Clip Chart

Just 2 weeks into Summer - and we had to pull out the old Clip Chart again - glad I hadn't throw it away! The girls really like this reward system - and it helps negate bad choices too. They start each day on GREEN. Then, they can go up or down from there as the day progresses. The number they land on at end of day - they get to put that many M&M's in their jars. At end of week, they get to eat all the M&M's or put them over ice-cream!  Plus, delayed gratification is always good too!

Grillin' + Chillin'

When we moved to this house 3.5 years ago, we left our grill behind and haven't had another one since. I LOVE to grill, as in Kansas City, you can grill outside comfortably at least 9 months of the year!  For Mother's Day this year, the girls and Mike surprised me with a new gas grill - and we picked it up today just in time for a Memorial Day grill out!  

Music playing . . .veggies on the grill, girls playing - life is good.

Veggie Kabobs and Grilled Sweet Onions - the best!

Burgers for the 3 of us and hot dogs - for Kate!

Bomb Pops for dessert!

Surprise!!!! Great Wolf Lodge Weekend

Mike and I planned our Great Wolf Lodge surprise for Memorial Day Weekend months ago but we didn't tell the girls - even though it was SO HARD not to - as they have wanted to go forever!! 

This particular Saturday morning, Mike took them to the park while I packed up the car with their luggage and a cooler filled with snacks - then we told them to get on their swimsuits as this was opening day at the pool!  They were ecstatic and we were on our way when we told them - Surprise, we are not really going to the pool - we are going to Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend! 

When we first arrived!!!!

Checking out our room - 

They gave use Wolf Headbands at check in . . .

SO excited over the bunk beds!

Ready to explore - 

Good night wolves . . . 

Wolves were painted on the walls next to the bunk beds - the girls named them all so they wouldn't be afraid of them - 

Molly loved the basketball goals in the water - 

Kate loves riding on Daddy's back . . . 

Just a little exhausted on the ride home . . 

From Kate . . .

Kate has been drawing and coloring constantly since school has been out. She loves making "bubble letters" and surprising us with pictures almost every single day. Here are just a few from this past week - she leaves them around the house for us.

Start of Summer!!!

First Week of Summer! Pools aren't open yet so relaxing and chilling . . . 

Smoothies with my girl!

Library for new books to read . . . 

Cousin Scavenger Hunt!

Molly put together a fun Scavenger Hunt for all 4 girls for Cousin Day! Kate & Hailey were a team and Katie and Ella were a team. And there was a prize at the end! It was adorable to see all the girls racing from clue to clue so fast, inside and outside the house - Molly was helping one team while I helped the other.

First "Cousin Day" of Summer!!!

The Hennes cousins came over for our first Cousin Day of the summer and all the girls were SO EXCITED!!!

Popsicles and chalk art . . .

Sprinkler fun . . .

Molly, 8 - Katie, 6 - Kate, 5 - Hailey, 4 - Ella, 2

Lunch time!!!

Afternoon Snack - Chocolate and Sprinkle Dipped Strawberries

Ella didn't take a nap with all the excitement - she didn't want to miss out! At 3:00, Kate wanted to read to her - and Ella was SO excited, and eventually . . . it put her to sleep. Sweetness.