The Ottawa County Fair

Aidan showing off his band...once he got started with the rides there was no stopping him!

Nealy loves the dragon kid coaster. She really wanted to go on the big kid rides.

Both kids LOVED the big slide. I love the pic of Aidan's hair!

The train, for my train lovers

The carousel is another favorite

Up high in the airplane

This was one of Aidan's favorites, he was laughing so hard!

We took the kids to the Ottawa County Fair yesterday. Even though the Coast Guard Fair is literally blocks away, the other fair is bigger and less expensive, very little waiting in line...and they don't charge the adults when you have to ride with your little one! The kids had a blast on the rides, enjoyed the animals, and the french fries too!

Friends, Animals, and a Parade

On the tramp...

Aidan getting a turn with Charlie

Off roading

Meeting the goats

The start of Coast Guard Week...the Children's parade

Waiting for the parade to begin...

Aidan refused to put his feet off the curb. What a rule follower.

Look at the loot! Their bags were full! Not sure what the look on Aidan's face was for!

We've had a fun couple of days! We spent the evening with friends last night. Nealy loved having the "girls" around, and Aidan loved to explore. They both loved the animals, especially the goats and the new baby kittens!
This morning we went to the Children's parade downtown. I can't believe how much candy these two came home with!

More Beach Fun

Nealy, after losing a pig tail!

We enjoyed another day at the beach. Aidan has discovered a love of the water now, and kept pulling Wes or I back in saying "Back in da water...swim." He was having a blast! Nealy is a little fish, and has recently discovered a love for an swim tube! They are both getting so tan, and their hair is getting so light! Ignore the runny noses, seems like we've been hit with the summer colds again!

Coast Guard Ready!

We can't wait!

A Visit, long overdue!

Gramps, Grammie, Uncle Chuck, me,
Leah, Jael (holding Nealy), Lala (holding Aidan)

Leah, Nealy, Jael

It was so late, and Aidan kept bringing Leah books to read! Poor Leah!

Nealy is a very affectionate kid!

Nealy wanted pictures of "her" girls, above Leah and Nealy, below Jael and Nealy

Earlier this week we had a nice surprise, my uncle and cousins (whom I haven't seen in YEARS), stopped by for a short overnight visit. We ate, talked, laughed, walked downtown and to the beach, and stayed up way too late! Nealy was in absolute heaven, she LOVED having some "big cousins", and Uncle Chuck too (or Uncle Charlie, Uncle Chuckie, whatever the girls were trying to have her call him!) We all so enjoyed the visit, and hope it won't be another 15 years!

There once was a girl...

who had a curl right in the middle of her forehead, and when she was good she was very, very good, and when she was bad she was horrid.

Okay, so maybe I wouldn't go that far, but...

Isn't this...

The life???

My Brave Little Monkey

Getting started...it was a bit rough at first!

Finally figuring it out.

"Look at ME!"

All the way at the top!

It was fun sliding down!

Sitting with Nealy for the first ride. He's just too cool.

Riding the train again.

Today was a beautiful day. We got ourselves together and headed to our church fair. Of course the main attraction for the kids is always the tootsie roll train, and it proved to be quite a hit. Aidan needed a little encouragement the first time around (he didn't like having someone else, besides mommy put him in the train), but did wonderfully the rest of the time. Nealy, my daredevil monkey girl, wanted...had to try the "rock" wall. She was a few inches too little, but they let her try, it was a bit hard for her to reach the first few "rocks", but she ended up making it all the way to the top!

Wooden Shoes

If only the stork would deliver them like this...I'd sign right up!

On a horse drawn wagon outside the little chapel

Wooden shoe slide

visiting with the baby goats

Aidan loved the chicks

Taking the goats for a walk

The swing ride. I used to love this ride! The kids loved it, Wes, not so much!

Nealy dancing with the wooden shoe dancers. She was VERY serious about it!

We took the kids for another outing today. Dutch Village is a small amusement park about 1/2 hour away. Very little kid friendly, and as a bonus, kids under FOUR get in free! YEAH! The kids were able to slide, see some animals, walk a goat (or have a goat walk them!), go on some rides, and see some dutch dances! Nealy even got to participate in the last dance! It was a great laid back kind of day. Tomorrow should be much warmer, and will probably be another beach day!