CAMP!!!!!

Yesterday the camp I worked at in the summer had an Open House/Carnival Day...our friends who were counselors there too (different yrs than me) told us about it and we were all set to go on a Fam. Playdate...I was so bummed that Carter had a cold and needed to stay back with Mike...We left the boys snoozing in the middle of naptime...We will have to go as a family again soon....M is pictured above with the map of camp and the activities for the day...

M really liked tether ball...it was one of her favorite parts of camp....She would crack up as the ball chased her after she hit it...I guess she liked it so much bc she never got bonked!

The kids got their faces painted...

We went canoeing on the lake! M in a HUGE vest!

Checked out the longhouses where campers sleep....

Played by the lake...

Made s'mores... :)

The ramp by the Trading Post was a huge hit! Who would've thought!?!? :)

Thanks for a great time Z fam! It was so nice to be back at camp! M had such a big time we had to play "camp" this morning in our back yard! ':) I love just being out in God's creation and being with friends....as I pulled into camp it was amazing to think about all God has done in my life in the past 10 yrs since I lived at camp for the summer...I am so grateful...
It was so fun to share such a special place with my little girl...wish Mike and Carter could have been there too...Next time! :)

24 Hrs w/ Pepere!

Pepere came back for one more over night before heading north...the kids were excited for his return...Thank you so much for all the fix it projects you did around the house for us Pepere!...You def. left the place better than you found it! (See one of the pretty potted plants he got for our deck? :) )

Cribbage games were played Saturday night by the men folk...

We were sad to see him go, but we know he will have fun with K and Co for the next couple of days...Can't wait for August! :)

Dinner and Dance

Mike was a chaperon for the middle school dance on Friday (ohhh the teen angst! I love it!)... so my rents came over for dinner...PaPa and MiMi took turns hoisting the kids up into the air before dinner...lots of fun and giggles!

Puzzling and a yummy dinner a la MiMi...thanks for coming out...we had a great time! :)

EARTH Day!

Happy Earth Day!!! Such a fun holiday! M wanted to put on her boots as soon as she got home from school today...we didn't get a chance to splash around yesterday...so after lunch inside (too soggy to picnic outside) we came out to splash...only found one puddle left though...

Carter is just too much in his boots...he still runs around like a wildman...

He fell a few days ago outside and got another bloody nose and lip...sad! I wish I could wrap the boy in bubble wrap!

For M's special time today we made the earth...She doesn't get the whole "dab will do ya" thing.... :) She is partial to glue and not glue sticks... :) gooy goodness! I need to get some safety scissors so she can work on cutting...right now she is the glue master!

Carter and I bought this book today while Mal was in school...I have heard from several friends about how good it is and I thought...what better day to get it and start reading it with the kids than Earth Day! I am loving it so much already!!! M and I read the first part today about how God formed the earth and everything in it...

We recited this verse and she glued the cross on top of the earth to remember how much God loves us...Then she asked to watch this movie from Aunt LuLu...We watched about 10 mins before her nap and then we will finish it later (L gave it to us last yr...it was cool that M thought about watching it for Earth Day)...I am also looking fwd to reading The Lorax tonight with the kids at bedtime with Mike and maybe watching it tomorrow night as a family. I love having a theme for our day! :) And that "everyday is earth day!!!"

Here is our monkey in his monkey boots...had to stop the footage bc the monkey went around the corner of the house... :)

Pepere is Here!

We are so excited Pepere is here with us! Mallory couldn't wait for his truck to arrive on Sunday!

We have been having lots of fun together and trying to pack in as many activities as possible before he heads over to the "other Morins" tomorrow for a few days...We went to feed the ducks today and Carter was "released" from his stroller for the first time ever to feed the ducks with Pepere! What a special memory! He only stepped into the water a few times! :) And he ate more bread than he fed to the ducks...we were sure to hand him the good pieces.... :) It was funny to watch him "talk" to to the birds!

We've enjoyed lots of time outside blowing bubbles and just playing in the yard...

Mallory got to go for her first ride in Pepere's truck yesterday...she was so excited and she loved it! Carter was a little jealous as we followed behind in the van...his day will come though!

And M really wanted to have a slumber party this time (usually we separate the kids)...they had a great time playing in the am when they woke up....they played well for 30 mins before "this ref" had to step in and throw a "yellow card"...they hope to have a slumber party again tonight...we shall see! (They lost the privilege last night before bedtime...)

Aqua doodling in the am...

And playing a little geeeee-tar! We are enjoying our visit!

Here is Carter feeding the ducks for the first time w/ Pepere...

Boot Scootin'

Had a great time celebrating one of my college roomies last night! Another 24 hr rode trip for me! Thanks for a "boot scootin good time"...I was def. lacking country dancing skills on the dance floor even after some lessons...but Ginny made up for my deficit! The B-Day girl was tearing it up! So fun to hang out with all your friends and celebrate you! I enjoyed chatting with you before and after the festivities as well!! :) Happy B-Day Ginny!

