not even 2 and he's already a TROUBLE maker!!

A couple of weeks ago, Andrew woke up in the morning and went downstairs.  I was at work and Albert and Alexis were still sleeping.  Albert said he woke up to the sound of the sliding glass door opening so he went down to check it out.  Andrew had his shoes on and was half way out the door!  This guy is definitely gonna give me a heart attack some day!  I don't even want to think about what might have happened if Albert didn't wake up.  He has been able to open the blinds, unlock the door and open it for quite awhile but we have always been around so I wasn't that worried about it.... until now!  Albert found a heavy duty lock that we put all the way at the top so he can't reach it.  

I'm sleeping much better at night knowing he can't wander out by himself!

Here are some pictures of after we put the lock on and he couldn't get out... he was so sad!

this week...

Lately, if it hasn't been raining or storming, it's been super hot!!  Earlier this week I took the kids out for a little shopping trip with me.  When we came home, we went to the garden to pick some peas and on our way in, the tornado siren started going off.  It was unexpected so we scurried down to the basement, grabbed a flashlight and our peas and hid under a blanket in the closet under the stairs.  

The kids had no clue what was going on and had so much fun!

Alexis talked Lolo into buying this outfit for her!

practicing her A's on the driveway in her new swimsuit

coloring time

We went back to the park downtown Oswego.  I love it because it's so close (about a 2 minute drive) and the kids love it because of the playground and river.  Andrew could seriously throw rocks in the water all day!  And he would probably jump in if I let him.

hanging with the cat in the hat at the mall

using the roller coaster as a slide.... going down upside down

fun weekend in Metamora

Growing up, I always looked forward to June.... not only was it my birthday month but it was also time for Old Settler's Days.  I was excited to share that with my kids this year.  I knew they would love all the rides and games and experiencing it with their cousins.  

1st ride was the ferris wheel!

hanging out with abraham and mary :)

taking a break for a snack and enjoying listening to Jake Maurer perform!

playing tea party at grandma and papa's

We ended the weekend back home at the pool.  It was our 1st time this year and the kids loved it!

We got home and found a bunch of peas in the garden!  I couldn't believe how fast they chowed them down!

Lava cake

I told the kids I was going to make a lava cake.  As soon as Alexis heard "cake," she stripped her clothes off and begged to get up on the counter to help me.  She refused to wear her apron (it's hanging up in the back) because she didn't want it to get dirty!  I helped her up and looked down to see Andrew putting on the skirt Alexis had just taken off.  And he, of course, wanted to help too!

"smiling" for the camera

very excited to help with the frosting!

he couldn't wait to dig his little fingers in!

Alexis was digging in too, ever so dainty.  She was moving around so much that none of the pictures came out very good of her.  

We took a little stroll around the block while the cake cooled off.

our first attempt at a lava cake and it turned out sooo good!!!

reading their new books from the library

More fun in the sun!

Summer is almost here and it's getting H-O-T!  The kids want to be outside every chance they can!

Alexis loves driving Andrew around in the Jeep!  He drives sometimes too but he hasn't quite got it down yet.

We love having a little water/sprinkler park so close to our house!  

We discovered a new place to play downtown Oswego and I think it's Andrew's new favorite!  There's a really nice playground and a walkway to the Fox River.  Andrew LOVED all the rocks and could have stood there throwing rocks in the water all night.  

playing in the water table in the back yard

trying to shoot the clouds with her squirt gun

watering the peas with their squirt guns

Oswego had their town carnival called Prairie Fest this weekend.  Albert took the kids on Friday while I was working.  When I got home from work, Grandma and Papa surprised us and came up a day early!  Lolo, Lola and Kristine were also over so we had some of Lola's cooking and then all went to the festival together.  We enjoyed a funnel cake and lemon shake-up's and the kids had fun playing.  Poor Andrew was too small for all the rides :(  but I think I was more upset about it than he was.

We went to the parade downtown Oswego today and it was so much fun!  We got there a little early to find a good seat and ate some Jimmy John's for lunch while we waited.  Andrew was a little restless waiting but once the parade started they both sat in their chairs the entire hour of the parade and watched so good!  Andrew got up a few times to pick up candy but he sat most of the time eating piece after piece of candy!  Alexis didn't get up once and only had 1 or 2 pieces.  

chillin' in the shade waiting for the parade to start

She was one happy little girl when we got home and saw an entire bag full of candy!  

Block party, fire trucks and s'mores!

We had a really fun weekend last weekend!  It started out on Saturday when our neighborhood had it's annual block party.  This was our 1st one so we weren't sure what to expect but we were able to meet a few new neighbors and the kids had a blast!  They loved being able to ride their bikes in the street and run outside from house to house and play with all the other kids!  It was a bit exhausting trying to keep an eye on them but it was a beautiful day and just nice to be outside meeting new people and grilling out.  

 

The kids kicked off the festivities with a bike parade down our street.  Andrew was the youngest one out there.  He's on the far right and Alexis is 3rd from the right.  

I think the kids' favorite part was when the Oswego Fire Department showed up!  Andrew was so excited when he saw the fire truck and ambulance coming down our street.  They parked right in front of our house and all the firemen got out and gave out plastic fire hats-- black for boys and PINK for girls!  Alexis loves her pink hat.  "Pink is my favorite!" she said.  They let all the kids go inside the trucks, look around and sit in the seats!  Even I was excited to see inside!

Future fireman?

He didn't want to get down, of course!

On Sunday, Auntie Kristine and Andrew came over for a little cookout.  Chef Andrew whipped up a yummy potato salad and we had chicken and veggies on the grill.  For dessert, we had grilled peaches with a mascarpone topping!

Chef Daddy hard at work while the kids enjoy a few spins at ring around the rosie. 

And then came Alexis's favorite part of the weekend......

S'mores!!!

She didn't like to get her hands dirty and sticky but she loved the chocolate!!!

Look at Andrew's face..... what a goofball!