Labor Day weekend, Zoo, etc.

One of our funday mondays we took Brianna to the zoo - we hadn't seen the cheetahs yet. They were really active for cheetahs - this one was very interested in Brianna (let's just say it's a good thing there was a fence here)! It kept hiding then peeking out at her... Brianna giving the goat some love:)

Give me a kiss!

Brianna stuck between the tusks:

Our favorite - the sea lions and seals!

Last sunday we wanted to do some putt putt in honor of Gary and my first date 13 years ago - but Great Times was closed. So instead we went to Rustic miniature golf and driving range. Here's an attempted pic of the kids...

Brianna's photo shoot - next to our butterfly garden!

Old fishing dog Boston - chilling in the boat over Labor Day weekend!

Ryan and Brayden going on the fixed jet ski!

Indian's game

For a Father's Day gift we told Gary we would take him to an Indian's game - but being gone all summer at the lake we almost didn't make it! Last minute we decided to go after one of Brianna's gymnastics classes. Bri wasn't too sure about it at first - she kept thinking Brayden was going to go play soccer or something. But as soon as she saw the field, she and Brayden's eyes lit up! It was such a fun night of eating junk food, dancing goofy to the music, and giving Rowdy high fives! We even won 4 free car washes for sitting in the winning section!

Baby shower for Alivia:)

Back in August I hosted a baby shower for my sister at my mom's house:) We're so excited to meet baby Alivia! Here are a few pics from the shower:
Brianna, Alli, cousin Amy: Ryan's mom Kathy, baby Braxton - and Ryan's sister Erin:

Denise, Aunt Marilyn, and Grandma Bryan:

Rita and Donna (Brianna and mom in background):

Bri, Alli, Amy

Aunt Georgeann, Grandma Rousseau, Suzanne:

Allie, Nellie, Amy:

The 3 girls - Alli, mom, me:) Take note of the baby carriage fruit bowl!

The cake:) Gary and I had a lot of fun making this!

Brianna's 1st day of Mrs. Johnson's 4 year old class

Today Brianna had her first day of Mrs. Johnson's 4 year old class. She will go to school every tues, wed, thurs from 8:30-11:30. She is going to have so much fun this year! Here are some pics of the first day! She finally got to wear her new "Twinkle Toes"! They even light up!

Getting ready for her class to start!

The Gogis girls:

Leaving her classroom... She said her first day wasn't long enough!

First day of 1st grade (at least for Brayden)

About 3 days before school started, Brayden said he wanted to have perfect attendance. That was ruined by day 1 - when he and his sister ended up getting a stomach bug:( Of course they were healthy all summer (it was all those last minute fun trips to the Incredible Pizza Company, pool, and the State Fair). So day 1 of 1st grade was spent on the couch watching tv (he just needed one more day of summer vacation)!
So here are some pics of his actual first day of 1st grade!
Getting on the bus: All the neighbors waiting for the bus (Sophi - 3rd grade, Chloe and Caleb - K, Brayden P and my Brayden - 1st, and in the back Sean - 3rd, Cameron - 4th)

Brayden was really happier than he looks - he was having trouble with the sun in his eyes;)

Not sure what this was all aobut - but he looks so sweet anyway!

The recovering kids:

The summer fun continues!

The last official day of summer break we went to the Indianapolis State Fair. It was SO HOT (our car said 103 degrees)!!! Regardless, we managed to have a good time and only spent $28 - that was the best part (aside from the fried cookie dough - my new favorite fair food)! Brianna especially liked the pigs this year - they even let the kids go inside their fenced in area. Brianna is my little farm girl - she said, "I'm really a fan of the pigs!" So cute! The next day they both had the stomach flu... Brayden showing off his basket of veggies at The Little Hands on the Farm!

Brianna picking a green apple!

Gotta love Brayden's presentation of his sister:)

Here are some more pics from our time at Crooked Lake! We had so many great memories up there this summer! Here are the kids outside of Club Paradise (great menu)!

After getting the boat in better shape we went and bought a tube. (Our friends, the Clodfelters were able to come and enjoy some tubing with us.)

At first Brianna was a little nervous about the whole thing but soon she had the signals down and was her typical daredevil self - trying out different positions and asking us to go faster (thumbs up)!

We started out seeing 2 swans this summer and the number kept multiplying. Here are 5 of the swans we decided to feed - thankfully they didn't get aggressive... They really were very pretty swimming by around sunset each night!

We got Gary into tubing! He's becoming a pro!

Here's a picture of me and Brianna (I really don't enjoy riding this way - I'm glad she learned to go by herself!)

Brayden would tube all day if you let him!

Brianna and Brayden sitting in their favorite spot on the boat! I think this was taken while Gary did some "fishing"!

One week the Steuben County Fair was going on (just walking distance from the cottage). It was so cheap to get in and the animals were very entertaining! Looks like my mom wants to kiss the pig! I think this is where Brianna gets it from!

I'm not really sure what this cow was doing to my mom's arm - or why she was letting it - but it was hilarious! It just kept doing this for several minutes!

We had to take a pic of this crazy looking bunny!

This was my favorite bunny - I love the eyeliner look! I wanted to bring it home with me;)

The kids posing for a pic outside one of the barns:

Aunt Alli with Brayden on their pontoon (and Alivia):

Uncle Ryan letting wild Brianna drive his boat!