Ear Piercing, Mineshaft, The Zoo & 3K Orientation

So I braved it last Wednesday and took Kenzie in to get her ears pierced. I always said if I had a girl I would get her ear pierced when she was very young and I was a chicken for the first couple months now I did it. I might be bias but I think it is super cute!!! Kenzie did great. She did cry but overall she was a super trooper! Then she got a super bad cold and that was the rest of last week. It was very sad to watch the little girl who never cries just miserable. She recovered by the end of the week which was great because we were going to have a nice laid back weekend. As my title indicated this was not the case. Friday night we hung out at home. Saturday Ben's Dad came over and they cut trees in the back and Ben worked outside for most of the day. I tried to get stuff done in the house. Then we took the kids out to dinner at Mineshaft - where we realized that we had not taken all four of the kids out to a sit down dinner (other then Ponderosa) by ourselves in a while. Not long after we got there we knew we were out numbered. A couple of potty breaks later - we did make it through dinner and actually ended up having fun too. We braved the arcade/game room and also had a good time there. All and all a really fun family time! Somewhere along our Saturday Ben and I had discussed a spontaneous trip to the zoo for Sunday hoping to avoid the rain. We did it! After early church and breakfast at our favorite place (Ponderosa) with Grandma Grace and Grandpa Dick the decision to go to the zoo was made. Sister Wendy was called and the speedy stop home to pack some stuff and a grocery trip to get some snacks then off to the zoo. It was a perfect day with the family. Got to celebrate nephew Xavier's 5th b-day and Grandma Grace's 25th (ha, ha) birthday too. I am always amazed that our kids are able to tolerate all the chasing and craziness without to many meltdowns. They are so wonderful. The zoo rocked - of course. It was a lot of fun and we only briefly got rained on!

So today was a big day as well. Calvin and Clayton had Orientation for 3K at St. Peters. All morning we were talking about them going to school. They were both very excited. At one point Calvin and Clayton were discussing how they have to do their homework and I explained that they did not have homework. Then Calvin stated that we had to go to the store and buy some homework. It was sooooo funny. The boys had to get their little backpacks on and it was cute. Ben and I both took them (Kenzie came along too). I was glad Ben was there because Clayton was a little nervous and had to keep coming back to us for reassurance. He was very shy and unsure. Whenever his teacher would give a direction he come to us. Calvin quickly jumped in and followed along with what the other kids were doing. They both did great. They even did an art project!! I am really excited for them to start in September!!! 2 hours 2 days a week. A nice little start.


Hoping this week is not quite so busy!!!

Kenzie with her new pierced ears!

Kenzie loving the Zoo!

Cameron getting eating - Calvin not even phased!


Clayton, Cameron & Calvin loving the Zoo!



Calvin!

Cameron!

Clayton!

The Boys!

The DuBois Family!

Grandma & Grandpa with Kenzie!

The twins walking up to school!

Calvin & Clayton in 3K doing their art project.

Memorial Day

We had a fabulous time going up to the cabin for the almost perfect Memorial weekend. The weather was GREAT, the company was SUPER, and the relaxation was much needed. One thing was missing - CAMERON!!! He was not able to come with us because his auntie Amanda (His dad's sister) got married this past weekend and he was a greeter for the wedding. We know he had a blast at the wedding but we sure missed him. I will be getting some pictures of him from the wedding and posting them soon!

As for up north is was wonderful as usual. Over the weekend we got to hang out with a bunch of the family. There were 18 adults and 13 kids (age 8 and under). Crazy and so fun!!! We got there early Friday morning without anyone puking on the way up and spent the majority of the day at the lake, Saturday more lake, Sunday - church (puker on the way) and then MORE lake. It always amazes me that we can spend 4 days with our family and all these crazy kids who are off their schedules and lack sleep and still have such a great time. The kids have a blast and they actually get along with one another without to many major issues. So we got home Monday evening and picked up Cameron and now the count down to our next trip up is beginning. Three weeks till the Rettler Family Reunion at the Cabin which will add even more people!!!!!
Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Kenzie loving the Lake

Clayton and his Dori!!

Kenzie sunbathing!

Calvin with his Glasses on!

Calvin loved driving and riding in the boat!

Clayton even tried out a drive!

Calvin & Kenzie chilling on the pier.

Kenzie getting an early start on fishing!

