Memorial Day

The Memorial Day festivities began with lunch at Aunt Angie and Uncle Brian's house. After lunch the weather cooperated and everyone could swim. Maddie couldn't wait to get in and swam for a long time. Emma and Maya are pros at keeping her entertained.

After playing inside for awhile Ty decided to take a dip too. Jacob got in with him so I didn't get in. I am not sure why I didn't change into a bathing suit because I still got drenched getting them in and out of the pool!

Enjoying floating on a raft

Maya is on the purple raft and Maddie is on the orange raft if you can't tell.

After swimming Ty relaxed in the Spiderman chair that Mimi got him. I think he liked it!

Ty on Mimi's lap

Maddie put on a pair of goggles and yelled, "Mommy, take my picture!"

After spending the afternoon swimming, we went to the Watton's. Maddie liked playing with Ella and the bubbles.

Look at all those bubbles!

Maddie and Ty sitting with Marsha. She is wonderful with them. Ty cried when I tore him away from her to leave. Our final stop wast at the Lamonica's. Chris helped Scott move some dressers while the kids played outside. When we finally made it home, BB and Matt stopped by for a quick visit before bed. What a day!!

On a Mission

Chris and I decided that it is a tradition to go to the Columbus Zoo for Memorial Weekend. We needed to renew our membership, and I wanted to see the new Polar Bear Exhibit that just opened. Maddie and Ty were really excited, even though they are hiding it well in this pic!

There are twin girl polar bears, Aurora and Anana, at the zoo. One paced the entire time we were there while the other one took a dip in the water and ate some fish right in front of us!

This is what Ty looks like the entire time he is at the zoo. He loves animals and could spend hours watching each one.

As always, Maddie and Ty have to feed the ducks. Ty was feeding them his gold fish. Maddie wouldn't part with her gold fish.

While we were waiting in line to touch the star fish, Maddie told me how much she loved the zoo and gave me a smooch!

We arrived at the zoo a few minutes after it opened at 9 am. Our goal was to beat the crowd and the heat...it worked! The aquarium was nearly empty so we got to watch the manatees eat their lettuce. There are four new manatees that had been rescued from the wild named Fraulein, Bartlett, Hamilton, and Tippecanoe who will be cared for and then released back into the wild.

Even though we only stayed for about 2 1/2 hours, it was exhausting! Ty had to take a cat nap on the way out! It was a great trip, and we made it home in time to attend our sixth and final graduation party!

Ryan's Backyard

Ryan invited Maddie and Ty over to play with his new swing set and water toys Saturday afternoon. Chris took them so I could shower and get ready for graduation parties later that night!

Maddie swinging

Ty hanging out with Dani who is due in June with twins!

I can only imagine what the discussion around the water table was.

Staying hydrated

Ty staying hydrated too

Looks like Maddie is thinking if she should give him a boost or not. I hope she didn't but you never know.

As you can see, they had a blast! I am sure we will be spending many hours this summer with Ryan and his twin sisters! We are so excited!!

Our Favorite Playground

Almost every night after dinner we go to the trail so I can walk a few miles. In order to accomplish that, I have to bribe them, so we go to Starlight's playground. It is perfect for Ty and Maddie.

Friday night we went to the playground with my friend Tobi and her daughters. Then we returned Saturday morning.

Maddie busted her lip on the big toy. No tears.

A little later she fell again and got a boo boo on her knee. No tears.

Maddie swinging on her own.

Ty steering. He loves the big toy, but just this week he decided that he will not go down the slide anymore. I have no idea what brought this change!!

Then BB surprised us with a visit at the playground. She took Ty to the Moyers' house which was just down the road. This gave Maddie and me time to play together.

It was really hot!

Eventually, Maddie and I walked down to the Moyers too. We found Ty in the pool with only his diaper on, and Maddie joined him right away. Once I dragged them out of the pool, we walked across the street to see BB's mom and aunt. Maddie liked her humongous teddy bear.

Watering the Flowers

Ready to water

Maddie loved watering the flowers

Ty did a great job of watering himself....I hope it works!

Now Ty was watering the driveway

Finally, I modeled the expectation!

A Sunny Sunday

Maddie awoke at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning. That is a little early for her, so she took her nap at 7:30 a.m. After her nap, we played outside for most of the day. She had to take a little nap in her swing around 5 p.m. to make it through the night.

Ty got up at 5:30 a.m. too; however, this is not early for him. When Maddie took her nap we went to the grocery store and to McDonald's for breakfast. It was a blast spending some one-on-one time with him. Ty needed a snack after playing outside, so Chris gave him some bit size Oreos. He ate the first two then decided to put the next two in the water on his picnic table that had not dried after we scrubbed it. It looked like chocolate milk so he slurped it up!

A Special Treat for All

Friday night we were busy. We had dinner with the Brownriggs (which Maddie cried and whined through the entire meal), then went to Nashport for a music concert (which Ty cried through) and art show, and finally ended the night at a graduation party. It was well after nine when Ty and Maddie hit the hay; however, they both slept through the ENTIRE NIGHT (Chris and I had a few nights of only three or four hours of sleep just this week) and didn't wake until 7:30 am. When they finally woke up a squirrel was eating the bird seed out of the bird feeder. That was a great way to start the morning!!

The black squirrel left so the birds flew in.

Even "Chippy" got a bite to eat.

Ty even spotted a deer in the yard. He is telling his daddy all about it (signing "deer").

Three different times during the day we saw deer.

Maddie wouldn't wear the head band that matched her outfit, but Ty wore it while looking for his animal friends.

Chris borrowed his friend's truck to get some more mulch. Ty and Maddie loved it. It was like a huge toy!

Maddie in the back

Maddie had to buckle up when Ty was driving...safety first.

So the special treats for Maddie and Ty were seeing all the animals in the yard and playing in Pat's truck. The special treat for Chris and me was a full night of sleep!