Pella Pool

Each summer we like to hit the Pella pool at least a couple times.

Today was our first - it was a cloudy 80 degree day.

We went right after lunch, which meant we skipped afternoon naps.

Aubrey LOVED it this year and went up and down 

up and down the slides solid!

It took Avery about 45 minutes to really get used to the water

but then she really had a lot of fun and just wanted to go go go, too!

We lasted about 3 hours and had a lot of fun!

Avery crashed before we got out of Pella

Aubrey was in a total daze watching her movie

and never did fall asleep...early bedtime tonight :)

Girls' Stats

We hauled out the troops today - all of us

to head over to BOTH the girls' well-child visits.

We knew they both were getting shots,

so we knew it would be an interesting appointment.

Aubrey's 4 year stats:

Height: 42 1/4 inches tall (without shoes) - 84%

Weight: 36 pounds - 46%

BMI: 14.2 - 16%

Avery's 15 month stats:

Height: 32 3/4 inches - 96%

Weight - 22 pounds 4 ounces - 34%

Head Circ: 17 3/4 inches - 21%

So after the long process of their checkups,

we knew it was time for shots.

Daddy went in first with Avery and she was crying

and screaming from the get-go when Steve had to hold her down.

She proceeded to cry through it all and was not happy.

She got three - all in her legs this time. 

Steve took her outside to calm down and then I went in with Aubrey. 

Aubrey was fully aware of what was going to happen

but she wanted to be brave and knew she would get Culver's

when she made it through.

I really didn't know how she would do.

She sat at the end of the table and just screamed!

No tears, just screamed for like a minute straight

from the first one in one leg to the second in her other leg!

I was almost laughing, because it was just so funny to me.

As soon as it was all done, she stopped.

No tears. Done. 

She immediately got off the table and bolted out the door-

she didn't even wait for me to get the papers, she was done.

So, we made it through

and now both are sleeping with ibuprofen.

Hopefully, tomorrow they are over it.

Night on the Town

We had a fun Friday night with the girls in Osky.

First we went to Aubrey's FAVORITE place for supper -

Pizza Ranch.

Then "Friday after Five" was going on in the square

with dueling pianos and a balloon guy.

We lasted about 45 minutes chasing the girls around :)

But, we got some good pictures.

a nice unknown man offered to take a family photo :)

Aubrey got a flower balloon

dancing around in the grass

Avery got a little balloon, too

Aubrey had fun checking out the view from the Bandstand 

Afternoon outside

For the past few weeks, we have really utilized our time 

when the girls take their naps to work on painting!

(that means no naps for us...bummer! :))

FINALLY we can say the windows are done!

Here Steve is priming the garage...it actually went really smooth.

Now just one more top coat on the garage doors,

the window wells, and a few touch ups and we are finished!

The right side is primed, the left is just started

(it will be the same as our other doors and poles in the back-"stillwater")

We hauled out our somewhat ghetto pool set up

but Aubrey loved it and was much more brave than last year.

                 

this little tiddliewink would rather eat the toys

they both were in for a little bit together...it was cold water!

taking a break with "Dodo" aka Dora 

having fun filling the pool with the hose

girl selfie :)

THE CHIPMUNK!

We saw him running around and caught him on camera :)

after Daddy was done painting, he "enjoyed" the girls jumping on him 

Birthday supper at the Campgrounds

Tonight we went out to the campgrounds where we celebrated

Steve's birthday a day early.

Grandpa Craig and Grandma Char and Kailey along with Grandpa and Grandma Kaisand

had their campers there for a few days.

Along with them, Grandpa and Grandma Betty, Jerry,

Andrea, Noah and Hannah all were there for supper, too. 

We left without Aubrey as she got to spend TWO nights

at the campgrounds without Mommy and Daddy :)

Avery loved going up the stairs and down the slides

over and over

Daddy catching Avery at the bottom

she was walking up the stairs just holding on to the railing,

like no big deal :)

enjoying her time in Aubrey's chair

swinging...until she almost fell out

Aubrey and Kailey being silly

Grandpa Kaisand taking Avery to the swings

Grandma Kaisand gave Avery some 

clapping hands that she enjoyed teething on

Daddy went along for the bike ride to monitor Aubrey

and make sure she didn't go flying down the hills

Kailey enjoying Aubrey's scooter

and Avery wishing she was big enough, too

Daddy and Aubrey racing to the end 

girls playing together before supper 

the "birthday boy"

Avery eating some s'mores 

(I mean chocolate)

yummy! s'more time for the girls

Daddy showing Aubrey how to roast marshmallows just right 

Avery Leigh - 15 months!

On Friday, our sweet Avery Leigh

turned 15 months old!

