Choo Choo

Today we went to the miniture trains. It's a little hidden out of the way place just off Rt. 29 where you can take free train rides 3 times a year. I remember going when I was about Andrew's age, and we have been taking the kids since Andrew was small and totally into trains. It's a group of mostly men who have these model trains as their hobby. The lines get really long, but it's worth the wait. It's a 2-3 mile track through the woods, tunnels and over bridges. There is the train station in back of Tim and Kendyl (eating soft pretzels while we waited).
Here she is ....... ready for her first train ride!
We also brought our friends Marianne and Joe (sitting behind Andrew). Joe LOVES trains.
After we enjoyed the trains, we headed across the street to the park for a picnic and playground fun. It was nice to relax on a Sunday with friends.
Kendyl loves to crawl anywhere and everywhere now!!!

Look Who's Crawling

Tuesday, July 22 Kendyl started to crawl!!!

Guess it's time to Kendyl proof.

Random Thoughts and Photos

Kendyl and I went out for a walk this morning (to see Leo the horse next door, but he must have been out for his Sunday walk). Every time we pass this one tree, she wants a leaf and it keeps her busy/happy for a long time!
Here's part of her "I'm tired" look. So cute. She also plays with her ears when she is tired.
We have these signs along the property line along the road as we tend to have unwanted visitors at time (picnic-ers, bird watchers, horseback riders, etc.). Seriously!
And today we decided to take a dip in the pool. Kendyl loves to splash in it.
And here is the sweetie after her bath. See the little boo boo under her eye. She fell off her rocking horse onto my foot. I think one of my nails got her. Sniff, sniff.

Happy Birthday to Me

The kids made me these awesome frames/wall decorations. They will be hung in the dinning room. The extra cool thing about them is that they made them with Tim (Mr. non crafty) and the supplies were bought at.....Lowes!!! I saw this in a Lowe's creative idea magazine and Tim actually did it with the boys. They are the decorative plates you can put on the ceiling near a light fixture. They painted them and added their picture. Andrew added more detail as his was a bit on the plain side.

I'll have to post a picture of them hung when it's complete.

Yummmmmmmmmm!

Last night Tim took us out for my birthday dinner, Hibachi. I have been wanting to do this for awhile and I'm so glad we did. The boys are still raving about it (it's been a few years). When the chef started by lighting a big flame across the grill, Kendyl almost jumped out of her skin. She screamed and jumped for Tim, then clung to him. She stopped crying quickly and enjoyed the rest of the show, safely in Daddy's arms.

She LOVED the dinner. Not the best picture, but she was so cute eating off of chop sticks. She enjoyed Tim's steak and chicken, my fried rice, and her favorite (which the boys enjoyed too) were the edamame (soy beans). She must have eaten 1/2 the bowl. My shrimp and scallops were delicious!

After dinner we ran some errands, then stopped at Milky Way Farm to see the animals and have some ice cream. So close, yet we have never been there. I'm sure we will be back, the ice cream was yummy.

I am so lucky!

This is what I get to see most nights! Tim doing the dishes. Many times he cooks too! He enjoys cooking, so who am I to complain. I was doing the cooking for the past few weeks as he was on a later shift, but we are all glad he is back to early hours so we can see him AND he can cook for us - LOL.
Kendyl is pulling up on everything. Here she is about to pull up on her music table.
She LOVES her kitties. Especially Sylvester.
It is so fun watching these two. Steven will make a great dad someday, as he is the world's best big brother. He love to pick her up, play with her, and even gets her out of the crib for me. In this picture Kendyl just woke up and Steven got her, and brought her downstairs (me watching anxiously the whole time). I have been enjoying watching their bond from the day we told Steven about having baby. He was so happy, and instantly started talking to her while she was in my belly. He would talk to her at least twice a day, and it seems to have worked! They are sooooooooooo close.

Last of the Camp Pictures

Andrew looks tired!! Here he is with all of his stuff ready to go home. This is just outside of his cabin. The white building behind him is the trading post and dining hall. There are rooms upstairs they use on rainy days (large gym type room).
Kendyl got a kiss from Steven before I did. Those 2 have a special bond.

