Couple Time at the vM Ranch

Mommy and Daddy had some alone time at the ranch last week!  All by ourselves!  Can you believe it?  The kiddos stayed in Marion at my parents house and were only supposed to stay one night, but Erick just needed one more night, so they stayed two at Nanny and Papa's and we stayed two lovely nights at the ranch.  What did we do, you ask?  Um, let me think.  Oh, right.  Nothing.  That's what we did--nothing!  And it was fabulous!  I guess we did ride the four wheeler a bit, got some sun, read a book, ate, napped, etc.  It was great!  Thanks so my parents for watching the kids and for Erick's parents for letting us stay in their beautiful house!  

This is all we needed!

Happy couple!

This is where we camped out.

Happy 85th Birthday, Grandpa Walt!

Laughing at Nanny

Cousins

Grandpa & Grandkids

Grandpa & Erick

Feeding the fish

Summer Playdates

The summer is almost over, but we have had some great playdates!  Quite a few of them have been with a sorority sister that I have gotten back in touch with and her kiddos.  I am so thankful that Lesley and I decided to meet up because it has been such a great outlet for us!  Oh, ya, and our kids had fun too! :)
We went to Eastborough Park and the girls (Ava and Maddie) played on the equipment and checked out the ducks while the boys (Brecken and Parker) just chilled.

Lesley and I also took Maddie and Ava to Cinderella at the Wichita Children's Theatre.

Kids Day Out

Ava enjoyed going to Kids Day Out at Eastminster this summer!  It was once a week for six weeks, 9:30-1pm.  She played, made crafts and did other fun activities.  Some days even had themes--like Pajama Day, Red, White & Blue day, Funny Hat Day, etc.  Next summer, she and Brecken will both get to go and Mommy can have a half day all to herself!  Yay!
Here is a picture of Ava and her teachers:

Reading

One thing that happens every night at bedtime in our house (without fail) is that we read books.  Sometimes just two.  Sometimes eight.  It just depends on the mood of the adults in the house. :)  One of us sits on Ava's bed with her and we read.  We have been reading to her every night before bed for as long as I can remember--it's just a routine we wanted to start with her at a young age.  She LOVES books!  When we kiss her goodnight and leave her room, she will continue to read the books to her baby dolls in bed.  It is so wonderful to listen to her!  I hope she continues to love reading as much as I did when I was younger.  
The other night was the first night Brecken got in on the action.  Erick, Ava and Brecken all laid down on the floor in B's room and they read.  I thought it was cute so I took a couple of pictures.
Here's to many more nights of good books with our kiddos!

Backwards

So apparently Ava has taken to wearing her shirts backwards.  Every time we ask her to get dressed, the shirt always ends up the wrong way.  We say, "Your shirt is backwards."  "Ya, that's how I like it," she says.  Okay.  Whatever.  Well, the other day when she did it, I decided it may be a good idea!  She can wear it backwards half the day--eat snacks, lunch, get it dirty, etc.  Then after nap time, she can turn it around and WAH-LAH!  She has on a brand new clean shirt!  Sort of.  Obviously this will only happen when we are at home.  Not in public.