with and we made it a girls' trip!

We were so excited to swim all day Friday and Saturday, but the weather had other plans for Friday.  So we headed to the Michigan City Zoo.  It was GREAT!  It is right on Lake Michigan and the perfect size for kids.  It's very "hands-on" too which we loved!

This is literally how close you are to the tiger...No zoom or anything.  You can touch the cage if you want, but why would you???  Very cool!

The girls at the zoo.  You can see the lake right behind the trees!

Train Ride

One of our favorite exhibits.  You go in this clear tunnel and the otters swim all around you!  Even Nana got in on the fun!

Abigail loved the tunnel...until the otters got too close!  But Caitlin loved it the whole time!

There was also a fun exhibit where you go in this cage with like 200 parakeets and you buy this popsicle stick with bird seeds all over it.  Then, the birds come and sit on your sticks and eat the seeds.  The girls loved it...and both got birds to sit on the sticks so that was so fun! 

After the zoo, we headed across the street to play at the beach!

Sand!  It was Caitlin's first real experience at a beach and she really loved it!  She's ready for Ocean City!!!!!

Sand!

Loving the beach, even if we were in sweatshirts!

Putting our feet in the water.

Nana and Abigail

It took her a while to get used to the waves, but by the end, I had to hold on to her or she would have been all the way in! 

It was a perfect girls' day at the zoo and beach!  Thanks Nana for joining us and making it such a fun day!!!!

We woke up Saturday to a sunny, warm day....and got right to work!  Papa joined us for the rest of the weekend too.

Papa and Abigail did some yard work.

And Caitlin did some playing!  Lots and Lots of playing!

The girls painted a birdhouse with Nana and Papa.

Papa, the girls, and their masterpiece!

Saturday night, Abigail caught a big catfish with Papa! 

We missed Daddy a lot and talked to him the WHOLE time, but he was so happy that his girls got to spend some time playing and enjoying the lake!  We are very lucky to have fun place to go!  But, we couldn't wait to get home Sunday and see him...and spent Sunday doing fun things, including a new park and then went out for dinner and ice cream!

Picture Time

Today Jules and I decided to TACKLE the task of pictures.  As I mentioned before, this is Caitlin's 2nd attempt at 18 month pictures, and it went much better thanks to having Jules and Lucy there!  Lucy got her 9 month pictures too so that worked out great!  Now, if only Picture People would get their act in gear because we were there for 2 1/2 hours!  Grrrr....

Anyways, the girls did great...although the task of getting a picture with the 3 of them seems damn near impossible!  We got 1 where they all had their eyes facing forward so we bought it and ran!  :)

The quality of these pics aren't good since they are pics of pics, but here's the outcome:

18 month picture...FINALLY....so looks so cute!

What happend to my "baby"?  I wasn't going to buy any of her, but this one was too cute.  Actually, if you look close, her skirt was falling down and she had to pull it up and was laughing that we saw her underwear...that's the magic touch to getting Abigial to not make the "fake smile face" (see picture below).

Sister Picture!  Very happy we finally got one!

Cousins!!!!  I love this picture.  Abigial is serious about her job of holding Lucy (with her serious smile face), Lucy is just looking adorable as could be, and Caitlin is so cute but probably doing something like breaking the end of that flower.

I mean, COME ON...I have the cutest niece in the world.  I seriously love this girl more than life itself...she' so cute...she looks like a lil bird coming out of a nest here!!!!

I have to say, after 2.5 hours and somewhere around 150 bucks, we came out with some good ones, especially because the place was INSANE since we all had groupons that expired in 2 days! 

It was such a fun day with 3 of the cutest girls I know!  ;)

"Orange" you glad you have a sister?

Happy Daddy's Day!!!!

Happy Daddy's Day to the BEST Daddy!!!!

We LOVE you so much!!!!

(Update will come with Fishing Derby results!)

(Also, another post will be coming soon with all the special dads, grandpas, papas, uncles, and godfathers in our lives....but since our computer was down for Daddy's bday, I thought he needed a post all to himself!)

Splash-Tastic! *Updated*

Pool season is here...and we couldn't be more excited!!!!!

I have two little fish on my hands, and we plan on swimming as much as possible this summer.  It's the first summer we got an official pool pass for the summer.  It's great because we can go to the pool for a lil while here and there and it doesn't have to be a full day!  Yesterday, after naps we went to the pool for like an hour before dinner. 

On our way out the door for our first pool trip of the summer!  (Off my phone, for some reason won't fully download).

Hydrating

She loves swimming and is much braver this summer in terms of swimming without me.

