While Daddy's Away, the Kids Still Play . . .

This weekend, while Daddy was in West Virginia at a golf resort, I had to find extra ways to keep the kids entertained. As it was sunny and in the 90s all weekend, we spent most of our time in the backyard playing in the water. Andrea, as usual, couldn't be kept out of the water. It was only 8:30 AM, and she didn't even have her bathing suit on yet, but she just couldn't wait to get into the water!

She had gotten a Polly Pocket swimming pool set for her birthday, and loves playing with it in the house (without water), so she finally got to take it outside and fill up the little pools. Kevin liked it too because the little characters race down opposing water slides.

This in turn, gave Andrea an idea: why not make a water slide for ourselves in the backyard? I thought moving their little climber over to the kiddie pools would be too heavy, but she moved it a foot or so on her own, simply to prove it was possible. How could I refuse after that? So, I tugged the climber across the yard and set it up for them.

Voila: home-made water slide!

At first, Kevin wasn't too interested in the water slide (Andrea was really disappointed). He was too busy pushing the wheelbarrow around the yard. You know Kevin--give him anything with wheels he can push around, and he's a happy little guy.

However, Kevin soon noticed our excitement and came to check out the slide's new location. We convinced him to give it a try. He was a bit startled by the water at the bottom, but hopped out of the pool with a big grin on his face. Then, I couldn't get the two of them to stop going down their water slide!

It got a bit slippery on the climber, so we had a few minor tumbles, and I was constantly reminding the kids to be careful/slow down, but they just loved it!

Here's a video of them enjoying their waterslide. :))

Grama Marty & Grampa Rick's Annual Visit

Grama Marty and Grampa Rick came for their annual summer visit from about July 27 to August 9. This year, they stayed at the Windsor Campground (something new, since they used to park on Great-Grandpa Seguin's lot, but he passed away this year).

A few times, when we got together, Grama Marty got some great photos of our visits together. I had to wait until she got back home and settled before she could send them to me, so I could share our experiences here. :))

At The Campground
One day Andrea, Kevin and I went to visit Grama Marty and Grampa Rick at their campsite for the afternoon and evening (Daddy joined us later). Andrea was especially excited because they had a camping-themed week at daycare a few weeks before, and she's also never been camping before. Coincidentally, Kevin had a camping-themed week that same week we visited them!

Here's a picture of the campsite that Grama had taken that morning, when other visitors were there (Chuck and Brigitte, Aunt Claire, Jordan and Jocelyn--plus Grampa Rick).


The kids discovered that the pond at the campground had some greedy fish in it. These fish loved, of all things, cheesies! If you just threw a piece of a cheesie in, they'd come to the surface and snap it up! Andrea saw Jordan trying to lure some fish into his net this way, so she wanted to go fishing. Leave it to Grama Marty and Aunt Claire to create a fishing rod with what was available: a long stick, a wool string, a small piece of wood for a bobber, and of course, the cheesie on the end for bait!

The fish were actually biting at Andrea's cheesie! They stole it or broke it in half, more often than not.


She tried really hard to net a fish, but those fish were very sneaky. They all got away.

Later, Grama and I took the kids to the camp's playground.
Kevin's on a big-boy swing! (His shirt is also soaked because he had a riot playing with the water faucet on Grama's campsite).
The climber/slide at this place was very high and steep. I was a bit nervous about Andrea going on it, yet it was Kevin who wanted to climb it, and go down the huge slide! Grama Marty climbed up with him, and got this picture of him from the top of the slide. Of course, she had to slide down after him, too . . . silly Grama!
She's the biggest kid of them all. :)) (I love this picture.)


Of course, Grama and Grampa gave them lots of treats. (I'm surprised they ate any supper--but they still ate lots). Here, they're relaxing and enjoying lollipops, although Kevin always has to do things the hard way!
After supper, there were remote-controlled mini-sailboats racing on the pond. Grama and Grampa think it is some kind of club that meets out there a few times a week to race their hobby sailboats. Kevin had to stay in his stroller because he kept trying to walk into the pond! Here we are watching the races with Grampa Rick.
When Daddy joined us, Andrea wanted to go swimming in the campground's pool. It was getting cooler outside, and the water was FREEZING, but when does that stop the kids from swimming? Both of them wanted to go in! (Note: since the city strike, Andrea hasn't had her swim lessons this winter/spring, so she was a bit nervous in the water again. That's why she has floaties on.)

Andrea LOVES jumping in!

She must get it from her Daddy.
After swimming, we got the kids into their pj's and made a campfire to warm everyone up. Andrea was very excited for her first time roasting marshmallows! Grama helped her learn how to do it.

The result: Andrea kept giggling like crazy and saying, "Mmm . . . GOOEY!"
Here's a picture of us enjoying the campfire: Grampa Rick, Aunt Claire, Mommy and Kevin, Andrea and Daddy.

The kids are snuggled up, and watching the campfire with Daddy.

Andrea didn't want to leave! We had to go home, but she cried, and said, "I love you, Grama! You are so fun!"


Aunt Claire's House

Every year, when Grama and Grampa come to visit, we usually end up spending a few days over at Aunt Claire's (Grama's sister's) house. It is so nice of her to welcome everyone into her home, and let us use her pool, feed us all, and visit on her deck! It makes a big party, what with her kids and grandkids, my mom's kids and grandkids, and whoever else shows up to visit while Grama Marty and Grampa Rick are there. Therefore, the gift Grama Marty brought for her isn't really appropriate, though it is funny.

("B*tch" Wine)

More pool time for the kids . . .
Playing with pool toys outside of the pool is fun, too.

We discovered Kevin's new talent: stacking beer cans (I think his record was five high).

"The Diaper Brigade": this is the nickname we came up with for the toddler group at Aunt Claire's. They are within 6 months of age of each other: Kevin is 24 months, Morgan (brunette)is 20 months, and Addie (blonde) is 18 months. It's funny because each of their moms is pregnant again, and expecting within a few months of each other, so we'll see a repeat of this soon!

Andrea looks like a giant compared to the toddlers!

Ultrasound at (almost) 12 Weeks

This afternoon I went for my 12-week ultrasound (well, technically, I'm 11 weeks, 6 days). I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. :)) The ultrasound technician was very friendly and informative, and Baby looks great. All of Baby's parts are there, and in the right place; all the measurements came out just right. It looked like Baby was sleeping, face-down, snuggled up in a corner. It wasn't until the tech went to check out some other structures, and came back, that Baby decided to wake up and wave its arms and legs, and roll around for us. It was like Baby was trying to get our attention again!

In case you're wondering, it's still way too early to find out the sex of the baby. We usually find that out closer to 5 months, and we're only at 3 months now. Too bad I wasn't further along--Baby was giving us lots of nice bum shots. :))

The pictures the technician gave me show the actual position Baby is in, face-down.

So, at her suggestion, when I got home, I flipped the photos over so Baby is face-up. It's easier for most people to interpret it that way. I also made the pictures larger.


I also put some labels on the picture above, to explain what you're seeing in the ultrasound images.

Here's another picture they gave me (flipped so baby is face-up).

***

I also wanted to share Andrea and Kevin's birthday portraits. They were actually done a month ago, but I forgot to post them! As usual, Andrea was cooperative and photogenic, and we managed to get one happy picture of Kevin in the midst of his portrait-studio meltdown.