Beach day with Mommy

James had to work this Saturday so after the gym the kids and I went back to the beach.  It was my job to prove to the kids that they could have fun with just Mommy and no friends.  We played in the water for a long time, built sand castles, dug big holes, ate yummy food, and then....one of Adeline's friends from school showed up, and then Daddy showed up, and then Grandma and Grandpa Bean showed up.

I wish I would have taken some pictures of everything else but for some reason I must have been distracted. We left shortly after Grandma and Grandpa came.  Once we got back to the house and were all cleaned up James and I were treated to a date night while the kids stayed back with Grandma and Grandpa.  It was a nice evening for all.  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.

Fun Beach Day

It was so hot today....and the beach was a necessity.  Unfortunately the beach was a necessity for MANY other people too.  The beach was packed!

Adeline and Andrew had so much fun playing with all of their friends.

Silly Andrew

The girls were making a sand village.

Lauren and Carter working together.

I find myself very blessed to be surrounded by such great friends.

Our Stubborn Man

Andrew was so tired when we left that I was for sure he would fall asleep before we got home.  After the first video I thought he was asleep but then the second video shows that he was more mad that I was taping him.  And his "anger" kept him up until we got home but it took a lot of effort to stay awake.

Almost Three O'Clock

Me and the birthday boy!

We went on the go karts a couple more times where Adeline and I beat Andrew and Daddy and then Andrew and I beat Adeline and Daddy.

Andrew was upset at the end of the race because he couldn't see Daddy.  That was because Daddy was right on my tail (even bumping into me).  The video below is pretty funny because my husband knows me so well :)

Happy Birthday Daddy!  We love you!

Once it was three we went to cheer Daddy on while he hit the batting cages.  Don't worry, the kids were not in while the balls were being pitched.

What an Awesome Day!

Time for a cold snack

We had already had a lunch break earlier, but now it was time for a snack and a little AC.  There was only one push up left when we came in and Adeline was so generous to let her brother have it.  She chose an ice cream snickers bar that we got at the push up price.  I kept asking for a bite but she ate the whole thing all by herself.

Andrew was a bit messy and when James and I were laughing about it we caught his goofy eyes on camera.

Our silly boy!

Adeline's Mini Race

Adeline was tall enough so she got to drive around her own little go kart.  At first I was nervous as to how she would do but then I remembered she is a pro from driving around her power wheels at home.

Thankfully Andrew was not upset when his foot couldn't touch the pedal and he had to get out.  We just told him that we would go back to the big go karts.

Bumper Boats

Addy and Mommy

The kids waiting patiently for our turn.

Life jackets on....we're getting close

There are no actual pictures of us in the boats because the camera could have gotten wet so let me just describe it to you.  Adeline rode with me and Andrew rode with James.  We rode the boats three or four times.  Each time Adeline and I would zoom over to the misters where we would get soaked.  Then we would come and bump into James and Andrew.  Then James and Andrew would come and bump into us or try to pin us between them and the misters.  Then we would try to push James and Andrew into the misters too.  It was a lot of wet fun!  I love hearing my kids laugh!

Family Putt Putt

Both kids had fun learning to golf.

I started off keeping score, Andrew even had a hole in one.  But come hole twelve of eighteen the kids were getting restless.  Adeline by the end would just walk to the hole while pushing her ball with her club.  And Andrew kept wanting to hit his ball into the waterfall, which was not a part of the green.

James had the kids cheer me on.

Adeline and Andrew in their first "golfing" experience.

I remember taking James putt putting on his twenty-first birthday in Grand Ledge.  I need to pull out my scrap books and find the picture we took just like this at the top of a hill fourteen years ago.  Wow!  How time flies.  I'm so thankful for my husband and our two blessings.

Craig's Cruisers

For Daddy's birthday we took him to Craig's Cruisers.  This was Adeline's idea to do it on his day off (since he had to work on Saturday).  And on Wednesday's during the hours of 10-3 there is unlimited bumper boats, go karts, and putt putt.  James and I just had to pay for the kids to get in and we got in free because we would just ride with them on the rides.  It turned out to be a pretty nice deal.

Right away we lined up for the go karts.

Daddy and Andrew ready for the race.  Who is going to win????

Here is Addy and I way behind.....but don't worry, there are many more races to come.

Drive-in Movie Night!

I got an update from the Getty Drive-in Theater tonight that they were having a special.  Five dollar ticket price and kids five and under are free.  Tonight's showing was the movie Brave.  We did the drive-in as a family last year and really enjoyed it.  So last minute because James had the following day off we decided to pack up and go to the movie.

