Summer Camps and Splash Parks

The weekend of Father's Day we had a visit from Uncle Scott, Aunt Sue, and cousin Zach from Minnesota.  Maddox and Kennon both put on their performing hats and put on a 'show' for our guests. It was rather entertaining. Since they had just finished their week at Vacation Bible School it was primarily Bible School songs with an accompaniment from KTK on the guitar.  I don't know…but there is something super funny about two toddlers singing Christian songs in their underwear atop plastic Rubbermaid stools!! We were happy to see the Kies family.  Thanks for stopping by.  

So the kids have been VERY busy, since Kennon's birthday party weekend, with summer camps.  Two weeks ago it was VBS at Our Savior…their normal church preschool. And then last week it was Disney/Fairytale camp through the City of Bettendorf.  Both kids enjoyed themselves at both camps, but particularly at the Disney camp.  It was held at a park and each day had a theme with the first day being Frozen, the second Pirates and Fairies, the third a field trip to the Family museum and the fourth was Character day where all the camp leaders dressed up in Disney characters.  The kids had a BLAST that last day getting all the characters' autographs.  In the pictures above and below they got to paint on the  Frozen day with 'snow' a mixture of glue and shaving cream…who would've thought!! So fun!      ( and best to be at camp outdoors than at my dining room table!!)   Tuesday they made these fabulous telescopes and got to walk the plank and play pirate games and go on treasure hunts for what I believe were gold color rocks…or er…'treasure'!  I will definitely be looking into more of the City of Bettendorf camps next summer.  The next several weeks both Maddox and Kennon will be busy with more camps but these will be held at Our Savior.  They will go Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all morning and each week has a theme as well as teaches some Christian value.  This week is ZOO.  I think the kids like the structure each week and I love the free time. Lets me get some things done around the house, run errands solo, and most important, time to work at VNA.  I am training a new gal who has prior home care experience and seems like she is going to be a BREEZE to train. I am still keeping tabs on my initial trainees through chart audits/reviews while the kids nap. 

Last week an extra special package came from Denver….Aunt Kelly specifically. She sent the kids kitchen items!!  They are soooo perfect for my kids as both Maddox and Kennon LOVE to help me cook. Kennon got a chef's hat, Maddox a cute cupcake apron and then they each got their OWN SET ( Aunt Kelly must know we haven't perfected the art of sharing yet) of kitchen utensils. They are so fabulous. Then…she must know our love of fireworks too because she sent us 4 3D firework glasses. I can't wait to try them out!! HOW COOL IS THAT!! 

We of course had to try them out right away. This was the BEST mac n cheese we've had ever!! 

With the weather being warm and nice out we are outdoors A TON!!!  Most mornings, even before camps on the weekdays and then every afternoon we are outside playing soccer or baseball, riding bikes, and hanging out with our neighbor Priya. The last week we added a couple of water activities. Tuesday after naps we headed to Splash Landing, the City of Bettendorf's public pool.  It is a fabulous facility and has a great toddler area that is gated off and has a sand pit, several fun sprinklers, and a waterside for toddlers. We took our neighbor Priya and her mom Elisha.  I didn't get any pictures as it is all hands on deck watching the kids around a water area but we had a great time.  A perfect post nap activity for $3.00!!   

Then last Friday we took advantage of another warm sunny day and met our friends the Wentlands at the Davenport Splash Park. The park was new last year but we didn't make it down. It was super fun. I unfortunately didn't quite plan for how wet Maddox and Kennon were going to get. I only brought swim tops, not bottoms, and no towels…ooops!!  I"ll be better prepared next time.  They have picnic tables and benches all around so it is nice for the moms to sit and chaperon.  Then of course it is just up the hill from a regular park. So we hit that too!! So fun…and this is even FREE.  

 Maddox of course 'looked' after Nyle who will be 2 in August.  

Kennon in the foreground….Nolan, Maddox, and Nash in the background….I"m pretty sure this is when we caught the three hoodlums in the background trying to drink the water sprays!  

Shorts…totally soaked…. I guess I should have known coming to a 'SPLASH' park they'd get pretty wet!!  