My lil swimming buddy

In other news, we "attempted" 18 month pictures for Caitlin (who is actually 19 months today and I never posted about her 1 1/2 bday because I was waiting for the pictures).  I use the word attempted because we left with 0 pictures.  Caitlin continues to be one of the loves of my life, but a challenge.  She decided she was NOT going to sit for the photographer...so below is basically what every picture looked like:

She also decided every time the photographer said "smile" she was going to make this pouty face with her eyebrows down!  It was actually quite funny to me...which is probably why she continues to be a challenge...I find her so funny even though it's probably not!  I should have bought one of the pouty pictures because I really hope in a few months I'll be looking back at the challenges these days and laugh....I really, really, really hope! 

 I hope know I forget  will laugh how she only wants to be held if I have something to do or somewhere to go, but doesn't want to be held when she needs to like bedtime!  I hope know I forget will laugh how she loves baths but not getting cleaned and cries and tried to get out the second the shampoo comes out!  I hope know I forget will laugh how when she thinks I'm not watching, she kicks or Kramer, but not in a mean way, just in an "I'm not supposed to have my feet on them" way.....same with sneaking her feet on the dinner table when we aren't looking.

Actually, I don't want to forget these things...I just hope these are things we laugh about because they are in the "past" very soon!  Oh Caitlin bug....you continue to challenge me everyday!!!!  I guess she decided Abigail just made things a little too easy around here for me!  :)  I love these girls!!!!!

UPDATED:  I want to reitterate how much I love this BUG!!!!  All her "challenges" are the reasons we love her so much...she's got such a strong personality at such a young age!  I really don't think it's possible to love a daughter more than I love mine!  (Both of them). 

I love how Caitlin dances this wiggle dance whenever she hears music, no matter where she's at.  I love how she gives the tightest hugs around my neck!  I love her laugh, it's contagious!  I love how she keeps me on my toes.  I love getting to do mommy and me classes alone with her!  I love how she's not talking, but invented her "own" sign language (in addition to the tradional signs we taught her like more, all done, help, sorry, please, thank you) like pointing to her diaper when she needs a change and pointing to the fridge when she wants to eat. 

 I love how Abigail has picked up on our "phrases" and uses them...like "oh my gosh" and "we say bottom, not butt".  I love how she is so creative.  I love how she loves to sing and dance and run and play!  I love how much this girl loves edamame (just today she told me to make sure Aunt Julie knows she likes edamame while we are in Vegas).  I love how she remembers EVERYONE when she prays.  I love how she loves Kramer and pets him during the whole movie of Beauty and the Beast so he's not scared.

 And most of all, I love how my girl's have their own personalities....I love how different they are, yet they are both the sweetest girls I know!

A Wet Memorial Day

What a WET Memorial Day this year (although it shouldn't have been much a surprise since most Memorial Days are)!

We had lots planned for our Memorial Day...and even with all the rain, we didn't let the rain stop our fun!!!!

On Saturday we met my parents and sister Kate at the race track!  We had a GREAT table under the roof, so even the rain couldn't damper our fun!  Although we didn't have any big winners (I think I won the most with a $36 win off a $2 bet), we had a great afternoon!!!!  (Sorry Kate, I didn't get any pics of you)

Caitlin and her grandpa

Abigail and her grandma

On Sunday we were supposed to meet the Douglas and O'Connor families at the zoo, but the lightning started while we were driving there, so we detoured to have some lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise to ride out the storm.  Well....that never happened and we had to cancel our trip to the zoo, but we had a great lunch together!!!

When we got home, we decided to FINISH (yeah!!!!) our winter projects!  We had done the screen door and backsplash already.  All we had to do was finish a chair rail in the family room/kitchen!  We worked hard to get it done and take advantage of our rainy day!  It looks great and we are very happy!

The nail gun was very loud...so the girls sat under this table while we worked....don't know why but it was cute!

Daddy working very HARD!  :)

This is obviously before...I didn't take an after yet!

Monday we woke up to a BEAUTIFUL morning and we couldn't wait to get started.  Literally by 7:30 am we had the pool filled and were ready to start our day!

First thing we did was head to downtown Wheaton.  We walked around the town for a while, stopped for coffee, watched the Memorial Day parade, and ended with our favorite frozen yogurt!!!!  It was a perfect morning!

Daddy and Abigail at the parade (not a great pic of Abigail.....but daddy looks good! :) )

Mommy and Caitlin at the parade

Watching the parade

Frozen yogurt

Playing in the fountain

After our morning, we headed home for lots and lots of swimming!  Our neighbors were outside too so it was a great time!

It was a really great weekend full of family time!!!!!!

Also, I found a few pics on my camera from last weekend's trip to Just Play in our town.  It's a local fest full of things for the kids to do.  Rob and I got the great idea to WALK there and back...it was a long, hot, windy walk both ways, but well worth it!

Abigail on the big slide

Abigail and Caitlin practicing their gymnastics skills

Waiting in line for obstacle course

Best Friends.  Sisters!

Hope everyone stayed dry this weekend...and enjoyed their Memorial Day as much as we did!