The Daily Soup: September 2016

July and August, you came and went too quickly but you were good to us!

After brunch one morning in downtown Des Moines, the kids wanted to check out the sculpture park. I commented how impressed I was by the number of people roaming the park that morning, but Charlie corrected me that the people were there playing Pokemon Go. And he was right! Faith in humanity not restored :(.

Lucy took full advantage of the summer PJ day at daycare. She is little but she is fierce!

We enjoyed a nearly-empty Science Center one late Sunday afternoon. Charlie's perfected creating a giant bubble.

And at least on this Sunday, we provided a helpful smile in every aisle in the pretend grocery store.

I was glad to see that Charlie acquired some of my OCD tendencies as he refused to live the mural until all of the animals were organized. Now if only he felt that way about his Legos...

We took a family vacation with my sister and her family to the beach near Beaufort, South Carolina. We had a great view and awesome access to the ocean from the house that we rented.

We thought we found a deceased turtle on the shore, only to find out that it was a deceased (giant) crab. Total confirmation that I'm not a fan of seafood.

The crew after dinner one night - we are really lucky to have such great cousins on both sides of our families.

The majority of our trip was spent in swimming suits but we captured one family photo!

The twins in their gray "golf" shirts, gray shorts and sunglasses. Apple fell right by the tree for this one.

Lucy held her own most days but being a beach bum can wear on a girl. She spent this particular dinner sleeping on BJ's shoulder.

A post-dinner stroll in the low-tide...the accompanying mud seemed to be the biggest hit of the vacation.

Cousin love.

We discovered that Beaufort, SC is home to the largest kazoo manufacturer in the US so we felt like a tour was only appropriate. I'm fairly certain the kids thought that we were joking until we parked in front of the building.

After watching a short video on the history of the kazoo (complete with finger puppets to portray historical figures), and completing a brief walking tour of the manufacturing area, we were able to make our own kazoos. It's a shame that I haven't been able to find said kazoos since we arrived home...

The rest of the vacation was appropriately spent in the ocean or in a nearby pool

On August 16th, Lucy Jane turned 4. She picked out a special pink dress for the day and was happy to have a gigantic chocolate chip muffin waiting for her at breakfast.

I've decided that I can handle Chuck E. Cheese 1-2 times a year because the commercials seem to taunt the kids. The kids had a blast and my antibacterial gel received a workout that night.

Charlie decided that he should get dressed up to present Lucy with her birthday presents. Never a dull moment with that boy.

Thrilled with her new Batman backpack.

And matching Batman watch.

And really happy with her new dollhouse!

We were back in Cascade the weekend after Lucy's birthday to have a joint birthday celebration with my nieces Hannah and Jacey and we lucked out to learn that it was going to be the first annual Hometown Days in Cascade. Grandpa Bill entered us in the town parade and, on really short notice, we decided that the theme would be some old school Cascade High School attire. This is when it pays off for Grandma Kathy to have kept so much "memorabilia" :). Between the theme of CHS playing up to the parade crowd and the general cuteness of the grandkids, we won 2nd place!