Iowa Cubs

We went to a Iowa Cubs baseball game tonight. I got tickets from the YMCA back in June but the game was when downtown flooded, so we could use our tickets for any home game. So we decided since Haydn was gone we would go. I don't think she would of enjoyed it. There were fireworks afterwards so that was fun too. Once again it was a beautiful night to be outside.

Fun Day

Took Hannah to VBS this morning and then meet mom 1/2 way to drop off Haydn. She is staying in MA until Sunday. I drove back to DM and did some shopping bought a cute t-shirt for Vada! How can you resist little clothes?! Kayren called me and said they were having a big sale at Children's Place ran to Valley West and bought Vada her t-shirt. She was still at the mall so went to Younkers and looked around with her until it was time to pick up Hannah. We ate lunch at McDonald's and then went to the WDM aquatic center for 3 HRS!! Was a lot of fun. Wes got home from work, ate supper and then went miniature golfing! Something Hannah has never done. I haven't been for a few years myself either. So a fun day all around!! Hannah likes Haydn being gone. She calls it "quiet time" well I tell her it is "quiet" when she is gone too!! Maybe hit the zoo sometime this weekend too. Tomorrow is her last day at vacation bible school. She has had a lot of fun this week.

Recap for the week....

Hannah has been going to VBS at Hope this week from 9:00-noon each day. As she put it on the way home today "I am having a BLAST". I am so glad she is having fun. Yesterday and today I have gotten there early so I can hear her sing her songs. They put the words on a big screen but she still can't read so I want to learn them so I can help her at home. She pretty much has 2 of the 4 memorized already. It helps that one is a High School Musical song but some of the words are changed. Hope is a HUGE church, after talking to Joan she told me they asked for 1,000 volunteers to help with VBS. I have a coworker that also belongs to Hope and she says there are probably 6,000 members!! They are a VERY giving church. Next weekend they have "Taste of Hope", I guess they have inflatable rides, lots of food and everything is FREE!!

Tomorrow after I drop Hannah off at VBS I am meeting my mom 1/2 way and she is taking Haydn for the weekend. She did this last week with Stella and will do it with Hannah at some point this summer. Haydn will love ALL the attention and so will Hannah. I have some fun things planned for Hannah and I to do that Haydn may still be too small to enjoy! So a win win situation all around.

Saturday

We started to day off with Haydn's last swimming lessons. We didn't have them last week because of the 4th. For some reason I remembered yesterday that today was the last day. I don't think I would of thought about them at all today. She is in waterbabies so it is not like she passes or fails, but we pay for them and she REALLY enjoys them. She actually went under the water 3 times today. Wasn't really her idea but she didn't cry though. Adam, Natalie and Eliott came to town today. We got the 3 grandkids pictures taken this afternoon. This is only the second time we have got their pictures taken professionally. The studio was running 30 minutes behind so we walked around the strip mall for awhile. Actually the first picture she took was the best one. We decided to stop after only 11 shots. Having two 2 yr olds is well not easy. They really did well for having to wait and then having to wait another 20 min for them to be done. Everyone came out to our house for pizza and to play outside. What a beautiful evening to be outside! It is hard to believe a month from today my baby will be 5!! Hannah starts bible school on Monday, she is VERY excited! It runs all week from 9:00-noon each day. She says she is excited to learn about Jesus, (she told me that on her own). We have a week off then Hannah is in swimming lessons again, last week of July and then won't be long until our trip to NC!! YEAH!!

Haydn being "Haydn"

Hannah posing!!

Click Dolls

Tuesday Hannah started playing with her click dolls that she probably hasn't touched for 6 months or more. She has slept with one Tuesday night and last night. We went to storytime this morning here in Waukee and then came home and Abby was down soon after that! Hannah brought her click dolls out and they all three played WELL together!!

Twins

Marcia bought the girls matching overalls!!

Happy Feet

Today I took the girls to the movie Happy Feet. A mom on our street told me that Jordan Creek plays a movie on Tuesday mornings for a $1.00. Yes, a $1.00. It cost us $3.00 to see Happy Feet today. Took the girls some snacks and drinks and we had a good time. It was Hannah and Haydn's first time in a theater! Hannah of course did better than Haydn. We lasted a little over an hour. Hannah saw one of her preschool friends there. It was a lot of fun. I especially loved the fact that it cost me $3.00. So I don't feel bad leaving in the middle of a movie if I have to!!

