Dennie Kids: July 4, 2010

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• Anderson and Graham both had hair cuts early this morning while sitting in the empty bathtub.  Dad had one too and then everyone needed showers-the boys were dressed in their patriotic duds-each one had a red, white or blue shirt on (unfortunately we didn’t get any pictures of that)
• Cinna minis on the way to church-we had done fairly well on time until it was time for Mom and Dad to get ready and they had to hurry.  But we made it in enough time for us to sit in the car and finish breakfast before church
• Mom and Dad hanging out in Anderson’s class during worship care.  All Mom can say after that is Anderson is a VERY good little boy (at least at church!)
• Changing into our bathing suits while still at church-no one could understand this at all! Then meeting Grannymom, Grandpa, Lilly and Cash at the park to have a picnic.  We even had more cupcakes-what a wonderful day!
• Swimming at Lilly and Cash’s pool.  Anderson has so improved in 2 days and Campbell really enjoyed the water (yes, she was able to get in).  When it was time for her bottle, Campbell and Dad even had a little nap in the shade
• Graham came home and took his nap but since time was short, Anderson and Reagan didn’t have to take a nap.  They watched movies while Campbell rolled around on the floor and while Mom and Dad slept on the couch!
• Mom telling us to go and put on dry bathing suits and we couldn’t understand that either!  We went to Brayton and Jayden’s grandma’s house to play on their huge waterslide.  Reagan and Anderson LOVED it and did it 100 times.  Graham was too small to climb to the top so Joie took him up (against his wishes) and slid him down (also against his wishes)-Mom told her to do it!  He didn’t really like it and didn’t want to go again.  Graham eventually played in the bottom of the pool for a little bit
• Enjoying the fireworks at Pleasant Valley.  When we walked up, the golf course was fairly empty.  Reagan saw some ducks and took off running and running to catch them.  Then they wanted to make a sandcastle in one of the sand traps.  We walked there and it was a very long ways away
• Anderson seeing some big kids playing soccer and he just walked right over there and joined their game.  Mom eventually had to bribe him to come back with a juice box.  He was pretty good at soccer! 
• Waiting and waiting on the fireworks.  Finally they started and Reagan loved them-she jumped and squealed.  Graham wasn’t to nuts about them at first but they grew on him.  Campbell watched them but she was a little squirmish during them.  Poor Anderson decided that he had to potty in the middle of them and couldn’t enjoy them
• Since we were in a little bit of traffic after the fireworks and Anderson was still asking to go potty, we just let him go outside of the van.  You could just see the relief on his face when he was finished.  If you live in Pleasant Valley and saw us using the bathroom in front of your house-sorry!  We didn’t pee in your grass-just the street
• It was after 10 when we made it home and the kids were starving so they had a snack-pizza, chips, graham crackers, peanut butter-they were famished.  By the time they went to bed it was nearly 11 and we haven’t heard a word from them since
• The other night at Swap Meet Bunko, Mom took a pink purse for Reagan.  She has since carried it around with her everywhere she goes and now she even sleeps with it right by her head!

Dennie Kids: July 3, 2010

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• Oh, what a morning.  We slept in until after 7:30.  Mom didn’t even know that Graham was in bed with her until he started rubbing her shoulder.  After he woke up enough to realize that Reagan and Anderson were sleeping in “tents” under the tables he wanted down the explore
• Graham waking the rest of the crew up and then Reagan was ready to walk down to breakfast.  She does not like our hotels unless they have a breakfast-she doesn’t want to drive to breakfast, she only wants to walk down to it
• Everyone jockeying over who gets to push the elevator buttons and then eating waffles, cereal and yogurt for breakfast along with multiple glasses of juice.  Campbell even finished off a whole container of yogurt
• More swimming-Campbell didn’t even put on her suit this morning but she could have.  Graham doesn’t need any help and is a complete show off.  Anderson is almost there with his floatie swimming.  Mom and Dad were drying off and he convinced Reagan to hold his hand and go swimming with him.  She was a perfect helper and held tightly to him.  They did fine but Mom was worried that Anderson was going to panic and then pull Reagan under with him
• Baths, showers, clothes and playing before checking out of the hotel.  We even toured the Conway Walmart and found some cupcakes.  The kids wanted to take them to Jacob’s house tonight and who can pass up cupcakes for a party
• Lunch at Dairy Queen-the big 3 devoured their hot dogs so they could get dessert.  Reagan chose a purple icee, Anderson picked a blue and Graham got an ice cream sandwich (we thought it might be neater-it was NOT)  Reagan thought it took Dad forever to go and buy the desserts but he was strategically waiting for a coupon!-he missed out on it though
• Graham fell asleep by the time we made it to the interstate but since our vacation was about 30 miles from home he was able to continue his nap once we arrived home.  Mom and Dad unpacked and then Reagan and Anderson took their naps.  Campbell laid by Mom on the couch and finally went to sleep-just in time for Reagan to wake up
• Having a 4th of July party and Jaymie’s birthday at Jacob’s house.  The kids played very well together-Jacob, Ethan, Brayton, Jayden, Kennedy, Camryn, Laynie, Reagan, Anderson, Graham and Campbell.  Since Todd was gone, it was 7 adults and 11 kids-we are very well outnumbered
• The girls loved swinging, the boys loved the bubbles, Graham adored the tractor.  After a hot dog picnic, Dad cut a huge watermelon.  All of the kids surrounded him and tried to get pieces.  Anderson didn’t want any, Graham only licked his and Reagan had at least 3 pieces.  She also had 3 pieces of corn on the cob
• Next was a group picture and cupcakes-the boys had 3 cupcakes!  Then Jaymie had poppers for the kids to throw and pop on the porch.  Campbell was in the exersaucer and thought it was hysterical-the loud popping noise didn’t bother her at all-she just laughed and laughed!
• Then we started sparklers.  Reagan loved them and would finish everyone’s sparklers when they were ready to quit.  Anderson did his for a little bit but Graham so enjoyed his (don’t worry, Mom or Dad were nearby at all times)  Everyone had a big time and the weather couldn’t have been better for us
• Mom forgot to mention this the other day.  But Dad was taking the bunch through a drive-thru.  And as the lady was handing Dad the food, she looked at Graham and then back at Dad and then back at Graham.  The lady then said “he looks just like you, JUST LIKE YOU!”

