Mima and Pop-Pops pool (Ohio part 2)

We got a lot of swimming in!!

Ohio Trip Part I

We packed A LOT into our week in Ohio. We went to the Duck Tape Festival, went to Sandy Ridge-the wetland park, swam in Mima's pool every day, played with lots of friends, went to the Shoepfle Gardens, stopped at Applehill, ate icecream everyday,visited Alex at the metropark he works at, went to the beach, played at the sprinkler park, Mom & I visted my friend Josh, his sweet wife and new baby, Jared and I hung out with another couple I was friends with in HS, went dress shopping with mom for her upcoming HS reunion, Bella completed the week of safety town, I got in a couple runs without the heat and humity here, we went to a family reunion in PA......

No wonder we've all been exhausted this week!

Pics from the wetland park

Gotta Love Duck Tape!

Sat morning the kids and I left for Ohio. Yes, we left Jared on Father's day weekend. No, it was not punishment, it was his gift. He got to golf and watch movies we won't watch with him. He ended up having to work some too, so he didn't have time to miss us. My wonderful friend, Rochelle, even invited him over for Father's Day dinner. We had an uneventful drive with just a few construction and accident delays. We arrived around 6:30 with enough time to scarf down Mima's dinner and head to the Duck Tape festival. For those of you who don't know, I come from the Duck Tape capital. We don't just get the name because we fix everything with duck tape- although this is true. The company is headquartered there. Every father's day weekend there is a Duck Tape festival complete with floats made from duct tape. Who needs the Rose bowl parade we have tape!! One lucky Dad is even named Duck Tape Dad of the year. Too bad its not open to women. My mom would win hands down. I've never seen anything she can't fix with a little duct tape.

van completely decorated with duct tape

Duct Tape twister board


Duct Tape fashions

guitar made from duct tape

Enjoying fair food

I often wish the Storm boys and I had pictures from our trek out west to school. We could be rich from selling our story to the Duck Tape marketing department. We were only about an hour from home when the soft car top carrier on top of my car blew off. We pulled over, gathered all the luggage and wondered what to do. Never fear, we found a roll of duck tape in the back seat. We placed the carrier back on top of my car with luggage inside and taped that baby down. We used layer after layer of duck tape but that carrier didn't budge the whole way to Utah and Idaho. Every other gas stop we'd reinforce it just to be safe. I bet there is still duck tape remains on that car wherever it is now. Ah, fun times!

Cardinals game

We went to the Cardinals game on June 18th. This was the second time we have taken the kids although Jared and I have gone several times. It was much more pleasant than last year's attempt (with a heat index of 108 and seats in the direct sun). We picked this game purposely because kids got free tickets to the Meramec Caverns and boat ride with their game ticket. We bought the cheap seats and were in the very top row. Being that high helped us feel the very nice breeze blowing through the stadium. Temps were lower and the game was quite enjoyable.

While we were waiting for Jared to buy the tickets, the kids and I were sitting on a bench outside the stadium. We watched a powerade van unload two interns equipped with garbage can sized coolers handing out little sample bottles. We made our way over and were each given a bottle. I led the kids back to the bench to wait for Dad. I guess the four kids and I sipping on our powerade bottles in our baseball gear made quite a sight. Their boss came over and asked if she could take our picture for advertising purposes. Look out, we might be famous some day! (hehehe)

Raging Rivers

We had a little break as a thunderstorm rolled through but we played from 10:30 to 4:30. At 4:30 the park was closed due to a line of storms headed our way. We were getting tired anyway so it worked out great for us. We got raincheck tickets and get to go back again this summer. Between the kids reading tickets, and our BOGO coupon, we all get to go twice for the price of two admissions. Now thats what I call a deal!!!

We locked up the phones so I only took pictures during the lunch break.

The kids earned free tickets through the reading program at school to Raging Rivers. We went on Saturday with the Pearsons. My kids all love water and rides, so water parks are the best ever in their books. Even Jacob loves the rides! He laughs and giggles the whole way down. This year he was old enough to ride on some by himself but others he rode on our laps. Bella and Jacob were both annoyed that they were too short to ride the really crazy one. Xandy just barely made the height requirement and she LOVED the ride.

Swimming scares

Our friends are in the process of fixing up the new house they bought. I offered to watch their kids so they could get some work down and their 12 yr old son could have a break from babysitting his siblings. The house they are renting has a nice pool and she suggested that I watch the kids at their house so they could all swim. She also invited another friend and her kids over. We all had a ton of fun swimming and Charlene and Drew were able to got some productive work in. All in all it was a great day!

