Ok I'm going to do one big giant catch up blog! Well we've been so busy I just haven't thought about blogging. I also apparently didn't take many pictures at these events.
Well we had our annual Vander Waal Olympics (My mom's side reunion, sorry Kate I don't know how to spell it in Dutch). As many of us as possible went to my Aunt Carol's house. We used to compete with brackets and the whole 9 yards, however now that our kids are getting older we spend most of the day just playing games with them, swimming, etc. My kids had so much fun. Henry went swimming in the little pools with all of the big kids. He always was swinging with me on the porch swing. Paige ran and played all day. She was pooped out at the end of the day.
I also went on a girls weekend with two of the best girls I could ask for in my life. Graham and Kelly and I went to Galina, IL. My wonderful husband planned this for us back in April. He saw that I was having a hard time keeping my head above water and of course not complaining or saying anything. I was at work one day and Graham called me. She said I don't even want to tell you this but you hate surprises and you are an over planner. She told me Rob had planned a girls weekend for me and I stood at work crying. Those of you who know me the best know I don't cry often. It was a much needed weekend and we had a blast. We stayed at my first ever Bed & Breakfast. That was interesting and entertaining all at the same time. I think the owner was thinking she was getting a bunch of roudy girls on a girls weekend. We are the complete opposite. But we played games, ate food, shopped and of course drank wine. It was relaxing and great!!
Then over the 4th of July weekend we had a Chapman reunion (Rob's mom's side). We haven't seen some of them for 2 years. So of course this meant it was the first time some of them have met Henry. Boy did he put on a show for everyone, or as my mom called it he was the belle of the ball for an entire weekend. Rob's cousin Kyle and his wife Ashley stayed at our house and it was amazing. They loved on our kids and it was so much fun to stay up late and catch up. We did a lot of fishing, swimming, etc. Of course I took minimal pictures as I was mostly chasing my kids around.
 |
| My nephew Tyler caught a HUGE catfish |
 |
| Henry enjoying the pool |
 |
| Kyle was such a good sport with my kids. Boy do they love him! |
The next ones are just a bunch of random pictures I took
 |
| Paige tried on a scarf at Target and wanted to take it home |
 |
| Paige did a little working out with me the other night |
 |
| She then decided to sleep in Daddy's shirt...so big on her |
This weekend has been a crazy one. We finally participated in Ankeny Summerfest. It's a HUGE deal in this town and we've never gone in the 4 years we've lived her. Paige's friend Hudson and his family are the ones who talked us into going. So Friday night we went to the carinval. This is basically a smaller version of the Iowa State Fair in Ankeny.
 |
| Oh these two |
 |
| The told me to take a picture of their booty |
So Paige and I decided we were going to ride the ferris wheel. Yes I know a ferris wheel at a small carnival does not sound safe. I thought it would be fine until I was at the top with two 4 year olds and I thought our chair was going to tip over. I found myself trying to balance their weight out while they were so excited about what they could see. Paige talked Hudson into riding with us and I'm so glad I was the one who took the two of them. I had so much fun talking to those two when it was just us 3. These are the pictures we took while we were stuck at the top waiting for them to unload people.
Saturday morning we decided to go to the zoo. We hadn't been all summer and it's already JULY! So we packed up and off we went. It was so much fun. Our neighbors even met us there. Paige rode a camel!! She's wanted to do that for a while but she's finally at the age she can do some of this stuff by herself.
 |
| Henry got a little bored and tired |
Saturday night Rob and I went up to Summerfest with Tonia and Casey (Hudson's parents) to go to the beer garden with their friends. We had a blast! Paige and Henry got to see a babysitter they haven't seen in a while. But it was rough this morning. TODAY we went swimming at my Dad and Pat's pool. It was a BLAST!! Graham and Laek came and joined us. Henry was just floating around the pool in his float. Paige finally warmed up to the pool and even swam for a while in just her life jacket!
These are my watermelon lovers while I tried to pack us a picnic.
Life has been busy for sure!! But it was one of the most fun and summer feeling weekends we've had in a while. Our life slows down a bit from here on out. Well I should say the kids and I do. Rob still has two guys golf weekends and a STL trip with his brother to go to a Cardinals v Cubs game in August. I'll try and take more pictures and update more often.
Love to all!