It was a wonderful time.  We got there early enough to get front row parking.  We put all of the seats down in the van, put up James' awesome bug screen, laid down a blanket, set up pillows and snacks, and were ready to enjoy the show.  We had an hour and a half of time to kill before the movie actually started. The kids played in a sand box, swung on swings, ran around, and slid down the slides.  After awhile we all made it back to the van and played a fun game of memory.

We took about fifteen pictures just trying to get Andrew to look at the camera and smile.  The one below is considered our keeper.

The Beach

Today Logan and Lincoln came to play.  

We spent most of the afternoon on the beach.  

The kids had a blast.

Lion King

The theme for Adeline's birthday party this year is "The Lion King".  The Mona Shores Schools had a big sale on all of their laptops and projectors the other weekend.  James got there and got a very cheap price on a projector that he has been wanting for a long time.  A long time back when Adeline was maybe a month old we had a neighborhood movie at our house and borrowed our friends projector and displayed the movie on the back of our house.

We will be showing "The Lion King" for Adeline and two special friends on the night of her official birthday, outside, on the back of the house.

Tonight we had a showing of part of the movie in Adeline's room.  For fun and so that James could play with it a little.  Once James had everything set up we all snuggled in Addy's bed together.

Someday....

....he will really be driving.





And my little boy won't be so little anymore.

Seaway Run 2012

I had the best cheering section come mile seven.  I was not expecting to see them until the finish line but to my surprise this is what I ran up across.  What a pick me up it was for me.  I love my family and their support.

They booked it to the finish line just in time.  We prepped the kids that I would be running fast (hopefully) and had James place them very near the finish line.  I knew that I would be faster than last year and really wanted to beat my time.  As soon as I rounded the corner there they were all ready.  Adeline came right out with her speedy little feet.  Andrew on the other hand started acting really goofy, shuffling his feet, with his eyes at the top of his head.  So in a matter of seconds I thought two things:  I could pick him up and run the rest of the way  or I could slow down, grab his hand, and cross the finish with him.  A good mom would have stopped...but I just kept running with Adeline.  In my defense I did turn around and make sure he was ok and not sad that I kept going.  And he was just fine.  In fact I think he enjoyed it more being the center of attention.  Everyone was watching, laughing, and talking about how cute he was.

I was extremely proud of my time.  I ran 9.3 miles in 1:17:03.  8:17 minute miles.  I beat my last years time by 8:28.  I was over a mile faster this year.

Thank you Daddy for your encouragement and for bringing my #1 fans.

Here are two shots from the run that their photographers captured.  The above one is during mile five on the boardwalk.  And the bottom one is of Addy and I crossing the finish line.  How fun that they captured this moment two years in a row.  What a great memory.

Back to the beach we go.....

Just me and my kiddo's.

Andrew with Adeline's Dora floaties.  We need to get him some boy ones.

My swimmer with her goggles.

Mommy and Addy

I hope to someday this summer get a good shot with both kids....when Andrew will give a nice smile and not a silly face.

The kids decided to lay out for maybe about ten seconds.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I met Nana in Grand Rapids where I picked up the kids.  I was SO excited to see them. 

On our way home we stopped through Grand Haven, picked up some balloons and surprised Daddy at work.

He was actually really surprised.  

The kids made him cards at Nana's that they brought into his office.

Daddy had to work really late, not getting home until 7:45 so we celebrated with some freshly baked butterscotch cookies.  Adeline put all of the characters on the cookies.

Celebration for Daddy's #35 coming later.

Father's Day Activities

James, the kids and I went to church with my Dad.  It had been awhile since we last visited and it was nice to see everyone.

After church we met Grandma and Grandpa, and John and Candy at Applebee's.  We enjoyed a very nice lunch with great conversation.

After lunch we headed back to Olivet to give the kids a nap since Andrew went a couple days without one.  Unfortunately they were too excited about going over to Nana and Papa's house that they didn't sleep but James and I were both knocked out.  When we woke up we heard Grandma and Grandpa who had just gotten home from Goshen.  We skyped with Betsey and then headed to Hastings were we would leave Adeline and Andrew for four days.  Yup...that's right, I finally did it.

Uncle John came over for awhile and it was nice to spend some quality time with him.  When it was time to say good-bye to the kids they had no problem...it was just me.  What to do with four days to myself??  Well....I cleaned my whole house, scrubbed the walls and the floors, hung out with friends, went to the beach, had lunch with James, and went out on a date (with James).  It was actually pretty nice.  I missed my kids, called them twice a day but really enjoyed being productive and relaxing at the same time.

Thank you Nana!  The kids had a blast......