sweet siblings...

Playing Pick up ducks at home!!

Drew went and got this game from his room, set it up, and showed Mikayla how to play! He took the intiative to do this on his own. He even let Mikayla go first, and he did not get upset when she won! They ended up playing several quick games of this!. We were so proud!!

Drew and Mikayla can be so sweet to each other, most of the time. Other times they can be little rascals! We try to capture as many of the SWEET moments as we can. I hope to show these pictures to them when they are older and are going through many of those "not so sweet to my brother/sister stages"!

A sad time for our family...

This past week has been a very sad time for our family. I haven't posted in awhile because I haven't known what to say. The death of a loved one is not something people need to find out about by reading a web blog.

Yesterday was one week since my husband's father passed away suddenly. We are taking things one day at a time; that's all we can do. We are thankful and blessed to have so many people that love and support us. Our families, our church family, our friends, and the people that we work with have all been wonderful during this time!

Since Craig's dad would have wanted me to continue posting for his wife in Elgin, and his parents and sisters and brother in Lakeland Florida, that's what I will do. My hope is that reading about Drew and Mikayla and seeing their pictures bring as much happiness to you as it does for Craig and me.

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers during this trying time!

More fair rides...(Can you tell we had fun?)

Here Drew and Mikayla are still making their way around the rides!!

Drew and Mikayla ride the bumper cars! Drew was almost too short to ride. He could barely reach the steering wheel over the safety bar! He and Mikayla loved bumping into other cars and the rails where we all were standing. They would say "we're gonna getcha mommy"!
Aunt Jennie rides the "baby" pirate ship with Mikayla! It seems like they are thinking "okay, we are ready". Drew was on the other side of the boat in the seat at the very back. (look for a picture of it later!!) ~What fun!~
Drew couldn't wait to ride the "dragon" roller coaster and show Mimi, Poppi, and Aunt Jennie how he holds his hands up! He first rode a roller coaster ride at the beach the week of July 4th when Nana took us to ride the rides! Ever since then, the roller coaster has been his favorite ride! Drew is sitting in the second car back, as Craig looks on from the side!

Pickin' up ducks...

Drew and Mikayla had to pick up ducks while we were at the fair! I couldn't complain though, that was my favorite game as a child as well!!
Mikayla has a turn picking up ducks. She proudly shows her duck to Poppi, while daddy looks on! Time to pick your prize Mikayla!Next, Drew takes his turn. Mikayla (standing with daddy) is not sure why she can't just keep picking up the ducks. She was not even interested in the prizes, just the ducks LoL! Drew carefully makes his choice!

Fair Food!!

I don't know about you, but I love when the fair comes to town. I mainly go for the food! Even when I was younger (single/without kids) I loved to go to the fair for the games and food! I've never been a rider I guess you could say. I would ride some, but if I didn't ride anything, I would still be happy as long as I got a candy apple with nuts on the way out of the gate!

Looks like I'm not the only one!!

Drew shows us how to eat french fries from the fair! He ordered a hot dog basket which came with hot dot, fries, and applesauce! Mmmmm...must be good!

Mikayla shows us how to eat applesauce from the fair. She ordered a hot dog and shared some of mommy and daddy's french fries. She also ate 2 cups of applesauce. Mmmm...she must really love that stuff!

Drew had to sit at the table with his Mimi, Poppi, and Aunt Jennie. Mikayla would have, but we had her sit in her stroller so that we could help her! Poppi is getting some applesauce ready for Drew to take a bite (once he finishes with his drink!), while Mimi looks on. Aunt Jennie i being silly, sticking out her tongue {not a good example :)}!

Then we all had to get a candy apple with nuts on the way out of the gate!!

Now they're ridin'

Drew and Mikayla had a ball at the fair! They rode many rides, including these ponies!

Mikayla rides lemonade! She wanted to ride, then once she was on, she wanted it to stop!

Drew rides Tonto! Poppi was walking beside him, but Drew is such a big boy that Poppi didn't have to be right against him! He looks like a real cowboy!

Yea...the Fair!

