Vacation FAIL

This week Mike is on vacation and we are going to be visiting some nearby attractions like the Cleveland Zoo.  Today we went to a local attraction park called Sluggers and Putters.  When we arrived we were excited to take a crack at some miniature golf and ice cream to top it off.

As you can imagine miniature golf with three kids under the age of four was not easy.  Mike and I were having fun and Carter was really getting into the spirit but he had a wicked swing and the golf balls were going everywhere.  Ava was done golfing by the second hole and Dawson was just Dawson.  He is so determined, and he didn't like it when I wouldn't let him run off by himself.

We made it to the 11th hole when I heard Carter crying.  He was only about two feet away from me, so I gave him a big hug.  When he looked up I saw this:

a great big black eye

Poor kid.  Fun is over and we went into emergency mode instead gathering ice and giving hugs and kisses.  

Remember that really wicked swing that I mentioned?  Well the ball ricocheted off a statue and came back and hit him just under the eye.

I'm so sorry this happened Carter.  I really never imagined you could hurt yourself so bad just playing some miniature golf.

Major vacation FAIL.

We still picked up some ice cream, as you can see Ava with her GINORMOUS shaved ice.  That was size small!

Poor Carter boy, if you have a chance say a little prayer for our little guy.

Fourth of July Fun

We had a wonderful fourth of July spent with our cousins, Aunt Fishy and Meme and Bob Bob.

In the morning we spent some time at the pool.

Riley helped me make a delicious flag cake.

We also got the water slide out for awhile in the afternoon.

Carter taking the plunge.

See this little grin?  He was making trying to escape to the top of the hill, but he was caught in the act.  Sorry buddy, not going to happen without Mom or Dad.

It was so wonderful to see Aunt Margie and the cousins for almost an entire week, and Meme and Bob Bob too.  I know we are going to miss them, Dawson spent quite a bit of time yesterday asking for Bob bob and fishy.  Luckily we still have a little more time with the cousins before the summer is out.  

Swim Class Pictures

Thanks Aunt Margie for taking pictures of our swim class this week.

Family

Fireworks!

We rode the rides at the community festival until it was time for fireworks, then walked down to a spot right in front of our van which was a perfect viewing spot for  the fireworks. 

At this point the kids were exhausted and needed to keep moving or else they were going to fall asleep. So a little pre-fireworks wrestling kept everyone happy and awake.  Ava also treated us with a little dancing.

Silly, tired baby.

the baby photo bomb

Eagerly anticipating.....

FIREWORKS!!

I was excited to see how Dawson would react to the fireworks.  After the fireworks started he stopped dead in his tracks, pointed at them and said very seriously "boom boom."  From that point on he was entranced and stared at the fireworks while sitting in Mike's lap.  He was even waving at the boom-booms!  Ava was a little scared that they were coming our way, but after sitting in my lap she was quite happy.  What a fun, exciting, exhausting day!

Community Celebration

Saturday night we took everyone to a community celebration for some rides, sugar {apparently Margie was having withdraws, just check her facebook page} and fireworks.

Our Red, White and Blue Sweeties

Batman Rides

Sliding down the slide

The Little Wheel

It was so cute to watch Ava and Carter ride this together.  They were sitting together having little conversations, laughing and smiling at the world.

Dawson and his be be

Although you may find a tiny be be lying around our house, do NOT give it to Dawson.  He will carry it around the house for days on end, crying every time it drops into a toy or on the floor, go to sleep with the be be and wake up in the morning looking for the be be.  Like I said, do not give Dawson a be be.

The dragon ride

This was Ava's favorite ride and Carter came off declaring "I hated that thing!"

But later on, it was the only ride that he wanted to go on again and he also said it was his favorite.  Go figure.

Hey Mom, when can I ride one of those things?

carnivals are serious business, yo

Ahh, dreaming about the day when we can enter the beer tent while allowing our children to explore to their hearts content.

Girls Day

On Saturday, Aunt Margie and I took Riley and Ava on a girls day for a little fun and pampering.  First stop?  Red Robin for pizza and milkshakes!

Always remember Ava and Riley, you may not have a sister, but you will always have each other!

Riley was so funny, can you see her green eye shadow?  Everyone who talked to her {the waitress, a cashier, Margie, Uncle Mike and me} was asked "Do you think I look just like a peacock in my green eye shadow?

I don't know about a peacock, but you definitely look amazing!

My sweet princess girl drinking a chocolate milk shake.  It's so easy for you to get lost in the shuffle of three kids and a demanding toddler.  It is wonderful to pull her aside on these special days.  I feel like I have a chance to really listen to all the little stories, ideas and thoughts that are floating around in her little brain.  

The other special thing about girls day?  We went to finally pick out her ballet outfit, a highly anticipated event by both Mom and Ava.  I'm so glad that I was able to leave the boys behind and just focus on my little girl, instead of trying to choose the right outfit all while making sure Dawson doesn't run away and Carter doesn't knock anything over.  She was playing it cool in front of everyone, but as soon as we got to the dressing room she started shaking saying "Mom, I'm so excited to try this on.  I'm just soo excited!"

Finally we capped girls day off with a little trip to Justice.  Or as I like to call it, the most obnoxiously overpriced store on the face of the planet with the ugliest clothes to boot.  But little girls love it, so they were each treated with a bottle of glow in the dark nail polish.

Wonderful girls day, my sweets!  Can't wait to do it again.

By the way, in case you were wondering about the males in our family they also enjoyed their day.  The kids begged Uncle Mike to eat at Taco Bell {yuck} and then they went through a walk in the big woods.  All in all, a very amazing day spent with our cousins!