Heading Home

Why is it when you are waiting for a vacation it seems to take forever to get there.  But when you finally get to the vacation it flies by in the blink of an eye?  Before we knew it it was time to say goodbye to our family and head for home.

Which meant saying goodbye to our newest little cousin/nephew.  I so miss seeing the smile on these kiddo's faces while playing together.

On our way home we stopped to have lunch with one of my childhood friends.  Lindz and I have know each other for, let's see... forever and a day I think.... 

Yep that sounds about right.  Seriously, I can't remember when we met, she's just always been there.  Love ya girl!

Annnnnd, my cousin Abe met us too!  I was soooo excited to see him.  I told my Dad where we were stopping for lunch and he said "Why aren't you meeting Abe?"  For some reason I had forgotten that he lived in that area too.  How horrible of me!  But luckily I got ahold of him and he cruised right over.  

I know he was excited to see me too.  Right Abe? 

Abe?!?!  You know you love me!

I sent the above picture to my other cousin Chelsea and said "Look what I got."    

About two seconds later she sent this picture and said "Look what I got!" 

WhaaaaaaaT? Tim Tight White Jeans McGraw!  No fair!  

About the only other notable thing that happned on our way home was this horrible poster.

Why?

Luckily it was Saturday so we missed it.

Children's Museum of Illinois

Back in July when we were in Illinois visiting Brian's family we went to the Children's Museum of Illinois in Decatur.

It was so much fun!

Even for us big kids.  Remember pin cushion things?  They're still fun!

There was SOOOOO much for the kids to do:

Bubbles!

James loved them.

Painting

This cool mirror thingy.  You sit on one side and someone else sits on the other and it meshes your faces together.  This was Brian and his brother Chris.

The kids loved this grocery store.

Puppet shows

 Parker rotating tires and making his Daddy proud.

He's going to be on a NASCAR pit crew one day.

 He loved this part.  He could have stayed there all day.  

Ava telling Grandma that she owed her $80.00 per cupcake.

Seriously this is not even half of what there was in this place.  There was sooooo much more.  Airplanes, hospitals, a news room, post office and tons more.  My kids could have spent all day there if we would have let them.  They are already asking when they can go back.  If you live in the area I highly recommend it.  

Currently...Firsts

The past couple weeks we've had a lot of firsts in our house:

 Currently... The night before her first day of first grade Brooke lost her first tooth!

First day of school!  And guess what?  She lost her second tooth on the first day of first grade!  She was very excited because she is the first one that gets to go on the "tooth chart" in her class.

So that night when she went to put the tooth in her little tooth pillow - she dropped it!  We searched everywhere but could not find it.  She wrote a note for the Tooth Fairy saying she was sorry and luckily the Tooth Fairy took pity on her and gave her money anyway.  She even left some fairy dust behind!

Don't worry though, we've since found the tooth and little Miss TF swung by and made a pick up. 

Currently... the girls started soccer.  But what is extra exciting is this is Ava's first year on a actual team!

Go Comets!

Currently... we converted Parker's toddler bed into a big boy bed.  Yikes.  I'm not going to lie, there were some tears shed when we were taking it down.  It made me a little sad that our "baby" is no longer a baby anymore.  Don't get me wrong; I don't want another one.  I just wish the ones we have would slow down a little bit.  

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was a slightly insane Mother of three children under the age of three?  How did I make it out alive?

Currently... Parker and Ava started school.  Ava is going Monday through Friday and Parker is going Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

I so miss those faces during the day but I know they are having so much fun.  Ava has been looking forward to this for so long and her excitement is so fun to watch.  

Currently... I have Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-2 to myself!  I have not had a kid free day like this in over six years.  This is a big deal people!  I am loving the break right now but it's only been two days so far.  I know it'll get harder the more it goes on.  The count down is on for when they are all in school full time and I'm fully aware of it.  I am cherishing every minute I get with these blessings.  

Speaking of blessings, our first born- Chester is excited to get some more one on one time.  On our first day home together he requested a nice long walk.

We are both going to work on getting back in shape while the kids are at school.  He had good results this Summer and doesn't want to backslide.  I'm pretty sure Chester's the only one who goes to the Skellenger Family Doins' and looses weight!

Above is Chester's amazing results from California Chris' Fat Camp for Pups.  And yes my dog is giving me a high five.  He's just that awesome.