We did have a scare at the end. I told all the kids to get out and we were drying off. I turned around to pick up some of the pool toys and put them away. When I turned back around Jacob had taken off his life vest, jumped in, and was struggling under water. He jumped in because two of his sisters decided to get back in when I turned my back. Boy were they in trouble!! Fortunately, he's learned basic swim movements with his vest on. He managed to "swim" enough under water to get to the stairs where Bella and Cami were trying to pull him in by the time I made it over to him. It was VERY scary and I've never seen any of my kids cough up as much water as he did afterwards. Fortunately he is alright and hopefully all my children will be more careful next time.

Preschool Party

My friend, Amy, who is also an incredible workout instructor, started a once a month preschool/playgroup. It has been a great way to meet other moms in the community. There are about a dozen moms that participate and take turns hosting and planning each month. This month we met at the park. Since school was out the older girls had to tag along. They weren't really excited but we good sports. They even participated and helped the little ones. Amy was in charge this month and also recently had a baby. Her SIL came along to help her out. The SIL completely made my day when she said "You have 4 kids? You look really good for having 4 kids!" I know alot of people out there have 4 or more kids and look a lot better than me, but it still made my entire day. Come to think of it, it made my whole week cause I'm still feeling the high and that was last Friday!!

Some "FIRSTS"

The first lemonade stand:

The first child lawn mower (don't worry, she only did a few straight rows):

The first pair of glasses for Xandy. Yes, another child has fallen victim to the curse that comes from having two mostly blind parents. If only I looked as cute in mine!!

Summer moments

Jacob's naps have been few and far between. Its just too exciting for him to have his sisters home. We have been enjoying the freedom that comes with naps not being completely necessary every day. Several times the lack of sleep has caught up with him and we've found him like this:

Don't you love the one shoe on, one shoe off?

He crashes wherever and whenever it gets the best of him. After one Saturday excursion to the zoo and Costco (a day trip to the nearest one in St. Louis) he fell asleep on the floor as soon as he located his blanket. He was just inches away from a bed but couldn't quite make it

We stopped at the zoo before Costco to see the Children's zoo. Daddy had never been to the Children's zoo with us and we still have some free passes for the Children's zoo to use before our membership expires at the end of summer. We also went to the Dora and Diego 3-D show that was playing there. The little two were enthralled. I think the older two even enjoyed it, although they'd never admit it.

Jacob was thrilled to be driving a Jeep just like Diego. Yes, there is a slight Dora/Diego obsession at this house

Memorial Day

The kids were understandably sad when everyone left Monday morning. It was a really hot day but the pool was closed for the Holiday. We decided to have a water fight with the kids to lift their moods. It was a blast, literally!

Memorial weekend

On Memorial week-end, we had a fun house full of company. Martin and Jennie arrived first for dinner on Friday evening. They were followed later by Tonya and family, and Mima, Pop-pop and Alex. Saturday morning we woke up and went to the temple where Alex took out his endowments. He leaves this summer for a mission to Barcelona.

After the temple, we decided to try a BBQ place our friends had highly recommended. It was WONDERFUL!! We found out later it had been featured on Man vs. Food. There is even a special "Adam Bomb" named after the Man vs. Food guy. The ribs were incredible and I have been constantly craving the sweet potato fries since that meal. We are already planning on taking Jared's parents there when they visit this fall.

Bella and Pappy's pig

Waiting in the 3/4 hour long line

Afterwards we headed to the zoo. It was packed and hard to find parking, but was a lot of fun. Except for a few scares (like when Austin and Uncle Jared wandered off and everyone panicked thinking Austin was lost. I'm not sure why no one realized Jared was missing. I was rushing Jacob to a bathroom when I got the frantic call that Austin was gone. I turned back to make sure he hadn't followed me. As a result of the delay, Jacob made it all the way into the building but peed his pants a mere foot from the toilet.) we all enjoyed our excursion.

In their matching Buckeye shirts from Mima and PopPop

No visit from out of town visitors can go unrewarded, so we made the traditional stop at Bobby's before going home.

Sunday, Jared and I both spoke in church. It was nice to have someone to sit with the kids while we spoke, but a little more nerve-wracking to see most of your family looking up at you. After church, we grilled dinner and enjoyed the nice day. We took a walk on the trail to work off all the food we ate and ended the evening with a little patio fire complete with S'mores. It was fun to have everyone here and wished Nicholas, Natalie, and Weston could've been here also. Nicholas did fly in Sat night to get his car they had left here but left bright and early Sunday morning. Thanks for a terrific week-end everyone! (and thanks to Alex for supplying some of the pictures)