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Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens

Mom, Kayren, I and all children went to Reiman Gardens today (butterfly garden). First we had a picnic lunch, played a little on the play equipment. Then went into the butterfly garden. They were releasing butterflies while we were there. They let the kids help out by putting them on plants. Hannah just wanted to carry her butterfly around with her! We also walked around the flower gardens outside. All the kids were pretty good considering it was warm outside.

Mom brought Hannah back to DM today. She brought her straight to the YMCA, for she has swimming lessons this week. I am getting all excited for my trip to NC!!

Zoo with Haydn

We took Haydn to the zoo this morning. We watched the sea lion show (the picture of her on Wes's shoulders). The sea lions make a farting sound and Haydn keep saying "parting", "excuse you". It was cute! She enjoyed the flamingos also. Also the picture of Wes and her, they are looking at the saltwater tank full of fish. She noticed the "Nemo" looking fish on her own. We have played outside a lot while Hannah has been gone. Used sidewalk chalk and loves to swing the jump rope. Today is the first day she hasn't asked where Hannah is, so maybe she is liking being the only one here!!

Haydn

I took Hannah yesterday to Lormior to meet mom, it is now her turn to be in Mt Ayr. Last night Wes, Haydn and I went shopping for Hannah's b-day gifts. Perfect opportunity with Hannah gone, I will get them wrapped too. Next week Hannah has swimming lessons. She doesn't take PM naps so it would be hard for me to wrap them with her awake. I leave for NC on Aug 6th!! Fly back to KC on the 11th and Hannah's b-day is the 12th!! So will be here VERY soon!!

Haydn is enjoying her time without Hannah. She was great last night shopping. She has been playing this morning great too. Has been coloring and playing in her room. Hannah is not here to tell Haydn what to do at every second of the day and bothering her in general!! Haydn was trying to hide from me in the one picture. Too cute!!

She Is BACK!!!

Haydn got home last night. Wes met mom 1/2 to pick her up. I went out to Jordan Creek to listen to live music on I think, the HOTTEST night of the summer so far!! I met up with Amy, Grant, Joan and Todd. Was a good time!!!

Here are some new pictures of Haydn from today. She LOVES to wear her bike helmet!! Tried to get a picture of her curls!! She and Hannah are back to their normal selves. In the one picture you can see Haydn chasing after Hannah as she is driving away!!

Blank Park Zoo

Hannah didn't wake up until 10:00 AM this morning!! She has been on the go while Haydn has been gone. She and I got around and went to the zoo today for 3 hrs! Even packed a picnic lunch, Hannah thought that was fun. Rode the train at the zoo for the first time and fed some goats in the petting zoo.

Got home and vacuumed out the van, Windex the inside of the windows (which probably haven't been done in 2 yrs)! Marcia, Hannah and I are going downtown tonight to Rib America. It is a bunch of vendors with you guessed it bar-b-que!!

Iowa Cubs

We went to a Iowa Cubs baseball game tonight. I got tickets from the YMCA back in June but the game was when downtown flooded, so we could use our tickets for any home game. So we decided since Haydn was gone we would go. I don't think she would of enjoyed it. There were fireworks afterwards so that was fun too. Once again it was a beautiful night to be outside.

Fun Day

Took Hannah to VBS this morning and then meet mom 1/2 way to drop off Haydn. She is staying in MA until Sunday. I drove back to DM and did some shopping bought a cute t-shirt for Vada! How can you resist little clothes?! Kayren called me and said they were having a big sale at Children's Place ran to Valley West and bought Vada her t-shirt. She was still at the mall so went to Younkers and looked around with her until it was time to pick up Hannah. We ate lunch at McDonald's and then went to the WDM aquatic center for 3 HRS!! Was a lot of fun. Wes got home from work, ate supper and then went miniature golfing! Something Hannah has never done. I haven't been for a few years myself either. So a fun day all around!! Hannah likes Haydn being gone. She calls it "quiet time" well I tell her it is "quiet" when she is gone too!! Maybe hit the zoo sometime this weekend too. Tomorrow is her last day at vacation bible school. She has had a lot of fun this week.

