Great Wolf Lodge - July

The girls LOVE Violet. They were so excited to see her! We actually bought little stuffed Violet dolls this time (as if they needed anymore buddies). 

Megan is tall enough to go on all the slides. 

So we did.

Airplane!  I saw it first!! I win!!!

Our day in the Cabana at the outdoor pool. It may have been 100+ outside but this was the best day because of the cabana. Money well spent!

We hit the 1000 ticket jackpot on our first game in the arcade.

Matthew liked playing the driving game. It was nice that they had a few games for the littles in the arcade. 

I don't know if James was really trying to beat her but Megan WON!!

We take this picture every time we visit. The girls love the "sugar bear" and the sweets this shop has to offer!

Naps to happen at Great Wolf. 

I could have taken a few myself.

My guys!

Matthew and the Barbie Bandaid!

He had a skinned knee already but when he fell in the parking lot, the scab came right off and there was SO MUCH BLOOD! It wouldn't stop and he was screaming and he wouldn't let me put a bandaid on him. Oh the mess and the chaos, right outside the front door of the lodge. That night, it happened again at the elevators. The blood was just flowing down his leg. I finally snuck a bandaid on him under his PJs and I think he decided it wasn't all that bad.

Megan didn't want to sleep on the top bunk. I don't think she was afraid of the "top" part but there was dust in the corners between the mattress and the frame of the upper bunk and she didn't like that.  (I have no idea what that was all about, really.)  So the girls shared the bottom bunk and this is how they were sleeping in the morning. Too cute!  Next time we will either get a roll away or another bottom bunk.

July 4th

Our neighborhood does a 4th of July Parade every year. We decided the girls would enjoy riding along in the parade this year so we decorated Megan's bike, Emily's scooter, and Matthew's wagon and joined the festivities. Matthew didn't keep up for more than the first 10 yards so James was on his own with Megan (going fast) and Emily (going painfully slow) while I tried to convince Matthew to just go.

The fire department brings an engine and leads the parade. The kids LOVE it.

James and Emily

Megan - so big and independent!

Popsicles to cool off after the parade!  

Even the Popsicles were patriotic!

Matthew's Birthday "Party"

Somewhere along the road, just a few sleeps ago, Matthew turned two. We have had such a busy summer that I haven't had much time to breathe, much less blog. I barely take pictures with my camera anymore but have thousands on my phone. Some day I will transfer them all from the "mobile uploads" folder to the month folders they belong in. 

Lucky kid enjoying a breakfast of donuts!! The kid can put away some donuts. 

He had a Fireman theme birthday. Not party, just the day. I think my fire cupcakes turned out pretty cute!

He was barely able to open his own presents. I think the girls were upset he is big enough to figure it out on his own.

For his birthday party, we took the family to Chuck E. Cheese. We did the whole party set up but didn't invite anyone other than Grammy and Grandma. Really, he is two. They don't have friends at two. We had a great time and I think the girls really enjoyed themselves. Matthew had fun but was NOT a fan of the giant fuzzy rat visiting the table or the sweet party host trying to sing Happy Birthday to him. All in all, the pizza was good, the games were fun, and the kids won their own party favors!