I know. I know...I'm slacking!

OK...so I have to catch you all up ...I can't believe I'm over a week overdue!

I took the girls to Coney Island (in Cincinnati) on July 5th. My Mom's work has their company picnic there every year, so we tagged along with her. They have a big pool, and a few rides. Charly LOVES going there, and Kenna seemed to REALLY enjoy herself too! When we got there, we started with lunch, that the company provides. Hamburgers and hot dogs it is! Then, Charly was begging my Mom and I to take her to the park area (the rides). So, we headed over to the little kids section. I was worried how Kenna would do with me not there to hold on to her, but when I put her on the first ride (the airplanes) with her sister, she was ready to go. So, off we went to a few more rides. Then, Charly was BEGGING to do the paddle boats, so we went over to the lake. Charly and Kenna got their life jackets on, and off we went. My Mom and Charly did the paddling. Charly insisted that she get to do it with her Nana, which means Nana got quite the leg workout that day. :) Kenna was great, but when we were out on the water, she decided that she wanted to play in the water. So, back to land we went. Obviously, we then went to the pool. Charly was extremely excited. Kenna wasn't sure what was going on, but as soon as we got the pool, she was a happy little fish. She LOVES the water.

By the time we left, they were both worn out! It was an amazing day!!

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On Wednesday, July 6th, I took the girls to the East Fork Lake. I met my bestie, Katie, there with her 4 kiddos. Shortly after we got there, my other friend, Heather, and her 5 kiddos showed up. The kids had a blast! Thankfully, the kiddos all have a friend or two to play with when we all get together. :)

Again, the girls were both asleep before we got to the interstate. :) You know the girls had fun when they are both snoozing, in the car. :) Again, it was a fabulous day!

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On Sunday, July 10th, we went to my friend Heather's house. Her 3rd born was turning 7, so we had a birthday party to get to. :) Charly and I ran to Target that morning to get his gift. Yes, we are slackers and waited until the day of his party to get his gift. Charly picked out 2 decks decks, with a DVD, and a GIANT super soaker gun, with a shoulder strap. Thank goodness it came with a shoulder strap, or poor Eric would have had one heck of a time lugging this gun around. :) They had a bounce house, slip n slide and pool set up for the kiddos. I could not keep the girls out of the water...they were having so much fun. However, after Kenna dunked herself, failed attempts at putting her in a baby floaty, and being accidentally dunked, I decided that was enough pool for her. So, we went inside for the rest of the party. Thankfully, the Heather's husband, and Katie's husband were in there to keep us (Kenna and I) entertained. We were there all day, and when it was time to go, neither kiddo wanted to go, and both threw mini-fits. But, before we got to the main road (2 miles away), both girls were zonked. It was an awesome day for a birthday party. Oh, and I have to mention how amazing the cupcakes were! Way to go Heather!!!!! And, Happy Birthday, Eric.

Slip n Slide Fun!

Lots of kiddos in the pool!

 

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On Tuesday of this week, I had to take the girls to Tire Discounters, to get my tires balanced. Yes, I know, oh what fun! But, it had to be done. So, I call and they say "Oh, we're not busy, come on down now". So, I get the girls and I ready and loaded into the car, and we get there. They take my car, and wouldn't you know it, we're suddenly there for what seemed like an ETERNITY! There were 2 other people in the waiting area (obviously not together), and I felt so much pity on them, for having to deal with us...well, mostly Kenna and her monkey screams. :) Thankfully, they were out of there relatively quickly! I apologized to the guy at the counter, multiple times! He was very understanding, and said when he was a kid, he also screamed and squealed...HIS POOR MOTHER! :) Anyhow, with all the people gone, Kenna was running around the store looking at all the tires, and being good...phew. I'm telling you, even the smallest thing, Kenna can make monumental. :) I'm pretty sure the tire guy, Brad, will not forget us for a while...LOL!

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On Wednesday of this week, back to East Fork Lake! I met up with Katie and her family, Heather and her family, and this time we brought along another friend, Denise, and her 2 kiddos. It was the perfect day to spend at the lake letting the kids swim and be crazy! :) Thankfully, the day before I bought a beach canopy which totally came in handy for the babies to lounge around in. And, after the repeated 'almost drownings' with Kenna, I bought her a swimmy floaty thingy. It's like a life jacket. And, success...she LOVED it! I also picked up a couple of beach toys, that she had a blast playing with! Sadly, I forgot my camera, so no pictures. :( But, a great day was certainly had by all!
Then, when I got home, I laid Kenna down for her nap, which she fell asleep in the car for some of it. And, I too laid down. I won tickets, from the radio station Rewind 94.9, to see Goo Goo Dolls and Michelle Branch, so I wanted to be rested for that concert. My sister met me at my house at 630, and we were at the venue by 7pm. Got a great parking spot...woo hoo! Walked into the gates and found out they were doing a FREE cookout, provided by Blue Grass (the meat company). So, WOO HOO for free food. When we were finished eating, we grabbed a soda and off to our seats we went. OMG! The seats were PERFECT for us! We were right along the isle, and so close! It was an amazing concert!!! I knew I've seen then a few times, but didn't realize, until last night in talking with my sister, that it was my sixth time seeing them, and her seventh time! We do love the Goo Goo Dolls!!! It was an awesome concert! And, we made it back to the car easily, and even got outta the venue in record time, I swear. By the time I got home, I was exhausted though, and ready for bed. And, I walk into a house of insanity! Brian (hubby) was still wide awake with 2 crazy girls. I swear they were running circles around him. I walked in the door, and Brian went to bed. :) After a few minutes of loving on Kenna, she was ready for bed. So, one crazy kiddo down. Charly finally went to bed at almost 1am. She said she was too excited for vacation to go to sleep. :) I love that girl!

