July 25, 2010
Day Trip to Whitehall/Montague

This year we have been camping more weekends than ever before. Because of all the extra camping, we haven't done as many day trip adventures as we did last year. However, we were home this weekend and took advantage of some beautiful weather. We drove up to the Montague, which is not really that far from our house, and spent some time riding our bikes.

We tried something a little different for this bike trip and it turned out quite well. We were able to cover more miles by doing a set-up that allowed the kids to rotate their positions. We had Nicholas on his bike, and Gabrielle on hers, one kid in the bike trailer and one on the tag-a-along. As one kid got tired, we rotated them around and for the most part it worked very well and we ended up with almost 10 miles for the day, which is quite good for the age of our kids.

It was Sam's first opportunity to ride the tag-a-long and he LOVED it!

This is what happens when you find a park along the way.

After completing the Medberry Trail, we went back to the trailhead of the Hart-Montague Trail and found that the Township had added on a community section that winds through neighborhoods and was a very beautiful ride. There were several street corners where the trail went right through a beautiful garden maintained by different organizations.

Almost 5 miles into the ride, Nicholas started to tire out. We moved things around a little and Gabrielle rode his bike for a while. She was so proud to be riding a "gear bike" - it took a little adjusting to using only hand brakes but she did very well. The bike is a little big for her right now, but she managed and is hoping that next year she will able to get a mountain bike of her own.

Another thing we discovered were various
forms of artwork and sculptures along the way.
This bald eagle was made out of wood.

Metal wild flower sculpture.

What happens when you have too many tired kids and too many bikes?
You get creative. We removed the handle from the bike trailer and managed to form a sort of bike rack by running the handle back through the bike frame of Gabrielle's bike.

A job well done - they made it almost 10 miles!
(even though none of them actually rode the entire way - they did great!)

The best way to finish a bike ride is ice cream right?
The kids loved this little place because
the picnic tables were all on the roof of the building.

After our stop for ice cream we drove out Old Channel Trail to the lakeshore.
Although, we have seen White River Light Station several times in the past few
years - this was the first time we were on this side of the channel.

The kids had a great time cooling off, by standing on the pier and
letting the waves splash up on them.

One soggy, wet but happy little girl.

Posing in front of the lighthouse.

On the way back to the truck - Sam found this rock and decided he could lift it.
Needless to say - he was wrong, but loved the picture of his trying.

July 15-18, 2010
Yankee Springs
Misc Pictures

As you can tell from my previous posts, our trip to Gun Lake was filled with a birthday party and lots and lots of swimming. However, there were also some funny things that happened back at the trailer during those few times that we were actually hanging out there.

Allison had handed out candy as her party favors for her birthday, in addition, Aunt Catherine painted the girls nails. Gabrielle thought it was really funny when she had new pink nails and a blue tongue from her Laffy Taffy. She found it even funnier when she realized her tongue matched her shirt.

As I mentioned before, Aunt Barb brought some of her
grandkids out to the lake for the day.
While the other kids were in the water,
Matea and Grandma had some great one on one time on the swing.

On the way back from the lake one night,
the kids discovered the library they had at the camp ground host site.
They each picked a book for the evening, and I thought it was really cute
how Joshua and Allison plopped themselves in their chairs
next to the fire with their newly borrowed books.
I love seeing their love for reading.

Matthew had a blast eating marshmallows.
The facial expressions he made as he was given the freedom to
dig into that marshmallow bag was priceless.
Then, after he got the marshmallow he had to stuff the entire
thing in his mouth at one time. Hilarious!

I don't know how it got started, but one by one all of the kids ended up in
Matthew's little play area/jail/cage - whichever words you choose to use.
It was quite a sight.

July 15-18, 2010
Yankee Springs - Gun Lake

As I look at the pictures from this year's Gun Lake trip - I am reminded of our trip their last year. Last year, it rained and was freezing cold. One evening we had even discussed going out to eat just to warm up our bones. We also did some fishing and hiking because that was the type of weekend that it was. We never even put our swimsuits on that weekend, as most of the time we were wearing sweatshirts and coats.

