Cute Kids

Last week was pretty mellow. It's kind of nice to have a down week once in awhile. We are looking forward to some fun this week as it is the last week before school starts for Cole.

Luvs first thing in the morning.

Cowgirl! She did this all by herself.

Cole made a chain to count down school starting. As you can tell, he is super excited!

Pottstown, PA

On our way back from Sesame Place, we were thrilled to stop and see Bart's cousin, Annette and her family. They were wonderful to us! Their 3 girls instantly were friends with our kids and they especially took great care of Jayda. We went to a super fun park, with 2 very long slides, which Cole and Sadie loved...taking towels to slide down even faster. They also introduced us to water ice. If you were like me, I hadn't ever heard of this divine yumminess. It's like a combination of ice cream and a slurpee. Bart, Cole and Sadie got root beer and I got pina colada. Especially on the incredibly hot and humid day that Saturday was, the cold treat was super delicious. Bart mentioned if we had that stuff by us, we would be getting it every single day. I completely agree. Thanks Annette, Ron and girlies for a great visit! We can't wait for you to visit us!

The kids, minus Brinley


The awesome slides

Jayda

Jayda is such a light in our lives. She is incredibly, consistently happy. She has really started being a parrot, which the kids love. She loves playing with Cole and Sadie, is quick to give big hugs and she calls me "Mommy", which neither of the other kids have. We love her!

Wearing Cole's swimming goggles

Rockin' Out

Chillin' with some juice

Wearing Sadie's swimming goggles

Fun at Sesame Place!

We had the best time at Sesame Place last week! Our family loves going there! It is such fun to have a place focused on younger kids. Cole was tall enough to go on all water rides by himself, leaving Bart able to take Sadie on the double inner tubes. We also went on several rides as a family. Jayda wasn't loving it so much, but it was fun! We saw a couple of shows...Bart was chosen, along with two other guys, to do the hula with Big Bird. It was awesome. I promised him I wouldn't post the video, but I didn't say anything about the picture. :) He was the best one up there doing all the moves! We chose to eat with the characters again. Sadie was totally freaked out by them this year. I don't know what the deal was but she about climbed over my head to my back trying to get away from Ernie. She did finally huge Zoe. There was a new addition this year.... Count's Castle. It had a HUGE bucket on the top that would fill with water and then the County would count down to when it would tip, pouring over everyone below. Bart and Cole had been riding other rides and hadn't seen what the bucket did. I told them to stand under the bucket and wait. They did and got completely soaked! They didn't enjoy it, but it caused me much laughter. We love Sesame Place!

Arlington County Fair

So, last Wednesday, we very spontaneously decided to hit the Arlington County Fair. It was opening night, so just the rides were open, along with some food vendors. We told the kids they could choose a few rides, we'd grab a treat and head home for dinner.

The kiddie rides weren't very exciting for Cole and he decided he wanted something a little more daring. He was a little nervous, so I told him I would go on the swing ride with him. Little did I know what I was getting into... now, growing up, I never had a problem with getting sick on rides. But, I don't know what has changed...me getting older, having babies... I don't know. All I know is they make me incredibly sick. Sometimes I can't even watch the ride without getting a headache. Well, it took about 2 turns around on the swings and I knew I was in trouble. It was spinning SO fast and it lasted forever! When the ride finally ended, I could barely get out of my swing. I definitely couldn't walk in a straight line to Bart and by the time I reached him, he had to help me sit down on the ground. I was so sick the rest of the night. Huge headache, so sick to my stomach. The lesson was learned. Never again will I subject myself to making a child feel more secure by going on a ride with them. :)

As a side note, I have to add how going to this fair made me miss, and appreciate, the Blackfoot Fair in Idaho. We went every year as a family. SO fun! Highlights... getting tiger ears, double headed ice cream cones, curly fries with fry sauce, choosing one ride to go on, checking out all the 4-H stuff, looking at the barns and barns full of different animals and just being together as a family for the day.

