For Aunt Tina

Our Dear Aunt Tina sent the girls and I really cute bags. It was such a nice little surprise. The girls were thrilled to get them and we use them each week for church. Here are a few pictures of the girls with them.
Thanks again Tina!!!!

The girls

Addie Saying "cheese"

Train Musuem

Sometime last week we heard on the radio that there is a free train musuem close to town. So, when looking for something to do on Saturday, we thought that we would try it out. Let's just say that we were expecting something totally different...like real trains. Oh well. The girls still thought that it was cool even though we were done in about 1/2 hour. Geoff and I decided that it is just a bunch of old retired guys trying to find something to do, so they build train tracks from their childhood.

The girls looking at a big train

Some of what it looks like.

Pushing the buttons. One of the buttons made the cows dance and the other button was a train horn. This was their favorite part!!

Do you ever....

Feel like you are the one that needs Super Nanny for your naughty kids????!!!
I just put Macie in her room until Geoff gets home. (We'll see if I really make it)
That is 3 hours away.
She is being a little too naughty for my liking and it has been going on for days now. I guess that I finally just hit my breaking point. She doesn't listen to anything that we say or ask her to do. She says no constantly, especially when you ask her to do something. I am just tired of it and am hoping that maybe this works....
She has been in her room for about 1/2 hour and has been crying off and on the whole time. If I put in her time out, she doesn't stay. I keep putting her in it over and over again. It takes about 5 minutes (which feels like an eternity) for her to finally stay. While there, she screams at me the whole time. Even calling me stupid.
AHHHH!!!!!
All I can think is "What have I done wrong as a parent? How do I change this?" It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little attention I give her, she always ends up acting like this.
Sometimes I just feel like giving up. It is just too hard. I don't want to fight her all the time. On everything. It is just soooo exhausting.
Then every once in while, you get these little glimpes into the good, cute, nice, funny little girl that she is. That is what keeps me going, what makes me love her and want to be her mom. She can be alot of fun and a really great older sister. These are the moments I live for, long for, and love to see and be a part of. These are moments that make my heart melt.
I am so grateful for the good and the bad, because it makes me cherish the good that much more!
Wow...I got on here to vent a little, to try and see what is going on in my head. I leave this post with a greater love for Macie and an excitement for her to come out of her room, (even if it is before Geoff gets home!) so we can go outside and play, have a popsicle and spend some time together. I love this little girl, even though she is extra spicy!!

Lunch with Dad

On Friday we decided to meet Geoff for lunch. We LOVE to have lunch with dad. It is always so fun! We decided to head over to a nice little grassy area that has a fountain and a little pond with ducks.

Geoff and the girls during lunch. There was a crane nearby and Macie was mesmerized!Macie walking along the fountain. Notice her super cool hat???? Geoff bought this hat for like $2 and it is super ugly. Macie has adopted it and loves it!!! She likes to wear it alot. On this day she was saying "I have to wear this hat so I don't get sunburned."Addie and I touching the water coming out of the fountain.We then went on a walk around the pond. Geoff convinced Macie that she should try and pet the ducks. Here she is saying "It's ok duckie, I'm nice. I am not going to hurt you, I just want to pet you. Come here duckie."

We kept walking around and got really excited when we saw this!! Little baby ducks. So cute!Addie and Geoff looking at the little ducks.Here is Macie trying to pet the little ducks.

After seeing the little ducks, we thought that it couldn't get any better....we were wrong!!! Look at these cute tiny baby ducks!!! How fun!!!

Near the end, they had this super cool drinking fountain. Here is Macie getting her drink. And here is Addie. We sure had a great time!! Thanks babe for making time to have lunch with us!!! Can't wait until next time!! We love you!!

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day we got together with a bunch of people and headed out to a place called Squires Castle. It is this old castle that is on a bunch of land with walking paths and picnic tables everywhere. It is a really nice and fun place to go. Macie wanted to go and see the castle, so we went as a family and started walking around behind it and foung this cute little bridge. What a perfect opportunity for a photo op. So...here are some pictures of us on the bridge. Keep in mind that it was like 90 degrees out so that is why Macie's cheeks are so red and we might look a little sweaty!! It was HOT!!! Dad and his girls
Mom and her girls
Macie running back to the picnic site
Addie had just fallen, so I snapped a quick picture. (That is why she is skanking me out) :)

A day at the Beach

Since we arrived home, we have been able to spend this last week together as a family. It was a GREAT week. It has been SUPER hot here in Cleveland, so we decided, why not head out to the beach. So, we loaded the car, invited our friends, the Bjarnasons, and had a day of fun in the sun!!

Addie playing in the sand

She was laughing at something that Geoff was doing in the background.

Macie being her goofy self

Macie playing frisbee.
Sadly these are the only pictures that we have. I should have taken more, but apparently I was to busy playing~!!