Brianna's first gymnastics lesson

Last wednesday we signed Brianna up for a 4 week gymnastics class at The Gymnastics Company. She is in the same class as our neighbor Chloe. Brianna LOVED every minute of it - it was really very cute. Her class was very well thought out - they were constantly moving - balance beam, trampolines, bars, obstacle course... Brianna got 2 stamps afterwards (which means she was good;) and immediately said she wanted to go back again! We had to sit pretty far away from the class - so pictures weren't all that great. Here is their class sitting so nicely (Brianna - 2nd from left, Chloe - 4th from left). Trying out the trampoline:)

Before the class:

Animals and All that Jazz

We went to the zoo a couple weeks ago with the Huitsings - on a special night that they stay open late, have free rides, food, and jazz music. We had a good time! Here are all the kids lined up to see how tall they are: (Andrew, Brianna, Lauren, Brayden) A couple of pics on the Carousel:

Photo shoot;)

We've been trying to take pictures of the kids the last couple of days so we can avoid having to go somewhere and get them done professionally... Let's just say - we know why we pay professionals... Anyway, here are a few that we actually liked:)
Brayden actually smiling (not being overall goofy): Brianna is actually very smily all the time - just need her with her legs down;)

Fun trip to the Children's Museum today - here is the Egypt exhibit - very cool!

Riding a donkey:)

Now - we just need to work on the background of this picture - good thing Gary is a graphic designer!

So silly!

I love these kids!

More pics from July

Last week we had an awesome time at Lake George with my family! We got to see both my brothers, sister, grandmas, aunt and uncle, etc. The kids were great!
Here's a picture of me skiing! I was able to get up on 1 ski - but I just couldn't stay up and get my foot in the back part of the ski. So fun - but so sore afterwards! Even Gary tried to ski - he was so close every time - I was so proud of him;) Here's the boat driver - my dad! This picture says it all! (Somehow we didn't get any good pics of my mom - geesh!)

Uncle D and Aunt Kim came in from Cali! Daniel decided that Brayden needed a new name - O'brien! Of course it drove Brayden crazy - but I think he's starting to like the name! (O'brien was the brand of the life jacket that Brayden had been wearing!)

Brayden and Brianna had a great time with Uncle Matt and Bona (so did we)! Brianna LOVES Bona!

Brianna liked to sit on the edge and practice her rowing! It was so cute! However, she really didn't want to be in the lake (I guess she's like her momma - and prefers the warm/clean pool).

Putting her practice into good use!

Here's a pic of Brianna kissing the only fish we caught the whole week (and if you look in the background - you can see my mom)!

A little trip to the IMA (inside the actually art museum Brayden got giggling so much at all the nude sculptures/paintings that he ended up with the hiccups!)

Gary and Brayden trying to fix the air conditioning in the Grand Am - so cute;)

Grandma and Grandpa Camp 2009

While Gary and I had a blast in Vegas the kids were having a great time at Grandma and Grandpa Camp! They probably did enough activities to last the entire year! They went to the zoo, Science Central, The Old Fort/Three Rivers Festival, Aunt Alli's lake, swimming, watched a movie in pj's... (to name a few!) Today we met them at the place where Gary and I had our first date and got engaged - Taylor Lake! It always brings back wonderful memories! Here's a pic of Gary showing Brianna the special lake;) (By the way, I jumped in this lake in the middle of January - snow on the ground... BRRRR!!!! I could barely breathe!) Who loves Grandma and Grandpa camp???

Feeling the sacred sand;)

Totem pole at the prayer deck!

The kids eating their dice suckers from Vegas - fun little souvenir (kept them busy for the entire ride home!) Two exhausted kids!

Vegas Baby!

Gary and I went to Vegas this last week for our 9th Anniversary! (Last time we went to Vegas was our 1st Anniversary). The first day we went to the pool and went out for sushi at a place called Japonais - we discovered the spicy tuna roll - LOVE THEM (ordered more)! The second day we hung out at the pool again spent way to much on a greek salad with chicken... I was so mad it cost $17 for a tiny little bowl - the chicken was equivalent to a quarter size of a breast - BOOOO!!! That night we ate at Joel Robechan's restaurant in MGM - we had no idea what to order so we got everything off of the express menu - it was amazing! I can't even tell you what it was that we ate! Afterwards we saw the Cirque du Solei show - KA - AWESOME! Our favorite part was when they did a fighting seen hanging from the ceiling and sideways on a stage (which was also turned sideways) - it was crazy! The 3rd day - we went back to the pool then ate at Kokomos - got the biggest crab legs I've ever seen! Here's a pic! The conservatory at the Bellagio where we stayed in a suite that overlooked the fountain show! I loved this place - always smelled like fresh flowers - the hydrangeas were awesome (reminded me of our wedding!)

Outside Caesar's Palace! (We checked out all the hotels - and I can't believe it - but we didn't gamble even once! I really wanted to play some video poker but we were just too busy!)

Panoramic view of the Bellagio pool:

Panoramic view from the moving sidewalk toward the strip from the Bellagio:

Great Wolf Lodge/Kings Island with the Gogis' and Harmons

This past week we went on a family vacation with the Gogis'/Harmons (minus Mike and Laura and fam). We decided to spend the night at the Great Wolf Lodge - then head over to Kings Island! We really had a great time! The kids were absolutely great! They were little daredevils on all the water slides - it was so much fun for me to be able to go on all these really fun slides with everyone! Some of them were pretty crazy - but the kids just kept saying they wanted to do it again! At Kings Island the kids really enjoyed Nickelodeon Universe - they went on every ride that they could! Brayden was able to go on some bigger rides - and loved every minute of it! These pictures are kind-of backwards!
Gary with Gary the snail and the kids:) Our favorite - Spongebob!

Gary took a picture of all of us on the roller coaster!

Patrick!!!!

Loved the fountains:)

All the kids plus me and Brad - 0ops! (Brayden, Grace, Grant, Sam, Brianna)

Brayden and Brianna loved sleeping in the same bed - except when Brianna woke Brayden up earlier than he wanted!

Pa Pou, Brianna, and Yia Yia!

Self-explanatory:

Brayden and Brianna in front of a creepy bedtime show at Great Wolf ("There's nothing to be scared of here") - kids loved it of course!

Gary and I at the slowest restaurant - food was good though!

What in the world are Grant and Sam doing - eating their feet???

This is our only picture inside the waterpark at Great Wolf - hopefully we'll get some from other people!