Pondology

This morning we went searching for fish and frogs, and well to honest mostly seaweed, in the pond at one of the Metroparks. We had a couple of tumbles and a lot of fun and we even caught something too!

Checking out the water for FROGS!

Melina caught a 3 legged tadpole...TOO COOL!!!

Carson enjoyed the view from above.

Eating our way around the world

The world of fruit that is. My kids are pretty adventurous eaters most of the time. They will at least try a bit of most everything. (My mother-in-law found out the hard way a couple months ago when the kids ate her entire plateful of fresh crab legs that she had flown in from Seattle...and I mean devoured them!! They loved them!!) So we have been trying to buy new fruits this summer and try them. For example, we have split our own coconuts, Michael slayed a Dragon for his fruit (at least this is what he told the kids!) and today we tried a canary melon. The color of a Canary bird, this melon tasted like honeydew with a little kick of watermelon. It was delicious! It grows in a dessert climate in the US, so it is available for a decent price at times. If you have never tried it, check one out next time you are looking for something new and interesting!

Canary Melon

The countdown is on!

...15 more days! That is it...School starts in 15 days! Seriously, where did the summer go. When I looked at the calender this weekend and realized that school basically started in 2 weeks and thought about the amount if things I had to do...YIKES....my head started spinning a bit. So this weekend and today was spent  as a mix of organizing and getting ready and relaxing and having fun! Here are some highlights from the past couple of days.

Logan was busy working in his room.

Logan spent Saturday and Sunday building his new Lego Pirate Ship. Over 1,100 pieces and he never asked for help once!

And we put up his new Obi-Won in his room.

And we organized Lego's...again!!!

And the girls and I went to the Farmers Market and shoe shopping!

I let each of the girls pick out their own shoes. It was Pinkalicious all the way...with a little glitz thrown in for Meeka and a little more Athleticness to Melina's.  Fits their personalities to a T!

And Logan and Melina and I did Back to School Supply Shopping. Everyone is now bought and DONE!

Gotta love new crayons and pencils and glue!

This morning we baked to be able to freeze some goodies for the next couple of weeks.

Waffles, Waffles, Waffles! Nothing better than a homemade waffle with maple syrup in the am!

And zucchini bread!

And today after we bought some "new to us" mats from craigslist for the playroom the kids and I checked out a new park. It was AWESOME!!!! So sad we have not gone before today. Sure was fun though!

You had to try to balance and walk on this
wheel as it moved!

This reminded me of a Tilt a Whirl!

They had a HUGE sand box!

And water too!!

The playground equipment was like none
I had ever seen before! SO FUN!!

My little guy loves the playground now that he can walk and play!

And they all LOVE water!

This week is SUPER BUSY...but hopefully we will have some awesome end of summer moments to share too!

I love when...

...Kids crack up at jokes in which they have no idea why they are laughing!

Yesterday, when Michael came home from work he asked me why I was so dressed up (I had decided to wear a skirt yesterday to feel like a human, no other reason, just cause I wanted to). I answered, "I am going out for girls night out...didn't you remember?" And Logan quickly said, "Are you taking Melina and Meeka with you?" Of course that got a good laugh from both of us. I continued with my charade saying, "Since you are golfing this weekend I am going out tonight. Maybe you shouldn't go golfing all the time." Again, Logan piped up very quickly and said, "Daddy, you can go golfing whenever you want." Michael loved that one! So I said, "Logan, you are throwing them out left and right tonight." And he cracks up, falling out of his chair and says, "I guess I am ....whatever that means!!!" Made us laugh even more. I LOVE the lighter side of life!

First comes love....

How could anyone pass up this cutie!