Well it really starts feeling like fall when the fair comes to town. Last night was opening night, and since my mom, dad, and sister were all able to go, we decided that it would be a good night to take Drew and Mikayla! We have taken them to the fair every year, some years more than once. In fact, the year Mikayla was born, we went 3 times! Sometimes Aunt Jennie went with us, but Mimi and Poppi had never been with Drew and Mikayla. So...we decided Sunday that since Monday night would be good for everyone, we would go the first night it opened. Craig was glad about this because he said "we may as well get it over with." He was also real quick to tell us all that this would be the only trip this year!

This was the perfect year for Mimi and Poppi to go with us as Drew and Mikayla both seemed to enjoy it more last night.

My mom got off of work at 5 and my sister got out of her lab class at 5, so we were headed out about 5:30. The first thing Drew and Mikayla wanted to do, of course, was ride the rides. We decided to get them both a mega pass so that they could ride as many times as they wanted!

This was the first ride that Drew rode. He loves the motorcycles, but Mikayla wouldn't have anything to do with them...yet!

The first ride they rode together. Mikayla didn't want to ride on this either at first. Jennie put them on (and was going to ride with them to help ease Mikayla until the attendant told her she was too big), and since Mikayla did not cry, we thought let her try it. When the ride first started, she would not look at us (much less smile or grin), but Poppi finally got her to cheer up so that by the end of the ride, she and Drew were coming around smiling with their tongues out!

Later...Mikayla decides she would like to ride the motorcycles! Go girl, go!

Drew and Mikayla's first boat ride!

Drew plays in the water as it splashes on the side of the boat...

while Mikayla looks for fishies!

Drew looks as we pass under a tall bridge!

Mikayla and mommy enjoy the ride on Uncle Jon Jon's boat...

while daddy enjoys the ride from the front of the boat!

Day on the lake...

that

Drew is all ready to go, but Mikayla is a little nervous about this new experience!

Uncle Jon Jon sold his jet ski and bought a boat a few months ago, and since then he has been wanting to take us for a ride! So...today after we had Mikayla's two year old pictures made, we went to the lake. It was Drew and Mikayla's first time on a boat! Drew was so excited, he kept asking when we were going on Uncle Jon Jon's boat the whole time we were having Mikayla's pictures made. When we asked Mikayla if she was going on Uncle Jon Jon's boat she would say "nope". Finally, it was time to meet Jonathan and Aunt Jennie at the lake! When we pulled up, Mikayla started squeeling "water, water, water!". She was very excited until we started to get in the boat, then she started to get a little upset. She never really cried, she just wasn't very happy! By the time we were ready to come in off the boat, she was having a ball. She didn't even want to get off! Drew loved it!! He kept telling Jonathan to go faster and faster. I thought that Mikayla wouldn't like going fast, but she did. She thought it was funny with the wind blowing her hair! Drew would lean over the side of the boat and let the water hit his hands and splash on his face. He thought this was the funniest thing. He did look pretty funny with a wet face!

Drew helps Uncle Jon Jon drive...everybody look out!! Mikayla is now more at ease!!

More pictures of the deck...

Drew and Mikayla have had this picnic table, but it used to be in the yard. These two rockers also came with our patio set!! We have gotten much use out of them
Our new patio set!! We've even had a couple of picnics at this table already!!

This is picture of our BIGGER deck (so you can see the whole thing)...it is an old picture because daddy and Craig finished the other addition (for our outdoor garbage cans) early this week!
Well, we have finally gotten the deck complete (other than the stain, and that will be a job for Craig to complete this weekend...if it stops raining)! Craig pressure washed it, and we went and bought new patio furniture to use on our BIGGER deck!! We have been sitting outside every afternoon and evening, letting the kids play in the yard. Well... every day until yesterday when it started raining that is.

Haston's Birthday Party

One of Uncle Chris's horses is coming over to get a closer look at Drew and Mikayla!

Mikayla loves all animals especially "doggies".
At Haston's party, she kept running over to the
"doggie's house" to talk to the doggie!
The horse finally made it to the fence. Drew says, "Look mom, I can pet it!!", while Mikayla prefers to visit with this large animal from a distance!

Drew and Mikayla's cousin, Haston, had his 1st birthday party this past Saturday. Uncle Chris, Aunt Julie, and Haston live out in the country and have lots of animals (dogs, cows, horses, etc.). Drew and Mikayla had a ball playing with all of their cousins (Trey, Belle, and Haston)! Happy Birthday Haston! We love you!!