 Maddox and Kennon

 Nolan Maddox and Kennon

 Maddox sitting on top of the sprinkler head 

 I love this look on KTK's face…such a sly smile 

 Maddox Kennon Nyle

 This was the best that Megan and I could do to get all the kids together for a pictures…. yes…you are correct …..there are 2 kids missing and only one kid is actually looking at the camera.. :)  Nyle, Kennon, and Nash.   Kennon was NOT happy to leave the park and was holding up his fingers and yelling 'three more minutes mom….just three more minutes mom'….. he is quite the bargainer….

 We were planning to visit Grammy'x box today and to have a picnic at the park in Orion. But, after the rain last night we thought the park might be too wet. So we just hit one of our favorite Bettendorf parks……hmmmm….  It TOO was wet. I did however remember to bring a towel and cleaned off 2 of the 4 slides.  However Kennon apparently forgot which 2 those were and slid down into about an inch of water sitting at the bottom of one of the slides that I hadn't dried off… Luckily I had an extra pair of shorts/undies in the van. We played for a while at the park and then headed over to the baseball fields and actually had even MORE fun walking the 'plank' and balancing on the bleachers…who knew?? the bleachers could be so much fun.  

Maddox's hair is getting so long…and unlike her mother…she does NOT like to have it up in a pony.  She'd rather have braids or just down. I think it is so hot to have it down but she doesn't seem to mind.  It is one of the things I CHOOSE not to battle with her on days when we don't have any set plans and they aren't going to school/camps. Ya pick your battles right….? She knows she can't go to school with her hair down in her face. I can remember mom telling me stories about parents who sent their kids to school with odd bows that distracted the kids or with hair down in their face.  I can remember her saying 'how do their parents expect them to concentrate when they are trying to keep their hair out of their face all day long'.  One of those  'teachery' things I learned from mom. ….. don't send Maddox to school with odd bows in her hair that keep falling out and get her hair out of her face!! Thanks mom:) 

So Maddox has generally had really good behavior the last week or so. It is truly amazing how she can turn it on and then off again. Kennon continues to be my compassionate guy and is very forth coming with kisses, hugs, and affection. He does continue to have his fits and unfortunately the fits in the last 2 weeks have been intermixed with accidents!!!  BOTH poop and pee.  The little stinker would much rather just play than come in to go potty. The other problem we are having is he is constantly thirsty because they are outdoors playing and running around a ton and RIGHTFULLY so he is parched!!  ( Eric and the kids went on a 2.5 mile bike ride yesterday morning…both kids riding their own bikes…!! whoot whoot!! ) So we of course give him water. I've given up on getting him trained at night and at this point am back to significant praise and MM's for staying dry during the day.  Ironically he has been dong fine at summer camps and VBS……stinker…. We'll get there.  Oh and we lost his paci on Saturday…literally…somewhere in the house!! But, he has been doing great…just don't think about taking any of his THREE blue bears….

A few funnies for the week…. 

Maddox is very happy to say the prayer before our nighttime meal and as I said a while back we no longer sing the song but she actually 'says' a prayer.   Saturday night she said her usual 'thanking God for nice parents,  for the food we were going to eat and for the nice house etc' She then said amen and we all started to eat…only to hear a 'WAIT' shouted at the top of her lungs.  'WAIT I need to say one more thing'  ( hands out in front of her as if to signal us to stop) So we all bowed and closed our eyes again  'thank you God for keeping the monsters out of my bedroom at night'……  I just smiled at Eric and Kennon looked rather appreciate that his sister thought of the monsters and then we all went back to eating our pork :)    

Saturday night we had angel food cake for dinner.  I bought a pre made one from Hyvee so it needed to be cut. I rarely use my large bread knife but got it out to cut the cake.  I hear from Kennon as he watched the process ' Whoa….that is the biggest SHARPER I have ever seen Mom'.  :)  I don't think we use the word 'knife' very often…which I suppose is good. 

