Pool

In the kid pool

Because this summer has been insanely hot, Zach has been trying to get the kids to the neighborhood pool.  There is a regular size pool and then a kiddie one, which is great.  I haven't been up there yet (I'm not a big pool fan) but Zach says the kids love it there.  I am so glad we have somewhere so close to take them to cool off.  Charlie and Anna just love swimming and play really well together. 

Anna driving Daddy crazy by refusing to wear water wings

Always need a mid-swim snack

Anna's Actual Birthday

My wonderful, funny, sassy, energetic, just all around amazing Anna on her birthday day.  She felt so beautiful in her new shirt that combined two favorite things: Hello Kitty and Jayhawks.

 

Toy Story Time

The kids love the Toy Story movies.  Zach and I were at the mall the other day and came across pajamas with the Toy Story characters on them.  We picked up Woody for Charlie and Jessie for Anna.  We were so excited to bring them home to the kids.  Zach was not around that afternoon when I gave the pjs to the kids but my mom was.  I gave Charlie his, and he was so happy.  Then Anna saw hers.  To say total meltdown is an understatement.  She was beyond ticked.  Anna was yelling "Woody" and crying.  There was no way she was going to wear the second best Jessie pajamas.  Poor girl was horribly traumatized.  I made her apologize for yelling at me, which she did, but then she promptly gave Grandma a kiss while staring at me.  It was like she was saying "I'll say sorry but I don't have to like it or mean it!"  Sassy pants here.  


That night Zach and I went out and got a second pair of Woody pjs.  I gave them to Anna the next morning.  I wish I could figure out how to upload the video of her getting them.  She just saw the bag from the Disney Store and started yelling "Woody!  Woody!"  When I pulled them out, she was beyond joy.  Here are my two cuties in their Woody clothes.  One of my favorite pictures ever!

Anna's Birthday - She's 2!

Happy 2nd Birthday my beautiful Anna!

Anna and Zoe now have birthdays exactly one month apart.  Zoe came on May 11 and Anna was born on June 11.  Since there was such a short time between the birthdays, and I was still trying to recover, Anna had a low key birthday party this year.  It was nice, though, because my mom stayed in town until June 12 so she could celebrate with us.

Anna's birthday fell on a Monday, so we decided to go to the movies on the Saturday afternoon before that.  Madagascar 3 had just come out that weekend, so it was perfect timing.  Zach and I took all three kids and were joined by my mom and Zach's parents.  Unfortunately my dad was back in Sarasota so he could not come.

The movies went pretty well with the kids.  Charlie and Anna both enjoyed it, even if Anna's attention span wavered at times.  Then we headed back to our house where Kelsey met up with us.  We did cake and opened gifts.  Anna's favorite present was a rolling suitcase from my parents.  Charlie got one when he turned two to take on all our airplane trips, and Anna has been crazy jealous of it.  She was so proud to get her own suitcase this year.

A little too much birthday I think

Total mood change when she saw her new suitcase!

All Three Kids

I wanted to get a picture of all three kids for the birth announcement.  What a challenge!  I decided to do it while my mom was still here so she could help get the kids to look at the camera.  She is off to my side making funny faces, which is why Anna is laughing so hard.  Charlie was thrilled to hold Zoe on his own, and it was so cute to see how proud he was.  Here are a few of the pictures we got of the three of them together.

Zoe 6 Weeks

Zoe is 6 weeks old!  It is going by so fast.  Obviously she still does not do much, but we are completely smitten by her.  Here are some pictures of her over the last few weeks.

Sunbathing with Daddy

Heading to the doctor

Charlie kissing Zoe

She can just barely wear a bow in her hair!

First bath.  Didn't cry at all

Going to visit Daddy at work

Smiling for Mommy's funny faces

Time with Daddy

Anna and Charlie love Daddy time!

After I got home from the hospital, I needed a few weeks to recover from having Zoe.  That meant Charlie and Anna got lots of time hanging out with Daddy while my mom was taking care of me.  As I started getting better my mom accompanied the kids and Zach on more of their adventures.  I was so jealous to be stuck inside while they had so much fun.

Zach took them to the choo choo restaurant for breakfast one morning.  Then they went to Wonderscope, the kids' interactive museum.  

Another day Zach and my mom headed to the zoo with Charlie and Anna.  The kids loved that!  They are currently obsessed with The Lion King, so much of the time at the zoo was spent checking out the lions.  They also got the ride the sky lift over to Africa.  It's too bad that it has gotten too hot for the zoo for the next few months.

A few days later Zach tried to take the kids back to Wonderscope so my mom could see them play but it was closed.  Fortunately there was a carnival in Shawnee that day, so they stayed and enjoyed that.  The kids had a blast on all the rides, and Charlie and Anna even got to do one with no adults.  Anna felt like such a big kid!

Charlie and Anna also got to spend a ton of time outside.  Zach made water slides and let them run through the sprinklers most afternoons.  My mom really enjoyed taking the kids on walks and playing in the backyard.  Another time they hit up Deanna Rose, and for an indoor day saw Ratatouille at the movies.  They all were completely worn out at the end of every day.  I definitely am enjoying the earlier bed times for the kids!

It was nice to have the peace and quiet to relax and recover, but I'm much happier now that I am on the mend and can join in on everything!

Grandparents in Charge

Charlie and Anna with Grandpa

While I was in the hospital having Zoe my parents came up to take care of Charlie and Anna.  Obviously Zach was here, but he had to work, and my parents always love time with the kids.  My dad came up for a week while my mom actually stayed for five weeks.  The kids had a fabulous time with my parents and got in lots of bonding time.  Here are some pictures of the time I was in the hospital, and grandparents were running the show.

She looks like a teenager!

Charlie loves playing with animals

Like a burrito!  Wrapped up in a towel straight out of the dryer

Showing off his bike riding skills

I was in the hospital over Mother's Day.  I enjoyed the quiet time while Grandma enjoyed the day with the kids