Mosquito Bites and Yard Sales(+free giveaway)

These are 2 things that summer brought us this weekend.

Last night we went on our ward's camp out and had a great time.
Poor kids all got eaten on their faces (the place I didn't spray them.) 1/2 of Kate's cute "red" face- nothing on arms and legs though
Jane and Bruce sang "All Star" (from Shrek) for their talent in the talent show it was great.
Jane's bites are on the sides of her face too. She went to a princess birthday party today and got to wear a dress and flowers in her hair.
While she was at the party I went to a big yard sale at a local church and found a lot of "great deals."
Including:
This totally cute Christmas Countdown for 50 cents
You pull out the little wooden sticks each day and Santa "falls" down the chimney.

This valance- $1
- however it doesn't fit my girls room liked I hoped it would.
It's a pretty, light pink gingham that's from JC Penney .
It's 17inches(tall) by 84 inches (long) and it's a double valance.
IF ANY OF YOU WANT THIS I WILL MAIL IT TO YOU OR BRING IT TO YOU RIGHT AWAY!
I also found great vintage green linen place mats- but they're in the wash.

Great Quote

I saw this on a friend's blog and liked it:
"The best inheritance a parent can give to his children is a few minutes of their time each day." -- M. Grundler
I hope I can actually give more than a "few minutes."
I love our cute children!

Movie in the Park & Waffles

Last Friday night the kids and I went with friends to watch Ratatouille in the park. It was fun and the movie screen was huge (not really.) The kids loved to play on the playground before it started, watch the movie for the first time, eat lots of sugary goodness, and then lay under the stars.

Baby Cakes LOVES licorice

On Sunday we had a lazy day, well most of us, so I was thinking about what to make for dinner and my sister called and told me it was National Waffle Day- perfect!

(Kate likes to eat hers with raisins)

So that's what we made, I usually make them once a week anyways. I also learned that the waffle iron was patented here in NY! So you all know International Waffle Day is March 25th (dad's & Jason's b-day) so plan ahead.

Olcott Rides and the Beach

Happy Day!

We went to a really fun place in Olcott yesterday where the kids got to go on lots of rides (25cents each) and had a great time with friends.

View from one side: (right by the lake- so pretty)

They had about 6 different rides like this for the kids:

Afterwards we went to the beach to further enjoy our sunny day

Beach Babe

Jane made this sculpture

Friends! (I'll get you guys a copy soon)

Q-tip Anyone?

If any of you need a Q-tip Baby Cakes has a few she can share!

Why does she LOVE making messes so much?

Sleepy Stamper, Miss Spider, &Sabres

I just have to blog real quick since I'm already on the computer...

Tonight we had a REALLY fun Stampin' party over here. My friends are ALL SO TALENTED. I have much to learn. If you to the Jackie's blog you'll see who came with all her fun ideas tonight (plus the new catalog if anything catches your eye.)
Jane stayed up the ENTIRE time, I was really surprised, but after the last person left I looked at the couch and saw her sleeping- so cute!

Yesterday we went to the Summer Reading celebration with Miss Spider at our library.
I think Bruce's face is so funny in this one & I LOVE Jane's dimples.

We also went to this place to sign up Bruce for a tumbling class and while we were there we got to meet some of the hockey players from the Sabres so that was cool.

The Kindness of Strangers...

I am SO grateful to Amy, patient girls,
and all the strangers who helped us today.

Story:

My friend Amy and I thought it would be fun to take our kids to East Aurora for the afternoon.
"Fishy" cheesy Jane
We first went to the Explore and More Children's museum which was really cute and tons of fun.
Bruce LOVED the area where he got to build.
It was a perfect size place to play and explore and the kids stayed busy the whole time we were there.Cute girls in the barn

Then we went and ate a yummy lunch- really not quite Mexican, but good.

