big splash!!

well, this year daddio is workin over shutdown & a vacation didn't look like it would happen.  but, low & behold, groupon had a great deal close to home that we were able to grab for a weekend trip with some of our bestest friends.  (i think gracie sometimes would really like to become a part of their family, we all love them so much)..

to big splash adventure we went after church on sunday.  it was the perfect time, as the place was clearing out so we had the waterpark to what seemed like just ourselves.

lots of fun splishing & a splashin

oh, the ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!

the kiddos loved it!  especially getting to go on a vacation with friends!!going out to eat was even fun! but of course, benj didn't want to smile...

we see it in your eyes, buddy.

we had a round of mini-golf & some rides on video games (without any coins, but they didn't mind).

 i love this picture with the little sisters in control!!

& fun in the game area.  tickets a plenty, tickets galore!

all the kids can't wait to go back, it was one of the "best times ever!!"

kick it good!

both kiddos had their first soccer practices tonight.  gracie has been having meltdowns about soccer since she realized there would be games.  (she just wants to practice she says)  tonight, she did just fine. she tried to do everything the coach said & was so durn cute!  one time, she looked over at me & smiled & yelled "hi mom!"  love her!
some of the future mia hamm in action:

striking a pose

 stretching it out

 

ready for action!! 

 

kickin it!

 

concentrating 

 

 

just plain ole cute! 

daddio did an a+++ job coaching benj's team tonight.  it was a bit hectic, the boys only had 1/2 a field to practice on, so many teams out there!  & 2 moms were a bit miffed because they couldn't find our team  - which was totally my fault.  i had emailed we would meet under the pavilion for last week's practice (that we didn't have due to heat) & that's where they were up there waiting & waiting for 20 minutes.  (i would have checked the fields at that point i think)  i got a very nasty phone call as i was watching gracie practice (some not so nice language to say the least).  i found the mom that called my cell, apologized & escorted her & her son to the field.  she said the other mom had already left (didn't) because she was so po'd.   they were not happy at all! on a more positive note,  i must say i am proud of my hubby for his hard work tonight as coach & the kiddos for their great job practicing.  ben was quite excited for his daddy to be coach.  we will be working with him a bit more on paying better attention to "coach" not daddy, as he gets a bit "wild up!"
some of the future david beckham in action:

 

yep, that's him down in the net. 

my little tree hugger

& tree kisser (she named this tree woody)

happy earth day!!



the zoo

a friend from gracie's class called (his mommy) friday afternoon & asked if we had any plans & would like to enjoy the zoo...we were still in our pj's (lazy momma here).  so off we went to enjoy the beautiful day!

the kiddos had a blast & got to do some extra super special things - like petting some special animals & feeding the rhino & watching the world's oldest hippo, donna, have a bite to eat. 

i just love the amozonia portion of the zoo, so awesome!  the kiddos love it too, with the animals all about.

checking out some creepy, crawlies..

good buddies!

feeding the rhino!

open wide!!

& of course, the obligatory pictures at the bat station & the giraffe statue. 

ben has a bit of allergies & is constantly clearing his throat, making a hacking noise.  buddy logan thought that was quite hilarious & decided to join in.  they were laughing so hard over it, had me snorting.  good times. thanks so much for inviting us to go to the zoo & the great time logan & samantha & dave!!

on the way home, i asked the kiddos what their favorite part was. 

gracie: "everything!"

ben: "when we were making that throat noise & cracking up." boys...

as the thunder rolls

& the lightening strikes... oh, i love me some garth brooks!  brings back some good old high school memories.  mom, manda jo & i sitting at the tip top of robert's stadium all crying to "the dance."  garth will always rule in my book. 

now, back to my original subject,  ben was on his way down the field to scoring a goal when the game was called for lightening.  i don't think the boys (or the parents) minded too much. 

ben was doing a dance or something before the start of one of the quarters (is that what they are called in soccer? we still have some learning here to do).  i caught a few of his moves on the camera. 

 

shake it buddy!

after the game, i asked him what he & jackson were doing out there & he said "getting fired up to score a goal."  sometimes, i think they forget they are on the same team & almost kick one another.  but, they are always having a blast. 

we got to go home a little bit early.  i didn't eat prior to the game, so was starving.  fixed up some chicken & egg noodles.  after bath, ben ate 4 plates of that stuff.  that game made him a hungry boy! 

1 more game this season & that's it!  it has flown by it seems.  the team has become friends & learned a lot about the sport & good sportsmanship from their coaches. go galaxy!!!

baobab blast at vbs

vacation bible school at the church i grew up at was last week.  & what a blast the kiddos had.  they are still recovering from all the fun i think. 

the theme for this year was baobab blast.  gracie looved dancing to the theme song.

in the kiddos' group was miss macey, gracie, briley (who is one of my childhood friend's little gals), darby & ben.  miss beth was their teacher & i think they all had a fun time learning about the love of jesus.

here are the kiddos doing a fun project with marla.  she was awesome, gracie said.

i think recess was gracie's favorite time, because that's when she got to ride the horsies. 

the kiddos at the end of an evening.  a bit tired out, as ben would say.

we had to miss the last night, but the days we went sure were fun.  thank you my favorite church ladies for putting it on again! :)

get wet!

the kiddos wanted the kiddie pool & sprinkler out yesterday.  i wasn't ready for it just yet, so we "comprimised" with the water table (i thinking they wouldn't get soaked). 

gracie's first move:

it might have been a better idea just to fill up the pool.

boy, did they have fun!

momma jaguar keep away!

after preschool thursday, we headed to the zoo. i had promised we'd do it sometime in the week while daddio was away & time was running out. 

 the kiddos were a bit worn out towards the end, dragging a bit.  "this was the worst idea ever!" they said.  oh, the drama! 

we hit amazonia last & got to see the baby jaguar cubs. 

momma jaguar was quite interested in miss gracie.

  staring. & pacing. 

i think maybe it was her dress.  check out that jaguar looking at her!

grace thought it was all pretty cool! 

a bit too scary for this momma though.  i'm glad there was some thick glass between us.  it freaked annabelle, melissa & me out a bit. 

mr. ben checking out the wildlife through the binoculars in amazonia. 

at the end, we had some dippin dots ice cream & everyone was recharged & happy again.