A LITTLE VA-CA

Today marks the last day of my vacation! The kiddos and I had a great week but man am I tired! I told Jeremy, next time I decide to take a week off, I will make sure to plan a "me" day! I learned a few things this week as well! I learned how much my 3 year old has grown up, I learned what an exhausting job it is taking care of two kids 24/7 ( I now have a new appreciation for stay at home mom's...and a better appreciation for my job!) I learned how much fun it was to play all day with my kids and not worry about housework, laundry, etc! Now back to reality tomorrow!

Here are the highlights of our week! Tuesday our plan was to go to the aquatic center but it was pretty rainy and cool, so plan B was a movie. I took Carter to see UP. Super cute movie! We had lunch at the mall, shopped for some new running shoes for mom and by that time the sun had actually come out. We checked out a little park on the east side called Union Park. The have a carousel, a super fast rocket slide and a wading pool equipped with fountains and sprays. It was super fun! I can't believe we had never been there before but will definitely be going back.

Wednesday, Jeremy took the day off and we took Carter to Adventureland while Claire hang out with her friends at daycare. Carter was super brave on all the rides. His favorite were the raging river where he got COMPLETELY soaked!! I was so thankful the boat turned just as we were heading under the waterfall otherwise it would have been me! He really liked the bumper cars, the frog hopper and the Underground ( roller coaster in the dark) I rode the tilt a whirl with him and literally felt sick for the next 6 hours!! UGH

Thursday we were suppose to head up to Minneapolis to see my friend Jeri and her kids Jaiden and Abrie, but Jaiden came down with a case of croup so we decided to stay away. We were planning to visit the Minnesota zoo, but had to opt for the Blank Park Zoo. We watched a very cool bird show and got to ride the train this time. That night Carter and I went to our local library for pajama story time. TOO FUN!

Friday, the kids and I headed back to mom and dad's for a couple of days. We helped grandma weed the pumpkin patch that is getting ENORMOUS, went fishing with aunt Darcie and Jill, visited great grandma and grandpa Mehlmann and Carter helped Darcie and Jill work on grandma's new deck. We ate tons of good food and enjoyed some very cool weather! We headed back home Sunday afternoon. Daddy made us a welcome home supper complete with movie night and popcorn to follow. My grandparents have this great pond at their farm. All you do is throw your line in and start reeling. All Darcie got done was putting worms on and taking fish off for those of us who refused to touch anything!

Aunt Darcie showing how to set his line.

His first fish! A pretty good sized bluegill!
We caught 16 fish in all..not bad for an hour and a half! We decided to throw them all back to let them "grow up" as Carter would say. I was pretty proud of my germaphobe son, he got brave enough to FINALLY touch a worm and even a fish. By then end of the day he was even breaking the worms in half for us. We could never convince him to kiss a worm for good luck though.

This morning Carter asked me if he could go to preschool! I was telling about what his class was doing this week and he decided going to Backyard Adventures sounded like more fun than hanging out with me another day. Back to work tomorrow!

Summer fun

Happy summer! We are having so much fun enjoying the nice weather with the kiddos. Since our last post we have been busy! Carter has spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa Berry's this summer and got to plant his very own pumpkin patch! He did a great job helping plant and water the seeds, but hasn't been back to weed it, leaving poor Grandma to tend to his garden. They planted 11 hills in all including several different types of pumpkins and gourds. Here are some pics from the weekend. You gotta love the farmer outfit, crocs, big bare belly and running pants! His reward for a good day's work was running through the sprinkler!






We celebrated Father's Day with food! I told Jeremy I would make him whatever he wanted and he choose of all things SUPER NACHOS! We also made a trip to the bookstore so he could pick up a couple of new books. Pretty exciting stuff! It was a great day to pamper him and show him how much we love him!

Both kids have really taken to loving the water! We have enjoyed the aquatic center, our little blow up pool and last week mom and I were able to take the kids to the Raccoon River park. This is a great little park near our house that has both a beach and a splash fountain type thing for the kids along with a great playground. Claire loved feeling the sand between her toes and attempted to taste it several times. I found sand in cracks in these kids for days to follow but we had SO much fun!








Summer also means ball games and the park! We have a couple of great parks near our house the kids like to frequent and we have been to a couple of I-Cubs games. Carter impresses me that he can sit through an entire baseball game. The hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream and nachos that he loads up on probably have something to do with it!



You might notice Claire has somewhat of a finger sucking problem! I wonder at what age should I begin to worry about this?