Last night I was talking to Kennon as I rocked him and we read books before bed.  I told him he was getting so big and he said ' yah mom I'm getting too big for my bed'   So I asked him if he wanted a big boy bed like Maddox's  and he said 'No mom…I don't want to turn into a girl!'    So I said 'Well I'll get you some boy sheets…what would you like on them?' and he said 'lady bugs just like Maddox'!!   Maddox doesn't have ladybugs on her sheets specifically but she does have ladybugs in her room.  He does look up to her and although marches to the beat of his own drum she is teaching him SO many things. We remind her of that regularly as she tends to thrive on being in the mother role. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Kennon!!

Maddox and Priya taken several weeks ago…..  In this picture Maddox's doll is named Melody and I believe Priya's is named Summer…although don't quote me as they change almost weekly.  These two dolls are the same brand and have special 'powers'  Maddox's sucks the bottle and Priya's sucks the pacifier and makes these adorable baby noises and her eyes open and close. The girls OFTEN play house or doctor and run between our garage and Priya's front porch as their 'house'  Too cute!!  Priya did get a sandbox last week however so the SAND has taken precedence over the dolls.  We are so happy to have Priya, Elisha and Carl next door. They are great neighbors. 

So most of you know I decided to try my hand at birthday cake baking and decorating.   I have always really wanted to do it and figured since I was staying home with the kids now, maybe I"d have the time. Ha ha ha….! Thankfully Aunt Diane outfitted me with all her old cake baking/decorating tools which were a HUGE HELP!!   I think Rocket ( as his name is…the Rocket from The Little Einstein's show on Disney Junior) turned out well. I actually cheated a tad and had HyVee do the base but I was able to construct Rocket out of an oval cake pan and 2 round bowls with a few toothpicks plus the rocket boosters are Swiss Cake rolls ( who doesn't like a Swiss cake roll covered in butter cream frosting!! YUMMY!!! )  I think Kennon really like it as did the other kids.  Maddox is asking for a Frozen cake….I"m already brain storming how I"m going to work that one out….slightly more challenging I believe.   

So we ended up bringing together friends and family for Kennon's party. We had a couple of neighbors with kids our kids' ages as well as a co-worker of mine and of course the usual FABULOUS family plus Aunt Rosie!  It was a great combination and I think the kids had a grand time.  We went on a Mission i.e. Treasure Hunt for party supplies. The Little Einsteins characters go on Missions each episode so that's what we did. I made a treasure map for the kids and had them make glitter covered batons. The Little Einsteins use a baton to direct Rocket. So we hopped in our imaginary Rocket, raised our batons high, put our paper towel/TP holders to our eyes to look out for crazy animals…and we went a trekin' for party supplies. I can still see the kids following me around the house with their batons held high looking through their telescope. We….and I….had a great time. We found party hats, sunglasses ( I was hoping to have part of the mission outdoors but the rain changed that plan ) party noise makers and then the 'prize' at the end was a helium filled balloon. So fun!! 

Maddie, Maddox, Priya, Brecken, Kennon ( Carter is behind Kennon), Parker and Reid. 

Kennon trying to blow out his candles…..  I love CJK's face in the background… trying to help his little cousin Kennon blow out his candles so cute. We finally realized that we had the cake a TAD far from him…!! oops!!

Now that's better……

Sunday was a cool morning. We had planned to go to the pool but the weather just didn't cooperate.  But the cool weather left for a great morning of bike ridding, swing set playing,  dizzy bat game challenges :), baseball, bubbles, soccer and any and all other sports that involve a ball!!  It was a nice time. Then we thought we'd keep the Rocket theme going so we packed a picnic lunch, grabbed some Subway sandwiches and headed to Rocket ship park for a nice lunch finished off with Swiss Rolls…!!! They kids were extremely excited to have a treat that came out of wrapper…or well maybe I was :)  We had  a great birthday weekend but of course…we had to do the one thing that is always a MUST when we get together..…GET THE ULTIMATE SHOT OF ALL FOUR COUSINS TOGETHER…!!  I absolutely love these shots but can't claim any of them. All Aunt Brooke :)  I seriously want to print them all in panoramic and then get up them up on the wall…what do you think Jody..doable??

This is Eric and I's favorite!!  So cute!