A picture before the torture began

Sadie spinning herself like crazy on the tea cups

Cole riding his four wheeler

Jayda just chillin

Sadie ready for her swing time on the tot ride

Cole happy as a clam

The kids on the wave runner

Clemyjontri Playground

Last week we had a great time at this fun playground with several of our friends. It ended up being a super hot day, but the kids had a great time!
Peter and Sadie

Jakson and Jayda

Jayda fell down trying to run with the big kids

Sadie and Jayda

Super Fun See Saw

Cole getting quite the workout

Jayda deciding whether or not to make the climb

My Super Awesome Husband!

I have to give a shout out to my incredible husband. We've been looking for a new vacuum for awhile now. Our vacuum is on it's last leg, so Bart went today to buy a new one. He brought home the coveted Dyson, figured out how to make all the bells and whistles work and proceeded to vacuum the entire house. He is so fabulous! I have to add that the suction is totally amazing (we won't mention how much yucky stuff was picked up by the amazing suction). :) I love my husband!

Pictures of the Week

Here are some random pictures.

Sadie riding a trike during swim time.

Cole and Jayda

Jayda loving the water

Cowboy Cole

The kids on the new trike

Lemon Tart

I haven't ever made a tart before. I thought I would try to make one for Sunday dinner last week. I had seen this recipe and couldn't pass it up, since it was lemon. I love lemons. I love lemonade (even though Bart says I make it tart enough to turn his face inside out). Yes, I guess I have to admit, I like things a little more tart. Anyway, back to the lemon tart... it turned out really delicious. It was a little tangy, but not to bad. Even Bart liked it. ;) The pictures didn't quite turn out... here is the best one. Enjoy!



Crust:
1 c. flour
1/3 c. powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 c. cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a food processor or mixer, combine ingredients for crust. Pulse together until a dough starts to form in clumps. Press into tart pan, making sure to cover bottom and sides evenly. Pierce the bottom of the crust with a fork and place in freezer for 10-15 minutes. Place tart pan on a cookie sheet and bake until crust is a golden brown, approximately 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Filling:
5 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. fresh lemon juice
1/2-3/4 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Zest from 1 lemon

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese with electric beater until smooth. Add sugar. Mix until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing thoroughly after each egg. Stop and scrape bowl half way through. Add lemon juice and zest and mix until smooth. Pour filing into crust and bake on cookie sheet for 20-30 minutes or until filling is set. Cool on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled. Can use whipped cream for optional topping.

Tuckahoe Park

We had a great time trying out a new park with some friends. The kids loved the huge forts to climb on. One of the moms mentioned they look like monkey playlands ...they were so huge.
Jayda coming down the slide.

Cole in fort

Sadie in the other fort

Bye, Bye Bink

When it comes to the bink (aka pacifier, paci, pluggy) we had decided that we would take it away from our kids when they are done nursing, around 12 months. Cole weened himself from it at 9 months. Sadie wasn't ever that attached to it. It has been different with Jayda. She liked the bink. We kept it in her bed.. she could only have it for nighttime or nap time. When 12 months came and went, she still had it. Jayda has had lots of ear infections, a really hard time teething... so we let her keep it. Then, we went on our long trip and thought it would be a bad idea to take it from her right before all the plane and car rides and all the new places she would be sleeping and the time change. Next, we knew she would be getting tubes put in her ears, so we thought we would let her keep it until after surgery. So, we decided last night (surgery was this past week) that it would be the night to take the bink away. We did it on a weekend, not knowing how much sleep we wouldn't be getting. :)

We put her to bed last night and she cried for 20 minutes, wanting her bink. I think it's way harder now that she's older because she can call out, saying the words "bink" "please" "Mom" "Dad" and it just breaks your heart. She eventually went to sleep and slept through the night. I just laid her down for a nap and she is in there doing the same thing all over again. I don't think we'll ever let another child keep their bink this long again! Hopefully the saying is true "Two days to break a habit". We'll see!

Backyard Fun

This week, the kids were invited to a friends house to play in their fun pool. Their backyard is an incredible place for kids to play. Although it was overcast, it was warm and the kids had a lot of fun...especially when the popsicles were handed out!

Jayda enjoying her cool treat

Hazel watching Cole go backward into the pool

All the kids drying out and eating popsicles