Six Flags

Today seems like a good day to ride a roller coaster, or 3 or 4 right?  Janet was nice enough to take Josie and Lincoln on some of the kiddie roller coasters so Kevin and I could go on the crazy ones.  Kevin was a good sport and went on most of the stuff I wanted him to.  I love me some good roller coasters.  Not so much a fan of standing in line for 90 minutes for a 5 second thrill though.  Oh well, at least it wasn't boiling hot.  We even got to ride on Goliath.  Kevin chickened out on this one.  Goliath is a wooden roller coaster that features the longest drop, steepest drop and fastest speed.  It was crazy fun, but way to short. Great day!

-Janet and me with X-flight behind us

-Standing in line for...I think Raging bull.  This is by far my favorite

-Taking a quick time-out

-A selfie on the swings

-Josie and Lincoln with Elmer Fudd and Bugs bunny

-Waiting....waiting....waiting for Goliath!

-Kenz and Lincoln

-Josie and Linc on the Krazy Kups

The Museum of Science and Industry

Time to head into the city! There are so many great museums in Chicago, and so little time. We opted to hit the Museum of Science and Industry since it had a little something for everyone. We spent the entire day here and we were tired! Wish we could have had a bit more time but alas we tried to see it all. I think my favorite exhibit is the cute little chickens, watching them hatch is fascinating. I know Lincoln's favorite exhibit was the model train/city, we had to drag him away from this. Conor really enjoyed the real submarine tour we were able to go on, this was really interesting for everyone. Josie loved anything that was hands on, she liked the weather exhibit area, the cow milking exhibit and the kids play area. It really is amazing how many neat things they have under one roof.

-Witt and Kellogg kids headed into the fun

-The model train area

-Photo op in front of the spirit of America plane-we were waiting for Kevin to drag Lincoln away from the trains.

-Everyone playing a hands on game in the body/nutrition area. 

-Can you say heaven for Lincoln?  The chance to climb inside a giant tractor???  Yes please. 

-Josie, Kenz and Connor in the steam engine

-Astronaut Conor!

-Astronaut Josie

-Picnic in the parking garage-the view can't be beat!

-All of us right outside the submarine tour.  Lincolns leg is in the picture---what  a bear.  Traveling brings out the best in my kids. 

-Conor and Galen trying out some weather equipment

Lake Geneva and Sunday chillin

Galen and Kevin headed out to play some golf and Janet and I did some walking while the kids went to the playground and made slow motion videos.  We met back at the house and then went up to Lake Geneva.  We walked around a small portion of the lake edge and looked at all the really pretty mansions-oh the lifestyles of the rich.  We enjoyed some of the cute local shops and then ate dinner on the outside patio.  We spent Sunday at church and relaxing together.  I do have to document that I smoked Janet and Galen at Dutch Blitz!  Proud day for me.  

Kevin lost many a ball this day in those dang water hazards

Ice-cream at Lake Geneva

Sandwich's on the patio

The 1st of many car rides with the cousins-wish we were always so happy in the car

Putting up our feet and watching some movies...so fun to be all together

I wish we could eat at this dinner table a lot more often.  The company and food can't be beat!

CHICAGOOOOO!

We have been looking forward to this day for months! Our bags are packed and we are getting on a plane bound for the Witt's house. We can hardly contain ourselves.  Besides getting to see the Witt's and going to Chicago, the plane ride sure sweetened the deal.  We got to the Witt's Friday evening and had so much fun checking out the new kitchen and catching up.  We stayed up late and the kids got ready for the week long sleepover party!  The next morning Katy arrived Yay!  We haven't seen Katy for almost 2 years, since her mission.  We are so lucky our paths crossed with a little help. 

The crew headed across the parking lot in the Spokane airport

It is finally our turn to get on the plane! So hard to wait. 

Lincoln with his nose pressed to the window looking down below

We have arrived!  Yummy breakfast with the Witt family. 

Another awesome day on the boat!

This was our best day yet at the lake.  We invited the Willard's to come along and the sun and the good hot weather invited itself.  We couldn't have asked for a better day.  No one wanted to head home.  Josie did awesome on the knee board today, she even tried a few times to get up on the skiis, no luck....maybe next time.  We did a lot, a lot of tubing, a lot of wake boarding, surfing, some skiing and a lot of swimming.  We even saw a beautiful bald eagle.  Ahhh....summer days, with friends, a boat, the sun so hot you just gotta get in the water and more blessings than I can count...is my kind of happy place.

Fire Station Open house

On the way home from picking Conor up at diabetes camp we stopped to get slushies at Maverick since Josie's b-day stop was a bust and I owed the kids for working really hard one afternoon hauling wood. We were leaving and saw a sign advertising the firehouse open house. We had some time to kill since Daddy was out of town so we headed over for the free hot dogs and fun. It turned out to be a really cool event. We were able to watch a reenactment of a car accident and the firefighters using the jaws of life. Josie stood in line for about an hour to get a beautiful butterfly painted on her face. All the kids got a chance to spray the fire hose and climb in all the trucks and ambulances. Lastly we got to see life flight land and then climb in the helicopter and see how it works. The crazy wind and dust that is kicked up when the helicopter landed was unexpected, but a fun bonus. Hats off to those who keep us safe in Spokane.

Josie's is 7!

Josie celebrated all day! She woke up to a decorated room, we headed off to swimming lessons, we went to the movies with Lyndsey and then Lyndsey stayed to play all day. We had Josie's favorite broccoli and cheese soup for dinner then we had cake and ice cream and presents with the Willard's. What a fun day! She also got to invite a few special friends rollerskating a few days later. The rollerskating rink was a little toasty and the slushie machine was broken but we rolled with it and came home to play in the water on the trampoline, paint our nails and laugh and play with her besties. 7 years has sure flown by. I hope the next 7 slow down.

-Josie is 7 today!  We decorated her door with streamers

-Chocolate cake and candles for Josie

-Making a wish and blowing...

-PRESENTS!

-I think this was her favorite present - hair chalk

-Beautiful Josie with Riley, Delaney and Lauren

-Rollerskating

-Opening presents with the girls

-Trying to cool off