Legoland and SeaLife Trip

This summer we didn't venture too far from home...with the birth of Cam and Matt's summer camps a trip seemed quite daunting.  Heck, a day at SeaLife and Legoland seemed a little daunting!  We had never been to either of these attractions so we made it our summer outing.

SeaLife took less than an hour maybe...just not much to see as you weave through the dark hallways.  The kids enjoyed the little scavenger hunt where you get stamps for your booklet.  It was neat to see the fish but it all just seemed so...small...and overpriced.

We would give Legoland a "just okay" rating as well.  Again, it's small and when you enter it's a little confusing as to what you're waiting in line for, where to go, what to do, etc.  There are fun aspects of it, but definitely not for the price.  Our kids had fun, but I think they would have just as much fun at a park or free exhibits elsewhere.

Matt worked in the morning so we chose the 12:15 time spot to enter (if you buy tickets ahead of time you choose a time slot to ensure entry) and we were headed home by about 3:30 or 4pm.  I would say it's worth going to once--but try to find a coupon!  I still haven't told Matt what we paid for the double-entry to both places...he would die!

Anything is fun when we get to do it together, and hey, we got to mark it off of our summer bucket list!  

The Blur {that is the Past Four Weeks}

Cam is growing, Cade is starting Kindergarten soon, and Reese keeps asking me to put make up on her...I'm far too hormonal and emotional for time to be rushing by so quickly!

July pretty much has felt like a blur.  Thankfully I can look back through my camera roll and try to piece together what we were up to!

Fourth of July outfits for all!

It's going to take some practice capturing a good pic of all 3 at once...

So relaxed, enjoying a quiet and uneventful 4th of July.

The big kids headed to GB to enjoy, no doubt, a wildly loud 4th of July.  They had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa Keeley and the Beck cousins.

We napped, went to Dunkin Donuts (I'm addicted to their Caramel Swirl iced coffees) and went for a walk for our celebration.

And napped some more...

Matt spends most of July traveling for Breakthrough Basketball camps and recruiting so he headed out July 5th to be gone for 14 of the next 18 days.  I felt bad for him as I know he hated to leave Cam when he was so little.  Luckily our family and friends helped me out by either taking the kids or coming to stay with us during most of this time.  Gentry came back for a few days for what we called "newborn baby training" as she is set to embark on her own adventure with a newborn in October!  She did great.  She's ready!

Cam is the 3rd child to NOT be enamored with the swing.

Off to Cam's one-week-old doctor's appointment.

Already back up to birth weight, woo-hoo!

Gentry and I were feeling strong and took the kids out for the morning to Crown Center and Union Station.

It was a fun outing...but wore everyone out...including me.  Way too much walking for me!  What was I thinking?!

Mom, you've got to take better care of yourself!

Luckily there are many hands wanting to hold Cam at all times...

Matt was back home for my birthday weekend and my parents came back to town and voted for a trip to the farm (Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead) because who doesn't love that place?!

Reese (the new middle child) knew just how to play her cards to get a pony ride...

And feed the goats.

Being manly...or creepy.

Aunt Beth came for a visit to meet Cam all the way from Fresno!  She and Christy helped me to celebrate my birthday and Reese was stoked Beth got to see her gymnastics class.

And introduce Cam to snap chat!




Matt was off again and my parents took Cade on a trip with them to the Wisconsin Dells (he had a blast!) and it looks like Cam and I just hung out and took lots of selfies.

In Cam's third week of life his cord FINALLY fell off.  Then it proceeded to bleed for the next few days which freaked me out.  I'm finding this kid is just different enough from the others to make me feel like a new mom!  After extensive Google searching and calling the nurse-line, turns out it may bleed after the cord falls off and it's not a cause for concern.

Once the cord (and circumcision ring--which warranted more calls to the nurse line) fell off it was time for a "real" bath!






My helpers were in tow and it looks like bath time is Reese's specialty!


My high school bestie, Audrey, came to work her magic taking newborn pics just as she's done with the other kids.  We had the best time just chatting away as if we get to see each other every day of our lives--I love that we can always pick up where we left off.

She got some great pics!

We keep getting fun packages in the mail!  Cute clothes from my aunt, MNU gear from the alumni association and this fun quilt from Matt's aunt.  Thanks, everyone!

Someone wake me when it's football season...

Because who doesn't love having a camera roll full of a squishy sleeping baby?!

We decided to road trip to GB for a few days to pass the rest of our time while Matt was away.  The kids traveled really well--it just took us an extra hour longer than usual to get there...

Cam took his first bottle at 3 weeks...because come October, somebody's gonna need to be willing to take a bottle.  Again, the helpers loved being involved!

We really hit a fussy stage there for awhile where Cam was just inconsolable in the late evenings.  G-mom and Papa purchased this vibrating bouncy chair to help combat it.

When Matt returned home this is how Cam spent his usually fussy evening-time...guess he was just glad we were all back home together!

I can't believe tomorrow is August 1st...I'm just thankful I still have two months until I start school instead of two weeks!  Whew!