Vegas - Parties - and more

Busy is an understatement right now. WOW excitement in our house. Hence the reason it has been almost a month since my last blog. Since then we had a wonderful Mother's Day and then Ben and I took a 4 day trip to Vegas with my parents and NO kids. My wonderful in-laws willingly took the three little kids for the entire time!!! Yippee for wonderful in-laws. Cameron went to his Dad's. We had a great time. Did not come back with any of their money but we did not lose all ours either... We just got back last Wednesday and as everyone knows after vacation you need a vacation but there was no time for that. Ben and I both had to work the rest of last week and then had a crazy weekend. Friday night we had my sisters two boys over. I swore my house was never that loud. They all had so much fun. Saturday Ben brought the kids to my work for our Mural Dedication, then on to Goddaughter Kaylee's 2nd birthday party. Sunday also jam packed - Server training for Cameron from 9 to 1 then we headed over to cousin Joe's ROCKING graduation party. It was hot yesterday (not as bad as today) and the kids had an absolute blast with spray bottles and cups of water!!!! Now this week is full of more work, throw in some baseball practice, and then head up north for the weekend. I tired just thinking about!!!

Cameron practicing!

Clayton, Kenzie & Calvin

Kenzie loves it outside!

Just the girls!

So this weekend Ben took the three boys up north for the opening weekend of game fishing and mommy stayed home with Kenzie. I had to work Friday evening at the Recognition Dinner for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Although I was sad to miss the fun up north and a weekend with my boys I was also looking forward to the BIG Dinner for work and then spending some quality time with my little angel. Kenzie got to have a sleep over by Gigi and Papa's on Friday while I was working. I have to say I should not even call the fun I had Friday work, but that is my wonderful/amazing job. I just love it. Every year BBBS hosts a Recogniton Dinner to honor our Bigs and Littles as well as our Community Partners and this year we had around 260 people in attendance. It was amazing and made me realize what a wonderful place I get to work for.


Today Kenzie and I went to cousin Xavier's first soccer practice. It was really cute. I went into work for a couple hours and Kenzie got to hang out with her Auntie Wendy, Uncle Wes, and cousins Xavier and Isiah. Then I came home and Kenzie and I cleaned the house - a ton. It was amazing how much I could get done with only one good little girl at home. I volunteered to babysit for my girlfriend's 7 week old little girl Keira for a couple hours this evening so they could get some time away and so that I could snuggle a LITTLE baby again. I was just shocked that Kenzie was that little just 7 months ago. We had a good time and Kenzie seemed to like Keira too. It was fun but I am sure glad I did this without the boys around because I imagine it would not have been as easy if they had been home. Kenzie was pooped out after playing with her little friend and was in bed shortly after they left and then I got to clean up some more. I sure miss the boys but I also realize that I love the feeling of having a "moderately" cleaned up house. It is much easier to be motivated to clean the house when you know that you may not get the chance again for a while.


Tomorrow is another busy day of projects, church, getting ready for my sister-in-law's rummage and then getting ready for my dirty, tired little and big boys to get home. Hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend and got to enjoy the great weather too.

Kenzie waiting for Keira to arrive!

Kenzie & Keira

Kenzie and Kiera - Poor Keira that is a big hand coming at you!

Kenzie found her favoriate new toy - Keira's nuk!

Keira waves!

Yipee for Parks!!!!

Some things really make me smile these days. I LOVE PARKS! The wonderful weather (minus the tons of rain this weekend) has been great for us. We planted new grass in the back hoping that some year we may have a decent lawn. But until then I am trying hard to keep the kids out of the back till this new grass has a chance to come in. We have been trying to get out to check out the parks in the area. I am finding some that I love!! Ben and I took all the kids to the Jackson park last week and it was so fun, even for Cameron.... Then last week I took the kids to the park close to Ben's work I think it is called Homestead Hallow. It has a great playground, huge sandbox, vollyball net, basketball court, soccer fields, and even a pond that Cameron can fish in. It was SUPER. We had a complete blast. Then met daddy and went out for dinner. Just wanted to share my excitement. Busy week ahead and really fun weekend, I hope. The boys are all going up north for Friday to Sunday and I am working Friday for our big Big Brothers Big Sisters Recognition Dinner and then a weekend with my baby girl!!!! I have a list 2 miles long of all the things the two of us are going to get done while the boys are away! Shopping might just be on the top of that list!!!! Have a super week..

Cameron in the swing!

Calvin loving the slide!

Clayton likes the rock wall!

The Rettler's take over the swings -

Kenzie, Cal, Clay & Cam!

Clayton, Calvin & Cameron on the slide!

Seriously???

I think I will just share these and not do any explaining!

Calvin pushing Clayton

Calvin

ELkenzieMO

I could not help myself. These are some of my favorite pictures of Miss princess after her bath.