Family Fun

WARNING: Super long post about amusment parks and camping ahead. We had quite the Labor Day weekend! It was loads of fun, kicked off by a road trip to an amusement park. The weather was perfect, the park was busy but not too busy and the company was fantastic! Here we are, posing as a family before entering the park for the day. Notice everyone is dry and hairdos are in tact!
Uncle B. was Ainsley's BFF all day. She kept pretty close to him, constantly grabbing his hand. She thinks he is just wonderful!

We enjoyed many a ride at the park. The girls even got a double ride on the covered wagons, against their wills. The ride attendant forgot to let them off as she unloaded and loaded wagons. On the second trip, you could clearly see the concern on Bennett's face. But alas, the attenant did eventually free the young pioneers!

The large, spinny raft ride was great fun. The water we were floating in looks quite bad though. Yikes!

Cousins flying the friendly skies!

This frog hopper was definitely a favorite of the little girls! Check out the wide open smiles!

Oh man, this was funny! Dad was in line to ride the mini-semis with the girls. They somehow got split up, and the attendant ended up making Dad ride in the back of a semi by himself with a ridiculous acting teenage boy in the front. Every time he came around, I just about wet my pants laughing at this poor man! I've said it before and I'll say it again...way to take one for the team, Dad!

Way up high in the sky chair, Bennett shows her canned "terrified face." She was really doin' just fine.

Uncle B. was a hero at the park! He won the grand prize at one of the games and traded his "jumbo" winnings for three "medium" prizes so each girl could have something. Three cheers for Uncle B!!!

Look at the group of crazies that I found on the train!

Thank you, thank you, Grandpa and Grandma, for taking us on this little trip! It was a wonderful time for us all!!!

Labor Day Weekend, Part II involved camping. Now we like to rough it, so we pitched out tent as close as physically possible to Grandpa and Grandma's house. This proved to be a great idea, as we were forced indoors at 1:17 a.m. due to lots of lightening. Yes, we are smart campers!

We enjoyed a campfire dinner with lots of family.

Ah, no campfire is complete without some good stories. Uncle B. was chosen as the storyteller for the evening. Our personal favorite was the one about how in 6th grade, he jumped into a hotel pool and his trunks came off. Dad, then around 18 or so, grabbed them and threw them out of the pool, and Uncle B. had to fetch them in the buff. Seriously, Dad would do something like that?!?!

Grandpa built an incredible campfire!

Our tent was the size of a one bedroom apartment. Luxury living!

It even had a lovely sitting area. However, at 1:17 a.m. we realized that aluminum lawn chairs are not what you want to sleep next to in a tent during a lightening storm.

For those who are wondering about Cardboard Brian, he camped with us. However, he had to stay indoors all night. It was too windy, campfirey and damp for him to join us in the wild outdoors. He decided to hang out with Bennett's sled dog in the sunroom. And yes, Brian has become a hipster...notice the fashion scarf.

Innovation Continued

What should you do when you really need a bookmark, but you can't seem to find one? It's simple, really. Grab the nearest peacock feather and use it as your new, cool bookmark. I mean, we all have peacock feathers just laying around! Put those suckers to use!

Weekend Sneak Peek: Gummy Mexican Dinner!!!

Let me just say that this Labor Day weekend is shaping up to be one of the best our family has ever experienced! There will be some rad pictures coming in the next couple of days, but here is just a tidbit to give you a glimmer into the fun. We took a trip with the extended family to an area amusement park yesterday. It was an absolutely wonderful time in every way. As we prepared to leave the park, we stopped in the candy shop where each little granddaughter was able to choose a treat. Bennett and Ainsley, as well as Aunt J., were simply awe-struck when they saw this item...the gummy Mexican dinner! Both girls chose this item as their treat and have enjoyed the torillas, juevos rancheros, Mexican Coca-Cola and more! On the way home, I heard Bennett say as she ate, "This is the best chili (pepper) I've ever had!" I'm pretty sure it's the only one she's ever had, and I'm also certain the real ones don't have a gummy, fruity flavor. Anyway, a GREAT day was had by all, I highly recommend the purchase of the gummy Mexican dinner, and more pics from our epic weekend are to come!

Remembering the Yetti

I was looking through some old pictures on our computer and came upon this classic. Some may remember when Bennett went through a yetti phase. She was just fascinated by the concept of the yetti. I believe it was the winter of 2007. So fascinated was this then-five-year-old, that one evening she became a yetti herself! Check out the all-white costume featuring big yetti paw/claws, the fluffy white yetti "hair" and a walmart sack to disguise her non-white Arthur t-shirt. I will always fondly remember my little yetti.

Ainsley, just taking care of some business on the daily commute to Bennett's school. I think she's emailing from Cardboard Brian's cardboard laptop. It's extremely lightweight and good for a career woman on the go.

Best Souvenir Gift Ever! Props to Dad!

Dad was gone for the weekend. We missed him, and he missed us. He was thinking of the girls while he was away, and he brought back the perfect souvenir/gift of all time. Nothing says "I love you" like the sizzling bacon coin purse. Bennett and Ainsley each have one now. And as if they didn't know it already, this now solidifies the fact that they have the best dad ever!