Bubble Suit

This is the last year I will have a little girl able to wear one piece outfits! Something about a bubble suit on a little girl is precious!! We had a good 4th of July. Hannah truly enjoyed the fireworks. Marcia came out to watch Haydn, didn't think she would like them nor have the patience to wait that long for the fireworks to start. Marcia and Haydn went and got some ice cream so she had some special attention too. This week will be pretty low key for us. Next Monday-Friday Hannah will be in Bible School. Another week off and then swimming lessons that last week of July for Hannah.

My Sleeping Baby

Hannah was so tired today from staying up WAY too late last night. She is sleeping now, which is good for she will be up late again tonight watching fireworks!!

4th of July 2008

Happy 4th of July!! Took some pics of the girls in their 4th outfits. Had to throw the one of Haydn showing her belly in!! They had just got out of the shower. Last night we went to the neighbors after supper for some adult beverages! I made a 4th of July cake and took it. All the kids loved it! Today the parade is at 2:00 and then we will head to the fireworks tonight at the park.

Princess Camp

Hannah has been going to Princess camp this week through the YMCA. Monday she made a mirror she can pretend to look at herself in and a door hanger that says "Princess Hannah". Yesterday she made a magic wand and also painted her finger and toenails. Today she could dress up in her dress up clothes and shoes. Boy was she excited about that. She also made a what looks like a mardi gras mask. Also two "adult" princesses made a surprise appearance! The staff put eye shadow and blush on her too! Tomorrow she wears her swimsuit for a fun filled water day. If you know her, this is RIGHT up her alley. She is ALL girl!

Vada Rose

My new niece Vada was born June 30th at 12:30 AM!! Anna Leigh was only at the birthing center 20 mins or so before delivering! Her water broke in the car on the way there! Would of loved to been a mouse on that car ride!! Mom, Kayren and I fly out Aug 6th to meet her. Well mom and dad are there now. Anna Leigh is great at sending pictures of her. She has tons of dark hair and some highlights mixed in!! She weighed 7 lb 12 oz. Much smaller than we all thought she would be, but she is perfect in every sense.

I have tried to copy a picture from emails but can't figure it out! Just believe me, she is cute!!!

Sunday

Took the girls out to Jordan Creek after Haydn's nap. Wes had went out there earlier in the afternoon, Dallas Clark (use to play for IA Hawks) was there signing autographs. The girls and I walked around the pond. Fed the fish, ate some cold stone ice cream and then listening to live music. Haydn was cracking Hannah and I up. She was dancing away! Wish I would of had a video camera!! I just looked over at her once and she was up dancing. Other people were enjoying her!! What a beautiful night to be outside!!

Haydn loves.....

SHOWERS!! She has only taken showers since Thursday. Makes bath time go a lot faster!!!

A first

Haydn took a shower tonight. The girls and I went swimming this afternoon at the Y. Hannah was in the shower and Haydn wanted to take one to. Really thought once she got in there she would want out, but never once cried or whined to get out!!!

Rainy Thursday

As I type it is raining today! There is a 50% chance of rain and it is to be 88 degrees!! Getting ready for gymnastics this morning. Took a couple pictures of the girls.

Humid, humid...

is what today was! Tomorrow is to be warm too. I broke down and turned the air on this morning before I left for the YMCA. Glad I did!! We met up with 3 of Hannah's preschool friends at a park played for awhile and then ate a picnic lunch together. We walked up to the farmers market here in town this afternoon. Very muggy outside but was fun. Had corn on the cob again tonight. Gotta love summer!!

Tomorrow is gymnastics in the morning. Possibly swim in the afternoon. Haydn has swimming lessons on Saturday morning. Hard to believe next week is the 4th of July already. Hannah starts princess camp this coming Monday at the YMCA. She is such a girly girl she will love it. It is from 9:00-noon each day. Have a week off, then the following week she has bible school every day from 9:00-noon also. Then the last week of July swimming lessons again. Then we are to August, mom, Kayren and I are flying out Aug 6th to see my new niece or nephew ( whenever he/she decides to enter the world) Anna Leigh's due date is this coming Saturday!

more pictures

Grandma Bea's b-day is tomorrow, so we took her a piece of brownie dessert, a balloon and a card from the kids. The girls sang her Happy Birthday a couple times. This is the best picture I could get of them with her.