Claire turned 11 months on June 27th! It is hard to believe we will celebrate her 1st birthday this month. I haven't decided what to do for a party yet. I think low key may be the best. I promised Jeremy I wouldn't go overboard like I did with Carter's first birthday! They have started to prepare her and I for the "big move" at daycare, meaning going to the toddler room. It makes me so sad to think of this. I love her caregivers and she has grown to love them. Doesn't seem possible that she is no longer considered an infant! She loves to play in the cupboards, with anything Carter has, and loves to suck her fingers! Her hair has finally gotten long enough to put up into "pigtails" I never thought I would get into the "girlie" things, but I am constantly looking for cute outfits, hair bows, etc. We have learned as she is getting older how sensitive she is. We are having to start telling her "NO" when she is getting into something she shouldn't and she breaks down crying every time we tell her this! She tries to hold back, but her eyes fill with tears and her bottom lip quivers until she can't hold it in anymore. She also lets out this horrible loud scream if Carter takes something away from her. Oh, I fear the girl drama is only beginning! Lord help us!

At the end of the month we said goodbye to the Summers' family. Carter and Sam have been friends for nearly 3 years now. They have had many deep conversations at the fence with each other and basically spent every afternoon/evening hanging out with each other after Carter gets home from preschool. I had been trying to prepare him for the day they moved, but I really hadn't prepared myself very well, or was in denial. I was a blubbering mess for the week before and after they left. I finally ran out of Kleenex so I figured it was time to stop crying. Jeremy compared me to a teenager who just got broke up with by her first love. We miss them so much but know they had to move on and look forward to seeing them again one day. Carter is saving money in his piggy bank to buy a ticket to Idaho to visit them, so he is taking donations! :)

Lastly, we spent the 4th of July good Ol American style..parade, food and fireworks. We enjoyed the Waukee parade with the Froehlichs and then headed up to Centennial Park for after parade activities. It was pretty cold and rainy here but the kids didn't care. We had a great BBQ with our neighbors the Suther's and Jeremy got to watch the fireworks. I was inside most of the time with 2 scared kids. Carter wouldn't even attempt to hold a sparkler this year, or even watch the other kids do them. So he spent the 4th inside watching a movie. The fireworks were a little too loud for Claire too. Maybe next year...

Carter and Lilly waiting patiently for the parade to start.

Every year on the 4th Jeremy and Carter make homemade ice cream. This year's flavor was mint chocolate, filled with peppermint patties. Yes, Jeremy even ate some! I am pretty sure this is the only time of year he indulges in ice cream!

All this summer fun has worn us out! Till next time!

This and That

Not much new to report from the Freeman camp! Just thought I would post some updated pictures for everyone. We do have some fun things coming up this summer so my post should be a little more exciting! For now we are just hanging out and enjoying the weather, playing with friends and working as little as possible. Carter started his summer program at preschool on Friday. At first I was a little nervous as this is also the time of year that they move classes around. Since his birthday is in September, he happens to be the youngest in his class. Everyone else has turned 4 already and will move into a different class at this time. Luckily he still gets the same teacher and with the reshifting of classes now gets to hang out with some of the other 3 year olds in the building, including his friend Mya (on the right). Mya and her sister Alyx also live next door and like to frequent our backyard for Popsicles!
He gets to do some really fun stuff there this summer like go bowling, to a different park each week for a picnic, bicycle day, bounce house day, sprinkler day, the list goes on and on.


Speaking of neighbors, we went to a party last Saturday night for our dear friends and neighbors the Summers'. They are our backyard neighbors and we have grown to love them so much! Unfortunately, their time in Iowa is soon coming to an end and they are moving on to the next step in their journey. Carter and Sam have been friends for nearly 3 years now and it has been so much fun to watch them grow up together. We have been having many "talks" lately about Sam moving to prepare Carter for this event. I don't think he fully understands as he will say, "We'll just go visit him at his new house, or he can just move in with us." He is awfully worried about where all of Sam's toys will go too. We have been blessed to have had the chance to know them and are so grateful our paths have crossed. We are praying the next family that moves in their house will be just as great as they are and put up with us just as they have! Here are some photos from the party.

9 little boys and Claire!








Carter, Sam, Claire and Jack

Claire and Jack...I know if they weren't moving these two would be the next Waukee High School Homecoming King and Queen!


Megan and I....I'll miss you!


Besides being a great friend, Megan is very talented and made this superhero cape for Carter. It is reversible with batman on the other side. Carter has worn it to bed nearly every night since she gave it to him! I wonder if he dreams of being a superhero?



Claire continues to grow and grow and grow! She is getting braver and attempted the stairs last week! I guess it is officially time to get the baby gates out!

She is beginning to cruise around furniture as well. She is pretty slow and cautious at it and gets "stuck" in the standing position sometimes and whines because she can't figure out how to get down.

Cleaning out the Tupperware cupboard!

Mommy's helper!

Cruisin in a box!

Lately Carter thinks it is fun for the both of them to play in Claire's crib. He likes to fill up the bed with every stuffed animal he can find, then they play "zoo" They do kinda look like caged animals don't they?

Blowing raspberries!

Claire turned 10 months on May 27th!

And lastly, the furry Freeman's at attention patiently waiting for a treat! Have a great week!