Cousin Camp 2011

Cousins Camp is a week filled with swimming, day trips, laughing, screeching, and lovin'. This post is picture overload but it is easier for me to do one big post than multiple smaller ones.

Wrestling started the week off. Lincoln is not afraid even though he is the smallest.
Sprinkler fun

Having older cousins makes the scary things in life, not so scary after all. He would never go in a sprinkler until he had Eli and Phoebe with him.

Phoebe LOVES her Baby Wincon and she is quite the mommy with him. Not sure he is thrilled with the having another mommy-figure but he will do whatever for food.

We took two "field trips" during cousin map. The first was to Hawaiian Falls waterpark but to save my camera, I didn't take it with me. It was a fun time had by all.

The second trip was to the Children's Aquarium in Fair Park. It is a smaller (cheaper $$) aquarium but it was a great place to go with our crew. Lincoln seems to enjoy aquariums more than zoos because he can see the animal up close.

A great picture with an 8 year old, 4 year old, and 21 month old doesn't happen so we settle with a decent picture.

He is just tall enough to see the fish.

Phoebe looking at the alligator. Lincoln would not go near this tank.

Nena was the only brave person to feed the stingrays. She said it was odd.

Lincoln was not a fan of this. Much to large for him to enjoy!

After the aquarium we walked around beautiful grounds of Fair Park. It had rained the night before so there was a good amount of water around.

Eli is great with Lincoln and Lincoln loves to hang out with his older cousin.

Playing in the puddles was Lincoln's favorite part of the whole day.

I am thankful for the relationships that Lincoln is developing with his cousins. Now we need to plan new, fun trips for Cousins Camp next year!

Father's Day Camping-style

Lincoln is blessed to have a fabulous daddy. From the day Lincoln was born, he has been the center of Shane's world. Shane and I both have wonderful examples of great dads and I am thankful that Lincoln does as well. Thanks for being a great daddy, Shane!

Shane and I both grew up camping as kids and we have wanted to take Lincoln to the lake for his first time. We decided we would go to Lake Whitney and rent a cabin for the weekend. Father's Day weekend seemed like the best time to go.

The cabin grounds we stayed at had peacocks everywhere. Their calls were loud and Lincoln was pretty scared of them. They were neat to look at (from a distance). Lincoln would mimic their call which was funny to hear.

Mr. Cool himself ready for the lake. He wears these sunglasses ALL the time! It is so funny!

Lincoln loved playing in the sand with his pail and shovel. I can't wait to take him to the beach this summer.

My parents joined us on Saturday afternoon for some lake time. Lincoln was ok with going in the water but he preferred to be on the shore with the sand.

Workin again.

It was hot and the single room cabin made us feel like we were sitting on each other but we had a fun weekend at the lake. I see more camping in the future!

Snapshots of summer

Lincoln and I have been enjoying the luxuries of summer, sleeping in, being with family, yummy grilled food, and no set schedules! Here are a few snapshots of the summer so far.

Popsicles are a must in this heat

Two cute boys in baseball hats
A new love for sliding

Lincoln is a dancing fool. Anytime or anywhere he hears music, he starts to move.

First ski boat ride. He did not like riding at the front with me but sitting behind the glass with Nena was much better.

Lincoln and I are having too much fun with swimming and cousins to blog. :)

Last day of school

Lincoln and I have completed our first year at Red Oak schools. I have written before about Lincoln's school (daycare). His first daycare was a homesitter so this year was a change for us both and I was very nervous about him going to a real daycare. But we have both LOVED it! He was blessed with two fabulous teachers and a great director. His teachers are more than caregivers but also friends. I know they truly care for each of their babies and I am thankful for that! I have already asked if he can be "retained" int he pink room. I know we will love his green room teachers next year but I am not looking forward to new teachers.

Lincoln- First Day of School. August 2010
He looks so small and tiny!

Lincoln- Last Day of School, June 2011

Holy Moly, who is this big boy! He is very busy now so taking a good picture is out of the picture and we were running late so this is the best we got!

He has changed so much this year. He is talking and making lots of animal sounds. He has grown so much and looks nothing like a baby and more like a baby.

I am sad that I didn't get a picture of Lincoln with Mrs. Sam and Mrs. Rosi but he ended his day with his first busted lip. They have been huge blessings in our lives and I am sad that Lincoln will not see them every week.

Memorial Day in Kansas

Shane and I have made the decision to spend Memorial Day weekends with his family in KS. It is a long 8 hour drive so we need a long weekend to enjoy our time there. Like always, we enjoyed our holiday weekend.

Saturday we headed to the Rolling Hills Zoo near Shane's parents' home. It is not a huge zoo but a great size for a toddler. The animals are close enough so Lincoln can actually see them and they have a museum of "stuffed" animals.

I love this picture of the two "strollers". Shane's grandmother was a trooper with the heat.
Lincoln had a scary experience with the sheep in the farm area. He stood close to the cage and said "baa" to the sheep and was not expecting it say anything back. He nearly jumped out of his skin when it reacted to him. After that he was a little weary of all animals, including the statues.

This zoo has a walk-through museum of stuffed animals from around the world. It is pretty neat but kind of creepy. Lincoln was again a little weary of the animals.

Other than the zoo, we mostly spent the weekend outside at the pond. Shane was pumped to take Lincoln to the pond and fish and ride in the boat.

Lincoln was thrilled to be with the boys outside. It made me N-E-R-V-O-U-S to have him so close to the water so I couldn't stay outside too long.

He went on the four wheeler a few times.

Shane wanted to take Lincoln on the boat around the pond on his parents' land. He had to have a life jacket and he surprised us by not pitching a fit about wearing it. It was a little humid and still on the water so the boat ride did not last long.

The weekend had some time inside working on the tool bench.

You know it was a good weekend when your hair looks like this at the end of the day!

We had a great holiday weekend with family and we are thankful for those who served and made our freedom possible.