Ozarks Vacation- day 1

8/14- Vacation has begun!!  We drove down to Osage Beach yesterday- but I definitely don't consider that drive a vacation day!  We left home about 9:00 after I fed Myka, but let the boys crawl in the van without sandals on.  We got on the highway and realized we hadn't grabbed their sandals!  So we took the next exit and went back home to get those, then decided we might as well fill up the gas tank while we were off schedule anyway.  So, we ended up leaving town about 9:40.  Our DVD player started smelling hot and quit working about 1 1/2 hours into the 6 hour trip...  boooo.  I hate being dependent on those things, but they sure do help!  Cainan was soooo tired and just could not fall asleep.  He cried and cried, then finally fell asleep 20 minutes before we got to our condo.  It was a looooong day!    Luke's goal is always to average 60mph including stops and we made it even with the three kids!  We checked in, got settled a bit, then went out to get some groceries for the week.  We all slept really well that night!

Sunday morning it was pool time!  In years past, we've gone to a church down here, but with little kids it's just easier not to.  Gma & Gpa went to Osage Hill Church and ended up seeing 3 different couples we know from home!!  What a small world!

One of the best things about this pool is the kiddie area!  It's so nice for the boys to be able to stand up and splash around. 

Cainan could stand  up on his own this year and was super excited!

Soaking up the sun... (just enough to get a picture of her cute swimming suit!)

Waaaaah. 

This is how Myka spent her pool days. 

She'd snuggle up in this raft and float herself to sleep. 

Boaz made some friends quickly.  It's so fun to see the same people year after year.  We brought Cainan as a baby last year and surprised people when we showed up with a 3rd child this year!  This family is one that we always enjoy seeing.  Grandma Barb is in the corner, granddaughter Riley, and grandson Aiden.  Aunt Erin is a friend of mine on facebook even!   Boaz enjoyed Riley a lot and she played so well with him.  He was sad when she had to leave early to go back to school. 

Myka was done with her swimming time and wanted to be out of the water sleeping.  The Grandpa of this family always sits over at the table in the shade for the week and offered to hold her for a bit while I got things situated for Myka. 

And then he told me that he would love to hold her as long as I needed.  His wife told me he was a 'baby guy' and loved cuddling the little ones.  So, Jim ended up rocking her to sleep and held her for over an hour!!  Thanks, Jim!   :)    (He joked that his belly was made for this!)

Grandma & Grandpa Bartlett met us at the pool after they were back from church.  Grandma always makes up silly pool games that make Cainan laugh.  I just love his giggle!!

While I was getting lunch ready for everyone, Gma entertained the boys with these bugs I'd bought at the Dollar Store.  I always come prepared with some new toys to keep them entertained in the condo and in case of rain.  These didn't work the best, but keep them occupied some!

Summer Lovin'

8/9- Corn on the Cob!!  One of the best things about our state is the amazing sweet corn!! I can't believe we haven't had any until now!  This was Cainan's first taste of it, I think.  He liked it alot!

Boaz dug in, too!

A friend up the street wanted me to help her pick out a keyboard for her girls.  Another friend called yesterday to see if we wanted a keyboard!  We already have a piano, so I thought we'd connect the two parties to give the keyboard a good home.  We set it up tonight so Boaz could play it before we passed it along to our neighbors.  Here's his rendition of  "Demo."

8/11-  Today the boys played Library for a long time... they carried TONS of books to this corner in the laundry room and read and read and read. 

8/12-  I'm busy packing for vacation and Cainan is on Myka duty!! 

"Hi, Baby!"    He sure does love his sister!

Myka 2 months!

8/7- Myka turned two months old today!!  She is growing so fast!  At her 2 month checkup, she weighed 12lb 6oz (90%)  and measured 22 3/4in (70%).  Her head measured 16 1/4in.

She is getting to be a pretty alert little girl.  She loves to listen to and watch her brothers run around the living room.  She smiles a TON and we think we've heard a couple tiny giggles. 

We put on this outfit after she spit up all over her pretty dress.  It was a 3 month onesie that she's never worn, and from the looks of this picture and her long legs sticking out, she won't wear it again!! 

I just love all the facial expressions she has. 

She continues to be a great sleeper.  I feed her at 10:30ish and she typically will sleep until about 5 or 6. The boys get up about 6:00 anyway, so it works out pretty well! 

One of my favorite things is sitting with her early in the morning or late and night and listening to her talk.  I could stare at these blue eyes for hours!