This year was so different. It was hot and steamy. We headed to down to the lake to go swimming 2 or sometimes 3 times a day. We never hiked and didn't even get our fishing poles out of the trailer. We enjoyed time with Uncle Shawn's boat and just plain had a lot of fun together. I did get some pictures, but due to the fact that I was usually in the water with the kids they are actually quite limited as to how many times I actually got the camera out.

The kids are all learning how to swim so well. It is wonderful to not have to mess with life jackets everytime we go into the water, but on the other hand the kids lack of floatation devices changes the way you watch the kids in the water, and I found myself constantly counting heads.
The kids had a lot of fun with Aunt Catherine in the water - she showed Gabrielle how to do summersaults in the water, and I think Uncle Cory even tried a handstand or two.

There was also beach play time. We had lots of trucks, shovels, and sand castles.

Matthew kept wanting to get his hands into the boys' sand castles.
Fortunately, for him - his mom started to build some castles strictly for the purpose of Matthew's destruction. What a happy boy!

Saturday we had the opportunity to have visitors. Aunt Nancy came, and Aunt Barb brought 4 of her grandkids along. (Lexi, Tori, Eli and Matea). The girls loved getting re-acquainted with the twins, Lexi and Tori and they had a wonderful time in the water together.

Nicholas has been getting more and more excited about the water this year. He is getting more comfortable in the water and actually has a desire to improve his swimming skills.
For the first time ever, he actually let Papa throw him in the water with no tubes or life jackets.

Ready, set, go

All day long on Saturday, Owen kept saying it was
"jumping off the boat day". He made sure to remind his dad of this fact
when they got the boat out that evening and he was so excited to jump off the boat.
The first time he jumped to his dad, the second time he just jumped right in.

The other kids all got the opportunity to jump off the boat too, but I had already put my camera away. However, a memory of have of that was - as the kids jumped off the boat: Matea kept saying "Me, Me" to her Grandma. She, of course, didn't want to actually jump off the boat as she was already cold and wrapped up in a towel - but she sure thought it looked like the kids were having fun.

In addition, to getting to jump off the boat - all the kids that wanted to were given the opportunity to go tubing. I didn't get pictures of them all, because I only had my camera out for a few minutes before joining everyone in the water.

July 16, 2010
Allison's Birthday Party
at Yankee Springs State Park

I decided to break up my entries for our trip to Yankee Springs because I had taken so many pictures between Allison's Birthday Party and our other fun camping activities.

Friday night, we decided to celebrate Allison's Birthday.
Grandma babysat Owen for the day, so Uncle Shawn came out for the evening.
In addition, we were excited to hear that Aunt Melissa and Micah could drive out for the evening as well. I wasn't up for cooking for all these people out of my trailer, so I opted for the easy way out and we ordered Hungry Howie's Pizza and breadsticks. The food was a hit, and the company was outstanding and Allison had a great time celebrating her birthday with everyone.

The Birthday Girl
Showing off her Hello Kitty t-shirt to match her Hello Kitty birthday theme.

Before the party started, we took the opportunity to take a picture with the cupcakes she decorated with sprinkles. The birthday girl with her birthday crown and her lunchbox that we filled with candy for her party favors.

Opening her present from Aunt Melissa and Micah.
It was a goody bag filled with a jump rope, bubbles, and suckers.

She loves her new Hello Kitty camping chair from Grandma and Grandpa.

After Allison opened her chair - Nicholas decided that the gift bag was the perfect size to wear.

Polly Pocket set from Grandma and Grandpa

A new outfit for school - also from Grandma and Grandpa

....and her new art set.

Polly Pocket Roller Coaster set from her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

and a new tent from Mama and Papa

Aunt Catherine and Allison seem to have the same opinion of the construction of the new Polly Pocket Roller Coaster and Waterpark.

Everybody seemed into the Polly Pocket set tonight. Aunt Catherine said she wanted to help put it together, because she never gets to play with girls toys - having 2 boys of her own.
But, as the package was opened I think Joshua was just as excited to explore the new toy.