Innovation

Good news for those of you who enjoy this blog. The mother of the family (me) has officially closed her Facebook account. This is a big deal because too much time was wasted there. Also, most of the family photos were posted there because it was quicker and easier. No more of that nonsense! Hopefully the posts to this blog will pick up now. Innovation is always going on at our place. For instance, what do you do when your chicken and rice soup is too hot? Wait for it to cool? No. Blow on it? Kind of. Blow on it with a balloon pump? Yes! Why not?!

The Things That Make Ainsley Tick

Ainsley is our girly girl. Here are the things that "make her tick." Babies. Ainsley LOVES babies. She would like to have nine children when she grows up. She is nuts. Here she and Bennett are posed with their collection of dolls. All of them are important, but none can compare to "Yellow Baby" a.k.a. "Rose" who is in the purple sleeper up front and center. That baby is THE baby in Ainsley's life.

Romance. Ainsley loves to dream about getting married and having a husband some day. She plays "house" every day, and this is a challenge when you live in a house with no boys to be the husband. No problem, as many of you know. We have Cardboard Brian. Cardboard Brian dislikes traveling and is afraid of heights, but he loves babies and dancing. Obviously the perfect man for Ainsley! Just the other day these two renewed their vows. What a sweet couple.

There has been a little discontent with Cardboard Brian though, I fear. Ainsley decided that he needs a makeover of sorts...darker hair and white pants. Why? Because Eric on "The Little Mermaid 2" has them, and she'd like Brian to be a little more like Eric. Oh dear. Not good.

Dress Up. Ainsley rarely wears real clothes. I put them on her in the morning, but she quickly sheds them for fancier attire. Not only does she wear dress up clothing, but she also decorates her bedroom with them. She does this frequently. Above you can see how a Cinderella dress, fairy wings, fake flowers and a pink camo-print blanket have become decor. What do we call this? Shabby Chic? I have no idea.

Weekend Recap

For the first time is as long as I can recall we had a normal, not pouring rain, not blazing hot summer weekend! Glorious! Here is a recap for you... On Saturday we celebrated little Cousin L's first birthday. From the looks of Grandpa and Grandma's driveway you would have thought we were having some kind of silver car party.

Bennett and Ainsley LOVE to spend time with their cousins. Bennett read Cousin S, the only little boy in the family, a book or two.

No party is complete without a Gator ride. This was quite a load, too. We had Dad driving, Great-Grandma E. in the passenger seat, four out of five cousins and me in the back. It was cramped, but we hade a great time!

Bennett and Ainsley were "helpful" when it came time for L. to open her birthday gifts.

What a sweet baby girl! She loved this little lamb she got from Great Aunt B.

On to Sunday. It was a beautiful day! Grandpa L. and Grandma L. stopped by before we headed to their house for a campfire. The girls rode home with them in their convertible, and it was Cardboard Brian's lucky day! He experienced his first convertible ride EVER! That man just hasn't lived! He's living now!

While we waited for our campfire food to cook, Grandpa and Bennett snacked on one of their favorite things...summer sausage. Way to spoil your appetite, you two!

The neighbor horses came to the fence for a visit. Ainsley was so happy and she fed them some grass.

Picnicing by the fire with Grandpa and Grandma! We LOVE this part of summer!

Scheels All-Sports Comes to Bennett's Dollhouse!

I was in Bennett's room this morning. I glanced over to see that there is a lot going down in her dollhouse these days! Many of you know that Bennett's dollhouse is a happening place. It really isn't for dolls. It is for everything else. For most of the summer, her dollhouse has been a science lab. No longer! It has now been deemed a museum featuring a rooftop cafe, a climbing wall and more. Oh, so much more! In the above photo, you can see the climbing wall and the cafe. It looks like Giraffe and Glitzy Reindeer have made it to the top of the wall! They will celebrate by joining their friends, the Earless Bunnies, for coffee drinks in the cafe behind them. I hear the Americano is excellent!

Inside the house, the museum is awe-inspiring. This is the "Fragile Room." Little kids in pajamas are checking out the Hear-No/See-No/Speak-No Evil Cats and the tipsy camels. The Asian man is intriguing as well.

Here is the other wing of the "Fragile Room." I see a penguin snoozing in the back, so this is obviously the more boring of the exhibits. Asian Man's Wife really likes it though.

Here we have the "Bird Room." Again, not much excitement other than the owl quartet in the corner. They perform on the hour.

And now, what museum-goers everywhere have been waiting for...a museum that boasts a "Scheels All-Sports Room!!!!" Here, sports fans and those who enjoy an active lifestyle can see many California Raisins and their athletic equipment. There is even a giant (sort of) tree in the middle of the room...just like Scheels! Oopsy Bear loves this room. Why is he holding a baby bottle? I have no idea. Let's move on...

On the lower level of the museum you will find the "Random Band Room." More raisins...the museum loves to employ the raisin population...providing free, live entertainment. This museum is a hot spot for celebrities because of the night life offered in the Random Band Room. The Shrek Donkey and his entourage are hanging there right now! Autographs all around!

And finally, a side view of the rooftop cafe. There is a lovely patio area where the horses are waiting for the museum's nightly fireworks display to begin. The museum also offers advertising opportunities. The current billboard is advertising one of Hy-Vee's finest employees, Chuck Fleener. Contact Chuck for all your shelf-stocking needs!