Mema & Grandpa come for a visit!

 

 Back in July, Mema and Grandpa came for a visit and we decided it would be fun to show them the California State Fair!  Unfortunately, Mark had to work but that didn't stop us from going. We had a great time showing Mema and Grandpa all of our favorite things about the fair...from riding a few rides to checking out the animals and all the fun vendors and county displays inside, and eating our favorite treats! We tried to cover as much as we could and were all wiped out by the end of the day!

 I think this was their favorite part...watching all the baby animals and their mommas.

 (Yes it is a real Bald Eagle) Very cool to see up close!

 We did so many other fun things with Mema and Grandpa but I didn't take any more pictures the rest of the week. One day Grandpa and I took the big kids bowling and then another day we went to see Madagascar 3 and I think we even went to see Brave the following week. It was a week packed with FUN and the kids had a blast and loved having Mema and Grandpa here to visit!! Thanks so much for coming!! We love you so much!!

Little did we know that we would be headed to Texas a few weeks later!! (last minute business change for Mark that took us to Houston :)( More pics to come!)

Fun with Daddy!

 While I was away at Young Women girls camp for the first week in July, Daddy got to spend lots of time with the kiddos. And what better thing to do then go to Grandma and Grandpa's and hang out at the lake?!! These are the only pics taken that whole week. I am impressed any pictures were taken at all so I will take what I can get and I am loving these fun ones from Sly Park lake!! Looks like they had a blast with Grandma and Daddy!

 Funny story- Daddy forgot Madelyn's swim suit so she is actually wearing one of Lilly's little one piece romper outfits! haha! My four year old is wearing an 18 month olds outfit! That tells you how tiny Madelyn still is and Lilly is not exactly petite :) hehe. Love my girls!

 Love these ones of Lilly! she was loving those geese!

Thanks Daddy for being so fun and making sure the kids had a blast while I was away! I'm sure they had no idea I was gone!! I am so grateful to have the best hubby in the world!

Swim lessons 2012

The month of June was filled with lots of swimming. Madelyn took semi-private lessons first from our most favorite girl in the whole wide world, miss Kate!! Madelyn did great and finally by the end of her session she was getting over some of her fears and she was ready for some fun group lessons through the city of Lincoln.

 Sportin' the Zinka pink and purple! Thanks so much miss Kate! You're the best! 

Zach, Kali and Madelyn all took lessons at the city pool and they all had a blast and progressed tons with their swimming skills! Zach and Kali are ready for swim team next year! Yay! 

 

 Zach and Hailey 

 Madelyn loved her swim class and she was finally perfecting her "going under" skill!

 Madelyn and her best friend Taya! 

 Go Madelyn!! You can do it!

 Way to go Kali!!

Daddy got to come watch the last day of lessons!!

Madelyn turns 4!!

 On June 10th our sweet Madelyn Belle turned 4!! She was so excited to have a birthday finally and already said she can't wait til next year to be 5! We were lucky to have Aunt Kelli and her cute kiddos still here visiting for Madelyn's big day and Grandma and Grandpa Stacy came for the celebration that day as well! We had a simple birthday party with the family at home, had pizza and cake and ice cream and took a nice family walk to enjoy the nice windy weather that day. Unfortunately it was a little too cool and windy for the pool which was our original plan. Luckily, our sweet Madelyn was just so happy to open presents and have everyone there that she didn't care much that we weren't swimming.  Kali and Alexa made this really cute birthday cake banner for Madelyn as seen below. Madelyn loved it and she loved her new scooter and special lip gloss, strawberry shortcake doll, and little critters sets from G&G Stacy! She is one special girl and is so fun and easy to love!! We are so blessed and grateful to have our sweet Madelyn in our family!!

(And by the way, Kali has leftover kitty face paint on her face from the last day of school that she refused to wash off. Nice. Looked like devil horns if you ask me)

 CAKE TIME!! Madelyn picked out the cake and chocolate frosting and even helped put the sprinkles on.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!! 4 YEARS OLD AND GROWING UP WAY TOO FAST!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!