Father's Day and More!

We've been traveling and getting our summer started...

Our last trip was to celebrate Nanny/GiGi's life in Sandwich, IL.  The kids are champion travelers!  We've got a portable DVD player, a cooler full of snacks, trays that strap onto the kids' car seats, and plenty of excitement!

When you start the trip with a sucker from the bank drive through window, how can you go wrong?

Once we got there, Sarah was most interested in the hotel phone.  Unlike at home, if she pushes a bunch of buttons, she can actually call someone!

The pool was a big hit!

Cousin Alexis is a little fish!

Sarah was a little charmer and really interested in trying to carry around Mommy's purse. 

"Hmm....I got the goods, now where should I start my shopping?"

After returning home from the busy weekend with family, we started out new summer routines. First up was story time at the library with Firefighter Tom, who brought his firetruck for the kids to explore.

Sarah wasn't so sure about the big truck.

Austin even got to try on the firefighter's coat.

Austin waited patiently for his turn in the firetruck, then climbed right in.

And had a blast checking out all the cool tools.

Since Austin was one of the last few kids to go into the truck, it was calm enough in there for Sarah to join him.  They look so little in such a big truck.

Austin is also in a sports class on Tuesdays this summer.  Each week they learn a different sport (t-ball, football, soccer, etc.).  The first class was football.  Here are the kids getting all limbered up.  Austin is in the red shorts and white shirt near the middle of this photo.

Sarah wanted to play too and kept running up on the field.

Austin kicking the ball and then running after it.

Thursdays this summer bring Austin's swim lessons.  He hasn't had any swim lessons before, but he certainly isn't afraid of the water!  He fearlessly jumps into the pool whether there is an adult there to catch him or not!  Now he needs to learn how to swim.

He was SO excited for swim lessons that he sat on the bench waiting to start and checking the time twice a minute and updating me..."Mommy, it's 8:42!  Mommy, it's 8:43!  Mommy, it's 8:43! ......."

Kicking!

Floating on his back - something I couldn't get him to relax enough in the water to do.

We have had some hot summer days that we have enjoyed outside.  Sarah loves the kids' swing and was looking awfully cute swinging the other day.  I can't believe how big she is getting!

A little brother and sister love.  They were having fun sitting on the couch together, so I managed to catch some cute photos...
In this one, Sarah is demonstrating her scraped knee and explaining "OwwOww" as she points it out.

My sweeties!

Pretending to sleep on the couch...

The kids have discovered that my desk chair spins well and they LOVE it!

Here is a video of spinning in the chair together...with a bit of tickle toes mixed in too!

For Father's Day, we let Daddy sleep in and take a nice long nap...then headed over to see Grandpa!

 Sarah was a little charmer and full of smiles!

 Super cute playing with this red play hat!

After dinner, Michelle, Sarah and I walked to the grocery store to pick up some s'mores ingredients and we toasted marshmallows over the grill.

Sarah enjoyed her first s'mores!

(Austin wasn't interested in trying any.  Weird!)

And what did she think? 

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm"

 Beautiful little messy face!

 All done...but discovering that she's pretty sticky.

 Smiles with Grandpa!

 And a great photo of Nanny and Grandpa with their grandbabies!

We are so unbelievably blessed by the wonderful men in our lives.  Happy Father's Day to all the daddies, daddies-to-be, and father figures who are important to children everywhere!