A First for Brecken

We took a family trip to the zoo on Saturday--it was Brecken's first time there!  He didn't really care too much, of course, but it was still fun!  We even got a family picture!  It's so nice having a zoo membership when you have small kids because if we don't see everything, it's okay.  We stayed for two hours and it was super hot, but we let Ava decide where she wanted to go.  First, she wanted to see the tigers, then he gorillas.  We brought our own lunch, but ate in the cool air-conditioned Beastro.  Then we went to the petting zoo and we were done!  I think that's the last time we'll go until is gets a little cooler.

 

Cuties

After giving Brecken a bath the other night, I got him dressed in this little green outfit.  Ava was helping me and I told her, "You wore this same outfit when you were a baby."  I then remembered that I actually had a picture of her wearing the outfit, so I decided to take one of Brecken too.  Here are the pictures.  Think they have any similarities?

Ava at a little over five months

Brecken at just under four months

Saturday Evening Fun

We sat outside a couple of Saturdays ago and let Ava ride her little four wheeler around.  It was SO hot, but she had fun and Mommy and Daddy had margaritas to keep cool!  Brecken was just a spectator.  By the end of our time, Ava had out both of her four wheelers, a stroller and her car! 

Back to Work

So I am officially back to work and I must say it feels good.  I do miss my kiddos, but it feels great to talk to adults, get dressed and ready for the day, be productive, etc.  Since I am back to work and the kids haven't started with their regular sitter yet, we've had to call out some favors.  Well, not really "favors" since our kids are so wonderful that people are just waiting in line to babysit them, but we did have to have a lot of different sitters.  Erick's parents babysat last Tuesday, my nieces on Thursday, my nieces on Monday, Kelly on Tuesday, Erick's parents on Wednesday and my mom today.  Whew!  The munchkins have been shuffled around a bit but they have had fun!  Thank goodness we have such wonderful family members and friends!  My mom took a few pictures while she was with them today.  So here is a day with Nanny:

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.