Gainsborough Picnic

Last night was my summer work party.  BBQ, ice cream, inflatable slide, bounce house,climbing wall, and a band, all set up right the lake on the farm...you can't go wrong with that!  Forget the yummy food-even the ice cream-Jenna wouldn't leave the slide!  She loved the slide and obstacle course.  However, she wouldn't go down the slide by herself so we had to go down with her.  I think John secretly loved having an excuse to have to go down the slide! 

We tried to get a few family pictures too but Jenna and Andrew wouldn't take their eyes off the slide!!  (And I don't think Jenna has ever actually smiled for a picture.  Ever.)

Little Dude was content just hanging out while Jenna played on the slide.  He loves to watch what's going on around him.  Even though Andrew just hung out and went down the slide once he was so happy the whole time. 

Once again, another family picture attempt.  (iPhone pics...my camera died.)

Ear tubes and ER visits

What a month!!  I've been very lucky that Jenna and Andrew have always been very healthy and very happy.  But this spring has been rough!  We made 7 trips to the doctor, 1 trip to the emergency room, and 2 trips to urgent care during April and the first week of May.  That's 10 trips more than I was hoping to make.

This little dude had several (5) ear infections and we just couldn't get them to clear up.  At one point he was on antibiotics for 20 out of 27 days.  So we went ahead and did ear tubes.  He was the first surgery of the day and, since Daddy used to work there and is friends with all the doctors and nurses, Daddy was able to be with Andrew most of the time.  Andrew has been doing great since getting his tubes.  It's amazing the difference the tubes have made! 

This little girl also had a few (4) ear infections this spring.  Instead of surgery, her big excitement was an ambulance ride and visit to the emergency room.  We were playing on my bed one morning and Jenna bounced off and landed flat on her front on the floor...unconscious.  When the paramedics got here Jenna was awake and alert but when we sat her up she started vomiting so Jenna and I took a short ambulance ride to UK Hospital where she had a CT scan and X-rays done.  Everything was fine, she just had a concussion, but it sure was scary!! 

I'm ready to enjoy a fun, safe, and doctor-free summer!  I'm very grateful for my healthy, happy kids and their cute, smiling faces.  :) 

 

Easter

We went to Grammy and Poppy's house for a long Easter weekend. Saturday morning we went to the country club for breakfast and an Easter egg hunt and then went to the local feed store so Grammy could show Jenna the baby chicks. Poor Andrew had another ear infection while we were there so he wasn't feeling so good. Sunday morning Jenna and Andrew found their Easter baskets and then we went to church.

 

Sunday night Andrew was visiting friends with Daddy so Jenna had a photo shoot with Grammy.   Andrew elected to bypass the pictures when he got home.  Poor little dude still didn't feel well and was tired.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

John and I finally went on vacation!!  Without kids.  Without going to see family.  A real vacation.  We flew down to the Dominican Republic for a few days and it was beautiful!!  The beach was amazing.  The sand was so soft it felt like carpet as you walked into the water.  The ocean was beautiful and the water was warm and clear.  A little too clear as I could easily see the fish waiting to eat me if I got in the water!  The resort was beautiful and quiet...no spring breakers.  It was very family friendly and made me wish a little bit that Jenna and Andrew were with us...Jenna would have LOVED the pools.   All of the Domonican people were so happy and friendly.  I tried to limit the number of pictures here but I think I still ended up with more than anyone cares to see!

The hotel lobby.  There were little ponds all around and in the lobby area that had birds, ducks, turtles, fish, and flamingos. 

After we checked in we went for a walk along the beach.  (Instead of observing how white we are, look at the beautiful ocean and rainbow behind us!) 

Down the beach from our resort were all of these shops right on the beach. I'm not sure how they don't get washed away; they are so close to the water.

Maybe one of my favorite shots...

One morning we went zip lining.  The tour bus picked us up at 7:30 and it was about a 1.5 hour drive to get to the site so we were able to see some of the country and the villages.  Just a side note, don't ever rent a car there...they are some crazy scary drivers!! 

There are 3 mountain ranges in the Dominican Republic...that's one of them in the distance.

Think I missed a couple of spots with my sunscreen?!  (Although at least I put sunscreen on.  That's more than I can say for the guy sitting next to me!!)

For safety reasons, they don't allow cameras while you are zip lining so this is our proof that we did it!  They had 8 different lines and there were some small hikes to get from one line to the next.  It was a lot of fun and beautiful to see the landscape from overhead!   

More of the beach...I just can't not share these pictures! 

Our room and the view from our room.

The Dominican Republic is a popular vacation spot for Europeans so we knew there would be lots of speedos, a few topless women, and some thongs...but THIS I did not expect to see!  (I dare you to scroll down!!!!)

HAHAHA!!!

We had a great time and would love to go back one day with family.  We remembered how much fun real vacations are, and we're already planning a family vacation for next spring.  Thanks to Grammy for playing with Jenna and Andrew while we were gone!! 

Random Pictures

Here are a few random pictures we've taken in the last few months:

I love his big smiles!!

This has been Jenna's perch for the last few months.  You will find her sitting here several hours of the day. 

There are no hiding places in our house!  Even if you are
under a car seat cover, you will be found!

Proof that Andrew was trying to hide.  And that Jenna
 insisted on playing with him! 

I snuck in her room while she was napping.  She was so tired!  She
 had taken off her pants and was using Andrew's blanket
as a pillow. Doesn't she look sweet?

At bed time, I lay Andrew on our bed and try and capture my
Jumping Jenna so I can change her and brush her teeth.  This night
she insisted on laying next to Andrew and tucking both of them in. She made sure the blanket was pulled up over both of them. 

My cute little dude! 

Jenna loves stickers!  Poor Andrew!

These little kids sure are fun!  They make us laugh daily.  Andrew is all smiles, screams, and laughs even with his bottom teeth coming in.  He rolls and moves all over the place playing with his toys and watching us.  He's loving all of his new foods.  Jenna jumps all the time (in her crib, on our bed, on the couch, across the house, etc.), loves her babies, and says the funniest things.  She insists on going to the grocery store daily. ("I need grocery store!")  And at the end of the day she can sing "I am a Child of God" all by herself!