Our Vacation

We took a vacation this past week to the Ozarks with my parents, my sisters and my grandma farmer.  It was everything a vacation to the Lake should be - sunny days for swimming, tubing and skiing; raining days for games and movies, and too much good food!

The first few days we were there with just half of the crew.  With slower days we got to relax a lot which was really nice.  The best part about it is that during the relaxing times Owen and Eden had their first wrestling sessions!  There was mostly a lot of laughing.  But we do have some training sessions ahead of us to teach that if someone is crying they don't like it.  But Jon and I loved watching them wrestle and play together.

I tried to upload a video but it didn't work.  Any tips anyone? We took the video using our iPhone.

Our other proud accomplishment was we got BOTH kids on the tube.  Owen was a little hesitant at first but once the boat started moving they each were laughing.  Eden especially loved it.  They both also loved the rocky beach.  Next summer the goal will be to get them to like being where they can't touch the ground.  They both cried a lot at the deeper part even though Jon and I were holding them.  Oh well - we've got time!  Also a plus, neither of them complained about their life jackets!

This was their favorite thing to do on the boat - take all of the snacks out of the snack bucket.

Mandy and Sandy - If you didn't notice, I was really bad at taking pictures, meaning I didn't take many.  If you guys have some good ones please send them my way! (Especially a few with Mandy in them because I don't have any.)

Miss Eden's Lake Birthday

During Eden's 1st birthday we were at the Ozarks with my entire immediate family.  A few of them didn't get there until Friday, so we celebrated a day late.  I believe she thoroughly enjoyed her birthday celebration.  We had delightful cupcakes, we sang a few times, and she was spoiled with gift love from everyone!  Her favorite gift was her new baby which she immediately kissed and cuddled.  I was caught off guard by her understanding and her nurture.  Owen's favorite gift for Eden has been the pretend kitchen.  He has barely stopped making toast since we set it up.  And the aunties gave her the most darling clothes.  Thanks everyone for loving Eden so much!

Can you picture her 15 birthdays from now?

Big girl car seat!

Happy Birthday Eden!

"Happy Birthday Sweetheart!"  This is what Owen has been singing to Eden all week.  She is dearly loved.  Eden was a joy (mostly) as a baby but I love love love the 1 - 2 year old stage so I can't wait to see what cute little quirks Eden will have.

On July 5th, Eden took her 1st steps and now she is walking everywhere!  She has such a cute little monster walk.  And she growls nonstop.  Ha.  I have one girlie little lady.  Although she does hold her own when Owen tries to steal her toys, her girlie side comes out when you tell her she looks "pretty."

Eden's top 10 Loves at age 1:

10. Her bear lovey - I love catching her cuddling it at night.
9. The animal tractor that makes noises.
8. The tupperware cabinet.
7. Putting buckets on her head.
6. Grunting.
5. Playing Peek-a-boo & Patty-cake.
4. Anything with Owen.
3. Hearing the door and seeing Daddy come home.
2. Cuddles & nose kisses with mama.
1. Eating (anything) all day long.

We are so in love with our little lady.  She has been a delight to have as a daughter and a sister to Owen.  Happy Birthday Sweets!

The Lake

The kids and I were blessed to take trips to the Ozarks two weekends in a row.  The first was with my parents and good friend, Sara Madison.  Owen got a lot more comfortable with the water by the rocky beach this time.  At one point he even got too far to touch, which he didn't like, but I was so so proud of him.  And isn't Eden just so adorable in her life jacket??  Personally, I enjoyed my internal alarm clock that allowed me to get up and enjoy the lake all to myself.  It was beautiful!

We also got to spend a little time in Kansas City because my cousin Kathy passed away after a battle with lung cancer.  She was a brave and strong woman who will be missed by many.  Below are pictures with both of my grandma's.

My parents took the kids and I to Fritz's.  It is a diner that has a train bring you the meal.  both of them were fascinated!  This was where my mom took me on days that she brought me to the hospital while she did rounds.  It holds a special place in my heart.

Everyone was worn out after a long day!

Owen and Eden could not get enough of Lily.  They LOVED her!

The second trip to the lake was with a few girls that I go to church with.  We had such a good time.  It was nice to be able to be with all of them for an extending amount of time and to get to see them after 9pm since I usually leave to put the kids to bed!  I'm not very consistent with taking pictures so I didn't capture a few of the girls, sorry ladies!

We had an intruder while we were there.  yuck.

celebrating freedom in the promised land

aka "we celebrated the 4th of July in Minnesota."

and we had a blast.

Seriously, we enjoyed seeing all of the family in Waterville and in Owatonna.  Thank you so much for loving us and cherishing our kids!  And I had a great birthday with you all, especially since I won a few games of Settlers.

In Waterville, we took the boat out, played cards and ate way too much yummy food!  The best part was watching Owen and Ben giggle for like 20 minutes while sharing grapes!  Or maybe it was playing cards with great-grandma Bernie.  It was such a fun surprise that some of the Retzlaffs came down to see us!  It was a joy being with all of you!

In Owatonna, Jon tried to have Nick's Pizza not once, not twice, but three times.  We all said "no" to the third attempt.  I bet if Anne had stayed for dinner Jon would have gotten his way!  We had fun being creative with how to get outside even though it was so hot!  We enjoyed an early morning time at the park and an evening out back by the kiddie pool (I didn't get great pictures, oh well!).  Despite the heat wave, the men managed to find a way to play 18 holes of golf and lucked out with a beautiful morning!  We also watched Eden take her first steps on my birthday!!! 

Thanks for such a great family vacation everyone!  We love you!

maybe this time I'll mean it

Okay, this time I mean it.  I am going to be more consistent at doing this blog.  I'm not going to make commitments to doing it once a week or anything like that.  But I will comment to posting fairly regularly.  Especially for all of the family members that read this.  I didn't really realize you did, now I do. And I know that you love the kiddos (who doesn't?) and they grow up so fast; so I will let you keep up with them.  Especially since none of you live in town with us.  Boo.  I vote for someone to retire here.  What do you think, Scott? :)

We love love love summer around here.  All year I have been dreaming about going to parks, going swimming and watching the kids enjoy everything outside.  And that is what we have been doing. 

cinco de mustache always starts off our summer.  i think this might become the most memorable family tradition for the des moines schreiners.

we eat our snacks outside.  and we love every minute of it.

and this summer we decided to try to grow our food outside.  i had my first spinach salad this week.  no big deal.  :)

this summer we took our first no kids vacation.  we went to Charleston with my folks.  we could not have done it without the help of Jon's mama, Aunt and Grandma Bernie, followed by the help of Carol, Ky and Liz.  thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks.  as you can guess, we loved it.  we ate like kings.  the girls shopped.  the boys golfed.  we saw history.  we saw beauty.  and most importantly, we played cards. 

we went to minnesota and forgot to take pictures.  but we did capture Grandpa Scott dancing.  and then owen deleted it.  you are sooooooooo lucky.

we got to go to the lake of the ozarks.  edens first time.

we play and play and play outside.

we have been fascinated with all things animals lately.  we've been feeding the ducks and feeding the fish and goats at the zoo.  we also watched two nests in our yard to see the baby birds as the mama bird was feeding them.  owen and i are obsessed with baby animals.

owen has a big announcement:

"I am potty-trained.  I sleep in a big boy bed.  and I have a new big boy haircut."