Summer

Oh to be the baby -
Stephanie Underwood has started taking pictures and I am loving that Cole gets to be her model.  

 We went to sign up for the Pittsburg Public Library summer reading program.  Chase wanted books like Callie so we got some beginning readers.  As I was putting Cole down for a nap, Callie read to him.

 

She is so her daddy's girl at times

  

 Shannon was working on cleaning up the basement and all the kids toys.  This was mine when I was little and it needed some fixing.  He got it all ready for a baby doll but the big kids thought Cole was the perfect fit.

Do we really have to give up the bottle.  He has except for the nightime one.

 

 Chase is addicted to watching Shannon play the DS.

Callie was catching crawdads (SP?)  Chase was splashing around.  Cole needed to join in the fun.  He LOVED it.  Just splashed away!  One dirty bathtub that night.

Thomas the Train

We had a great time the first year and last year we had fun but I wasn't as impressed probably just because it seemed the same.  So I wasn't too into going this year but Chase remembered and asked all the time when we were going.  It is one of the only things he really gets into going to so we felt like we should go.  We had a GREAT time.  I am so glad we went.  He was so excited and really into it.  They had a few different things and it was just a great day.  The weather was warm but the breeze made it not bad.  Cole rode in his stroller very well - Shannon was kinda in charge of him as I was still trying to get my back recovered.  Callie loved the magic show, petting zoo and mini-golf and didn't mind the rest.  Chase was into it all.  Callie was good to indulge him in like the jump house and stuff at least for awhile till he was fine on his own.  Cole road along and took it all in.  It surprised me how much he loved the train ride.  I guess cause he could be right up at the window watching?

We went by Mom and Dad's house on the way home for supper.  Tom's family came over too and it was a great evening.  We played outside - even had some baseball practice going on - ate and then the kids played so well inside while we visited that we stayed way too late.  I just hated to make them leave - everyone was having fun!

 

T-Rex Cafe / Great Wolf Lodge / Cabelas

 The first week school was out on Thursday, May 30th and Friday, May 31st - we headed to KC.  My Mom kept Cole.  Chase was just little the last time we were at T-Rex Cafe and I knew he would love it.  He did and has been into dinosaurs ever since - and Callie likes that too!  From there we went across to Great Wolf Lodge.  Tom, Alisha, Rylan and Dylan met us there.  The kids had so much fun.  Callie loves the big slides.  Chase rode one big slide each day but we more into the kiddie slides or treehouse area or lazy river or just the pool.  I was more than happy staying with him.  Callie wanted me to ride on each of the big slides with her.  I did it with a smile but boy I don't care for them.  Chase actually took a nap on my lap by the pool mid afternoon.  Callie was GOING.  Rylan and Dylan headed to the room but Callie was still going.  She wears out and who knew what the next day would be like so we just let her go.  I think about 6PM she was ready to get dried off.  Tom and Shannon headed to pick up pizza while Rylan and Dylan introduced Callie and Chase to the Wizard game at GWL (I can't remember the actual name of it and am too lazy to look it up).  It was hectic with four kids but they were able to teach us what it was all about.  We hung out in the room and ate pizza together then each parent took a kid and headed out.  The three big ones played the game.  Chase and I looked at the stuffed animals and went to the tree/animal show, only playing the game a little.  Callie was hooked!!!  Chase and I had been back cuddled up for awhile before they came back.  The next morning Mom called at 7 to tell me Cole was sick.  Running a fever and coughing.  We still let the kids sleep and it was probably 8ish before they started going.  Callie wanted to finish her game so Shannon went with her to do that.  We had brought some things for breakfast and Alisha shared some sausage balls she had made.  We all headed to the water park area about 10 and by noon the kids were just done.  Callie still loved it and didn't want to go but she was exhausted.  When I asked her if it was as fun as she thought it would be she said yes but I wish I wasn't tired.  So we found a McDonalds for the kids and then went to Cabelas.  As funny as it is it was the perfect end.  The kids loved all the animals - it was a nice wrap up for Callie.  We also hit right at feeding time for the fish which was interesting :-)  Mom had called a few times reporting on Cole.  It was super stormy both days but the drive home we were in a good storm and the surrounding area was nasty looking.  I just ran in and and got Cole to head on home - the storms were not going to stop and we needed to get him to quick care before they closed.  We unloaded and Shannon and the kids stayed at home.  I never even got Cole out of his car seat and headed to the hospital for quick care.  A couple things - when we got there they asked if I was there for shelter....um no.  When I took Cole out of his car seat I could tell he was very HOT.  His Tylenol was about 15 min from the 4 hours and Mom had not had anything else to rotate it with.  They didn't even check us in but took his temp because they said if it was over 103 we had to go to the ER.  I was ticked but it was only 103 so they let us stay.  They gave him some advil and we had to wait for it to start going down.  Upper respiratory infection so they called antibiotics in and we were able to pick them and pedialite up in the drive thru at walgreens to head home.  CRAZY.  Alisha and I were texting back and forth on the way home as the storms were so crazy too.  Despite the sickness and storms it was a very successful short trip!