Oliver is here!

Cousin Oliver was born the last night of our Wisconsin trip, so we picked a weekend after the family was home and settled together to stop by and visit. Both the kids (and especially Uncle Jeremy) were really excited to meet him, and Lenora especially wanted to witness Agatha as a big sister. I think seeing her example has her anticipating her own little brother even more.

Jeremy loves babies. Oliver had the baby thing down pat, too.

Learning to support his head. Real babies are so much more fun than baby dolls!

Snuggle Puppy says "hi" to Oliver!

Mom Amy (who looks amazing) and big sister Agatha.

Daddy Chris, rocking the Dad of Two deal.

The bigger kids took a reprieve to play chalk outside and we tried to get a picture of them all together. I don't know why ours insist on bringing out the "Here's Johnny!" face when a camera is introduced. Oh, and Lenora was so glad to pass down some of her favorite shoes, her jellies, to cousin Agatha, who looked just adorable in them.

Wilderness Camp

Ernie enjoyed another awesome camp hosted by Lincoln Parks & Recreation and Pioneer Park. This one was held at Wilderness Park, but he had some of his favorite counselors like Turtle back, and another favorite JC like Gooseberry. They got to do awesome stuff like creeking, and as a total surprise (to us at least) also learned to shoot pellet guns (!) and a combine bow (!). They invited families out on the last day for performances, awards, and a tour.

Ernie does not do hand motions.

Ernie does look judgmentally at those who do perform hand motions.

His award? "Wilderness Boss!" He brought some of Aunt Heather's awesome "The Boss" business cards and distributed them to friends and counselors.

He was also the regular pilot of their magic spot (which was way cool!) it even had a cannon loader, and a rudder! Piles of sticks are sometimes the best fantasy lands ever.

Katelyn's wedding shower

Cousin Katelyn is getting married, and that meant Lenora got to attend her first shower. She wondered why we were all going to shower together when we were all dressed up? But that did make sense as to why no boys were invited. Katelyn's Aunts threw a GORGEOUS shower with handmade details from Denise as decoration and a fun (Truly! A FUN shower game!) game of Couple's Jeopardy hosted by Debbie. Len and Maisie assisted in handing out the "Cash" prizes.

Denise's table decorating skills being shown off.

Len and Maisie reviewing all the gifts they got as "helpers." Who's shower was this, anyway?

Dad Days

We have an awesome Daddy, and awesome Grandpa's so we treated them to some of their favorite things to celebrate their awesomeness.

The kids made Dad some rhubarb crisp, which we enjoyed on the porch. His gift included farmer's market preserved meats and cheeses, which meant we all got to enjoy a dinner of crackers, homemade bread, meat, and cheese. The kids wondered why we don't eat like this all the time? Because all of Dad's favorite things are constipating, kids. That's what makes them Dads.

We took the g-rents to the Strategic Air and Space Museum. There are plenty of kid-friendly distractions among the exhibitions, so much so I'm not sure how much of aviation history the kids actually learned, but they DID have fun.

They even have a small inflatables park. Why isn't my Museum offering this? With a three-story space shuttle slide!!!

We love you, Dads!

Cullen's Birthday

Another great backyard birthday at the Erbs' house! Cullen is now 3!

Fitting as many kids as possible onto the awesome tire swing.

A construction-themed party means a great big chocolate cake (homemade, with homemade frosting) covered in "dirt." Delicious Oreo dirt. We are so lucky Natalie makes enough for all the adults as well as kids.
Happy Birthday, Cullen!

Officially a swimmer!

Ernie had his first formal swimming lessons this summer for two weeks at Woods Park Pool. He graduated with top marks from Level I, and he can now back float entirely on his own and do some crawl strokes and tread water. It was HOT every day of his lessons, but FREEZING in the pool. Lenora was a trooper sitting it out through the heat with Dad, and Dad was a trooper for pushing them both in the double stroller all the way there and back (and having cool snacks ready for them on the walk home). Ernie has earned more aquatic independence from the experience!

Goonies IRL 2013: Wisconsin!

We met our Goonie pals (as Lenora describes them, "Goonies means 'friends'") in Wisconsin this year. We had lovely cool weather to enjoy, and as always, lots of fun with our friends.
We are missing pictures from the indoor waterpark but the kids might have enjoyed that the most. Ernie kept Dad busy going up for four-story waterslides, and Len kept mom spinning in the lazy river for about three hours. This is why it's great to vacation with friends: someone else makes all the arrangements and plans the entertainments and we just go along!

A bucolic dream at a rest stop along the way. There was a winding stream lined with good ol' Wisconsin dairy cattle. Ern and Len enjoyed the view while holding the two stuffies they won out of the Perkins claw machine at lunch time.

SeSe had saved two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party favors she made for Teddy's birthday for the kids. Ern and Len couldn't wait to get decked out. That's Lenora's interpretation of "turtle hands."

Our first morning we all went to Paul Bunyun's restaurant for a family-style feast. Man, that coffee was good. Len's favorite item were the "sugared bagels" (i.e. fresh donuts) and we all ate to our heart's content.

S'mores by the fire. Annual staple!

We went to Baraboo, Wisconsin to see Circus World, the historic site of the original Barnum and Bailey's Circus winter housing and practice arena. The kids saw an incredible one-ring circus, magic show, and other feats of daring. AND they got to ride an elephant! Lenora was terrified. Ernie was mystified.

This is "The Human Hamster" (so kind and kid-friendly not to refer to it as the classic "Wheel of Death"). He later blindfolded himself, got on the outside of the ring, and tried to jump rope. When he missed a step and almost fell, even the ringmaster yelled "Whoa!!!" It was pretty horrifying to watch.

They let all the kids try out different circus tricks in the ring, learning from a family of performers. Len and Zeke try out their hula hooping skills.

One of the COOLEST parts of Circus World was their collection of historic circus wagons; the kind that would parade through town to get residents excited to attend the circus that night. The wood carving details were amazing, true works of art. Ern, Len, and Teddy Posed in front of one of their favorite wagons depicting their idea of "chivalry," or dragonness. One or the other.