Recap for the week....

Hannah has been going to VBS at Hope this week from 9:00-noon each day. As she put it on the way home today "I am having a BLAST". I am so glad she is having fun. Yesterday and today I have gotten there early so I can hear her sing her songs. They put the words on a big screen but she still can't read so I want to learn them so I can help her at home. She pretty much has 2 of the 4 memorized already. It helps that one is a High School Musical song but some of the words are changed. Hope is a HUGE church, after talking to Joan she told me they asked for 1,000 volunteers to help with VBS. I have a coworker that also belongs to Hope and she says there are probably 6,000 members!! They are a VERY giving church. Next weekend they have "Taste of Hope", I guess they have inflatable rides, lots of food and everything is FREE!!

Tomorrow after I drop Hannah off at VBS I am meeting my mom 1/2 way and she is taking Haydn for the weekend. She did this last week with Stella and will do it with Hannah at some point this summer. Haydn will love ALL the attention and so will Hannah. I have some fun things planned for Hannah and I to do that Haydn may still be too small to enjoy! So a win win situation all around.

Saturday

We started to day off with Haydn's last swimming lessons. We didn't have them last week because of the 4th. For some reason I remembered yesterday that today was the last day. I don't think I would of thought about them at all today. She is in waterbabies so it is not like she passes or fails, but we pay for them and she REALLY enjoys them. She actually went under the water 3 times today. Wasn't really her idea but she didn't cry though. Adam, Natalie and Eliott came to town today. We got the 3 grandkids pictures taken this afternoon. This is only the second time we have got their pictures taken professionally. The studio was running 30 minutes behind so we walked around the strip mall for awhile. Actually the first picture she took was the best one. We decided to stop after only 11 shots. Having two 2 yr olds is well not easy. They really did well for having to wait and then having to wait another 20 min for them to be done. Everyone came out to our house for pizza and to play outside. What a beautiful evening to be outside! It is hard to believe a month from today my baby will be 5!! Hannah starts bible school on Monday, she is VERY excited! It runs all week from 9:00-noon each day. She says she is excited to learn about Jesus, (she told me that on her own). We have a week off then Hannah is in swimming lessons again, last week of July and then won't be long until our trip to NC!! YEAH!!

Haydn being "Haydn"

Hannah posing!!

Click Dolls

Tuesday Hannah started playing with her click dolls that she probably hasn't touched for 6 months or more. She has slept with one Tuesday night and last night. We went to storytime this morning here in Waukee and then came home and Abby was down soon after that! Hannah brought her click dolls out and they all three played WELL together!!

Twins

Marcia bought the girls matching overalls!!

Happy Feet

Today I took the girls to the movie Happy Feet. A mom on our street told me that Jordan Creek plays a movie on Tuesday mornings for a $1.00. Yes, a $1.00. It cost us $3.00 to see Happy Feet today. Took the girls some snacks and drinks and we had a good time. It was Hannah and Haydn's first time in a theater! Hannah of course did better than Haydn. We lasted a little over an hour. Hannah saw one of her preschool friends there. It was a lot of fun. I especially loved the fact that it cost me $3.00. So I don't feel bad leaving in the middle of a movie if I have to!!

Bubble Suit

This is the last year I will have a little girl able to wear one piece outfits! Something about a bubble suit on a little girl is precious!! We had a good 4th of July. Hannah truly enjoyed the fireworks. Marcia came out to watch Haydn, didn't think she would like them nor have the patience to wait that long for the fireworks to start. Marcia and Haydn went and got some ice cream so she had some special attention too. This week will be pretty low key for us. Next Monday-Friday Hannah will be in Bible School. Another week off and then swimming lessons that last week of July for Hannah.