Yesterday Melina casually mentioned to me (with her arms crossed, head tilted sideways and a sly smile on her face), "X told me he is going to be my boyfriend." (x is a neighbor boy who plays at our house all the time.) And she was very proud of this statement. I was telling this to Michael later at dinner when she then pipped up, "And we kissed." Our eyebrows immediately went up and we looked at each other in disbelief. Then Logan chimed in about how she and X were locked in Melina's room for a spy game that they all were playing and they kissed under the covers of her bed. YIKES!!! My baby is 4!!!! And she has asked a random kid at the park and a boy she met at a luncheon to be her boyfriends and now she is kissing X and says he is going to be her boyfriend.

I think I may be headed for trouble with a capital T!!!

Highlights from the mountains

Last Thursday night we picked Michael up from work and began our trip, which turned out to be about 19 hours of driving in 4 days. I have to be honest... I was not overly excited about this trip. We were going to Michael's family reunion in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Then to visit more more family and finally a visit with more family on the way back. Yes, I love family, but the thought of 4 kids in the car for that long, not knowing for sure what are sleeping arrangements were going to be when we got there or who was even going to be at the reunion (would there be other kids for me kids to play with or would they be bored?) was not overly appealing. I would have loved to be going to the beach, but it was not meant to be this year.

Once we got there I was SO GLAD that we went! The kids did GREAT in the car (They only watched 1 movie the whole trip)!!!!! And we were able to relax and have a good time and visit with people we have not seen in many many years! It was so NICE!!! We ended up having a REALLY GOOD TIME!! Sometimes things turn out for the best. And this was one of them! We also got to celebrate the boys birthdays with lots of extended family which we don't normally get to do. Logan and Carson got to celebrate with ALL 3 GREAT GRANDPARENTS TOGETHER!!! This really is an AMAZING thing when you think about it! The kids are so lucky to have 3 great grandparents!

And ya know what....we are already planning on going back again next year!

Here are some photo highlights of our trip:

We were jammed packed into our car. 4 suitcases, a double stroller, a pack n play, 2 sleeping bags, and much much more!

Melina and Meeka creating the Shaffer Family Reunion sign with Alex, Maddie and Anna!

Alex and Meeka blowing bubbles.

These 3 were buddies all weekend!

Tuckered out! Napping in the shade.

Chillin in his presents at Great Grammies house.

Logan and his Pirates of the Caribbean Legos

Aunt Ann cut Melina's hair.

She chose to go short! Look how CUTE!!

Aunt Ann cut Meeka's hair too. She was mesmerized!

Carson just wanted to get his hands on the cake!

And he went for it!!! He ate almost the whole thing!!!

The girls with Grandma and Grandpap at Idlewild. The amusement park that I went to as a kid.

Melina and Logan riding the motorcycles.

Carson loved being driven around by his big brother. They rode this 3 times!

This made me nervous with all the water.

Meeka rode her first roller coaster...twice. Once with Daddy and once with Grandpap. She LOVED it!!!!

Happy Birthday Boys!

This morning, August 4th, 7 year ago AND 1 year ago I was lying in a hospital bed snuggling with my boys. My sweet, sweet baby boys! Logan after 16 hours of labor and Carson after only 3 hours of labor. And today, 7 years and 1 year ago, I brought them home. They captured my heart the minute they were each born and I my love for these cuddly boys has only grown stronger. They will always be mama's boys!

We celebrated their birthdays yesterday by driving the final leg home from an almost week long trip. On the way home we stopped at the lego store in Columbus for some much anticipated shopping and then headed home where we had presents, pizza and ice cream cake just the 6 of us. It was a great relaxed birthday for the boys! We celebrated with family during our trip (details and pictures of that to follow). Here are some highlight pictures from yesterday.

Happy Birthday to Logan and Carson! 

I love you now and forever!

Logan choose Brio for his birthday
lunch at Easton on our way home.

Carson enjoyed the Birthday dessert!

Logan and his presents!

Carson and his presents!

Carson and Logan checking out Carson's gifts!

Logan with his new Millenium Falcon.
It is HUGE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN AND CARSON!!!!