The week before Kennon's party we had visitors from the far north…!! The Stegemann's, Jody, Charlie and Hannah came down to thaw out and see some green here in Iowa. Minnesota has been pretty cold and rainy all spring so they were happy to see our green, grassy, yard…minus the gnats:)  We had a fun time together visiting the Museum and the Zoo and having lots of outdoor park and bike ridding fun.  Hannah and Charlie are very quiet and extremely well behaved and I do think some of that rubbed off on my two, as both Maddox and Kennon have been little angels this week.  I didn't manage to get any pictures of the kids but Jody sure did. If you are interested in a fabulous shot of Maddox check out her blog.  She is really talented with the camera.  Thanks for visiting us Stegemann's.

http://jodystegemann.wordpress.com


Side note…why is it that the diggers can work ALL morning yards/miles from the house and then the minute I get the kids down for a nap they are literally on the backside of the berm…!! UGH. Luckily both seem to have become accustomed to the loud noise.

This bad boy arrived on Tuesday.  I have the Knowles family to 'thank' for the 'Yo Ho Let's Go' wake up call I got on Wednesday morning the day after he arrived. And 'He' is named Bucky. Bucky is Jake's ship. I honestly thought Maddox and Kennon were just calling him Bucky till I realized it was saying 'Bucky' in the song. Ha ha ha.  As Aunt Brooke put it… I wasn't up for a pirate adventure Wednesday morning at 6am.  But Kennon is loving Bucky and he has given the kids lots of entertainment since it arrived. Kennon got lots of great gifts Saturday.  Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim got him a big boy bike….that is….. a bike with training wheels. He is struggling a bit, or maybe a fair amount, to pedal and gets frustrated quickly as he can't go 'fast'.  He is a speedster on his old red balance bike and with the struggle to pedal he can't get going fast enough. But I'd say by the end of the summer he'll be doing just dandy. Thanks to all who joined us to celebrate such a fun loving little boy's special day.  

A few Kennon tidbits….. 

1.  What do you want to be when you grow up? A construction worker last week…but I asked him again yesterday and actually BOTH kids said fireman…'to help people during emergencies'

2.  What is your favorite color?  GREEN

3.  Who is your best friend?  …….  'uh, ALL my friends!' 

4. What is your favorite food?  Chicken Nuggets and Mac n Cheese and watermelon

5.  What is your favorite thing to play outside? Ride bikes and playing soccer in the garage with Maddox

6.  What is your favorite thing to play inside? Music….?? not sure where that came from.  He likes to play Hide N Seek with Eric!!  

7. What is your favorite movie?  Toy Story 1

Kennon is extremely loving and compassionate and is a mama's boy.  He 'knows' he can sneak downstairs after bedtime and I"ll let him sit up to watch TV with me when it is way past his bedtime  ( yes….terrible habit…although he hasn't done it lately) He has terrible seasonal allergies which we are managing with some medications but otherwise he has had a very healthy year. Kennon is all boy and is extremely coordinated and lightning fast on his feet and does well with most all ball sports. He loves Church School, diggers, cranes, ridding bikes, ice cream, popsicles, parks, swimming, and watching movies with his big sis Maddox.  We are so blessed that God gave us to you Kennon. 

Summer Fun!!…or well technically not summer yet..but sure has been warm this last week..or rather HOT!

A couple Fridays ago we met the Wentlands (Nolan, Nyle and Megan) at the John Deere Pavillion on a rainy day.  The kids had a blast running from tractor to tractor. Maddox mothered Nyle, who is one, and I think I only lost Kennon in the building a couple of times…which is pretty good!  

They are sitting on the tire/wheel of the huge combine in the building.  Kennon was really struggling with his allergies this day, despite the rain driving the pollen out of the air, so he kinda has his allergy smile on.  He has been on allergy medication daily since about Mother's Day.  I'm hoping, here as the blooming season ends, that we can taper off the medications as they seem to affect his mood….although could be just the terrible 2's working their way out.  Maddox has become so 'posed' in her pictures. She will sit nicely and actually smile well!! I love it. 

Kennon, Nyle and Maddox…another pretty smile. 

