Friday, July 26, 2013

Winding down the summer

This is going to be about  a 2 week catch-up post so please bear with me.
 
Two Friday's ago, the night before Holiday World, I woke up with chest pains that lasted for about 2 hours.  I found out Saturday morning that if I ate they would go away.  After it happened it again Saturday, I headed to Urgent Care on Sunday.  After some blood work and x-ray's it was determined to be a peptic ulcer.  I got some Prevacid and headed home, after a 4 hours of course.
 
Steve arranged to take the next day off, only because he wasn't for sure if I would need additional tests or have to see my doctor and it's hard to find last minute coverage so he arranged it early on Sunday.   He had the grand idea of letting the kids help him wash my car to let me rest, I was getting woke up with pains multiple times a night.  Bless his heart, he tries.  I had to answer the door three time while they asked for other things they needed and he stayed outside while I cleaned up the wet kids.  He tries so hard.
 
 Steve hadn't been swimming with us all summer so he planned on going to the pool.  Hottest day all year and it was closed due to a filter leak.  We had to do something so the baby pool it was. 

 I was trying to lay low that week but I had to get to Perry County to see Sharon.  It turned out to be the most relaxing, best visit ever.   The kids played so well together, Sharon & I got lots of chatting in, and both kids fell asleep on the way home giving me a quite ride.  
I am not against arranged marriages, these two would have beautiful children.
 I ended up back at the doctor on Friday for a follow-up visit, I was still having pain in the middle of the night.  She still thinks it an ulcer but I just needed stronger medicine.  She have some samples, I took the first one on Saturday and it was the first time in 9 nights I did not wake up.  Praise God!!!  I was finally getting rest.  I have felt great since then too.  I have 3 more days of medicine, hoping it's all healed.
 
Monday & Tuesday of this week were play dates.  Tracey & the kids came over Monday and Luke, Cooper's friend from preschool, came over Tuesday.  Cameron also threw away his pacifiers away on Monday.  Bedtimes have been great!   We had a few bad nap days but the past two days have been better.  One day he was crying out, "mommy, I can't do it".  Break my heart. 
 
We had swim lessons on Wednesday and both boys got promoted to the next level.  Cooper will be level 2 in the fall and Cameron level 1.  I am so proud of both of them.   During Cameron's class this week he jumped in all by himself and he glided to me under water.  He was doing so well I even backed up a bit.  Swim lessons aren't cheap and I plan on doing at least a total of 4 sessions between now and next Summer, but it's so worth it.  We celebrated by having lunch and treats at Chiller's. 
 
 We headed back to the zoo on Thursday, this time with my mom and niece and nephew.  My mom buys our membership every year with the stipulation we all go together at least once. 
 Going with my mom is nice because she spends the money on carousel and train rides. 

 This is hilarious, you can't see her but that is Emma behind my mom pushing her up the hill.
 We had about a 45 minute wait for the train.  I waited for that dang thing longer than I did any ride in Disney.  Cameron was practicing his different faces, this is sad.  I could eat him up.

 
We had fun day today with trips to the library and park.  I have an all day training tomorrow for Community Bible Study then we will be in full fledged countdown mode.  I think I'm gonna enjoy kindergarten for about a week then I'll be over it and want Cooper home.  His teacher list just got posted, we are about to leave now to find out.  So excited!!!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Holiday World 2013

This past Saturday we made our annual trip to Holiday World.  My dad gave us his company tickets which also included a meal ticket.  We spent a total of $9.  My mom, my nephew Layne, and Scott also joined us.  The weather was perfect and it didn't seem too busy.  We skipped the water park again, I have no idea how you can get it all done and do the water park in the same day.  Next year we may have to stay all night and get a two day pass.
 
We made a quick stop at the carousel before heading to Holidog's Funtown. 



 
Cameron was pumped, he got to ride some big rides.  He just made the 36 inch requirement.

 
The doggie roller coaster is always a favorite.
 
New this year are the teacups.  I was excited because they teacups were closed in Disney.  They were slow, couldn't get them to spin much.

Let me tell you about Cameron, he was Scott's shadow.  All he wanted was Uncle Scott!




 




 
Growing up the Tilt-a-Whirl was always a favorite ride of mine, my boys love it too.

 
I have a big gap where we didn't get any pictures.  For the first time we got Cooper on Raging Rapids and Frightful Falls.  He is getting over his fear of getting water in his eyes, and he loved both.   Cameron complained of being tired when we were line for the Raging Rapids so my mom took him to get something to drink and walk around, but we did get him on Frightful Falls, the log ride.  He rode with Scott of course and oh.my.goodness!   He loved it!  He pitched a fit when I got him out.  We rode the scrambler and came back for a second go at it.  Not even three yet and already a thrill seeker.
Even after the big rides all the kids seemed to enjoy the small ones as well.



 
We visited the Christmas section in the afternoon and it was pretty much empty.  


 
Cooper almost didn't get on this ride.  I was with Cameron and my mom said he got really nervous.  Once the ride started it was all smiles and laughs.  I think him and Layne rode it three times back to back.







 
We stayed until around 5 before calling it a day.  The kids were pooped.  Cameron was a trooper not getting a nap, he fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot.
 
This was Cooper's third trip with me, Steve & I both took him last year, but it was our first trip as a family.  So this is our first Holiday World family picture. 
 
We tried to get one of the boys but they had about enough at this point.  
 
We ran into Holidog one our way out so of course hugs and high fives were needed.  Even Cameron gave him a high five, that is a major accomplishment.

 
What a great day we had, I love making sweet memories with my family.  We are going to be in trouble when Cooper reaches 48 inches for the roller coasters and Cameron hasn't, he will not like that all.  Cooper is already asking when we can go back, a sure sign of a fun time.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Cows and VBS

It's VBS week!  I signed Cooper up for VBS at Charlestown Independent Church since our church is no longer having it.  I used to go there, got married there, and know half the congregation so I felt confident in leaving him.  Plus, his buddy Luke from school goes there, he had a blast all week long.  They had a Duck Dynasty theme called God's Dynasty.  It was neat.   My hat is off to all those who help work and prepare for the week.  I can't imagine how exhausting it is. 
 Friday was cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A, which meant you could dress as a cow and get free good.  I know my costumes are totally ghetto, I mean they look more like puppy dogs.  At least they are cute puppy dog cows.

 Before heading to lunch we had one very important item to take care of.  Would you expect anything less than a Darth Vadar backpack for kindergarten?
 I forgot that there would workers dressed as cows.  Cooper was all about it, Cameron on the other hand was clinging to me.
 We met the McAfee's, Jake and Cooper are something else.
 Alicia walked off to take a picture of Jake & Cooper, which caused Nora to freak out, I tried to calm her down which caused Cameron to freak out that mommy was holding someone else.  That's alright, I got this.
 These poor cows, Cooper and Jake wouldn't leave them alone.
 
Fun, fun time at lunch, thanks for meeting us McAfee clan.
 
Friday night was VBS family and celebration night.  They had food, bounce houses, and prizes.  I'm considering putting a pile of tires in our yard, might be good entertainment.

 At the end of each night they had some type of contest, usually they took the adults and volunteers.   They winner, or loser depending on the way you look at it, got a shaving cream pie in the face.  Tonight, after  Beth gave all the prizes out, her husband Josh snuck around the corner and got her.  Awesome!  Beth and Josh wrote the curriculum for VBS, I can't say again how awesome it was.
 
This was Cooper's first VBS and it was a total success.  Thanks Charlestown Independent Church!