Dennie Kids: July 2, 2010

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• A fairly busy morning-breakfast, clothes, laundry (Mom made us put it up), picking up (she made us do that too) and cutting fingernails…all before 10.  We work pretty quickly when Mom says something about a trip
• Picking Dad up to go with us to the library.  When we neared downtown, Anderson said “are we downtown baby?”  Mom thought he was using a term of endearment for her but soon realized that “downtown baby” was really just one word
• Storytime at the library-but we were a little later today and had to sit in the back and it wasn’t as much fun since we couldn’t see well.  Mom will work harder next time to get us there very early. 
• Afterwards, we walked around and looked at books (Mom forgot her library cards so we couldn’t check out any books).  When Dad mentioned that it was time to take him back to work, Anderson looked out the window and said “you can walk back to work, I can see your work from here”-we still drove him back
• Coming home to work in our workbooks, play and eat lunch.  Reagan became mad at Mom when she heated up burritos for lunch-they were too big to fit on her tea party plate.  Mom cut them up so they would fit perfectly but that was still unacceptable
• Naps for everyone and then movie and a snack while waiting on Dad to come home so we could leave for our trip.  We left the house about 5.
• And then we arrived at our destination at about 5:30!  We are starting our holiday weekend in Conway and the kids are ecstatic.  Mom and Dad were pretty ecstatic about eating at Market Place. 
• Reagan’s eyes were as big as saucers when the waitress lit our cheese dip on fire and the boys devoured Mom’s chocolate mess-at one point they were both standing in their chairs working on getting the chocolate and ice cream onto their mouths
• After leaving the restaurant, Anderson said “let’s count hotels” so that was their game until we arrived at the hotel.  Mom couldn’t believe that they can identify hotels-all of the hotels. 
• When we parked at our hotel, Anderson told Reagan to stay buckled because Dad was getting a cart and we do need a cart for a one night stay!  We unpacked and headed down to the pool
• By the end of the evening, Anderson was getting braver in his arm floaties, Reagan has no fear.  Graham was wearing a vest and arm floaties and he can swim pretty well.  He still gets a mouth full of water but for the most part he can do it himself.  Campbell didn’t get to swim (even though she put on her suit).  Anderson and Graham were enough to keep Mom and Dad’s hands full so maybe she can swim the next time
• Baths and then playing for awhile before bedtime-the kids were up until after 10.  Reagan was already sad that we only get to stay on our vacation 1 night….me too!

Dennie Kids: July 1, 2010

Highlights from today: (click here for pictures)

• Since it was a school morning, we ended up having to wake everyone up.  Dad had to put Reagan’s clothes on her while she was still asleep
• Anderson has now decided that he wants his taggie at school too.  He saw Mom putting Reagan’s in her bag.  But since Mom has been putting it in his bag, he has never gotten it out
• Graham throwing a major fit today at school.  His teacher politely said “he sure missed his family and especially his Daddy today”  Mom understood that to mean “he sure was fussy today”  We are now taking suggestions.  Reagan said that he only fussed for one minute after Dad left but he didn’t want Reagan or Anderson to leave.  They all saw each other in the hallway and he even touched their fingers through the fence on the playground
• Campbell having a big day at Grannymom’s house.  Grannymom said that she was quite spitty today-and she proved that during the afternoon as well.  Currently, she is trying to get Dad to give her a sip of coke-kicking her feet, talking and smiling at him while moving her mouth
• Swinging on Grannymom’s swing-everyone had turns.  Graham hasn’t wanted to swing lately but sure enjoyed it today.  Anderson kept asking if we could play in the sprinkler next time we were there.  Reagan wanted Mom to let them spend the night at Grannymom’s house but Mom said that would happen soon enough
• Playing and reading a few stories and not-so-patiently waiting on Dad to come home so we could start our Super Hero Family Night:
• The first thing we did was pass out our super hero capes and worked on our super hero names: Super Mom, Super Dad, Super Seashell Collector, Super Anderson, Super G and Super Baby were all in attendance this evening
• Eating our Super Hero Sandwiches and then helping Super Dad make our Super Power Punch.
• The punch gave us our Super Powers and we were able to have x-ray vision to see what Super Mom had hidden in her bag
• Working on a net to capture bad guys while Super Dad worked on our Super Man Costumes.  Super Seashell Collector hesitated putting on her costume since she thought it looked “too boyish.”  But once she saw Super Anderson’s muscles, she was ready to put it on
• The Super Children took turns crashing through the “brick wall” and they thought it was hysterical.  Super Baby even woke up in time to have her turn bursting through the wall
• Finding the “kryptonite” (green jello).  Super Anderson was wise enough to know that the kryptonite could be dangerous to him
• More bursting through the walls before one last movie before bed.  Being a Super Hero is tough!

Video: Superhero Family Night (July 1, 2010)

Video: Superhero Family Night (July 1, 2010)

Video: Superhero Family Night (July 1, 2010)