It so fun to see how the kids grow in comparison to their stuffed animal.  Seems like last month they were almost the same size!

Look at the bear...

We just love our sweetie...

Cainan had a check-up at the same time as Myka and screamed the entire time as soon as the Dr walked in.  (that was a fun one!)  His current stats... weight 29lb 4oz (75%), height 33 1/2in  (50%),  head 19 3/4in.   

Boaz's first performance

8/7- I'm sure we have many many more of these to come, but today was Boaz's first big performance!  We went out to Grandpa's church this morning so he could be part of their VBS morning.  All the kids performed songs and talked about what they learned.   Boaz was pretty excited he got to stand on the stage!

One of the leaders asked a few questions about things they learned.  She asked Boaz, "What is gratitude?"  He said something like, "It was written on that sign and it was red and it was on that road and..."   He described the sign it was written on, but not the definition!  People got a chuckle out of that. 

Here he is singing the theme song from the week...

My Mom & Dad came out for the morning, too.  He thought it was pretty special to see BOTH Grandmas & Grandpas this morning!!! 

Myka in her Sunday dress smiling for daddy... 

Grandpa's Big Party!!

8/6- These first three pictures aren't of the big party, but I thought it was funny to document what happens every few minutes here at our home. Boaz is sitting peacefully in the chair.  Cainan decides to climb up and sit with him. 

Then Cainan decided to turn this peaceful chair-sitting into a wrestling match. 

And chaos breaks loose... often lots of laughter to accompany it.  Then usually some tears and mom has to break up the fight.  Ahhh... boys!

Today we get to go to Grandma & Grandpa Glace's new house for a big party!  We are celebrating Grandpa's birthday and retirement!  Boaz has enjoyed narrating letters for people lately.  Here's the letter he wrote to Grandpa for his birthday.  It's pretty cute.  He wrote a thank you to a friend from church last week and after thanking her for the nice gift, he told her that he "takes cottage cheese to bed in case if he gets hungry."   You never know what will come out of his creative mind.  I struggle to keep up with what he's saying as I transcribe!

Party time!  This is the first time we've all been together since Christmas.  We all rolled in late afternoon- after naps.  Grandma got some good snuggles in with Myka while she chatted with cousin Brenna. 

Grandpa helped the boys with a puzzle. 

Boaz has a serious chat with dad...

Grandma & Grandpa's new living room is nice and open- and perfect for lots of running and spinning games!

We all fall down....

A picture with all the cousins... Boaz didn't want to be in a picture. 

But Grandma told him she really wanted the bucket to be in the picture.   Nice, Grandma!!   :)

All the (big) cousins...  Zach, Cainan, Blake, Brenna, Ellie, Hannah, & Boaz

Nolan & Grandpa took care of the newest additions... Adrian & Myka!  (born two months apart)

Boaz has wanted to play waterballoons with all his cousins for a couple of months.  I kept telling him that we'd do that after Grandma & Grandpa moved into their new place and we had a party.  So today was the big day.   The adults all lined up on the deck with waterballoons and took turns tossing them out to the line-up of kids in the yard. 

Some were caught, lots of them didn't pop- because I couldn't find the water balloons I'd purchase and ended up using real ones that were too thick.  But either way, the cousins had fun!

And so did the adults!!   Katie, Emily, Greg, & Luke

Boaz & Katie in a chase....

After the balloons were done we got out the water blasters I'd brought and invented a new game.  All the kids had to start on one end of the yard and run across to the other side if their name was called- while the adults shot water at them from the deck, of course!!  Cainan and Brenna went first. 

Boaz wasn't too sure about this idea. 

We called for everyone to run across the yard....

and I barely caught it on video, but this is what Boaz did...

He ran with all his might- clear up the hill, all the way out of bounds- so he wouldn't have a chance of getting hit with the water.  Smarty pants.  (or scaredy pants!)  We all laughed so hard at him!!

Ready for more! 

Enjoying the action...

Then the kids had fun with squirt guns for awhile.

Cainan mostly spent his evening scooping and dumping.   (grandma! I still have your measuring cup- sorry!!)

After the water fun, we went inside to celebrate Grandpa Glace's birthday. 

The kids sang "Happy Birthday" and we enjoyed an ice cream dessert.  It was such a fun night being together as a family and celebrating Grandpa Glace.   Grandpa- Happy Birthday and congrats on your retirement!  Thanks for your many years of hard work and all the hours you put in to take care of us so well.  WE LOVE YOU!!!