ZOO WITH CALLEIGH SUE :)

On Sunday, we went to the zoo with Rayn's best friend, Calleigh.  Calleigh and Rayn are similar in size, have similar personalities and get along a majority of the time, before they start "tattle-telling" on each other. (It comes with the age.) :) 


At the zoo, we took the wagon, packed our lunch, and took the girls in. Overall, because of the 90+ degree weather, we didn't get to see that much, but what we did get to see the girls truthfully enjoyed. 


This is the first time I have taken Rayn to the zoo this summer. I really enjoyed her looking at the animals and watching her brain turn and wondering all about each different animal. What do they eat, mom? Do they swim? Do they walk? 


The number one question of the day, which was my favorite and if you know Rayn well enough, you will laugh out loud, too. Below is our conversation at the beginning of every new animal.


Rayn:  "Mom, is this animal locked up?"
Me: "Yes, Rayn they all are, remember?"
Rayn: "Okay, I'll go look."


(For the record, she is not a big fan of animals...she is very hesitant on going any place with animals. She is also allergic to certain animals, which doesn't help.)


Lastly, after we arrived home from the zoo, she told her dad that her favorite animal was the ostrich. Really? We didn't even see an ostrich, she sat on it on the carousel and that is it! ;)

Getting splashed by the puffins! It was so silly, as Rayn would say.

So sweet...as Lissa says sometimes they are the best of friends and sometimes....you don't know what is next.

So sweet! :)

Answering the question...Which animal are you going to sit on?

MAGIC HOUSE

One Wednesday this summer we took Rayn and her new little buddy to the Magic House. You can see in the pictures below all of that fun that they had together. They were so cute playing and doing all of the fun "magical" things that the Magic House had to offer. Rayn always wanted him to sit by her and to do what she was doing. Even though it didn't always work that way, she stilled tried.

Watch out they are going on a date! The older one is driving...

Trying to fish just like her Papa taught her....

My little artist in the making...

VISIT TO NEBRASKA

At the end of May, we visited Nebraska to see most of Mike's relatives. It is always really nice to go down there and catch up with everybody and to see Rayn interact with all of her family that she doesn't get to see very often. While we were there we enjoyed a visit to Grandma Eiko and Grandpa Don's house, we had a dance party with Grandpa Mike and Grandma Lisa, and a barbeque for everyone to come and visit and enjoy each other's company.

Making my new favorite breakfast: Sprinkle pancakes with Grandpa Mike.

Playing pink legos (who knew?) with Aunt Danielle.

Let the dance party begin. Or as Rayn called it, the PJ Party!

Uncle Chuck, Uncle Jim, Mike, and Grandpa Mike

Grandpa Don, Grandma Eiko, and Rayn

Aunt Mary and Rayn

The Dance Party with Grandma Lisa

Saying goodbye to my Aunt Danielle :(

2 SUCCESSFUL B-DAY PARTIES

All in the same day of the cooking class at Eckert's, we had two birthday parties to go to over an hour away. These birthday parties were celebrating my Grandma Anne-Marie who turned 80 years old in May. What an accomplishment to say that you have lived 80 long years. Happy Birthday to one of the prettiest 80 year old woman I have ever met! 


The next birthday party was my Aunt Mary Jo's 50th birthday party. What a wonderful aunt she has always been to us as we were kids and still as all of us grow into mature adults. My Aunt Mary Jo and I are both teachers in an elementary school and often have very similar stories to share about our wonderful teaching experiences. 


Lastly, the best part of this day was how all of the little ones got to enjoy each other all day and play! All they did was play all day long. What a life, huh? 

WARNING: Extremely long post, so don't get too bored! :)

Benson does not enjoy having his picture taken, so I always get so excited when I get a good one of him!

These three are not related are they? How could you tell?
(My dad, his uncle, and his brother)

My beautiful Grandma and her brother!

My sweet girl, contemplating her next move. :)

This is the sweetest picture EVER! This is three generations of hands here. My dad are the dark set of hands, my Grandma with the painted fingernails, and my niece, Caden! I love this picture and all it represents!

Jadyn and Rayn having a great time on the trampoline!

Who would have thought, a couple of dump trucks, a couple of cars, and some mulch would have entertained this long? 


Let the adult party begin!

LOVE THIS PICTURE OF MY SISTER AND ALL OF OUR COUSINS!

COOKING CLASS WITH CALLEIGH

In May, yes I am finally caught up to May. Which means, I am almost done! :) I have to admit though, catching up on these posts really does help me sit and reminisce about all of the memories that I have created with Rayn, and all of the joy and laughter she brings to our lives on a daily basis. (If you are a mom and reading this, you know, as well as me, that not every day is joyous; however, looking at these pictures helps remind you of how joyous times can be and to forget the things that are bothering you.) 


So, for the first time ever, I signed Rayn and I up for a Mommy & Me cooking class at Eckert's. This was the first thing that we did together this summer. I went in with we will see how she does here. Well, during the class we only had one meltdown, but after a short minute, she was just fine. Overall, I would say that it was a huge success and she really liked it, as a matter of fact, I am going to look and see what is next on the list at Eckert's for a kids cooking class. 


PS: Rayn is going through what I call a "scaredy-cat" phase where she is scared of everything. So, the meltdown was about the noise that the blender made when people pushed it down. Part of the participation in the class, was the kiddos were allowed to blend their own smoothies. Eventually, Rayn decided that she didn't want to be the only without so she got over it and was extremely proud of herself (I was, too) for overcoming her fear. 

Saying goodbye, class was fun! The girls even potted their own tomatoes plants to grow at home and ours has doubled in size! Rayn is so good at remembering to water it everyday. 

SOOOO EXCITED!

Rayn: "Look mommy, mommy look, I did it!" (She was so extremely proud of herself.)

"MMMmmmm...tastes so good."

Someone better hurry up because I think there patience is wearing thin.! :)

HAPPY EASTER 2012!

This year we celebrated Easter by going to church with what Rayn calls her "Grandma Jane and Papa Mike." Then we went back to their house and had a big brunch and hunted Easter eggs. This year Easter egg hunting was a big hit for her because she was very into it. She got a piece of candy or a number (the number got you a special prize, and the anticipation of that was...ohhh so exciting) in every Easter egg. Below you will see pictures of her and all of her cousins hunting eggs. 

"Watch out, Daddy, I found an egg!"

Rayn and her sweet little cousin, Caden!

Benson and his basketful of eggs. I snuck a picture of him. :)

"Coop-Coop" (as Rayn calls him) looking for his eggs!