After the gifts, we all headed down to the lake for some swimming and tubing.
I was out in the water having fun with everyone, so I didn't have my camera with me in the water. However, one story that just needs to be shared is this: Uncle Shawn patiently pulls the little kids on the tube every time, knowing that he can't go too fast and needs to take it easy because of the their age. Tonight, was another story - we managed to talk Micah into giving the tube a try. Uncle Shawn was in his glory knowing that he had a fierce competitor on his hands and did everything in his power to try to flip her off. He finally accomplished his task, and oh did I wish I had my camera. The tube flipped up in the air and you could see air between the top of that tube and Micah as she went hurling into the air and dropped into the waves. Uncle Shawn turned to all of us near shore and declared his triumph with both arms straight up in the air. I would have loved to have a picture of both the flip and his victorious face.

After tubing, Micah headed into shore to dry off and I found her swinging with Allison.

The birthday girl with her cupcakes.

Blowing out her candles.

July 14, 2010
Allison turns 5!

Wow, how time flies! It seems that every year goes faster and faster.
Her birthday fell on a Wednesday, which meant Paul was at work all day - so her birthday celebration had to wait until after dinner. I did, however, take them to the library and then made a stop at Speedway for ICEEs for all the kids for a special birthday treat.
After dinner - she finally was able to open her presents.

A new bike helmet

She had been asking for Jilly the Zhu Zhu pet for weeks.
She was so excited to see that she actually got it.

Jilly the hamster, came in a set. It had a hamster room and also came with one hamster baby and a twin baby stroller. Later, she opened a 2nd baby and a hamster carrier and blanket.

Showing Gabrielle some of her hamster accessories.

Another thing Allison had been asking for lately was a pillow pet.
However, there really wasn't enough time to order one on-line and get it on time for her birthday. I was talking with a co-worker about where I might be able to find something similar and she informed me that Rivertown Mall has a kiosk that sells them.
I was so excited to here that, and went right after work to check it out.
Allison had asked for the purple unicorn, but they were all out.
Upon opening her gift, she was delighted to find a soft fluffy sheep pillow pet and wants to take it with her everywhere.

After opening presents, Allison and I left with her Toys R Us gift cards, some money from her bank and some birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Van Wesep. Zhu Zhu pet accessories were on sale - so we were off to add to her new collection.
She got another Zhu Zhu named Nugget, a bed for it to sleep in, and a hamster wheel to connect to the hamster room she just got earlier. She also had a great time having some one on one time with mom. We did have to stop at the grocery store, but she happily road in the cart with her hamster and hamster babies tucked in their little beds the entire time.

July 12, 2010
If you want something bad enough....

Earlier this morning, I had the dryer running. From upstairs, I heard the dryer door open and the dryer stop. I went down stairs to find out it was Sam and had a little talk with him about leaving my dryer alone.

Later in the morning, Sam and I went through some totes in the basement looking for some bigger pajamas for him and were able to locate 3 Lightning McQueen PJs. I then proceeded to put them in the load of wash that I had ready to go.

Still later, Sam came and found me and wanted to know where his new PJs where. I informed him that they were now in the dryer and that he could wear them that night.

So, now it's the middle of the afternoon and I am sitting in the living room and low and behold I hear the dryer door again. This time the cycle was actually finished. In my mind, I am preparing myself to have a little talk with Sam when he comes back upstairs and am trying to decide the appropriate punishment. Then, I start hearing him mumble something to himself and it sounds like he is carrying something heavy. I also keep hearing something on the stairs as he works his way to the top.

The next thing I know he brings me a laundry basket full of clean clothes, and is asking for his new Lightning McQueen PJs. The little stinker had unloaded the clean clothes from the dryer into a laundry basket and carried them all upstairs. I quickly realized that this wasn't the entire load and asked him where the rest of the clothes were. His reply: " They are in the green basket because it was too heavy for me to carry them all."