Kalahari

Chris and I decided we had to make the last few weeks before Jonathan started kindergarten and Drew started preschool as memorable as possible. So, we grabbed Aunt Dee and headed to Kalahari for a few days.

The outside was especially beautiful this trip but unfortunately crowded on the inside.

Thumbs up for the camera...but do they have what it takes?

Can you believe that kid? He did awesome on the Flow Rider! Like father like son!


Our package came with a breakfast buffet for both mornings we were there. I'd have to say that we enjoyed having a hot breakfast at Kalahari rather than our normal Kalahari breakfasts consisting of cereal bars or pop-tarts. OK, maybe all of us but Chris...



The boys love Aunt Dee!

Until the next time...

Happy Birthday Chris!

What a silly face!

Now before you judge me for making such and ugly, glopy cake, you need to realize that it is supposed to look that way. It's called a Rocky Road cake and Chris requests them...

Bake a box of Devil's Food Cake mix according to package directions in two 8- or 9-inch cake pans. Let cool. Mix vanilla frosting with walnuts and spread all over cake (and between layers). I have a great homemade frosting recipe if you'd like it...Next, drizzle (I use that word loosely) some warmed up hot fudge on top of the iced cake. WONDERFUL!!!

Birthday Bash with the Tripps

You may have already guessed but these last few posts have been slightly out of order. VBS was the last week of July. The last soccer clinic was the first Saturday in August, which was also the Hall of Fame parade and Chris's Mom's birthday party for him and Jonathan. Busy day!!!

Now that everything is straightened out...

In between the parade and the aircraft sighting we headed to Chris's Mom's house to celebrate two super special birthday boys...

Chris turned 31 this year and Jonathan turned 6. Unbelievable.

Nice!

Army Aircraft

The coolest thing about the Hall of Fame Parade was not Ronald McDonald or even the mini-semi-truck...

Right before the parade started two Army aircraft flew over the entire parade route. They flew low enough that we could see some details and be extremely impressed. Chris will have to correct me, but I think one was an Apache and one was a Black Hawk. They left me with my mouth open in awe. They were awesome. Unfortunately, the fly-by was over much too quickly.

You can guess our surprise when we saw them sitting in Canton McKinley's practice football field. Chris decided that he wanted to take a detour to see the aircraft up close and personal. Because he and Jonathan had come to Canton at the butt crack of dawn to reserve seats for the parade, they jumped into the Mazda and headed over while Drew and I continued home in the Explorer. (Just in case you are wondering, yes, we gave Drew the option of going with them to see the aircraft. He declined.)



Chris said that right after they took these pictures both vehicles took off. I guess they created such a windstorm that Jonathan was concerned he was going to blow away! What an experience!

Soccer Clinic

Jonathan was FINALLY old enough to participate in our church's annual soccer clinic. This was the first pseudo-organized sports team (I'm using this terminology very loosely). He really enjoyed playing but I think football and/or baseball will hold more of his interest. We're planning on signing both the boys up for a pseudo-flag football league this fall, then we'll try spring ball next year...What are we getting ourselves into???



Whose house is that and why don't they paint it??? Oh wait, that's ours...

The joys of living in an older home are too many to list...

VBS

This year our church's VBS theme was Amazon Expedition. I think the boys enjoyed themselves, especially because Jonathan's friend Jack was able to come.

I caught them during recreation and refreshments...their two favorite stations.

New Year...Same Parade

We went to the Hall of Fame parade AGAIN this year. I truly got most of the same pictures that I took last year...At least Chris and the boys have fun!

Chris? Drew? Ronald!

The second girl from the left (way in the back) is a friend from church. She made the Hall Of Fame Queen Court. Way to go Emily!

The band director for AHS was my friend in high school. I have many fond band memories that include him. It's fun to be a geek when you have friends...

He actually played his trumpet at our wedding. It's weird to think that he's the man in charge there now. We're getting so old!

Shout out to Band Man...

I desperately tried to get this picture last year but was unable to. I'm not sure why it was so important to me but I decided to include it in the blog. There's nothing quite like seeing a mini-semi rolling down the road...

More Camping

The second camping adventure was much more my speed. The boys roasted marshmallows outside in the backyard then slept in the tent while I stayed inside and watched movies. Nice.


I think they were mad that I came out to snap some pictures...Something about not being a boy and ruining boy's night. They sure did have to twist my arm to go back inside...

p.s. If you're wondering, the boys are wearing Underoos...not spandex shorts...

What's More American Than Starbucks?

On Independence Day our family went to the local park and watched fireworks (that paled in comparison to Red White and Boom).






On the next day we continued our July 4th celebration by hanging out at Starbucks for a while.

I find if humorous that our boys think that going to Starbucks is normal. My parents would have never taken me to sit in a coffee shop (and play my DS). Wait, did Starbucks even exist when I was 6? Did hand held electronic games?




SIDENOTE: You should never buy coffee from Caribou Coffee again. It's owned and funded by terrorist groups. Check it out... snopes.com

After Starbucks we headed over to my in-laws to celebrate Papa Ralph's birthday.

Check out the smoke from all the candles...I mean...Happy Birthday Ralph!

Camping Again (can you believe it???)

Camping this summer wasn't nearly as bad as last summer. We were able to roast hot dogs and s'mores, run around, and just be together. Unfortunately, we forgot bug spray so we were all eaten alive!!! Stinking mosquitos...




The next day Chris's mom and step-dad met us at the lake to boat for a while. Although it was just for a short time we enjoyed ourselves. Actually, Drew looks miserable, doesn't he!



Maybe someday Chris and I will get a boat...

THE WEDDING

YES...I am blogging.

For those of you who haven't heard, I was hired as a part-time teacher at a school about a half hour away. They hired me on a Thursday and I was expected to start that next Monday. I go in every day and with travel time and some planning I am gone from around 9:30 - 3:15. Doesn't sound very part-time to me!!! Needless to say things have been crazy here. Birthdays, school, life, it's all so overwhelming sometimes. I'm also still tutoring one student...

I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long. Hopefully you'll enjoy getting caught up on our life...

The Wedding

Chris's youngest sister got married on June 21st this year. We had a great time and it was awesome to see the boys looking so handsome. Chris performed the ceremony, I was a bridesmaid, and the boys were the flower boy and the ring bearer.



The boys did very well at the rehearsal. We kept them out late for the rehearsal dinner so it was anyone's guess how they would actually handle the big day...



Can you believe how handsome these boys are???? They melt my heart!



OK, that last picture was taken after Drew walked down the aisle. Notice how many rose petals are STILL in the basket? I think he only threw three.

This was taken during the massive amounts of pictures after the wedding. We were all hungry and tired but the boys were troopers! They couldn't wait to get to the reception to P-A-R-T-Y!





I think that Jonathan was busy dancing most of the reception so I was able to get a few candid shots of Drew. What a ham!

The boys danced with Aunt Megan during the dollar dance. Jonathan had no desire to be a part of such ridiculousness (in his eyes...I think he just wanted to do his own thing) but we wanted the picture. Go figure. See? Even though I am working I still think 'scrapbooking' in the back of my mind!

This is Chris's cousin's little girl. She thought I looked like a princess that night. When she said good-bye to me she waved and said, "Good-bye Princess"! What a sweetheart! I thought she would enjoy getting her picture taken with me but her face obviously says otherwise...Maybe I was a scary (ugly) princess...


At least this guy thought I looked like a princess (a pretty one). I love him so much!

There was a pretty bad storm at some point during the reception but we were pleasantly surprised by the gift left in the sky afterward...




Stay tuned my friends! There's lots more to come!!!