Our King's Island Adventure!

This morning, the girls and I got up bright and early to make our way to King's Island! We got there right as the park was opening to beat the rush. It was a beautiful and cool day outside... PERFECT weather for KI!! We also didn't have to wait in lines for the rides because we got there early and most schools are still in session so it worked out great! We stayed about three hours, got to ride all the kiddie rides and then headed home! It was so fun and a little nostalgic for me. I grew up going to KI as a kid and teenager. We always got season passes and my mom would take me and Scott. We had so much fun and now my girls are having fun there too! It's like coming full circle (in a weird King's Island sort of way)!

Claire's first ride at KI and her first roller coaster!! Anna was too short for this ride.

Awwww... look at my big girl! She had a blast on the roller coaster!

Mommy and her girls on the Carousel! Always a fan favorite!


Claire & Anna on the helicopter!


Claire really enjoyed riding the doggies! She specified she wanted to ride the pink doggie with glasses. Fortunately, that worked out for her both times she rode!


Anna Banana on the swings!


My girls LOVE the swings! We rode this many times! Thankfully, no lines to speak of!!


Another favorite were the cars. They both had steering wheels and Anna especially went crazy steering. It was so funny!

Round two on the cars! This time they got a yellow car!!

Waiting for the plane ride to end so they could hop on the airplane!!

Going for a quick flight! It was a great day!!!

Boonshoft

Another adventure to Boonshoft!! The girls and I went there with Deanna, Landon & Olivia. As always, we had fun and this was the first time Anna was old enough to play and enjoy the exhibits. We LOVE Boonshoft!

I was able to get a few cute pictures before my camera battery died. Boooo.

Olivia loved playing with the magnetic sticks they had available for the children. She's getting so big!!


Claire really likes the water table!


My big girl!!

My bigger girl!!

Landon could've stayed here playing with this activity all day!

So happy! She really enjoys exploring!!

Digging in the fossil pit... an all-time favorite!

Memorial Day '09

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had to work Memorial Day at the hospital, but I didn't have to go in until 3pm. We had a late morning/early afternoon cookout with Grammy & Papa at our house and then went to the park. Even though I had to work, we still had a fun holiday together!!

It was time to break out the water table!! Last year Claire loved it, but Anna was just a baby so it was fun to see them playing TOGETHER! Soooo sweet!

Papa & Grammy sat with the girls at their picnic table for lunch! They loved it!

Nothing says summer like corn-on-the-cob and watermelon...

My girls do like to eat!!

Claire showing off her new pumping skill!

Off to the park! The girls thought it was so funny to sit in the stroller together!

The girls going down the slide!!

Sophie got to take a dip in the pond!

A mama duck and her MANY ducklings!

I loved seeing three families of geese! They had twenty babies between them! WOW!!

Claire doing her duck impersonation!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Weekend: Part I

PUPPET MANIA
Whew... we have had a super busy Memorial Weekend. I worked this evening and tomorrow is my holiday to work at the hospital, but we still managed to pack our weekend full of activities. I've divided our fun into three parts to make it easier to follow. Hope everyone is enjoying your long weekend with family and taking some time to remember to brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. So thankful to be an American!

Ben & I took the girls to the Greene for 'Puppet Mania'. It was a really nice event and well run! The girls had fun just running around and Claire actually sat for the entire puppet show!!

Claire with our friends from church, Joanna & Bethany!

The puppet show was adorable!

The girls doing their puppet craft!


Claire loved watching the juggler!

Memorial Weekend: Part II

GONE FISHIN'

Papa really likes to fish so Ben thought it would be fun to go fishing at a nearby pond with Claire and Papa! Ben took Claire to the store and let her pick out her very own fishing rod. She picked a pink Barbie rod (surprise, surprise!!). Ben really built up the fishing experience with Claire and the first thing she said when I got her out of bed that morning was "Papa & Daddy are taking me FISHING!". It was so cute!! Thankfully, they caught THREE fish in a matter of minutes! The fish were really biting! Claire, Grammy & Anna looking at the fish from the deck. There were a ton of fish!

Papa putting the live worm bait on the hook. Claire absolutely is terrified of bugs, so this was not her favorite part!

My little beauty! When did she get sooo big??

Daddy helping Claire fish!

Seriously, I am not exaggerating... within 30 seconds of casting their line they caught a fish! Claire's FIRST catch!! She even helped to reel it in!

Claire wasn't so sure about holding the fish!

A very proud Papa!!

It's a catch & release pond so Papa is letting the fish back into water!

What a pro!!

Daddy helping Claire reel in yet another fish!

Yeah!!!

Fish #2

Fish #3... the largest of the three!

Of course, we had to make a quick trip over to the nearby playground!

Grammy showing Claire how to pump! Claire not only learned how to fish, but she's also mastered swinging all by herself! Such a big, big girl!!