Weekend in MA

The girls and I went to Mt Ayr on Friday. Once we got there we started setting up for the garage sale. Went out on a pontoon ride and ate pizza on the boat. The girls really enjoyed that. Sat morning was the g-sale. Kayren and I did well. It was worth the trip down. We sold a lot here in Waukee in May but still had a lot to sell. Got rid of a lot of bigger items so that was great. We are thinking of having another one come the end July. Took the girls to the Mt Ayr pool Saturday afternoon. They had LOTS of popsicles!! Haydn had her first ear of corn in MA too. She didn't eat all of it, for she thought she needed a popsicles instead!! Did sparklers too. So a fun weekend for all the grandkids, like always!!

Father's Day

The girls got Wes a stepping stone for Father's Day, tonight we had some time to set it up. We did their feet. Haydn's foot looks funny, she didn't like how the cement felt on her foot, so we will see how it turns out!!

Curly Q

Here is a shot of Haydn's curls! Sometimes they are total ringlets!!

Happy Thursday!!

Had gymnastics this morning, I think Hannah is really enjoying her class. They learned cartwheels today, she is still in the learning stage but as much as she has practiced since class she should be much better come next Thurs. We are heading to MA tomorrow afternoon for the city wide garage sale on Sat. Kayren and I are trying to sell what didn't sell here in Waukee in May along with some add'l items! So fun to get rid of things around the house!!

Floods of 2008

Here are a few pic's from Downtown Des Moines. The pics are taken from the Scott St. bridge just past where the Raccoon & Des Moines rivers merge. This is one of a few bridges downtown that is still open.

Corvette

Three years later Hannah can FINALLY reach the pedal on her corvette!! She and Haydn have had a ball in this the past couple weeks. Hannah is getting better at driving each day. She isn't so jerky with it anymore!! It has a REAL radio, cup holder, seat belts and head lights. Pretty sweet for a little girl!!

Wes took this pics the other night when I was gone.

busy week for us.......

We started gymnastics last Thurs here in Waukee. Haydn does a mommy and me class and Hannah's class is right after Haydn's. Last week went pretty well. Hannah has been practicing over the weekend. Today Hannah started swimming lessons and run through Friday. Haydn then starts on Sat. Hers were not available during the week. This coming Thursday will be busy with gymnastics and then swimming lessons, we will actually have to leave gymnastics 10-15 min early to make it to swimming. Wes then starts his new job this coming Friday so a busy week in the Little household!!

Weekend in Mt Ayr

We had a fun weekend in Mt Ayr. Mom, Hannah, Stella, Haydn and I went to the Amish stores on Saturday morning, I got a few plants, was really looking for a lilac bush but no luck! Stopped in Diagonal to see Grandma's old house. Larry and Kay are doing some great changes to the house. Looks so different!! Saturday night we all (excluding the kids) went to a barn party. Was a great time as well. We had a babysitter for the kids. Wes brought mom and dad home to stay with the girls, he then drove the babysitters home and he came back to the party. So Wes, Kayren, Mike and I stayed out until the bars closed in MA. Boy, it has been a few years since I have done that. Yesterday, dad, Wes and Mike golfed in a tournament in MA. We took the girls swimming at the MA pool. Well the pool opened Saturday, so the water was no where warm but we stayed in the baby pool area, once you got in it wasn't too bad. So it kinda of sounds like we had a mini vacation in Mt Ayr!!

P.S. Haydn is very motherly or something to Porter. She is constantly touching him, patting him on his head or something. She truly means well but after awhile he doesn't like it, which I don't blame him! I don't know if it is because he is smaller than her or when Hannah and Stella get together they can be mean to Haydn, not include her to play etc. So I wonder how she will act with A Anna Leigh's new baby come Sept when she gets to meet her new cousin for the first time. She is like this at the YMCA with kids smaller than her too, just not Porter. So the pic of Haydn and Porter is priceless, he is in a good mood for being that close to Haydn!!

Train Ride

Friday morning we went on Amtrak from Creston to Osceola. It was mom, Hannah, Stella, Haydn and I. It was a lot of fun once we got going. There is only one train that leaves Creston each day and it was at 8:04 AM. So we had to wake the girls early and get going. Well we did call the 800 # before leaving Mt Ayr and the train was 9 min late, no big deal, but once we got to Creston it turned into an hour late. Looking back it wasn't too bad, we had snacks and juice boxes for the girls to drink, it was raining off and on so there wasn't much for them to do in the waiting room. I have never been on a train ride myself, so was a fun experience for all of us. It took about 35-40 min to get to Osceola. A perfect length for the girls. The picture of Stella and Hannah sleeping is how we found them when going in to wake them up.