Summer is winding down...

We went to Prairie Farms to see all the farm animals. They're only open in the afternoon/evening so I had never gotten there all summer. The first day back from Florida, I decided to take the girls over. Wouldn't you know, that was the one day they closed early for a special event. Kira was devestated so we went back the next day and she saw her animals.

I took the girls to a little fair/festival where they had rides and stuff where we met Kira's friend Jessica and her mom. I wasn't sure if Kira would like them but bought her a all-ride pass. She LOVED them, especially the big slide. I had to buy individual tickets for Kaylee but she went in the bounce house and drove the cars and had fun too. I guess at some point, it was pretty loud for her. :)


The standard fall outing is to Curtis Orchard. They have fun things for the kids to play on, feed the goats and bounce slide and pony rides on the weekend. Not to mention all the good food you can buy. Fun stuff!


This was Kira's last day of gymnastics. She did a little camp based one week on Fantasy Castle and this one was Cheerleading. She really seems to do good with gymnastics and loves it. I asked her many times if she wanted to keep doing it or do dance again and the choice was dance.
Our newest "freebie" addition to our backyard. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Harrison for watching out for us. Their neighbors were getting rid of this and so it found a new home. Poor Kyle, more things to kill the grass he works so hard on.

So hard to believe how fast time has gone by. We've had such a great summer full of fun! The weather has been just perfect lately so we've really enjoyed being outside. We can definitely tell the days are getting shorter (and thus, I'm getting kids in bed earlier at night - yea!) Kira starts preschool on Tuesday next week and she is so excited. I can't believe she's getting so big. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with just myself and Kaylee two mornings a week now. I'm sure we'll find something fun to do and it will be nice to have one-on-one time with just her for a change. Speaking of Kaylee, she is talking so much more now. The words aren't really clear all the time but I can tell what she's trying to say. She is already becoming an independant toddler who thinks she can do everything herself. Yet, at the same time, always wants to have Mommy right there by her side. I took her in this morning to have some 18 month pictures taken of her and she was having none of it. She did not want to sit on the thing at all. We managed to get one good shot and a couple shots of Kira too. I hadn't planned to have her picture done so didn't dress her for it but I thought maybe if she got up, Kaylee would too. Kira's turned out cute too. :)

I took the kids to the pool for probably the last time on Weds. this week. They're closing it except for weekends and then closed for the season on Labor Day. The kids have loved going there all summer but, apparently, they must have gotten a little burned out by it because this last day, I could hardly keep them in the water. They wanted to play with toys or pick their "flowers".

Kyle has still been keeping really busy with work, even in this market and economy so that's good. He's taking off on Sunday for a few days to Austin, TX for a Keller Williams convention. We'll miss him!

I guess that's about all we've been up to lately. I'll have some pics of Kira's first day of school soon...

Our wonderful trip!

We had such a good time in Florida! We left on July 26th. I took the girls to Indy by myself and we made it to Orlando where we met up with Kyle, Kay and Chris then we drove 3 hrs to their condo in Ft. Meyers. The girls did really well on the whole travel day, considering. They both had a hard time getting to sleep that night. We had Kaylee's pack-n-play set up in the 2nd bedroom and Kira was trying to fall asleep on the bed. Finally, they both were out about 10:30 pm. Kyle slept on an air mattress on the floor and I stayed on the couch. We thought this was temporary for the first night but little did we know these would be the sleeping arrangements for the whole trip! The things you do for your kids... :) Anything so they could sleep well. Although, about half the nights, Kira woke up about 4:30 a.m. and got me up to sleep in the bed with her. To be honest, I preferred the couch to the legs and arms hitting me all night and hearing Kaylee's every move.

The next day we did alot of shopping, getting aquainted with the place, etc. On Monday, we went to Ft. Meyers beach. Kira could have spent all day collecting seashells. She loved laying in the water and playing in the sand. The weather was questionable that day and we did get a bit of rain but over all, it was a great day. We stayed until early afternoon then Kaylee fell asleep on the way home. We cooked dinner in that night.

The next day, we got up and went to Sanibel beach. It was pretty rough water so the kids couldn't really even get into the water much. We debated leaving and going to another beach but they still were having so much fun in the sand and playing in the water that they could that we decided to stay. Again, Kaylee's nap was in the car on the way back home.

On Wednesday, we stayed around the condo and went swimming in the pool there for the morning. It was a nice change of pace and Kira really was practicing her going under water and swimming with a floatie. Kaylee had a good time floating around too. It was such warm water and so nice! That evening we went to a restaurant for dinner. Good seafood.

Thursday we got up and went to Lover's Key Beach. I would have to say that it was my favorite day of the whole trip. There were no waves and the water was shallow so the kids could play in it alot. The sand was soft, there weren't many people, wasn't too hot. Kaylee had taken a short nap on the way to the beach so we stayed there until about 3ish then she slept again on the way home. Such a great day! We went back and grilled fish for dinner.

On Friday, Kyle and Chris rented a boat and went fishing for the day. Chris had been trying to fish everywhere we went and didn't catch much of anything. He caught a couple in the pond behind the condo (where he helped Kira catch one). They didn't have much better luck that day either. Kay, the kids and I spent the morning at the pool again. They loved it! That afternoon while Kaylee slept, I actually had a few moments just to sit and relax while Kira watched a movie and Kay did some shopping. It was nice. We met up with the guys at a restaurant for dinner that evening at Ft Meyers beach on the water. I had delicious crab. We walked around a little after dinner then it was time to head home. The kids got to bed at a decent time and we tried to start picking up to get ready to head out the next morning.

Saturday, we got up and got all packed up and ready to go. I was sad to leave but also ready to head home. Kaylee took a short nap on the 3 hr ride back to the airport. It was nice to have everyone together for the trip home. We mede it back home probably about 8:00 our time. The kids were so wired being home and being out of their carseats that they played with their toys for awhile before going to bed. It was like their stuff was all new to them.

We had such a good time and the kids loved seeing all the new places. It's the first time we've really done much of a family vacation like that and it was great but also not like what I would have considered a "vacation" in the past. So much different when life revolves around two little people. We're hoping to go at least once a year if we can. So much fun!

Now it's back to work for Kyle and reality/routine for me. It's nice being home but so hot here. Almost feels like Florida. (If I close my eyes, I can pretend). :)