Pool

Our community pool opened on Memorial Day weekend and since it was over 90 degrees today, I thought it would be a great day to go. The kids had a blast! They are already asking if we can go again tomorrow. We probably will, it was much easier this year than last now that Bowen isn't a newborn. Last summer I really worried that he would get too hot. There's not shade close to the water which meant that Tysen had to stay with Bowen and me. Then I felt bad that Tysen wasn't having much fun. But this year is better because Bowen loves the water and Tysen is timid enough that he wants to stay very close to Bowen and me. Alexa and Gavin have been through several rounds of swim lessons and they know not to leave the shallow end.

Baby Ducks!

We've got some baby ducks at our pond and they are so cute!

Out for Lunch

I spent all morning steam cleaning the carpet while the kids were confined to the dining room. With four kids and a dog, our carpet really takes a beating but it looks brand new again thanks to our Bissell. For it to look its best, you really need to stay off it until it is completely dry so I took the kids out. First we went to my gym so I could get some exercise and they love going to Kids Klub. Afterwards, since they were being so good, I told them that we could go out for lunch. They were so excited because we rarely do that. I picked Chick-fil-A because I love their chicken and they have healthy options on the kids menu plus a play area. It turned out to be a great experience. Noticing that I had my hands full with four littles ones, a kind employee carried our food to our table. While I was buckling Bowen into his high chair, she applied placemats in front of each kid so that they would have a clean eating surface. She checked on us throughout the meal to refill my drink and bring napkins and ketchup. It may not seem like much, but it was amazing to me. The kids loved their food and they had the choice to keep the toy that came with their kids meal, or they could exchange it (unopened) for an ice cream cone. Alexa and Gavin traded in their comic books without much thought! The play area was a big hit as well. They burned off a lot of energy playing hide-and-seek.

Thursday

About 3 years ago, my mom sent Valentine cards for the kids along with $20 and she asked me to buy them something fun. Later when she asked me what I bought, she was very confused when I told her "a 50lb bag of rice." I made the kids a rice box out of a long plastic storage container that slides under our bed when we aren't using it. My kids are still having a blast with it. I don't have to worry about the dog or baby accidentally eating it, it's clean, and it vacuums up easily. The kids thank you, Grandma!

Mother's Day Weekend

Every year I miss out on the relaxing Mother's Day that I dream of because of TOSRV. TOSRV stands for Tour of the Scioto River Valley and it is a bicycle ride that starts on Saturday in Columbus, 100 miles down to Portsmouth and then 100 miles back to Columbus on Sunday.  It is ALWAYS on Mother's Day weekend, probably planned by a man.  This year Matthew and I both wanted to ride it but we had to compromise because we didn't have anyone to help watch the kids.  We decided that Matt would bike the 100 miles down on Saturday and I would meet him in Portsmouth with the van and kids.  We would camp in a tent overnight and then I would bike back on Sunday while Matt packed up our campsite and drove the kids back home.

The kids were glad to get out of the van and play at a park in Portsmouth while we waited for Daddy.

Daddy's Here!  The kids were happy to see him.

Then we drove over to the stadium where they had a designated area for TOSRV riders to camp overnight.  They had porta potties, but we brought our own potty seat for the kids because let's face it, those porta potties are not a good mix for little ones!

The kids were so excited about our new tent.  They had helped me pick it out at Costco the day before.  Our old tent was a small 4-person tent and it was pretty crowded the last time we used it when Gavin was an infant.  Now our family has grown by 2 more so we figured it was time to upgrade.  However, at Costco the next size was a 10-person tent.  It can hold 4 queen sized mattresses on the floor.  It was huge, but the price was reasonable and we know we'll use it lots now that the kids are getting old enough to enjoy camping.

The kids helped put the poles together.  The tent was really easy to put up.

They are yelling, "SOOOO BIG!!!"

Playing a little baseball

Baby Bowen is running to see Mommy!  Love this little guy so much!

Getting the sleeping bags out

Such a happy baby

We had plenty of room for Bowen's Pack 'N Play so that he had his own sleep area.

Tysen is looking for Daddy

They can be so sweet one second.....
(notice how he has his hands around her neck so he can take her down)

But what Gavin didn't see coming was little brother Tysen!

And now Gavin has a facefull of diaper butt!!  Just love how Tysen jumps right in the rough housing.

At least there's nothing in this tent they could break while they are wrestling around!

Having a little snack 

The camping adventure started out well, but when it got dark the temperature dropped below 40 degrees and it was so cold.  It got very windy and began to rain, which collapsed one side of our tent twice.  The tornado sirens began going off around 2am followed by police cars speeding in the camp area with their spotlights on.  (We never found out why.)  I never fell asleep and as I lay there on the hard ground trying to stay warm, I worried about how I would be able to bike 100 miles in just a few short hours. Luckily, the kids slept well.  They were bundled up and stayed toasty.  Bowen kept waking up screaming because he couldn't suck his thumb!  We had his winter snowsuit on him and his little hands and feet were enclosed. I was extremely exhausted the next morning before our ride even began.

Matt's cycling team was so kind to invite me to ride with them on Sunday since I didn't know anyone else.

Getting ready to leave Portsmouth, OH.

The clouds are really pretty in this photo.

Matt drove alongside me for a bit (long enough to embarrass me!) and took some pictures.  The kids thought it was awesome to look out their window and see Mommy riding my bike.

Some of the riders from Team Roll that I was riding with on Sunday. The first 30 miles to Waverly were really good and I was enjoying the ride.  But then it got colder and the winds picked up.  The rest of the team decided to stop at the halfway point which was Chilicothe.  I knew that they didn't have room for my bike or me in their vehicles and I thought that Matt was on his way to Columbus.  When I got to Chilicothe, I was ecstatic to see Matt and the kids waiting for me. Although I hated to quit after 55 miles when I had expected to do 100, it was amazing to get some coffee and snooze on the way home.

Our Mother's Day Photo!

This little boy has some crazy hair!