The weekend before Memorial Day weekend the City of Bettendorf hosted a public works day.  We attended with Papa Dick after the kid's last soccer game for the season (which Kennon didn't participate in after a raging temper tantrum at the start….I whisked him away to the MS walk that I was participating in and he walked along with me happy as a lark.  Maddox had a great last game and in general a really good season) .  The City had all their large equipment out for the kids to get on and operate as well as face painting, a flower planting station, pop corn hot dogs chips and drinks… all for free!! It was a great day….so much fun….we were happy to share it with Papa Dick.  The kids both got to operate the backhoe TWO TIMES…. I think this event isn't quite known about yet so the line wasn't too long for the kids to get to enjoy the ride two times. They even got to operate the scoop itself… PRETTY COOL.  KTK was in heaven.  We also got to ride the Loop Bus which is a bus that goes between all 4 cities of the Quad Cities (Bettendorf Davenport Moline and Rock Island)   It is different from the city bus as it's ceiling is all glass…so you can look up and see the clouds as well as the Quad City landmarks go by.  It was so fun…we did that two times too!!  We are so blessed to be living in such a fabulous community. 

Papa Dick , Maddox and Kennon on The Loop Bus  (in their soccer shirts still!!!) 

Maddox in the city loader above and the snow plow below. 

May 19th was the kids' last day of Church School.  It was a sad day as they both love to go and I certainly love the 'free' time at home.   They put on a great program with lots of cute songs, hand motions, and props and then we had brownies in the gym.  I was AMAZED at how animated both Kennon and Maddox were during the singing portion. They both belted out the songs word for word…much improved compared to their program at Christmas time.  Kennon didn't really sing much at that event but this one he was a movin' his mouth for all the songs.  The director had told me a couple weeks before the event that Kennon 'has just been a practicing his songs all morning long…belting them out'.   They have both grown in Christ through Our Savior Lutheran Preschool.  I am so pleased. In fact Maddox has even started doing the prayer at night before dinner, and even sometimes lunch. And I don't mean the 'singing prayer that they learn at school'  this is a full fledged prayer where she thanks God for what she is thankful for. Really special.  Both Maddox and Kennon are signed up for several summer camps at Church School as well as Vacation Bible School which is the week of June 9th. I'll be happy for them to get back into the school routine, as will they. 

Kennon is on the bottom right…I love the kid top right doing the big yawn!!  Classic. 

Maddox is second from the left in the yellow. She has her hair braided and is not that gal with the white pig tail holders…that is her friend Loretta. 

Kennon, Eliana (one of Maddox's 'friends' from her class at OSL) and Maddox

I love this picture! 

Last Friday was beautiful out and I took the kids over to Davenport to see Eric and I's Myrtle street house….  It actually looks pretty good with nice flowers and they re-did the back deck.  I don't know what it is, but something about seeing your FIRST home being kept up makes ya feel good. Anyhow I think it was confusing to Maddox and Kennon to see 'another' house as they as kids only really know the Judge Road house so we just drove by quick and then headed to good ol' Vandeveer Park and Conservatory.  We had a picnic lunch of TB (Taco Bell…I exposed Maddox to Taco Bell burritos and she is hooked…asking for one now every time we drive by…hey what can I say..she IS my daughter :) and then played at the park, took a quick tour of the conservatory and then sat and watched the HUGE fountain.  It is such a beautiful green park and I have lots of fond memories running around the outside sidewalk for miles and miles and just always seeing the park going to and from 2113 Myrtle. Good memories in that neck of the woods. 

  

There's that pretty smile again…..

We sat and watched the fountain for quite a long time….especially KTK, MLK just really wanted to get into the fountain…..!!  I could have sat there all afternoon as well.  So pretty, the sounds and the beautiful flowers and the beautiful blue sky… So glad to NOT be working this particular day :) !!  I imagine I'm going to get the look Maddox has on her face in the picture below many a times between now and the time that she is 18!! 

