Lots o' summer fun

We have been having so much summer fun around here lately, that I have neglected this blog! I'm not sure if there are any readers out there anymore, but I thought I would give a few updates. Lauren has been very busy having tons of summer fun - she is almost done with her "summer bucket list!"

Last week Lauren spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Schlake in Nebraska, she had so much fun and didn't want to come back home! This weekend we had a blast going to the t-bones game and going on a train and trike ride. We are loving this mild summer weather.

Lauren is going to be starting in her new room at school next week - she will be back in the "big kids" section. It is hard to believe how fast she is growing up!

Lauren and her cousin Ava

Lauren and Great Grandpa Schlake

Abby, Lauren, and Sizzle

T bones fun!

Dancing Shoes

Lauren has been going to some dance lessons this summer. She LOVES it! Last night was the last time for the "Tinkerbell" class. She has decided she wants to do dance next year instead of gymnastics. :) So much fun!

Fun in the sun

Summer is definitely in full swing around here, and what a FUN 4th of July we had! We started out by going to the Parkville parade with the Coen family and it was such a fun time, it is now an official tradition. Then we spent the rest of the weekend at Tablerock lake with Tim's family. We had such a wonderful time, we spent a day at Silver Dollar City, swam, and watched fireworks from a boat. Memories we will never forget!

Abby and Lauren at the parade

Lauren at the lake

Getting a special hair-do at Silver Dollar City

Our family riding the teacups! :)

Lauren and Grandma playing ladderball

First time on a boat!

Lauren and Grandma on the boat

Camping and other adventures...

Whew! It has been a crazy whirlwind of a summer so far! We had an awesome trip last weekend to St. Louis with the Coens. We camped and had an amazing time at the Magic House Children's museum. So much fun! Lauren has also started swimming lessons and princess dance class. It has been BUSY.

Today, Lauren's cousin Kylie came to visit today and we had such an amazing day with her. She is so beautiful and such a good little baby.

We are so excited for all of the other fun things ahead of us this summer. Stay tuned!!

We had a great time camping!

At the Magic House in St. Louis

Lauren and Kylie

Cousins are the best!

Summer Fun

I know it has been a while! We have been busy, busy, busy around here! Last weekend was our "kickoff to summer" and we started working on all of our "summer bucket list" items. We had a really fun time making cookies, playing with friends, and going to the choo choo place for dinner. :)

Today Lauren and I went to Deanna Rose Farmstead with Nicholas, Jackson, and Sara. We had a great time. Looking forward to lots more fun activities this summer!!

Making cookies with mommy

Blowing bubbles

Water play with Abby and Liam

Three best friends!

Riding the tractor in style at Deanna Rose

Lauren and Nicholas

Happy Birthday Lauren Sara!

We didn't let the cold weather stop us from having a wonderful 3rd birthday party for Lauren yesterday! She had SO much fun and it was so nice to see so many friends and family. We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

Her actual birthday is Wednesday, and we still have a few little surprises in store for her then. She is such a special and sweet little girl. We are so proud of her and what a lovely little lady she is becoming. :)

Party decorations

Lauren and uncle Brent

Lauren with Grandma and Grandpa Schlake

Lauren and Grandma Di Di

A special picture with Great-grandpa Schlake!

Aunt Doreen, Lauren, and Uncle Leroy!

Lauren and her two best friends!

Lauren and Liam are snuggling in her new sleeping bag!

We love you so much Lauren Sara!!!

Spring!!

We finally had some really nice spring-like weather this weekend! Yay!!

I am SO excited for all of our fun spring and summer plans. Lauren is counting down the days until her birthday party. She is VERY excited about the cupcakes and the napkins. :) She has been talking about her "mickey party" non-stop for several days now!

"The three musketeers" on a walk outside!

Lauren Sara - Age 3

I can't believe this, but our little baby is turning three in just a few weeks. She is such a big girl these days. She loves to play pretend and talks all the time. She is such a joy to be around (most of the time!)

We had these pictures taken a few weeks ago - she really shows her personality in these pictures!

We just wrapped up another wonderful, but very busy week! We spent the weekend up in Nebraska for Ava's baptism. We also got in some time at the Lincoln Children's Museum (very, very cool place) and even got to see some baby cows! Abby and Liam were also in Nebraska, so they came out and visited the farm and saw a few cows with us.

This week is going to be another crazy week around here - it is never-ending!

Lauren and Grandma at the Children's museum

Meeting a baby cow

Abby and Liam got to meet the cow too!

Cousins. :)

Easter!

I know I've been MIA for a while...we have been BUSY. I had a work trip last week and it seems like we have had something going on every night.

SO, so, so happy for the Spring-like weather that has finally (sort-of) arrived.

We had a fantastic Easter weekend. We got to spend it with my family in Nebraska and I really couldn't have been happier. Lauren was so excited about all of the Easter activities - egg hunts, Easter bunny, church on Sunday, etc. She also got pictures taken with her TWO new baby cousins, Kylie and Ava (who she has proclaimed as her best friends!

So much going on this week as well...hopefully we can keep up with crazy!

Lauren, Ava, and Kylie on Easter

Dying Easter eggs with Abigail

Lauren and Liam at the Easter parade

Ava, Kylie, and Lauren with their special cousin shirts

Lauren on the swing at Grandma and Grandpa's house

My brothers and I with our babies! :)

The movie about the guy who cut down the trees

What a weekend! We had a great family weekend at home, not doing a whole lot, but had a lot of great memories. Lauren has been cracking me up lately with her language skills. It is amazing the stuff she says/knows. Yesterday she asked if she could "watch the movie about the guy who cut down the trees." After a few minutes I realized she was talking about "The Lorax," which we had seen quite a while ago. Amazing that she remembered that!

Yesterday we also went to the Mavericks hockey game. We had a lot of fun! Lauren especially liked the mascot, who is a horse named Mac. She kept asking the whole time where he was. :)

We also got to spend just a few minutes with uncle David, who was in town for a work conference. All in all, a pretty great weekend. We are SO excited for the Spring weather to arrive!!



All of us at the Mavericks game




Lauren with Uncle Davey - a nice smile!! :)



Snow Day!

We have a record snowfall here in Kansas City! We are all at home today staying inside nice and warm. Lauren and I did make a snowman the other day after the first round of snow.

We had quite a crazy weekend, we went to Nebraska for Kylie's baptism and also got to meet our brand new niece, Ava Annamarie Schlake. Lauren is such a proud big cousin. She loves both of her little babies!!! Can't wait to spend more time with both of them.

Lauren and her snowman, Frosty.

Lauren with new daddy uncle Brent and little Ava. She is so perfect!!!