Olli's diving board

Our friend Olli invited us over

to swim today.

It was a day we will not soon forget!

I have only been on a diving board once before,

and Olli made it look so easy.

I thought I'd try it out again.

It took a bit of coaxing at first

And some catching by Kipp

(yep, I'm airborne) 

But, I didn't even mind going underwater

Diving boards ROCK!

I tried to convince West to join in

He just laughed.

He's getting pretty good at jumping in from the side of the pool.

Maybe next year for the big board...

Red, white and blue

It's here!

My first 4th of July Parade at Union Hill!

We all started to gather outside...

Jack waited with his class

And me with mine...

And finally,

the babies kicked it off!

I couldn't see very well

but my friends and I made it though

The Big Kids came a bit later

Jack was pretty excited about his horn

The best part?

The bomb pop popsicles afterwards!

This is what the 4th is all about!

Freedom to eat popsicles at 10am!

Forts in the Garden

Mom's on vacation this week,

so we are in for some big adventures!

We went to Powell Gardens today

to check out the latest exhibit.

It's called Fairy Houses and Forts.

We had a BLAST looking for all the different hideaways!

First was Mirror, Mirror.

It was completely made of mirrors so it blended in

with the surroundings.

There's a tractor reflecting in it in this picture,

which makes it even cooler.

This was the Ice Haus

The tunnel was the best part

Whoa!!!

What's that up ahead?

I'm heading up to the crow's nest!

Ahoy, mateys!

Welcome to the Pirates' ship!

As Captain Jack, I'll drive.

First Mate West, you handle the cannon

 Definitely a cool one!

This one was kinda neat.

It was full of shadows and sunshine.

We paused for a climb on the bunnies

Who knew ears were so strong?

Are there two faces on that fairy?

This one was the "secret" hideout of the fairies.

We liked all the chalk we could use on the walls.

Hmmm.

Definitely the least exciting one.

The saved the best for last.

This one was by far our favorite.

It had a sand pit...

AND a lookout!

A morning running around the gardens

on a house hunt?

A definite hit!

Weekend with Grandma Janice

With Mom and Dad away,

Grandma Janice came for the weekend.

We couldn't have been happier.

We kicked off the weekend with 

dinner at our favorite Taco Bell

and dessert at Orange Leaf.

She sure knows how to butter a guy up!

Then, after making a trip across the street

to see the diggers,

she brought out TRACTORS TO PAINT!!!

It doesn't get much better than this!

Jack was into it too

Saturday,

we were suppose to go to the big pool to swim.

But, it looked like rain and was a bit cool,

so instead we headed to a train show out in Kansas.

It was a total bust.

There was 1 little train on a track 

and a couple of old boxes of trains to buy.

We were so disappointed,

Grandma got her money back.

As we started our sad drive back home,

we happened to drive by Monkey Bizness.

Jack knew all this fun place,

so we stopped to check it out.

Boy did that save the day!!!

After a thrilling few hours of running, climbing, and jumping,

we hit Fritz's for a train delivered lunch

and came back home.

After nap,

Chelsea came to babysit so Grandma could go to her

60th Birthday Party with all her elementary school friends.

We had pizza a movies.

Sunday was packed too!

We hit the new aquarium in downtown KC with 

Grandma and Aunt Mandy:

It was a really fun weekend.

Mom and Dad?

When are you leaving again?

Glory Days

Every year,

Mom gets together with her sorority sisters

for a Girls Weekend

to catch up and relive old times.

Sometimes, they invite the boys.

This year, 

was a boys year...

They needed someone to drive the boat.

There was a lot of drinking, gossiping, and eating.

And swimming, sunbathing, and boating.

Hard to believe it's been 15 years of friendship!

Then:

And now:

Good friends never get old!

Hooray for 90 degrees!

What's good for grass AND boys?

SPRINKLERS!

Running through them

Standing over them

Trying to drag Dad into them

Or getting dunked head first into them

Sprinklers are ALWAYS a good time!

We *heart* Dads!

In honor of Father's Day,

we made gifts for all the special men in our life.

I was really proud of my gift for Dad

What do you think it is???

"Best Dad Hands Down!"

That and a new fishing rod topped off Dad's day.
Happy Dad's Day!

Off to the Grand-dads...

We made Grandpa and Papa special shirts.

Grandpa Mike opened his slowly...

I think he likes it!

Happy Grandpa's Day! 

Then it was off to Papa Kim's...

Hurry, hurry!

We'll open it for you!

I think he liked it too!

We couldn't resist a pic with Grandma

Happy Papa's Day!