They're Back!!!

The kids are home! After a long, long drive from South Carolina they got home about 1:30 this afternoon. Wink was so happy to see the kids and the kids were so happy to see her.As soon as they got home, Christopher started writing in his journal some more.
Anneli went right to her dollhouse after greeting her good friend, Wink.After eating a little lunch and enjoying ice cream at Pralines (Chris's favorite place!), we came home and here is what we are doing at this very moment.

Wink is watching from the kitchen window as Anneli plays in her little pool outside.

She doesn't take her eyes off Anneli!

Anneli is full of energy!

What did you feed her Mom & Dad!?

Christopher is quite the opposite.

He is EXHAUSTED from his week long adventure in South Carolina!

I sure hope he sleeps tonight!!

They are Almost HOME!!

Picture taken by Pepe on their ride home!

The kids are on their way home!! They should be home a little later this afternoon, early evening. We are glad they had fun, but we are so anxious to see then! We missed you guys!!!!!

Even Wink will be excited to see and play with the kids. She sits at the dollhouse waiting for them to come home...

Hurry Home!!!

Playdate!!!

The temperature got a little warm today. It was the first day since April that we had 90 degree temps! It's hard to believe, since it's already mid-July! Anyway, I was afraid it was going to get too warm in my parents home with no air conditioning for their dog Lily, who Shaun & I are taking care of while they are gone to SC with our kids! I brought Lily over this morning so she could be in the AC at our house and hang out with Wink and I. It might not have been such a great idea...

Here is a picture of Lily riding in the car, on my lap, to my house across town. Guess she's not the biggest fan of a ride in the car!

Wink, our kitty, and Lily have briefly met before. They weren't friends, but they weren't enemies either. Lily was petrified of Wink. Below is a picture of Lily on the couch thinking she is safe from Wink, but guess again dog! Wink would jump up out of nowhere and scare the poor dog! They weren't too sure of eachother, but I think Wink just wanted to play. She has really missed the kids this week. I will also admit, Wink was very possessive of her home when Lily was visiting. We had never seen her this way before. It was entertaining to watch. During Lily's visit, she just couldn't relax, she was always watching out for the cat.
When Shaun got home, we drove Lily back to her house so she could calm down and have a relaxing evening. I have never seen her so happy to leave our house! When we pulled into the yard, she was sooooo excited to be home.

I don't see how Lily could be so afraid of our sweet little friendly Wink.

Isn't she precious.....

Fun in South Carolina without Parents!!

The kids are having a great time in South Carolina with Meme, Pepe, and Aunt Valerie as they visit their cousins Cole & Carter (and Aunt Jess & Uncle Nick too, of course!!). They are having a blast going to Zoo Camp each day learning about animals and spending behind the scene time at the Greenville Zoo! They also got a chance to check out what Uncle Nick does for work. He's a surveyor so he showed them his survey equipment. I heard that my little Anneli was rather interested.

Here is a picture of the kids just hanging out together with Cole on his bed reading a book.

The kids even had fun swimming at their community swimming pool. There goes Christopher off the diving board! Way to go Christopher!! :)

Below here is a picture of Anneli and her Aunts posing for a silly picture!! Crazy gals!! ;)

We are glad to see that you both are having fun, but we miss you guys!!!!! The house is too quiet without you both! Can't wait to see you when you get home and hear about your many adventures! Thanks Mom, Dad, and Val for taking them down there! Also, thanks Aunt Jess & Uncle Nick for having them! :)

OUCH!

Good thing I had already talked to Anneli before I received this picture text from my dad in South Carolina. Looks pretty serious, doesn't it!? Thankfully it's not, but I had to post it. I love her cute little foot with pink painted toes...

Anyways, she was walking one of my sisters dogs and she stubbed her toe on the road and she scun her nail and toe up pretty good. She was a little concerned that her "toe wouldn't be beautiful anymore"! She was so cute on the phone when she told me "don't worry, my foot knows how to grow skin back."

Thanks Aunt Jess and Aunt Val for helping her realize her toe will be beautiful again!! :)

A Weekend without Kids: what to do!?

Since Christopher and Anneli left Friday night with my parents and Valerie for South Carolina, we had a whole weekend without kids! Whatever were we going to do!? We started off Saturday morning going for breakfast. Okay, I admit, we eat out a lot, but NEVER breakfast because of Christopher's egg allergy. Breakfast really isn't the safest meal for him at a restaurant. It was nice having a nice breakfast out--french toast, eggs, bacon....yummm!!

After breakfast we decided to take a ride down to New London to Sailfest. We walked around people watching and enjoying the music. Then we took a sail on the Quinnipiack. It was a beautiful day (No rain--woo hoo!!!) and a lot of fun! Shaun even helped to put up the sail!! Of course I left my camera at home, but we got a few shots with my cell phone.
UGH! I have more pictures I want to upload, but I can't get them from my phone to my computer! UGH! Guess I'll have to try to upload them later...

We are back!

We have been back for a week from our annual trip to Lake Wallenpaupack in Hawley, Pennsylvania! Sorry we havn't posted, but we've been enjoying our week together before the kids head off to South Carolina with my parents to visit with Cole & Carter and to go to Zoo Camp. What a crazy summer it has been so far!!!

Last Monday (7/6) we spent the day swimming at Meme and Pepe's swimming pool. The water was a bit cold since the nights have been a little chilly--heck, the days really haven't felt like summer yet either! Even though the water was cold, the kids had a grand old time!

On Tuesday (7/7) we ran a few errands to get Christopher ready for Cub Scout camp in a few weeks. Then we had lunch at Friendly's--which is always a favorite place for the kids! Then we went home to get a few things done. On Wednesday (7/8) we saw the movie a Tale of Despereaux. (We totally recommend the Wednesday Summer Movie Camp program at the Loews Theatre in Plainville! 10am children's movie is $1.00 and a children's snack pack was $3.00! For more info and additional AMC Theatres that participate around the country click HERE.) It was a super cute movie. I think Despereaux is such a cute little mouse! Next we were off to the 75% off Bookstore in town--which is another favorite place for the kids! Then the kids went home with Meme and spent the afternoon with her!

On Thursday (7/9) we spent the day coloring, reading and writing a book report as we finished up packing for the kids trip to South Carolina.

On Friday (7/10) we headed off to Lake Compounce for lunch and summer fun! It was a great day! The kids had fun riding on some kiddy rides together, and having fun in the water park. Then before we left, Christopher got a frog tatoo and Anneli got her face painted (like a princess--that's a crown on her forehead!). What a great way to end the week!

Then the kids headed off with Meme, Pepe and Aunt Val at about 9:30pm for their long drive to South Carolina! They were excited!

Whatever will we do with the kids gone for a whole week....