Summer Playgroups and more random fun

Last week we had playgroup at my home and let the kids play in the pools.
My new favorite picture of these two crazy boys!

Super cute Natalie.

Pepper and baby Simon from next door.

Going for a ride after playgroup.

My recycling helpers.

On Saturday afternoon we went to Loyal Oak Lake with our friends Jen, Brent and Ava.

Morgan is trying to block Ava from escaping in the background.

The men surveying the food.

Jen and lovely little Ava.

Pepper loves a good hot dog.

My kids trying to make a break for the water.

Too cute.

On Sunday afternoon, Cody and I decided to take the kids over to Ft. Island park for a walk in the woods. I just love the way Pepper looked with the green green grass and dark barn.

Every girl needs her cell phone and keys for a walk in the woods.

Such a wonderful Sabbath afternoon.

Morgan's new obsession is Cody's old gameboy. Morgan is actually getting pretty good at the Zelda game but Cody is completely paranoid Morgan is going to break it. I guess we should look into something for Morgan to have of his own.

Today for playgroup we went to the Nature Realm Metro Park.

Enjoying Pepper's sweet outfit!

We LOVED the Nature Center! Awesome, awesome!

So many great hands on activities for the kids and lots of new things to explore. It is open from March till October so we will definitely be back.

They have a great place to sit and watch birds, squirrels and chipmunks. They have tons of feeders set up outside the windows and the glass is such that the animals can't see the crazy kids on the other side. So fun.

Some of the ladies and I went for a nice walk through the woods. It was a little humid but very nice.

We stopped at a pond to look at the fish and try and keep Pepper and Ava out of the water.

Sarah and Eleanor

We stopped part way through our hike at a little picnic area. Pepper looks to big sitting all by herself at the picnic table!

We have been having lots of fun with our playgroup and enjoying all the wonderful outdoor activities our area has to offer. I can't believe the summer is almost over!

Deer Days of Summer

Our new home has already had many visitors but this particular family seems to have found a special liking to our backyard. (This picture was taken in another yard but the deer are the same.) Last Friday, my new neighbor told me of a truck show happening in Cuyahoga Falls. Morgan and I had had a rough morning so I decided we needed to get out of the house once Pepper got up from her first nap. I did not think it was going to be a big thing and was totally not prepared. We ended up having to park blocks away (luckily Gramma had insisted we keep an umbrella stroller in the van) and it was a super hot sunny day. Good thing I had worn jeans and had no sunscreen!
In the parking lot of the Quirk Cultural Center they had tons of tractors, trucks, police cars and army vehicles. The kids were allowed to go inside, steer them, honk the horns and play with them. Some of the lines were a bit long but Morgan had a great time and it was good to get out for awhile. Even if it was sweaty.

Poor Pepper was stuck in the stroller the whole time because I was afraid of losing her in the crowd. She did well as long as I was feeding her, as usual.

Morgan insisted we wait in the long line for the Spiderman bouncy castle instead of the short line for the generic one. I already have a brand conscience kid!

The kid got some serious air.

After the trucks, we cooled off in shade with some pizza and snow cones.

We all had a messy good time.

The first time we saw the racoon Morgan wanted to say hi but when the time came he froze. He does that a lot. But he insisted we chase him down and was not shy the second time. Pepper on the other hand was not so sure about this big stuffed animal. As we were leaving Morgan stated, "I didn't miss my chance!"

That night the Utah Valley Children's Choir came to our Tallmadge Stake Center to perform for our stake. After the concert we were asked to host some of the children. We volunteered to take some since we have lots of floor space now (no furniture will do that for you.) We got five teenage girls. We took them home Friday night and had to get them back by 7:30 the next morning.

I'm sure all the host families felt the same but we had a great group of girls and were sad they could not stay longer.

On Saturday Morgan and I attended his friend, Julia's, 4th birthday party. They have an awesome backyard for the kids to play in. It was a beautiful day.

Julia's favorite color is blue so her bathing suit and cupcakes were made sure to match.

Julia's awesome little brother Luke.

Yay for Julia!

After the party we had lunch and hung around the house while Pepper took her afternoon nap.

Cody and Morgan helped me make some brownies.

"Helped" may be stretching it.

We had a lovely dinner on Saturday at our neighbor's house who have two little boys. Morgan is obsessed with them and begs to go to "Abe's house" every day. The summer seems to be flying by and I can't believe it is almost August. I promise there are more pictures of the house to come as soon as we get some more organizing done.