A Day Out with Thomas

For years we have wanted to take Aidan to see Thomas the Tank Engine. Last year we thought he was maybe too young, but this year was the year!!!

Well...jokes on us because he was less than thrilled. Aidan did not want to participate in any of the activities and had to be coaxed on the train...ugh. I do have video of the train ride itself which wasn't so bad for him. After the train ride they take an official photo in front of Thomas, but Aidan didn't want any of that; he just waved goodbye to Thomas and quickly walked away. For such a long drive we spent a very short time there. Aidan's highlight of the day was that we stopped at the city park before we headed home. Here are some photos that summed up the day...

Guess who is in the port-a-potty?! Yep, Aidan.

Aidan has his mad face on

Pretty much all Aidan would do is play with the train sets on the train tables which we could have done at home for heaven's sakes.

Banzai!

Now that the house is pretty well fixed up, looking pretty and on the market I decided to catch up on some blogging.

This summer we bit the bullet and bought one of those inflatable water slides. If it wasn't for my super Kohl's discount on top of discount it would have never happened...wow, are those things too much money! The kids have had some great fun with it! Of course there is already a tear in it, but it seems to still inflate and do its thing so whatever. Our city just passed a bond issue to build a city swimming pool so this won't be so necessary next year - construction starts this fall...woohoo!!!

A Great Birthday

So last Sunday was my birthday and it was pretty darn alright. As you can see I like to lead off my posts with cake...Kendra's shower, Ryan's graduation and now my birthday! I just like cake anytime of the year really, birthday or not. I met my friend Monica for a pedicure in the afternoon. We went to Chill afterward for some gelato and coffee...so awesome!

Me and Monica - we loved the cool orange wall behind us!

Our pretty toes

In the evening Thom, the kids and I went to Carabbas for dinner. It is one of my most favorite restaurants!!! I always order the Pollo Rosa Maria which probably has four sticks of butter in it but since I only eat it once every year or two I figure it's not so bad. The funny thing is that it is supposed to come with a side of spaghetti, but I request to have fettucini alfredo with it instead...more butter. The waiters always give me kind of a funny look like "lady, are you looking for a death wish?" To pass the time we all played some tic tac toe. In my opinion Thom drew the short stick because Quinn always cheats! I had a better experience because Aidan truly wants others to win...he is such a sweetheart.

Thom and Quinn playing tic tac toe...don't take your eye off her Thom...she's sneaky!

My tic tac toe partner

Mmmm...Pollo Rosa Maria

Aidan was confused - he thought we were at a chinese restaurant. He ate his chicken using his fork handles as chop sticks.

One of my favorite gifts this year!

A little known fact about me is that I have a thing for turtles...sea turtles to be specific. When I used to live in Florida I loved to go on the tours that observed the green sea turtle coming to shore every fall and laying her eggs. It is so peaceful and beautiful. I was hooked from the very first time and have had a love for the animal ever since. I love the triumphant story of its struggle from birth to death and somehow feel akin to it in a way. So after our pedicures Monica gave me this cool gift! This guy will reside at the head of my bed and matches my bedroom perfectly. I love it Monica...thank you!

Meet Bella!

This is our new puppy Bella! Well she is not so new anymore. Our family only lasted five days without a dog in the house. It was the loneliest feeling ever and none of us liked it one bit. So we started researching breeds of dogs that would be good with kids and not get terribly big. I mentioned that I have always wanted a Beagle, but have always had larger dogs. So the next day in the paper there was the sweetest litter of Beagle pups and our fate was sealed. Quinn named her Bella on the drive home from picking her up.

Bella is fourteen weeks now, but we got her when she was six weeks old. She has been a little pistol! We started her obedience classes this week and for the next seven weeks we will be trying to whip her into shape. All and all she really is a very good puppy. Likes to howl and disrupted the training class by howling at the other dogs...it was cute though. Aidan took a long time to warm up to her, but is very active in her care and is always concerned with what she is doing. He says every day when we pull in the driveway when getting home from work and preschool, "I wonder how big Bella got?" As you will see below, they kissed and made up. Bella has been a wonderful addition to the family!

Terror of the Shoe

So Thom had an old pair of shoes that we have let Bella play with outside. Probably not the greatest idea because it reinforces that shoes are "okay", but it has provided some great entertainment. Today she thrashed around with one of the shoes like she meant business!!

Congrats Ryan!

Memorial Day weekend my nephew, Ryan graduated from high school so we packed up the car and headed north. We are all so PROUD of him!!! Now you are not going to believe this, BUT THOM WENT WITH US!!! For those of you who may not think I am telling the truth - I took pictures!

My sister Debbie and Quinn waiting for the graduate

Thom, Aidan and I before the ceremony - Aidan is photo phobic for some reason...geez.

Ryan walking in

Ryan with his "fake" diploma

Ryan and his girlfriend Alyssa

Quinn and Aunt Sherry - look at the camera, Sherry... (p.s. Quinn didn't graduate, she just loved wearing the cap)

Ryan with his "real" diploma

Ryan with his momma

Ryan with the kids

Grandpa (my dad) congratulating Ryan

Ryan and Grandpa

There was a graduation party at Debbie's house later that afternoon with quite a spread...mmmmm.

Ryan and his best friend, JV

JV's family and Ryan - they are all so sweet and were such a wonderful addition to party!

Ryan and my family - again, Aidan....ahhh! I still can't believe that is Thom in the picture.

Sherry, Debbie, Ryan and myself

Fun at the Art Museum

Before we headed home, the kids and I took an extra day to just have some fun with my sister Deb. We went to the Art Museum where I grow up and had a super time! I remember going there as a kid and not enjoying it - probably because I had to do what the teachers were telling me to do. Anyway, I was so impressed!!! For a mere $5 per person you got to have a whole lot of fun! I have been to other larger venues that try and pull this off for kids and they have miserable failed when compared to this art museum.

There was an exhibit called Springs, Sprockets and Pulleys that was created by artist Steve Gerberich. The creativity and mechanics that went into this was breathtaking. Just by pushing a button various chain reactions would create a band to play, an airplane to fly, etc. Below are the kids checking out the band...

The museum had so many hands on things for the kids to do and bonus! the local children were still in school so we had the place to ourselves. Here is farmer Quinn milking a cow!

Okay...I can't stop laughing about this photo...LOL - Aidan's head looks so little!

Quinn is testing out the virtual painting and got to print out her masterpiece to take home.

Our little business woman, Quinn selling her produce

Aidan being very serious about being a bus driver

Upstairs there was a gorgeous setup for puppet shows and plays. With so much to pick from, Deb and I got to see an awful lot of the this porcupine and alligator. Aidan loved the alligator and just kept roaring...too funny.

The stage had a curtain and tons of costumes behind it for some pretend play. Well the only skit that Deb and I saw TWICE is one of them coming out and pretending to be a deer and the other one shooting it...seriously?! There were some cool props and everything backstage! We are not even hunters or outdoors people so I have no idea where this came from. After the second time of seeing this Deb turned to me and asked me what was wrong with my children! Gotta admit - it was strange to say the least.

The stage had a projector so you could draw your own backdrop - here is Quinn's. Took us a while to figure this one out!

Aidan having one last shot at Quinn the deer.