This is FUN!

Bartlesville has this really cute amusement park for children called Kiddie
Park.  All of the rides are sized for kids ages 3 to 6, 
even the roller coaster (which is much smaller than I remember when I rode it as a child).  The best part is that most of the rides still cost only 25 cents to ride with a few of the larger rides being 50
cents.  Phoebe and Audra both really enjoyed the Merry-go-round.  The boats and the train were favorites for Audra.  I think it was because she was able to go on them "all by ourselves" with her cousins!

PaPa and Grandma

Phoebe had a great time "getting to know" her PaPa Jim and Grandma Paula and I am pretty sure that they enjoyed her as well!  We sure miss them now that we are back home but can't wait until they come to celebrate Phoebe's first birthday!

Fun in the Sun

Since the Bartlesville pool is still stuck in the 80's (no real kids area or fun slides) we decided to take a trip to the new aquatic center in Coffeeville, Kansas.  Phoebe had a great time playing on the splash pad.  

Audra had a great time at the pool as well.  I tried to get her to go down the slide with me but she would have nothing to do with it. Perhaps it was because they would not let her take her green water ring with her which she insisted she needed with her at all times =)

My sister in law Angie and her daughter Isabella were able to go with us well as my step sister Holly and her son Josh.  The girls had such a great time playing with their cousins.

My Cousin Josh

While we were in Oklahoma visiting my parents we were able to spend some time with my step-sister Holly and her son Josh.  Audra loved having a playmate and Josh enjoyed playing with her as well. Perhaps he could have done without the hugging though.

First Mate Audra

While in Grove, Oklahoma at a reunion for Ben's Dad's cousins we took a pontoon boat ride around Grand Lake with the Yoders.  Duane, Ben's dad, served as the captain and Audra was his first mate.  It was her duty to honk the horn and she took this task very seriously...as you can see from her official outfit =)  

Audra had a great time swimming in the lake with her grandma Jill.  I am just glad that I did not have to get in...seriously the lake is cold and disgusting.  

Phoebe had a great time as well.  She tolerated the life jacket much longer than any of us expected.  She especially enjoyed driving the boat with her grandpa.  

The Farm Condo

To help all of our "non-rural" friends understand what we mean when we talk about the farm condo Ben and I took some pictures when we were in Newton visiting the Yoder Grandparents.  Ben's grandparents live in a condo built into the side of an implement shed which is located on his uncle and aunt's farm.  The condo is surprisingly nice with tile floors, a decent sized kitchen, a large bedroom downstairs, and an upstairs loft with a bedroom/office.  

Down on the Walton Farm

While in Kansas we had the opportunity to go to Ben's grandparent's farm in Walton.  In anticipation that the family may have to sell the property now that Ben's grandfather has passed away the family did a lot of work getting the property ready.  While Ben was taking down a tree and cleaning out the barn I decided to take some pictures of the girls around the farm.  

Family Pictures..Finally

I have wanted family pictures for some time but I am cheap and I didn't want to pay for a professional photographer. I know I could have gone to JC Penny but I just don't like way that those studio pictures turn out.  Luckily my sister Rebecca is a talented photographer, trouble is she lives in Kansas.  However, when we went to visit her in June she took us to a local park and was able to get some really good shots of the four of us, five if you count Greta (which of course Ben does).  Here are a few of my favorite!

Since we have had children Ben and I have had our picture taken alone together a total of one time.  Thus, Becca wanted to take a few shots of just the two of us.  This is one that I thought turned out well.  I will leave it up to you to decide exactly what Ben is whispering in my ear.   

TWINS???

We drove out to Hays, Kansas to visit Becca, Quinn, and cousin Nora.  The girls have had a great time playing together and will really miss each other when we go back to Wisconsin. Although Phoebe and Nora are 5 months apart they are basically the same size and apparently have the same taste in clothing.  

Head Gear

Audra loves to wear hats and will often create her own out of things she finds around the house. Recent choices include her underwear, a colander, the red basket from her kitchen set, a puzzle box, and as you can see plastic zip top baggies.  Recently she has started to include her sister in her fashion experiments. Don't worry grandmas we had a talk about how putting plastic bags over our heads is not safe. Audra said "I know mom it is hard to breath with stuffs over my face, I don't really like it.  I'll just put them on my head, is that OK?"    

My Laid Back Baby

Phoebe and Audra have very different personalities.  Where Audra is my Drama Queen, Phoebe is a "go with the flow" kind of girl.  For example, I put her nuk in upside down to see if she would spin in around in her mouth (according to my Dad I used to do this as a baby).  Instead of turning it the correct way or spitting it out Phoebe was content just to suck on it the way I put it in her mouth (see Dad I told you so). Another example happened several months ago when I took the girls to their first concert along with some of our friends.  We were sitting seven rows back from the stage in the direct center of the auditorium and about half way through the concert I realize that Phoebe was getting really heavy. I look down and sure enough she was completely asleep.  The other moms (and I) could not believe she could possibly sleep through all of the noise.  After dealing with Audra's drama I am very happy to have a child who is content and happy 99.9% of the time. Wonder if some of that could rub off on her older sister?

Daddy's golfing buddies

As most of you know Ben likes to golf.  Although I enjoy a round of golf as well it is no secret that I stink.  Thus, we have decided to start the girls early so that they can one day keep up with their dad!  Audra always asks if she can go golfing with Ben when she gets "bigger" and Phoebe is already a force to be reckoned with when holding a golf club. I just hope she learns to control her powerful swing!

Great Grandpa Boese

Audra and Phoebe's Great Grandpa Warren Boese (Ben's Mother's Dad) passed away on May 31st.  We were able to travel home to Kansas to attend the funeral and spend time with the extended family. Warren was a very quiet man but his love for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was evident through his actions.  He will be deeply missed by family and friends.  Although we are disappointed that Phoebe was not able to meet her great grandfather we are glad that we have several pictures of Audra with Warren so that we can share his memory with both our girls. 

Family

Although the reason for our impromptu family reunion was a sad one it was really nice to see the extended Boese clan.  Audra and Phoebe enjoyed spending time with their great grandmother, grandmother, and great aunts.  We are looking forward to seeing the family again the near future both when we return to Kansas for vacation next week and when the family gets together at Suzanne's in Iowa for Leah's birthday in October.  

They're Back! (Well at least for a day or two)

Our long time friends the Townsend Family were in town for a few days and were able to stop by before we headed out to Kansas.  Audra had a great time playing with Jansyn and Jaxson.
She especially enjoyed wearing a pair of my old glasses so that she could look just like her friend.  In fact she would not take them off even after Jansyn left the house.  
Phoebe also enjoyed her new friends. I think Jansyn got a kick out of Phoebe as well.