Next we were off to a great 5 cent/10cent store which was kind of a combination of the Smithfield Implement/Candy counter/Roberts craft store.
After that we got in the car and it wouldn't start! So Amy pulled up beside me, we found a nice man (just in town from Florida visiting his parents- yea, we had a while to talk.) He helped us learn how jumper cables work and tried to charge the car with my little cables- no luck. So Amy went and bought bigger ones and it started up!!

Kate really liked playing with the rice

We went to the Fisher Price outlet store after that and found some great deals and then back to the car again, and again it wouldn't start.
By now Amy and I are pros at jumping cars (not really) so we ask another kind man to help us. It starts- whew! So we decide to drive back home and as I'm driving (totally the wrong way too) it dies again and I can't go. So I pull over in front of a random home and I went to ask if I could borrow a phone to call B (who needs a cell phone right?)
The family was SOOO nice and they let us use their phone, bathroom, gave the kids drinks, and let us stay for the 1/2 hour while we waited for B. So sweet. B shows up, we jump the car and I tell him I think the battery is dead.
The car starts and we drive straight to NAPA to have them check the battery- yep it was dead. SO... $72.00 later we have a battery, we're on the road, and all is well again.
I'm glad we're going to the temple tomorrow because I have lots of blessings to count and lots of people to "pay it forward" to.

More Summer Fun Outside

We really LOVE the sunshine!

The kids all build a little "tree house" on the playground yesterday and had lots of fun in it.
They furnished it with pillows, blankets, and fruit for a snack.

(Bruce's feet are in the background)

This is how they all came down.

This is how excited Kate gets when she sees a bird or squirrel.

Jane said, "Mom, we're all three standing against this wall- take a picture."
So I did.

Jane had her last swim lesson of the season today
- here are 2 of her beautiful swimming friends.

Bug Club and Jane's Stories

Do you want to join our bug club?

Thanks to Aunt Jill for the bug package we now have more things to help us catch and pin bugs.

(Thanks also for the clothes.)

Jane has also been learning how to spell new words like CRAZY!
She is really ready and excited for Kindergarten.

Here is her latest story about Rip Tides.

Here is a sign on her door
(No boys allowed No boy dogs allowed only robot dogs)
Not all the words are spelled correctly, but she knows what she's writing and can read it back.
SO SMART!

Do YOU want to pick me UP?

* * * A HUGE CONGRATS TO FRIENDS ALEXIS AND GANTRIE FOR THEIR 5K in Alpine! Keep on Runnin' * * *

Games

We really like to play games with each other, family, and friends.

While our friends were in town this last week they brought lots of games with them and we played them all:
*Carcassonne
* Zooloretto
*Palabra
* Through the Desert
*Ticket to Ride (Europe)
* Bohnanza
* Puerto Rico
* Shoot the Moon
* Ruckus
* Bang
They were also SOOO NICE and gave us the game Carcassone which we played while watching the opening Olympic ceremony last night.

Thanks again!

Niagara!

On Tuesday we went to Niagara Falls with some friends.

American Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Silly us

We walked to Canada and saw the falls from that side, then walked back to the US and rode the "Maid of the Mist" boat that got really close to the falls and we got a little wet.
It was amazing to see/feel all that water coming down.

Jane on the boat

Walking up closer to the falls

Wet Bruce- so happy!

That evening we took them out for a real "Buffalo Wing Experience" at the Anchor Bar.
We are having so much fun!

Fun with Friends!

WE LOVE THESE FRIENDS!This weekend/week we've been having a great time with our favorite friends from Kentucky. We've been playing LOTS of dress-ups & games.

Yesterday we went to Palmyra and that was really fun to see all the church sites there.
(I think this picture is so cute of Kate, even though she isn't so smiley)

Today we're off to Canada and Niagara Falls!

Happy Birthday Jeffy!

Happy Brother to my "little" brother Jeff!
We made you cupcakes!

*We're also sooo excited for Brent, Katie & kids to come see us tonight!