Pirate's Cove

 Josh the monkey

 Caitlyn does love to hang now too.

paddle boats

Thank you Uncle Adam for our presents

I just found these two videos

Mom's birthday

since we weren't in town for her birthday, we invited my mom over to celebrate.  She's been so helpful with babysitting A LOT that we made her steaks on the grill, corn, and chocolate mousse!

a few things of the kids I caught before leaving for Seminar

While everyone was at the gym, I had a little time with the kids before I left to go downtown.  We played Wii.  

 played with Cassie the Dog

 and played some Piano

she does love her corn!

The Silvers take on Dallas

Playing with the Dollhouse with Mimi

the two of them playing piano

Josh did this when he was about this age!

they loved climbing in here and shutting Cassie out!

Caitlyn dancing

Caitlyn 18 month, Josh 4 year stats

Caitlyn

• Height: 31.75  inches tall, 50%.  Grew another 1.5  inches, 
• Weight: 25 lb 12 oz, 50-75%.  Put on 1 pounds 9 oz.  
• Head circumference: 18 inches, 25%  Grew 0.5 inches

Josh

• Height: 40.25 inches tall, 50%.  
• Weight: 38 lb 75%. 
• This was about 6 months late for Josh

Grandmother Marie's 90th Birthday Celebration

with four daughters, 4 sons in law, 9 grand children, 3 grandchildren by marriage, and 2 great grandchildren, she deserves a celebration!  We headed from Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri to celebrate.

Caitlyn and Josh ready for the car trip

at the Ferris wheel inside the sporting goods store, Scheels

Even Gaga and Papa Robert joined us on the Ferris Wheel

They even had a car race simulator!

family game night before dinner

T-Ball

Josh was in a t-ball league this summer; four weeks of practices and 3 weeks of "games".  Not much skill here for the kids to demonstrate, but they did get the rhythm of the game and at the end batted twice and fielded twice each game.  Though I think it's hilarious kids run from covering 3rd base to try to catch a ball hit down the 1st base line.  As in all the kids on the team.  I guess strategy is not really a 4 year old's strong suit?

Josh, and his friend Madden

Summer Sick Day

Josh wasn't feeling well, so we took it pretty easy this day...starting off with a tea party.

 Of course, this day was supposed to be a field trip to the spray n play.  Not to be left out, we got dressed (TO THE NINES in Caitlyn's case) to play in the water

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water table, two sprinklers and a baby pool

 By the time I had everything set up, they were pooped!  They were tired?! What about me?!

Bird feeders

I had seen some ideas on Pinterest for making bird feeders.  Though Jared had not gotten loose bird seed, I decided today was the day we were going to make bird feeders.  two old TP rolls, stuffed with birdseed, hung on a curling ribbon string.   UPDATE: This one is still there, the other one is gone...guess the other one was a better location.

Frontier Days 5K Race

Jared and I each ran the 5K race

 Then it was time for the 1/4 mile dash for the kids

Josh's friend Nathan, and Josh

waiting for the start

follow that motorcycle!

Nathan and Josh at the end

Josh had so much fun and I think it was because he ran with his friend!

Despicable Me

Since the second movie is coming out soon, the original was on TV and Josh was watched it almost every day!  We were at the Home Depot to get some things and they had a craft for the kids to build, paint, and decorate the minions car from the second movie Josh was all over it!  He has some great building skills!

Happy 4th of July!

We started off the day with the Arlington Heights Parade.  

Caitlyn (far left), Andy, Colin, Jared

Caitlyn was tired after the two hour parade, but we did collect A LOT  of candy.

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 Not as pretty as some of the ones from pinterest, but I thought this attempt at a flag fruit kabob would get the kids interest...no luck.

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We ended the day with fireworks at the top of Nickol Knoll Hill.