She is changing so fast and turning into quite the little toddler.

Her actual well-child check up isn't for a few more weeks.

Here is what she is up to:

Foods/Drinks:

-she is turning into her sister where she would rather drink than eat

-drinks milk whenever she is offered

(weaning off the bottle and almost down to just sippys)

-likes water WAY more than Aubrey ever has and does from cups with straws

-favorites: grapes, cheese, fries, potatoes, chips 

ice cream, candy, snacky foods like crackers and fruit snacks

(she likes most of what she shouldn't be eating lots of)

Sleeping:

-this summer we are finally weaning her to two naps
-we also are trying to wean her from her two large blankets
she likes to carry in each arm like angel wings...grandma betty
has cut one down so it's not so bulky ;)

-she'll take a longer morning nap and shorter afternoon

-goes to bed close to 8:00 and will stay in her bed talking

and maybe going back to sleep until you get her

Actions/Playing:

-RUNS through the house

-climbing up the hassock and little chairs and up the couch

-talking non-stop and echoing what you say

-words: hi, dad, AubrEE, momEE, babye, shooos, tankoo (thank you),

didah (diaper), uh-oh, owEE, no no, whoa

and she will repeat anything that you ask her too and 

she does her very best with the same intonation, too

-knows that cats say mew mew and cows say boooo

-loves to run around/play outside and swing

-runs at the chance to go babye and grabs her "shooos"

-cries when she sees animals/insects of any kind, even flies

-loves bathtime, reading books

-goes and gets her diapers and books when you ask her

-still in 18 month clothes and transitioning to some 24 month

-wears size 5 shoes and just transitioned to size 4 diapers

-stubborn and squeals when she doesn't get her way

-loves to follow anyone around and likes to be social

Painting the House

We finally committed to repainting the house!

We chose "underseas" for our top coat.

"snowbound" for our trim and "stillwater" for our doors.

We hired Josh to come down for the weekend 

and put his painting skills to use to direct 

me, Jessica, him (and for a bit Char) to get it done!

Aubrey and Avery were at Katie's at Friday while Weston hung out

and then on Saturday Grandma Char and Kailey came to rescue

us and watch the kiddos for the afternoon and evening!

We ended up getting the WHOLE front done

and the back/garage just had 5 windows left.

We also have to finish the storm windows and doors

but we can do that later on our own!

We all were very tired and sore after a very

busy and WET two days!

And so it began...left (underseas) or right (moody blue)
we chose the left!

We spent too many hours chiseling out old caulk 

(before Josh came and told us we didn't have to do all that)

from our ancient old windows!

scraping the garage was the most of the scraping we needed to do

(just starting here)

BEFORE

shutters are already off since we realized we

still had bats and ONE may have flied out at Steve

while he was taking them off - EEKKK!

(oh and that test plot was moody blue, what we didn't pick)

Here we go...getting windows primed white and 

the main house in the front primed with a 1/2 tint of our main color

Bottom 1/2 is primed along with windows

Steve priming the windows...not his favorite job :)

I was the "window queen" according to Steve-

that's how I spent two days straight

priming and painting most windows

Weston enjoyed playing in the yard 

with all the girls' toys - he did so good!

new toys for Weston

primed - with Avery photo bombing in the doorway

That one board is the actual color

Aubrey got to help prime on the garage for a few strokes

my two minutes I actually did top coat primer

else I was still doing windows

Tubby time for Weston and Avery - their first tub date

Josh having a talk with Aubrey saying

"you never have time for me" -

since we neglected the kids :)

PIZZA TIME at the end of day one

everyone taking a much needed break!

Perfect time for a break!

We got to watch our cousin MATT ANDRIESE pitch 

for the Tampa Rays vs. White Sox.

He even got his 1st MLB win and we got to see it!

books before bed with Jessica

Lunch break on Day TWO

(or should I say rain delay....a lot of rain today, but since

our eaves are large, we painted on)

front and windows getting there...

Josh did the WHOLE top coat on the front

and Jen did the WHOLE front for trim!

Sibling domination :)

Steve and Jessica were hard to work on the sides and back though.

Grandma Char got to paint 2 windows on the side

while the kiddos napped.

Grandma was on kid duty.

Weston enjoying the mower.

wagon ride 

Saturday night we grilled for supper

Josh hard at work!

 He was a good project manager for us all.

Getting the back of the garage finished 

Cousins hanging out in the wagon-

they became little buddies :)

Ahhh....we made it,

despite reports of a nearby bobcat,

RAIN, RAIN and RAIN

and being sore and tired, but we got a lot done!

Thanks everyone for all your work-

and in Dora's words:

"We couldn't have done it with you!"