Steven will finally do this bridge!!! Each year he goes further and further out, but this year he went all the way across! Yeah Steven.
And the suspension bridge. It doesn't look it, but it's quite wiggly going across - and fun!

Pictures from Camp!

Above: Andrew and his cabinmates in front of their cabin.

Below: Steven and his cabinmates on the steps in front of their cabin.

Andrew in his pioneering class. They had to build a shelter. They weren't able to finish in the time allowed :-( Later that night, they turned the shelter into a bonfire.

Kitty Ca

Kendyl's first official word!!! She has been saying it for about a week, but it keeps getting clearer and clearer. Ok - every animal is a "kitty ca" or "ca kitty", but still so cute! She also says Dada, Mama, and new this weekend are "oh dear" and "ut-oh". She babbles on and on, sounds like she will be a chatterbox.

The last 2 weeks have been huge for Kendyl. She is moving around the room by a 1/2 roll, 1/2 sitting motion that gets her where she wants to be. Thankfully slowly. She gets on her hands and knees and rocks, but doesn't move...until today. She took 2 crawling steps! And she can pull herself into the standing position quite easily (only started this about a week ago).

Looks like we will have a mobile little girl any day now.

Shhhhhhhhhhh

The boys are home!!!!! We left to get them at 8:15 and were at camp by 8:16. They both had a fantastic time. We picked up Andrew first, then Steven as we usually like to play on the suspension bridges when we get them and they are by Steven's area.

As expected, they were exhausted! After lunch we had to run an errand and they both fell asleep for a bit, then we got home and they slept for 3 hours, then I had to wake them for dinner! My boys NEVER nap.

Leaving in a few to go see fireworks. I'll update with some pictures tomorrow.

Oh - and Steven is out of the doghouse. He did send a postcard (it arrived today) AND he had a bunch of money left over at the trading post!!! Thankfully he hasn't picked up Andrew's spending habits yet.

Steven is in sooooooooo much trouble!!!

It's Thursday and I finally got a postcard from camp! But only from Andrew - nothing from Steven :-(

Andrew is having a good time, but didn't get one of the classes he wanted (golf - who knew?!?!). He is taking pioneering and canoeing, but didn't say what his 3rd class is.

I make sure to send mail so they get something every day. I even sent them each 2 care packages! Is one little post card too much to ask?!?!?

Hopefully I'll get one tomorrow.......................

I surely miss them more than they miss me.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

CAMP!!!

Even better this year that both boys went off to camp for a full week!!! Ok, I already miss them like crazy and it's only been 4 hours, but boy am I looking forward to the break. They have been on my last nerve lately. I can't believe how quiet it is without them.
Here are the boys in their cabins. They were both first in each of their cabins so they could pick the best bunk! Each picked a top bunk near the windows with no one near their head or feet.
This is Steven's first time at camp without a parent. He was so excited and could have cared less when we left. He is growing up so fast. Steven does have a friend staying with him and Andrew is at camp, but another camp site across the creek. He has heard so many wonderful things from Andrew - he was soooooooo ready to go.
And the tradition continues. After they are all checked in (find out the cabin, lice check, nurse/ENT check, depositing money in the camp store, swim test and picking our their bunk) then we all stop for ice cream at the camp store. Yummmm!

Happy Independence Day!!!

From the Winn Family!!!

Andrew wanted to make our flag shirts this year. I think they turned out pretty good! We each made our own shirt (ok, I made Kendyl's and the boys made Tim's).

We went to the Quinty's for a picnic (indoor because of the rain). Marianne made a delicious dinner as usual. I made some fancy drinks for the boys (red and blue ice cubes with 7-up). Steven and I made this flag cake, and brownies with red, white and blue star sprinkles.

Here are there flag shirts a bit more close-up. Kendyl's says "My First 4th of July) on the bottom. Bummer is that due to the rain, we didn't go to the fireworks. Well, seems most places set them off anyway, so we did get to see the Limerick ones on our way home (stopped in a nearby parking lot and watched from the car. Ugh - why does it rain on the 4th of July?!?!?