Vacation Time!

The kids have been on vacation this week and have had lots of fun with their aunties, uncles and Mommy and Daddy. We have tried to make it special by doing things in the evenings when we are all home together and I think the kids are having fun!

Annie and Peter bonding on the first day of vacation!

Ellie Bean hamming it up for the camera!

This weekend was still pretty warm so we decided to get a move on and plant Annie's fairy garden.

The girls were due for tubbies but we decided to head out to the yard first so they were all looking a mess and didn't have their hair done - I think they looked adorable!

Ellie loves being outside no matter what the weather or what we are doing.

Annie is more at home in the garden than any kid I have ever known. She loves to get her hands dirty and plant and dig and grow things.

Elizabeth was looking gorgeous and having a blast watering everything in sight!

Molly girl was amazing - she helped me rake, weed, plant and take care of the girls. She was a huge help and we all had a blast!

Annie's friend the worm!

Yes, she wanted a picture of him!

We made a mess in the front yard but Bob was thrilled that we had gotten everything done and cleaned up by the time he got from home from work.

Our little LadyBug!

The pretty little path in the fairy garden!

Our finished garden with two houses filled with pinecones, rock paths, flowers, birds and a bird bath - the girls did a great job!

Molly Girl had a talent show at the Atria for Girl Scounts and it was so much fun. They honored anyone at the Atria who had been a girl scout in the past and it was really moving. Molly loves girl scouts and has made some really good friends there.

Molly and Alyssa

Molly and the other girls from the talent show on Sunday.

Molly and one of her best friends, Faith!

Annie waiting for her ice cream at McDonalds - we took the kids one night for some ice cream and to play in the playscape - they love it there.

Lizzie Bug was so excited!

Hamming it up for Mama!

The big kids having a fun moment together.

Ellie Bean making funny faces for Mama - Yes, she did get trapped at the top of the playscape forcing Mommy and Daddy to find someone to go rescue her - thank goodness for the big kids!

Lizzie Bug was so excited to wake up Wednesday morning and go with Auntie Ann for lunch and shopping!

Annie Bananie and her namesake do some serious damage when they head out shopping. Annie and Auntie Ann came back with lots of butterflies for the garden and other treats. Sister Anne apparently does her share of encouragement with the girls - and is the one who gets stuck riding the horsies at the mall with the girls.

I happen to notice the other day that in our doorway where we measure the kids there are several other measurements that we did not put there - Uncle Pat and uncle B have added their heights to the doorway for reference. I thought it was kind of cute!

Today we took the kids to the Fun Factory where they have an arcade and inflatibles to jump around in. The kids had a blast and Bob and I got to spend some quality time with them. Ellie still had school so she stayed home with Auntie Eileen and Uncle Jeff and got some one on one attention.

Lizzie's face was really bothering her but she made the best of everything and ended up having a blast once she got the hang of it!

Annie riding the doggie!

They had this cute little inflatible for the little girls - they loved it!

Lizzie throwing balls at Mama.

Peter said he had a fun even though he initially thought he was too old for this kind of thing!

Everyone loved the slide! Molly was first!

Peter sliding!

Elizabeth sliding!

Finally Annie made it down with lots of encouragement and a final little push from her big brother - it was kind of cute and she was laughing when she got to the bottom!

More Big kid fun!

Annie and Daddy driving and having fun!

Molly won 85 tickets at Skeeball - she was on a roll!

Lizzie could not figure out this game but she tried hard!

All in all I took few pictures but we have had some real fun and lots of quality time since the kids got out of school. Our one concern is that both Lizzie and Annie are complaining about their ears again so we may be back at square one with a short reprieve. We have ANOTHER doctor's appointment on Monday to find out what to do with Annie since she has not had clear ears in a few months now - this is where they begin to worry about drug resistance and hearing loss so they take things a bit more seriously! Poor Annie - she can't get a break with those poor little ears. Lizzie is going to see a specialist for her skin this week, also - just to check and see if there is something new we can try before we committ to oral steroids for a few weeks. She is starting to be in some pain from her rash on her cheeks so we need to get it taken care of! We have a long weekend filled with family and friends so I'm sure I will have lots of pictures soon!

GNM - ILY!