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OK...and now we're current! So, tomorrow night, we leave for vacation. South Carolina, here we come! I can't wait. I know the girls are both super excited for the beach. And, Charly is also very excited to show the family that she can swim under water. This was super needed, and I'm so thankful for my parents, for putting this together for us, and making us spend some time away, and as a family! I appreciate this very much! I'll be sure to take LOTS of pictures while we're gone, and post all about the trip, on our return. :) Have fun everyone, and keep safe!

Celebration time!

Kenna in her red, white & blue

Charly in her red, white & blue

Well, Independence Day was today, obviously. So, we decided to have a cookout with my family, yesterday (Since my brother-in-law, Dan, had to work today). I love summer get togethers with the family! And, this was another exciting adventure. We had awesome food...pasta salad, burgers and hotdogs, buffalo chicken dip, brownie covered in fruit, etc etc. It was amazing!

After everyone stuffed their face, we decided it was time to let the girls cool off. So, we got out the sprinkler! Oh Em Gee! I have never seen two girls have more fun that running around through the sprinkler being crazy. They even got me, Brian and Dan to run through with them a couple times. Well, Uncle Dan didn't really stand a chance. Kenna coaxed him out, and then Charly got a hold of him. :) They truly had a blast! And, we just had fun watching the girls. There's something very special about watching your own kiddos enjoy the same fun you once did as a kid. I loved it!

 After lots of time in the sprinkler, and ripping around with a full belly, Kenna decided it was time for a nap. I wanted to nap with her, I was getting tired, but I managed to keep my eyes open, and enjoy the rest of the time with the family. Being pregnant with baby girl #3, is really quite tiring, if you haven't noticed from past posts. :)

Anyhow, now it's time for the guns! That's right! Celebrating Independence Day 'my family' style! They get the 'adult' guns out, and the guys take turns shooting at a stump, and a tree. After Charly watched for a while, she begged her Pappy to let her get her gun out. She has a 22 rifle. Safety is ALWAYS first, obviously, so she had her safety glasses and ear protectors on and now, she is ready to go! So, she gets it out, and shot at the stump and tree for a while.

Charly is ready to go!

 Then, the guys (Brian and Dan) decided to put a couple soda cans on the stump. They both hit them a few times while the girls were inside. Then, we decide to go outside for a bit. And, Brian's up. He missed every round. As he's walking back to us he says "I hope the house doesn't get attacked by pop cans". LOL! You can't get them all every time. Then, Dan's up. I think he hit 1 can once...good job. Then, Miss Charly begs to shoot the cans. So, again, she gets her gun out, and off to the shooting area with her Pappy she goes. She misses a few times, and then PING! SHE GOT IT! She was so excited! She turned around to make sure we all saw it; she had the biggest grin on her face. After like 3 misses, PING, again! At this point, she hands the rifle to her Pappy, and up to us she runs, for a round of high fives. She was so proud. She even commented how she did better than her Daddy. :) That cracked her up!!
About this time, Miss Kenna is waking up from her nap, that involved a big fat kitty keeping her toes warm. :) My sister's cat insisted on sleeping at Kenna's feet, which was pretty cute. So, back outside we go. This time the guns are away, since they are loud. But, that didn't stop Kenna from trying on and enjoying Charly's ear protection. :) She was walking around with them on, and did NOT want to take them off. :)

Kenna with her Daddy!

It was a great day, and I was so happy to share it with my family! Fun was had by all! And, after we got home, and Kenna was in bed, Charly and I got to enjoy some fireworks too! We LOVE this time of year!!!

The Deck!! Ooh, Pappy's gonna be in trouble!

Well, I'm a few days behind on my postings, but this has been a busy weekend!

On Friday, the girls and I went over to my parents house, to hang out while my Dad was cutting down a very large, somewhat dead tree down. It was leaning over their deck, and he didn't want it falling on the house or deck. So, the girls and I are outback, where my Dad (the girls call him Pappy) is working. We are in the lower part of the yard, on the swing set, when my Dad gets the lift up as high as he can, and slowly and cautiously cuts down the highest branch.
At first it starts of slow. You hear the chainsaw for a few seconds. Then, the creaking of the tree cracking. Then, pause. Then, more cracking. At this point, it has Charly's full attention. Then, crack! You see this giant tree branch swinging downward toward the deck. Kenna is on the swing, pointing at the down swinging tree branch with an "ooooohhhhhh". At that point, Charly begins to scream, in a very worried manner, "THE DEEEEEEEEEECCCCKKKKKK!" Then, boom!
The top of the branch slams down and around on the deck. At this point Charly thinks that the branch broke the big glass table on the deck, and Charly exclaims "Ooh, Pappy's gonna be in trouble by Nana!!!" Because of her reaction, I yell up to my Dad "Did you get the table?" He says "No, but it got the lamp post". Now, the lamppost is in the middle of a pretty large deck. And, when the branch swing down, it snapped off the lamp post at the smallest part of it, and one of the glass sconces shattered, which is apparently why Charly thought he got the table. She was quite happy to hear the table wasn't ruined. :)
Anyhow, my Dad gets the rest of the tree cut down, and cut up...the wood will be perfect for those summer night campfires that Charly loves so much! Well, we had a lot of brush all over the back yard. So, Dad starts gathering it up, to take it down to the woods behind the house. Well, as he has a HUGE pile of brush, completely surrounding him, I say to Charly "Look, Charly, it's a walking bush". Charly exclaims with excitement, "with a head. A human head!!" That girl is funny!!!
Thankfully, the day was quite productive, the girls had a blast, and there were no injuries. :) It was a great day!!!