Wegerzyn Gardens

Today our home group friends went to Wegerzyn Gardens. It was unusually cool and overcast, but we still had a fun time. Apparently, Emmaline was allergic to something in the garden because her eyes got all red and puffy and they watered the entire time we were there. The children's area is awesome with instruments to play, plants to water, and plenty of sand. Despite the cool weather, Jacob and Ellie really enjoyed playing in the creek and waterfall. We definitely plan to go back when the weather is warmer.

Family Photo Opp.
Pardon the spit hanging from Jacob's mouth. He thought it would be funny to blow spit bubbles as my mom took the picture. It wasn't!

Jacob plays a tongue drum

Ellie makes music with Emma and Elliot

Jacob in a canoe

Ellie loved the sand table

There was even an Emmy-sized table

Jacob found a centipede

Nathan had court downtown and stopped in to see us when he was done.

Ellie in the playhouse

1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Indians

The waterfall was the highlight of our visit

The kids spent a long time playing here

Emmy was worn out

Happy Birthday 3rd Noelle!

Today we went to a birthday party for one of the kids' friends from our home group. Although it was overcast, the weather was perfect for swimming, and the rain, thankfully, held off until it was time to go inside and open presents. Happy Birthday Noelle!

Jacob spent most of his time going down the pirate ship slide

Emmaline liked splashing in the baby pool.
We figured out that she knows how to do the backstroke because she fell over backwards in the pool and was splashing her arms to stay afloat.

Gabrielle loved the pirate slide too!

The Birthday Girl

Jacob and Ellie enjoy cupcakes and ice cream

A Great Deal

I got the above items from Yankee Candle for a grand total of $15.98. It's funny because I had looked at several of this items at Christmas time and in the spring, but wasn't about to pay full price for them. I couldn't pass them up this time around though! All of the blue items are now on display in our bedroom. Here's how I managed such a great deal:

12 Clean Cotton tea lights - clearanced at $5 because the color was off
Sunflower plate candle holder - reg. $8.99, clearanced for $3
Pressed flower pillar candle - reg. $12.99, clearanced for $3
2 girl and 1 boy Christmas tea light lamps - reg. $9.99/each, clearanced for $3/each
2 blue etched glass votive holders - reg. $4.99/each, clearanced for $1/each
2 crackled glass tea light holders -reg. $3.99/each, clearanced for $1/each
1 glass pillar candle holder - reg. $4.99, clearanced for $1

Total before discounts: $80.88
Total after discounts and $10/$25 e-mail coupon: $15.98
Total saved: $64.90

Outing to Indian Riffle Park

Today we went to the park with our friends from home group. The weather was gorgeous and the kids had so much fun playing together. At lunch, a silly squirrel kept trying to get at our food. The kiddos thought it was fun to scare him away each time he came near our table. On the way home we stopped at Ritter's for dessert.

Emmaline would have spent all day in the swing if we let her.

Ready to Slide

Jacob, Madilyn, and Ellie

This is one of my favorite pictures of Gabrielle

Miss Corey helps Jacob cross the monkeybars

Emmaline and Noelle take a break

The Friendly Neighborhood Squirrel

Time for a nap

Camping at Cowan Lake - Heading for Home

It is hard to believe that our camping trip is over today. This was our first camping trip as a family and we had such a good time that we can't wait to do it again.

Dad and Mom fold up the screen house

Jacob found a caterpillar to play with

Gabrielle enjoys one last swing at the playground

Emmaline squeals for joy as she swings with Mommy

Jacob was stung on the ankle by a hornet at the playground,

so Daddy applies some "sting stuff" to make it feel better

Emmaline is ready to head for home

Camping at Cowan Lake - Day 3

This week's weather has been absolutely perfect. The nights are cool and the days are warm enough to head to the beach. Today, we rented a pontoon boat so we could do some exploring around the lake. Everyone had a fun time. We also celebrated my sister, Katie's, birthday when we got back to camp. We've had such a good time and are sad to go home tomorrow.

Mimi got the kids bug boxes and

Ellie enjoyed watching a little green caterpillar in hers.


Dad, Katie, Nathan, and Mom play a rousing game of badminton.

Dad and Mom pull into the dock to pick us up.


Ellie makes us go faster.

Jacob helps Daddy steer the boat.

Colton and his mommy, Dee (my sister)

Mommy and Emmaline

Papaw and Colton takes turns driving

Happy Birthday, Aunt Katie!

Camping at Cowan Lake, Day 2

The cicadas (or "shicadas" as Ellie liked to call them) were out in full force. You could hear their very loud singing for several hours every afternoon and couldn't walk anywhere without stepping on their shells.

Emmaline and Daddy snuggle by the campfire in the morning.

Daddy gives Ellie a ride back from the restroom.

Papaw and Emmy

Ellie and Jacob show off their treats from the commissary.

Emmaline is ready for the beach.

Mimi and Emmaline

Gabrielle and Jacob spent lots of time in the lake.

Emmy and Mommy enjoy the shade

Building a sandcastle with Aunt Katie

Roasting marshmallows...every time we had a fire going, the kids thought that they should roast marshmallows. We went through ALOT of marshmallows!

S'mores are the best!
We ate lots in honor of my friend, Emily. S'mores were always her favorite when she came camping with us when we were growing up.