Back to the Grind

The kids and I have been a little grumpy this week as we ease back into routine...We get so spoiled when Daddy is home with us on breaks...We are so grateful for that time...I saw one teacher friend of mine write on FB..."Mondays after spring break are lame"...and someone responded..."Mondays after no spring break are lame-r"...I'm def. grateful to have had a break and wish there was some way every adult could have spring break...It was so refreshing...(We put out our humming bird feeders today...the kids got them in their baskets from MiMi and PaPa...Mallory enjoyed filling them up with red sugar water and sticking them in the flower boxes...)

We've enjoyed lots of time with friends and being outside this week...it really has been a great week...We just miss having Mike around and I've had to deal with more discipline than last week...(like I said I think we are all grumpy) Check out Mags walking with her little girl through "the forest" as M calls the woods behind our house...she is such a dog! She went missing for 3 days over break...it was so sad...but kinda "Easter-y" when she returned...We were so HAPPY to see her! She had gotten shut in a neighbors shed while they were doing yard work and they didn't reopen it for days...

When Carter throws a fit now when he doesn't get his way he will WIG OUT...and then stop and say "Pweas?!?" (please)....WIG....pweas?!?!...WIG....pweas?!?!?!...It is so cute and sad....(I don't let him know that, but I think it) He is learning that although that word is "the magic word"...it's not always magical...

He is about to hike the ball in the pic above...or just sit on it... :) When I go get him from his bed and carry him downstairs after he wakes up I will say, "Can I have a kiss?" And he will shake his head and laugh and say, "Nahh!!!" (He doesn't say No just Nahhhh all the time...it's his favorite) But then he will smile and give me a kiss...I love that game...He is also quite fond of playing, "Cheers!" at meals and bumping glasses/sippys...

These 2 are so much fun and I love being with them every day...they make me laugh and pray for patience and just enjoy God's creation...M is really into turning over rocks and seeing what kind of worms or insects she can find lately...And this afternoon she was running around trying to catch a butterfly...

I just can't believe how big "my babies" are getting...in the last few weeks numerous people have asked me if Mallory is going to school in the fall...Thank goodness we just have tall kids...I'm so glad I have 2 more yrs with her before she goes!!! But time is flying!!!

Little Miss Log Flume 2010

Our friends from church invited us to Busch Gardens with them yesterday! Sadly, Carter had a fever on Thurs evening so the boys stayed home, but the girls got to go! (And I went for free...Season Passes go from date you bought them til same date next yr! Yay! Didn't know that til I arrived! Great surprise! I got a Season Pass last yr so we wouldn't have to pay for parking as a fam all summer...Mike got the Fun Day pass that's good all summer...Can you tell I love Busch Gardens?!?! So FUN!!!! )

It was a great day with friends and fun to just concentrate on my Mal Pal! (Even though we were sad to miss out on our boys...there will be other days this spring and summer!!!).....She rode her first roller coaster and loved it!

We rode the sky ride for the first time...Mr. Greg is all about the rides and convinced us to go on the log flume...I couldn't believe our kids would be old enough and I was worried it would scare M, but she loooooooooooooooved it and we rode it 5xs yesterday!!! Crazy! How do I have a kid old enough to ride real rides?!?!!?

And they love the kiddie rides too!

Their little girl was all about it! She is a little younger than Carter...it will be fun to try Carter on these rides this summer...Hope he doesn't try to "jump ship"!!!

Running around while the parents sit and chat...

Photo opt after the carousel..

I can't believe we stayed til closing at 8pm! And the R Fam treated the kids to huge lollys on our way out of the park...a sweet ending to a super fun day!

InCrEdddddible Weather!

We are loving Spring Break!!! Our Moose is strong! He can actually push his big sis around a bit!

M sporting her Daddy's hat and crocs...

Lots of good wrestling and tickling going on...

And playing at Park Morin! It seems that things "went green"(and yellow-- pollen is out of control!!!) while we were at the beach...our trees have leaves and I love it! Lots of nice shade!

Our washer stopped working this morning...wont spin to get the water out so we are using Norris' line to dry our laundry! (He got adopted btw! The 2nd time I called to check on him he had been adopted...about a month after he returned...we are so happy for him, but sad that he isn't ours!...One day we will adopt again when the kids are a bit older...one day...) Hopefully PaPa G will be out at some point to work his magic on our washer! I'm not looking fwd to getting the water out later today...Wish me luck!

Carter @ the campfire stirring up trouble.. :)

See what I mean?!?!? :)

Then today we headed to the park for a picnic lunch and playtime!

Carter was feeling sleepy by the end..this break is wearing him out with all the fun!

We couldn't have asked for better weather this week...it has been incredible! So grateful for the time to relax, get yard work done (Thanks Mike!!!), and work on things inside the house, and just plain "hang out" with no pressing agendas or timetables...So grateful for the time to recharge and relax as a family of 4...


Daddy and Carter: Tickle-mania 2010!