Hanging with the Palins

We were pretty thrilled to meet the Palins tonight and get a picture with them! (Although our photographer cut Todd out...) I think Sarah likes pregnant women...she even patted my tummy:)

Here we are getting her to sign an autograph for my Dad

Sarah talking with my friend Amanda (also pregnant). Can you find her hubby Joe looking on smiling??


A picture of the Molengracht as we waited for our food. It was a beautiful night to eat outside!

My Goofball

Caleb is so incredibly funny lately. Here is his story from last night...

Caleb: (Zooming around his apple slice on the table) "Vroom, vroom"
Me: What is that Caleb?
Caleb: A boat.
Me: Yeah, it IS shaped like a boat isn't it?
Caleb: (Stopping the boat abruptly and turning it over) Mommy fall out!
Me: Oh no!
Caleb: (In reassuring voice) No whale Mommy, no whale.
Me: Who is going to rescue me?
Caleb: God. (proceeds to eat apple slice)

The End.

Camping Day

We've had a lot of illness at our house (and that's just wrong in the summer!) so when Caleb was feeling a little better this past week we did one big camping day! I had Chloe give Caleb his nebulizer treatment while I packed our picnic lunch. It was just too cute...I couldn't resist taking a picture!!

We went to "Camp Creation" with some friends for the morning. The kids loved playing at the stream. They found rocks and loved getting wet!

Caleb spent most of his time in the sandbox...

Chloe spent a lot of time on the trampoline. We also visited the nature center and had a picnic lunch. Chloe's favorite part of the day: "the picnic". WOW!

Later that day we set up the tent in our backyard.

The kids had a blast going in & out of the tent...even though here they look somewhat angry!!!

Kyle had a blast burning stuff (yes, one of his favorite things!)

We topped off the day with S'mores. Kyle & Chloe spent the night in the tent while Caleb & I slept inside. He was pretty disappointed but was promised a camping night with Daddy when he's feeling 100%...I'm pretty sure I'll be camping inside the house that night too:) I take WAY too many bathroom trips these days!!

Father's Day

This year for Father's Day we gave Kyle the best gift he could probably ever hope for...a day of boating!!! It was very hot!!

We promised Chloe that the next time we go boating she can get in the water (we're waiting for her burn to heal). She settled for putting her feet in the water with Daddy:)

We used a ladder to get into the boat...it worked just as well as a dock!

Little Caleb was not feeling well and fell asleep within 2 minutes of being on the boat!

Tasha and Chloe shared some cookies...always a yummy treat on the boat!

Grandma & Grandpa were great sports! They went out on the boat and provided a bed & shade for sleepy Caleb...they had to be extremely HOT!!!

He's a funny kid...

We were playing hide and seek last night and we rounded the corner to find this...

Both kids hiding under our winter comforter and mattress pad (that need to be laundered & put away!!) Caleb obviously thought he was completely hidden as I had time to get the camera and take a picture!!!

And since I've got a post going here anyways I need to include some of Caleb's most recent quotes (yes, he has started speaking ALL the TIME...I think a new word comes out of his mouth on a daily basis!) Most of the things he says makes Kyle say, "He is a funny kid!"

In the van..."Me tummy hurt; me strapped in too tight."
At bedtime..."Love you!"
As I'm telling my mom that he was coughing throughout the night..."Not too loud!"
In bed..."Me need froggie."
In a public restroom when someone else comes in the door..."Whobody??" (His own unique little word:)
Before needing to go to the public restroom..."Mommy, me poopy."

As you can tell, most of his sentences start with "me":)

Minnesota Fun!

We had a fun trip to MN this past weekend. Although there were a few things that didn't go as planned (like missing Rog & Judy's anniversary celebration due to the stomach flu) we had a lot of fun. We also thoroughly destroyed Grandma & Grandpa's house!!! Here is a sampling of what we did...

Went grocery shopping (At the Children's Museum)

Spent time with Great Grandma Joyce.

Washed our hands a lot (this however didn't prevent the spread of the flu!)

Played in bubbles

Tested our agility and coordination

Practiced our driving skills

Pretended to be ants in an ant hill

Yawned (this is what parents do best at the Children's Museum)

Played in water

Stuck the whole lollipop in...

Chewed up the whole lollipop...

Celebrated Erin who is headed for IA City in the fall!! Go Hawkeyes!

Watched orangutans dress themselves!!

Watched a seal show with cousins

Rode a train with Daddy

Zoomed round and round in sports cars!!

Went "spinless" on the teacups after deciding the teacup was too hot to touch...

Chloe's Alphabet Party!

Last week we celebrated Chloe finishing some preschool curriculum that we've been doing at home. Grandma & Grandpa & Great Grandma & Grandpa came over and we had a lot of fun. Both kids got a few gifts (Caleb was celebrated too because he was such a good little helper and usually wanted to participate too!) The curriculum that I used was free (which is always helpful!) and can be found at http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html
Chloe loved that we had a different "theme" every week!!

Chloe showed off some of her artwork and the letters that she has been learning.

Here she shows her last letter...the letter Z!!

We had alphabet pasta and alphabet cookies to eat (well, we also had a lot of pickles, hamburgers and beans too:). Of course the kiddos LOVED the cookies (ok, we all did!!). They were incredibly easy and VERY good so I thought I'd include the recipe. These cookies could be used for just about anything (I put letters and numbers on top but you could do whatever you want!). The recipe is from the April edition of Parents magazine...

Cake-Mix Cookies
1 box (18.25oz) yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
Sprinkles
Frosting (can make your own or buy the canned stuff)

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Combine the cake mix, egg, oil, and buttermilk in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Shape 1 inch mounds of batter into balls and flatten slightly Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Top with sprinkles (optional). Bake until cookies are golden and firm, 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Frost as desired. (Can make the cookies into sandwich cookies if you want and sandwich the cookies together with frosting)