My kids have it all figured out. Siena has said that when she grows up she wants to be a princess. Ben keeps saying he wants to be a construction worker when he grows up. I am not really sure where he came up with that.  So he has told Siena that he will build her a princess castle when they grow up. So cute. It makes me laugh every time.

Some of July

I hate carrying around the big camera so here are some iphone pictures.

We visited Burke Lake Park. Dave has been training for the RAGNAR race and is wanted to go run around Burke Lake. He had told the kids all about the lake how they could go play while he ran around the lake. It turned out to storm that day so I took them back another day. It is always so crowded there. Even when it is near 100 degrees.

Claire rode the merry go round for the first time by herself. She was terrified until she realized that her animal didn't move.

We also rode the little train around. Ben was terrified of it. I don't know what his problem was. We have been on this train before. He was worse than Claire. Siena insisted that we sit in front and I think it was too loud for Claire. She hated the whistle. I felt bad I had 2 screaming kids and we were siting in the front of the train so everyone could see my screamin kids.

 We visited Pirates Cove. We love the waterpark. One day we couldn't convince any friends to come with us but the two older kids entertained themselves so nicely. It was a perfect day. They played nicely together for hours and Claire napped in her stroller. I finally got to sit by the pool and relax! so nice.
Then we went back the next two days with friends. I love being at the pool. Siena is finally really confident in the pool. Ben is doing great too and will go under water now.

 This past weekend we went up to Hershey. Cousin Brendan was baptized. It is always fun to be with cousins. We didn't get any pictures of the baptism and cousins but we got plenty of crazy pictures of the kids on Grandmas swing. It was a great baptism and then we had family time. We shopped at the outlet mall for school clothes and Dave clothes. No trip to Hershey would be complete without chocolate world. We go there everytime we are up in Hershey. It was a fun weekend.

what was I thinking!!!!!!!!

Wed night I was going to fry some potatoes with seasoning for dinner. I stepped away from the stove and came back and the oil was burning. Not thinking, I took the pan to go and dump the oil out. I don't know what I was thinking... so dumb. It splatted all over my right hand and on the floor and now I have 2nd degree burns on my hand. IT is the most painful thing Ever! I was in so much pain. I sat and soaked my hand for an hour. Dave was still at work so I called him and told him to rush home. I had my right hand in a soaking bowl as I was throwing goldfish at my kids to eat while Dave came home to make them dinner. It was horrible. I was in so much pain. I would rather go through labor than have second degree burns. I was so thankful that Claire wasn't crawling around on the floor like she usually is while I make dinner. Everyone was down playing in the basement so they didn't see any of this happen. I took some pain medicine and went to sleep. I didn't want to go to the emergency room after hours. I woke up the next day and my thumb has a huge blister on it and my skin all around my thumb is all purple. I about passed out it was so gross looking. I called my family Dr. that I haven't seen in 3 years and told them and they told me to come right in. I was at the Dr. for 2 hours. Luckily Dave was able to work from home Thursday and Friday. He basically has done everything. The Dr. said I couldn't get it wet through the weekend. No baths, no dishes... so Dave has done a lot. The family Dr. was worried that it may have been more severe and since it was so bubbly and she couldn't see my knuckle so she sent me to a plastic surgeon. I also had to get my tetanus shot since I was up for another one and you should when you get a burn I guess. That was really painful the next day. Now I feel a little bad for my kids when they are always going to the Dr. and getting shots. Poor kids. I passed out once in my life, when I got laser eye surgery. As my family Dr. was talking about my blister and maybe having the plastic surgeon cut away the dead skin I almost passed out. The thought of anyone touching my hand was awful. I had to lay down at the Dr. office for a while before they would let me leave. I can do pregnancy and delivery I just can't do gross blood and sores. It was an awful day. I now have lots of bandages and cream and some really good drugs. I was telling Dave that I really do need the pain relief drugs because about every 4 hours I can feel when it is starting to wear off and I start feeling pain again. The plastic surgeon said it was fine and not that deep. I am going back in a week to get it all cleaned up and cut away. I don't know how I will deal with that. Maybe take some good drugs before I go in. Yuck. I am never cooking again... atleast not with oil.

things to do in the summer

Siena and Ben have been performing multiple plays for us each day. They are so funny. They each get a fairy tale or think of a play and they each perform one and then they get perform one together. It has seemed like this is all they want to do. It is a pretty good rainy day activity. We have had a lot of rainy days lately. I love them they are so cute.

 Siena told me that our play house outside needed to be more fun. She actually says we need to make it more fun so the spiders will stop coming on it. I don't think there is anyway to stop that but we will try. We actually have been watching a lot of 'My Yard goes Disney' tv show lately and each time the kids say they want a backyard like that. They are crazy yards with huge Disney themes. We won't go that crazy but we do need to add some fun to our playhouse. We started out by adding a hammock to our sandbox. It is so much fun. It reminds us of the beach. Claire even loves it.

