holiday world picnic

daddio's work picnic was sunday at holiday world.  the kiddos woke up on their own ready to go!  daddio was a bit tiredo, but still managed to get up & go.

first stop of course, at the santa statue. 

we rode the old-time cars for the first time with the kiddos.  gracie was a bit worried about driving off the road, just like i remember as a child.  i told her though, about the track to guide the car - something nobody ever told me! you are welcome, my dear.

  oh, how i wanted so to bump them.  but didn't.

holidog's funtown was where we spent the most time.  playing in the rocks or on the playground

  i love that crooked little smile of hers.

& that smirk.

benj was havin fun, but avoided the camera as much as possible.

water is always fun, fun, fun!

  he was trying to talk momma into going over by him since he had the water sprinkler covered up - buddy i'm too smart for that..

gracie rode the train with me. ben didn't, guess he's getting too old.  she thought it was super awesome to see all the characters from her favorite nursery ryhmes. 

by the end, we were all holiday'd out.  note her prize ducky (small prize from the win everytime duck game) on the ground.

except for ben, because he won a medium prize! 

up me side down!

after a looong week of work, justin had the weekend off. when daddio's home, the kiddos need no toys. he is the best thing to climb on, jump from & play with ever as far as they are concerned. sometimes, i wonder why i'm not as fun but i know it's because they are with me 24/7 & i get old after a while.



last night, gracie would say "up me side down, gen!" (meaning put me upside down again)


making her up side down silly face.



big ben hanging around.



i love this picture of him. you can just see the happiness.


our funny faces.

back home again

i had my first weekend away from my family. oh, how i missed them all so.

but it was an awesome experience for me & i am so thankful that i was able to go. the past weekend opened my heart to God & his love and forgiveness. this was what i was really needing at a low point in my life. what a blessing.

i'm back & ready to go tackle life with my loving family & God by our side.

smarshmallows

saturday evening was the perfect start of fall evening for a little bonfire & marshmallows out back.

getting that marshmallow on the stick requires some concentration..
there, got it!

initially, we had a roaring fire & needed the big stick for marshmallow toasting.

daddio can toast marshmallows to perfection.

gracie couldn't wait to eat hers up & found a new best bud in zaky the dog. i think zaky thought she was the easiest target.


once the fire died down, bem (as gracie says it) cleared the back area of leaves & pine needles. every time he'd throw in a batch of leaves he'd yell, "fire coming!!" & just crack himself up over the whole thing. we did have a talk about fire safety & how fire is not to play with & so on. i think ben has daddio's love of the fire though. i can only imagine what ben will have to tell the firefighters at his field trip to the fire station this week..

slipping and a sliding

i bought a slip & slide on clearance. why, i don't know. our yard is compeletly flat. so not so much sliding.


ben was not impressed.

until....

daddio put it on the real slide. i said daddio's to blame.

i know, something not recommended.

but ben sure had fun. every slide down, he'd say "yeah, that's what i'm talking about!!!"

gracie did take 1 slide down with us holding onto her, but for once was not her usual daredevil self& kept her feet on the ground (thank goodness).

hope everyone's having a wet & wild weekend!

isn't she lovely??

i think my cousin's wife is the most beautiful pregnant lady i have ever seen. & this is her 4th child - the first girl in their family! we can't wait to meet her. i'm sure she will be a knockout just like her momma. 5 1/2 weeks to go!

we attended her baby shower on saturday. there was lots and lots of pink. she even got some pink cowboy boots!

there were so many lovely ladies at the shower... my momma, i don't know what i would do without you!

my great aunt dee, the most awesome woman in the world (besides my mom & mother in law).

the lovely lady & baby in the belly we were celebrating, my other lovely cousin, sara & her daughter, isabella & miss gracie.

my other lovely cousin that wasn't able to make it to the shower, but i did get to see today at papaw's. i love you cuz! yes, those are dead flowers in my hair from grace.


here is my lovely little girl trying to sneak some more cake at the shower. busted!

weekend at namaw & poppy's

since quitting nursing had left me with a bout of mastitis, i was looking forward to resting & the extra hands at namaw & poppy's this weekend. it was quite nice for me. the kiddos had the best time there, as always.
they got to play, play, play.
daddio finally changed out the mailbox. that mailbox was given to them by namaw's grandaddy. held up well over the years. poppy had placed a board inside the lid to give any maibox batters a bit of a jar when they took a swing. good thinking poppy!
he used a lesson my papaw taught him on how to remove posts using a post, a rock & a chain to get the old mailbox out of the ground. i thought that was pretty cool. the new mailbox was a christmas present from us & auntie jen. here's the finished product, auntie jen. not bad, hey?
gracie looks quite sharp in namaw's glasses, doesn't she?

thank you namaw & poppy for the wonderful weekend. we had a great time! thank you for taking care of everyone while i rested too! love you, sara

here fishy, fishy!

daddio's family(my family too, i know) has an annual memorial weekend fishing trip & fish fry. this is the first time we have been able to participate in both. ben has the fishing gene for sure ; right away he caught the first fish & went on to catch 7 more! i know he made poppy proud!

gracie borrowed namaw's fishing hat for this adventure. it looked pretty good on her, especially with the boots. watch out fishies, here we come!


gracie pointing out the spot she thought would be best to fish in...

my little fisherman.
ben making his first cast with the rocket launcher fish rod.
it only lasted one or two casts, namaw is taking it back.

the first catch of the day by my son, mr. beano!!!

running back after making his second catch of the day!

daddio & ben reeling in a big one. you can't beat that look of excitement on ben's face. he was loving every minute of it.
a more serious moment between the two...
namaw having a good ole time..


gracie's favorite part was playing with the worms.
dirty little fingers.



she loved giving them hugs.

the cousins & their boys with all the fishies they caught.
i must say i didn't actually fish, gracie & i only lasted about an hour out there. the heat was really getting to me. so, we went back home & had some much needed rest. i really enjoyed my fishing trip!!