The Lake

Ben's dad and step-mom bought a lake house at Lake Viking several years ago! It is the perfect lake, and the best part is, it is only 45 minutes from our driveway! Perfect! We went up there several times with Brooklyn last summer, but not as much as we would have liked.  We headed up there the weekend after the 4th for a long weekend! We got up there around 10am on Friday morning and stayed until Sunday afternoon! It was a great weekend!

Don and Janet (Pa-Pa and Grammie-pronounced "baby" by Brooklyn) sure did spoil Brooklyn with a bunch of fun toys!!

{Pool from last year and a new water table!}

 

{Play house! This was Brooklyn's favorite toy}

{A climber with slide!}

{Of course a swing-PaPa bought this at the beginning of summer so she already knew this was there!}

{This cute table and umbrella Janet bought last year, but this year Brooklyn really got to enjoy it!}

We were outside ALL day long! We woke up, ate breakfast then outside we went! We ate lunch outside! We would go in for Brooklyn to watch a show and have milk before nap! After nap she would want to go right back outside! She slept so good there-which made me so happy! She has her own little room with her own crib-it is a perfect setup! Thanks Don and Janet for all of the hospitality for Brooklyn, and Ben and me!

{Pa-Pa and Brooklyn doing bubbles!}

{drinking from the hose!}

We bought Brooklyn a new lifejacket this year, but she still wasn't a fan of it.  When I saw that the puddle jumpers were Coastguard approved for boating I knew I had to get one! It was perfect for the boat and for when Brooklyn wanted to go on the dock!

Boat Ride! She loved it! The only thing was, she kept wanting to get up and move around from the front to the back! She also really liked sitting on the floor of the boat! Silly!

 She had fun cooling off in the hose and getting a drink!

 Playhouse fun!

 Her and daddy were doing silly tricks on the slide!

It was a great weekend and we can't wait to get back up there! 

5 on Friday

ONE:
Last night we had breakfast for dinner! There is just something I love so much about this! We don't have it too often, but when we do, it is my new obsession for a few days! ha! Brooklyn loved dipping her pancakes into the syrup! Messy but yummy!

TWO:
Today I am going to the pool with a girlfriend from highschool! Carissa and I used to go to the pool together at least once a week in the summer.  She is a teacher so she always has summers off.  When I was working, my summer schedule was pretty flexible so we always found time to enjoy a pool date with a Sonic drink! We have not had one in 2 summers! Today is the day! My mom is coming over to watch Brooklyn and I will be at the pool! I am so excited!!

THREE:
The nursery is getting painted tomorrow!! Ben and my mother in law are going to paint it! Brooklyn, my mom and I are going shopping while they paint! I can't wait to see it! Here is a before picture...

Stay tuned for progress and reveal pictures!

FOUR:
I am really having a hard time with my hard wood floors! I am very anal about keeping them so clean! I usually dry dust/sweep them and then clean/polish them.  For some reason they have been getting dirty a lot quicker it seems! I used to use the Bona hardwood cleaner system, but I have recently switched to the squirt and mop from Pledge! It is a lot faster, but I am not so sure I am in love with it.  I might be going back to Bona! Oh the dilemmas of trying to keep a clean house!

FIVE:
Speaking of cleaning...Ben asked what he could clean around the house that is getting hard for me to clean! I told him our shower!! I have not cleaned it in so long! Gross! I gave him all the cleaning supplies and put him to work! It looks fabulous!! He is now the designated shower cleaner! How often do you clean your shower? When he got done the whole house smelled like bleach, but we had a clean shower! I joked that the shower probably hasn't been this clean since we moved in! Yay to a clean shower-thanks Ben!

 (I am making this 6 on Friday...sorry!)

SIX:
I have been going through pictures on my computer and organizing them and uploading all of them to Shutterfly.  I want them somewhere online so they are easy to access and just in case anything should ever happen to my computer I won't lose all my pictures! I am almost done, it has been a difficult task! Who knew organizing pictures could be so time consuming! Here is a picture from this time last year of my precious little girl...why does time go by so fast?!?!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

The Fourth of July

Every year our friends Matt and Katie Watson host a 4th of July Party! It starts late afternoon-they provide the meat, everyone brings drinks and a side dish!

We started the day as a family having lunch at Winsteads! Yum! Brooklyn sat in a booster seat at the table for the first time!

This year was a lot of fun! They had fun toys for the kids and Brooklyn had a blast!

She wore the same shirt she wore the night before to our July 3rd party! I had to get good use out of it! Ha!

 Brooklyn loved the Bomp Pop Popsicle!

 Brooklyn's favorite thing was the mini trampoline! She was obsessed!! I have already talked to Nana and this little girl will most likely be getting one for her birthday from Nana! Spoiled?!

 When we got home (at 9:30pm) Brooklyn did not want to go inside! She wanted to stay outside and watch the neighborhood kids shoot fireworks! She loved them!

It was a great Fourth of July! We can't wait to celebrate the good ol' USA next year!!

Baby #2 Weeks 26 and 27

Weeks 26 and 27

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 25 pounds (yikes!)

Maternity Clothes: YES!

Favorite Moment This Week: Brooklyn finally saying "Molly" instead of "Mahl".  It sounds a little like "Mommy", but it is pretty close to "Molly".  Hopefully in the next 3 months she can say it the correct way! Also, feeling my baby girl kick and move ALL day long! This girl is active!

Gender: Girl-Molly Kate!