We have joined a water park and enjoy going there often. Siena has been so brave and finally conquered going down tunnel slides. She loves them now. Yeah! finally! Ben finally conquered going under water. They are both doing really well with swimming.
We have done a couple of little craft projects but it takes a lot of work and I am not always up for it. Siena spends a lot of time in the craft room with her workbooks.
Both Ben and Siena have finished their reading program through the library and now it's time to go and spend the coupons. We are excited for them.
We have a little over a month till school starts and we are still having fun. Siena and Ben have started sleeping together in the same room. This is by choice. They sleep in Sienas room one night and then in Bens the next night. It is so dang cute. Ben protects Siena from being scared of the dark and it means Ben comes in to our bed less. Win Win! I love that they play so nicely together. I just hope that they will with Claire too.

Beach dance party

Every night we would have a dance party in our living room right before bed. We heard from our neighbors across the street that they enjoyed it each night and would gather around their window to watch us. How embarrasing. Good thing it was mostly the kids dancing. The babies enjoyed it too and then everyone was exhausted and would go right to sleep:)

OBX with family

we love the outer banks! Every year it is so sad to leave and come back home. I wish we could live there. This year we went with part of Daves family. We had so much fun and found the perfect house. It was really nice and well equiped and close to the beach. It was so fun to relax and hang out with family and the cousins had so much fun together.

Grandma made matching dresses. Claire and Catherine. Catherine is one month older than Claire.

 The 2011 girls. Catherine. Elise and Claire.

 Trying to get a good picture of all of them looking was really hard.

 Elise and Claire.

 We got there Saturday. We spend the last 20 miles getting to the beach in dead stop traffic. We watched almost the entire Lion King movie for the last 20 mile drive over the bridge. It was so frustrating. Sunday we rested and got settled. Monday was rainy weather. Grandma came prepared and had crafts for the kids. They loved their visors.

 The boys figured out how to make angry birds using Jenga sticks and baby toys.

 Tuesday was off and on rain. We braved going out and mini golfing. The kids loved it! I think they have asked to go mini golfing every day since. I had no idea it would be so much fun for them. It was really chaotic and frustrating for me trying to teach the kids how to play and keep their turns in order and keep Claire from jumping in the water.

 more cute outfits.

 All the girls. The Meilstrup grandkids used to be all boys. The girls are finally starting to make a comback. Melissa 6 weeks old. Claire. Siena. Elise 9 months. and Catherine.

 The boy cousins, Grandma, Steve, Dave and the kids braved the lighthouse.

 I guess Ben chickened out... again. Someday he will make it to the top.
Steve and Ben

 The beach! It was beautiful weather the rest of the week. Wed-Sat. It was perfect and the waves were awesome. The boy cousins were so brave and went way out. I enjoyed laying out on the blanket with the babies.

 Claire hated getting sandy. We rented this cabana and I think it was the best thing. That and the beach cart. Claire would just sit in the cabana and explore all around the blanket and eat. It was wonderful she would stay right there she was scared of the sand.

 Claire. Catherine and Sharon

 The boys dug to China.

 We celebrated two birthdays there. Steve turned 30 and Brendan turned 8.

 Birthday party!

 Of course Crab hunting. We invested in fun head lamps because that makes it even more fun to go crab hunting. Siena and Ben were scared once we got down to the beach so they stayed up on the stairs with me and Claire most of the time.

 Birthday dessert!

 Cute Claire. She discovered her belly and thought it was so funny to lift up her shirt to see her belly button.

 pure Exhaustion.

 Ben. Siena. Adam and Claire. Brendan Nathan and Elise. Sharon had left the night before because they had an extra long trip and had the two babies.

It was really fun. I had a good time and it was fun to see everyone play nicely together. It was fun to have the little babies there. We had 4 girls all under 2. It wasn't as loud as I thought it would be.

4th of July

We couldn't figure out what to do for the fourth. We have gone in to D.C. the last couple of years and our kids love it but it is a lot of work. We couldn't find anyone to come with us but last minute we convinced Dave that it would be fun. It was fun and HOT. ugh. We got there late but still found a good spot to view.

 so stinkin' cute.

 time to get the glow sticks out.

 We met Karin down there and she joined us for the firework part. My kids were scared of the fireworks this year. When the fireworks started they all ran around like crazy. It made Claire scared so it was a tough couple of minutes. Karin stepped in and helped my kids be brave. They have never been scared of them before.

 Pretty.

Greasy Claire. She sure enjoys feeding herself... or just bathing herself with her food.