Memorial Day afternoon we headed down to the Quad City Criterium. Eric and I have been attending the Critierium together I'd say almost yearly since we met in 2003 and I remember going to the Criterium with Mom many moons ago.  It is a tradition and most of you know I LOVE my traditions.  We signed Maddox and Kennon up for the FREE kid's race and they did sooooo good!! Any time Eric and I decide to do something 'different' with the kids we prepare ourselves for meltdowns and frustration but with this event the kids both had a blast!!   They are both sooo good on their bikes and  it's a good thing because the race was uphill the entire way….  Their 3:30 start was delayed by a thunderstorm and a crash in the women's race but both kids did well waiting their turn.  It did help that all the kids waiting to race cycled around on this basketball court getting their legs warmed up together.  Imagine like 20 kids ages 3-10 all ridding around in an uncontrolled environment….. yikes!!…I only witnessed a couple of collisions.  We were so proud of the kids when their race finally started at like 4:45.  . Maddox took off like a shot as did Kennon. Their only complaint was that the race was 'too short'.  Eric has been taking the kids, almost nightly, on epic rides. They ride to the fire station on Crow Creek Drive which is about 2.5 miles however they are amping up to ride the big hill down to the base of Middle road which would add another mile or so.  Won't Kennon be happy to see his pedal bike from Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean on Saturday!!    

Kennon and Maddox listening to some instructions from one of the race directors in the above picture….  This guy, who is named Moon…for real... (as you'll see in the next picture) is a bit alternative and has a ton of tattoos and those huge holes in his ears from rings…. (I don't know what they are called). I'm pretty sure Kennon's eyes are locked on those ear holes rather than listening to directions.  However in the below pictures he is getting the inside scoop from one of the pro women riders that had just finished her race.  She was super fun, interactive and really seemed to be giving Kennon all the inside information.  I think all she really needed to say to him was 'go fast'….!! When you are 3 that's all that really counts right? 

 And they're off…. I was too busy trying to take pictures I totally forgot to get a great video. You can't see it but it is totally uphill from the start!  Maddox and Kennon are on the right side during the video. 

Each race participant got a free ice cream from the local candy/ice cream shop, Lagomarcino's. So fun! 

Just a few tidbits…. 

There is still lots of action behind our house…well earth moving action.  They are still working on changing the grade which actually the kids have lost a bit of interest in.  Kennon still loves to see the diggers but Maddox not so much. I could set my watch by them. They start at 7am ( sometimes on Saturday too!!) go in for lunch at noon, back out at 12.30 and then quittin' time anytime between 3:30 and 5.  We are excited to see the next phase.  

The kids spend most of their days outside now. We have the yard and flowers really looking pretty good.  Kennon LOVES to water as I mentioned and Priya ( the girl next door) got a swing set last week… plus then all the usuals…bike ridding, chalk etc.  Kennon has REALLY been into his little green Little Tikes mower lately. He loves to push that around. His other favorite is playing baseball or basketball.  He is often found hitting balls off the tee and even is pretty good with Eric tossing him the ball. He loves to go next door to try to shoot hoops in Priya's tall basketball hoop.  Maddox is pretty good at T ball herself but more often would rather ride her bike or play with the neighbor girls.  We have had to do a bit of counseling about NOT just running down to the neighbors house without telling us as well as NOT crossing the street by herself.  She has been doing better the last week or so.  She  wants to be so independent…. and just doesn't quite have the skills to make the best decisions as of yet.  

Today I was making bacon ( which is a rarity) for a new salad I"m trying for dinner. I said to Maddox and Eric ( not really thinking anyone was listening) 'mmmmm this bacon is so good…we should have bacon more often….'   and Maddox said with this huge grin and with this completely animated voice     ' yah…!!!….I LOVE bacon'   Eric and I looked at each other like….??  what???  where have you had bacon?  It was so funny!!   

Last night we went to Chipotle after church and then through the drive through at McD's for ice cream sundaes. It was beautiful out last night so we thought we'd eat them on our back deck.  I was feeling rather sugary and ordered 4 chocolate chip cookies in the drive through to go with our ice cream.  Maddox was shocked and said   ' Mom…..did you just order cookies?'  I said   'Yes I did' and she said  ' even with the ice cream???'  and I said 'Yes' .  She sat for just a split second and then said with the same animated voice ' YES…this is the best day ever!!'    So funny!!  McD's has the best chocolate chip cookies if anyone cares to know.   YUMMY!   Have a GGGRRRREEEAT week!! Birthday week for KTK.