Smith Center {Before Parents}

I love picture updates of my kids, it could be while I am out working by my hubby, a babysitter update, and even family.  I love see what my kids are up too and how much fun they are having, it always seems to ease my mind.  Here are some of the pictures that were sent to me via text.

 nolan in a pair of overalls which he only left on long

 enough for his mema to take this picture....he hated them

 a little picnic breakfast

 time with there papa

 time on the rhino

 can you tell he is loving his Kansas time

 picking mulberries and eating them

 uncle jake and koen came to spend time with these crazy kids.

 two peas in a pod

these two guys can't get enough of there papa and John Deere Tractors

 movie night

what else would they be reading but a John Deere book

My father-in-law, Randy, gets up pretty early around 5 am every morning.  Randy would get up and head into the bathroom and when he came out there would be Nolan standing there barely awake but ready to follow his papa where ever he went.  If papa went to walk out their boor Nolan had his boots on in 2 seconds and was right on his heals.  He did want to miss a thing and helped his papa with every chore.  They were calling him his little shadow.  When it's time to feed the cows he even copies his papa and says "boss boss boss.  He loves his papa time.  More stories of Nolan and Papa to come.

While the Kids are Away

We for sure played!  Honestly, the first week the kids were gone both of us had plenty of projects to get done.  Although, there was some work I had lots of girls nights, bible studies, and date nights.  I even managed to get 2 days where I just sat at the beach and looked at girly magazines.  One of the last days before leaving for Kansas a friend and her daughters came and hangout with me at the beach.  It was a good time but I was more then ready to see my kidos.

 beach time alone

 date night with friends 

We took advantage of the kid free time and got to have a double date night just the four of us.  Last time this happened it was about 9 years ago, before kids, so crazy!

 reese's cup ice cream, yes please!

 we could not but help document the time alone!

troy and i had heard about this store 5 below

it's our new favorite store and i think the kids will love it

Father's Day

For Father's Day celebration we were missing our 2 favorite people but I wanted to celebrate anyway.  Troy and I headed to Willow Creek Church where they do up father's day right.  Full with a fatherly sermon, followed by antique car show, free food from where ever you could think, games for all ages, and they finish off the night with a fantastic fireworks show and great music.  We had a blast.

Yes another selfie but it seems in our daily life we don't take too many of these.  We also got to meet up with our friends that are on staff at the church and play a few awesome games .  The dark pic is our glow in the dark stick heads.

Just the two of us

After years of living in Chicago threw college there is a lot of downtown Chicago I had not yet seen.  It was also much easier to see all of it with just the two of us.  We saw main attractions, went on long walks, got to see a lot of fun stores, and took troy into see the American Girl store.  He was in shock but it was very cool.

 the famous bean

 of course you can't visit the bean without getting a couple selfies

we had a lot of fun and then enjoyed diner.  it was a wonderful day!

Road Trip #1 {springfield, il}

Road Trip #1
Date: 6/6/2014
Destination: Springfield, IL
Information:  Taking Gracie and Nolan to meet up with Mema and Breckyn to spend sometime on the farm without there parents.  Our family also got to meet one of the newest Schenk's.

This little kids clips were a new addition to the car for our summer road trips.  I loved this idea I saw on pinterest and the kids are at the perfect age to get how awesome they are.  It took me about 5 minutes to make these little people.  The kids loved it and Nolan was so upset the first time his came down, that once it went back up, it stayed.

The rule was simple: as long as they were doing well, the clip stayed up.  But, if anyone made a bad choice and decided to be ugly or whiny, their clip came down.  If the clip came down, they would miss out on the next fun thing, whether it be a pack of gum at the next gas stop, an ice cream cone, or even getting to choose the next movie or having extra time on the iPad.

1 nap

1 no nap

what's a road trip without a couple of selfies

plus the kids love taking pictures of themselves

mostly with there tongues out

silly girl

road trip #1

gracie has the first turn with the number

gracie holding kolter

nolan ran back in from all the kids and his mema to

have his chance to hold this little guy.  he loved it!

My boy

just some sweet smiles today

Exploring

One thing to know about my kids is they never mind getting dirt and touching bugs.  My kids love to explore and aren't afraid to try things.  I love there inqusitive spirit.