Movement: ALL DAY, and night!

Food Cravings: Fruit and Pop-Tarts!

What I Miss: I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable.  When sitting on the floor playing with Brooklyn I can't just sit there for long periods of time without needing back support or to re-position every 30 seconds! 

Sleep: Some nights are better than others! I have not been getting up to use the restroom as much in the past, but I am still getting up at least 3 times a night. It is also hard for me to fall asleep before 11pm.  I can be exhausted, but I just lay there with tons of thoughts going through my head! I have found that if I don't fall asleep until midnight, I usually don't wake up until 5am to go to the bathroom for the first time! 

What I Am Looking Forward To: The crib is ordered and will be delivered tomorrow! The nursery is getting painted this weekend by Ben and my mother-in-law! I am so excited! 

Symptoms: back aches, uncomfortable

Belly Button: Pretty even/flat, getting ready to pop out all the way!

Next Dr. Appt: Next week-the dreaded glucose test! I actually didn't mind it at all when pregnant with Brooklyn, I just hope I pass!

Pictures: 26 weeks

 Brooklyn posed perfectly! When I tell her it's time to take a picture she runs to our room and stands by the wall and grabs the chalkboard out of my hand! This time she held the chalkboard perfectly-not in her face like times before!

 27 weeks:

 

Not so good with the chalkboard this week! Silly girl!

Comparisons:

July 3rd

Every year we go with my dad to his friends, John and Elaine, house! They have land that backs up to the Kearney Fair Grounds, which means we have the perfect seat for Kearney's annual July 3rd fireworks show!

It started raining late afternoon and I was worried it was going to rain the party out! Thankfully it didn't! The temperature did drop 15-20 degrees and it was chilly! I was planning for Brooklyn to wear a red, white and blue top with a skirt but it was too cold for that! Instead she wore her monogrammed Mary Kate shirt with capris! 

John usually roasts a whole hog, but this year they decided to do ribs and pulled pork! Everyone else brings a side! The food was delicious!

Elaine had some great toys for the kids to play with! Brooklyn had a blast!

I was a little nervous for the fireworks display and Brooklyn getting scared.  My mom bought Brooklyn an Elmo 4th of July book and I honestly think that reading that for the few days leading up to the holiday really helped! I would tell her over and over that the fireworks go "boom" but they are pretty! She started saying "ooh" and "ahh" when she saw fireworks!

Brooklyn loved the fireworks! I think she loved the glow sticks Elaine gave out more though! She had a blast with them!

It was a late night! We got to the car a little after 10pm and Brooklyn watched Barney while we sat in the traffic from the fair grounds! She hasn't fallen asleep in the car in forever! We made it all the way through Liberty and she was still awake! 3 minutes from home she fell asleep! She was out! Usually when she falls asleep in the car, she will wake up when I turn the car off-not this time! I was able to get her out of carseat, upstairs, on her floor and taking her clothes off and putting jammies on before she woke up! All while she had glow sticks around her neck!

 Ben was out too!! I love being the sober DD-so much fun...!!

 This next picture cracks me up! When I laid her down on her floor in room, her glow sticks moved to the top of her head-it looks like she has glowing headphones on!

It was a great July 3rd and we can't wait until next year!! Thanks John and Elaine!!

Deanna Rose

Deanna Rose Farmstead is a place I had heard about, but have never made the drive out to visit!

MOMS Club had a meet-up out there on Monday! It was going to be perfect weather that morning so Brooklyn and I loaded up the car and made the 45 minute drive to go have some fun!

We got there earlier than other moms in the group were going to arrive, so we just went ahead and started our way around!

First stop: a little playground with swings! Of course that is all Brooklyn would yell until she was actually on a swing! I am sure she would have been content with swinging for 2 hours, but mean mom made her get off so we could go see some animals!

After the swings we headed to the barn! Brooklyn loved the cow!

Thinking about the cow and taking it all in!

Next stop: GOATS!! I think little baby goats are so cute! I bought a baby bottle to feed the goat with! I gave the bottle to Brooklyn and she tried to give it to the goat, but the little thing was very aggressive and Brooklyn freaked out! I took over while Brooklyn hid behind me!

There were these wooden swings everywhere, so finally I let Brooklyn sit on one a swing back and forth for a bit! She liked it! Have I mentioned this girl loves to swing?

After another stop at another park, some sliding and swinging we ventured around Deanna Rose some more! Brooklyn explored!

She found a statue of a little girl and she loved her!

We saw more goats, baby pigs, horses, fish, ducks and geese! Brooklyn loved it all!

I tried to be a cool and nice mom and let Brooklyn eat ice cream for lunch! We waited in a long line to get ice cream and Brooklyn was perfectly fine while waiting! Once we got the ice cream we headed to a bench to sit down.  Brooklyn tried to climb up on the bench, but couldn't make it so I helped her! After sitting on the bench for 3 seconds she started screaming and throwing a fit and would NOT eat her ice cream.  I was a little embarrassed and did not know what to do or why she was crying.  I threw my cone away (kept hers thinking she might want it in a bit), got her in the stroller and headed for the car, all while she was screaming and everyone was staring! Not the best ending to our good morning, but oh well-these terrible two's are staying around for awhile, so I better just get used to it...

It was a perfect morning for our first visit to Deanna Rose (despite the fit at the end)! It was little crowded, but that is to be expected with gorgeous weather and the place is free on weekdays! We will be back soon!