Kalahari part II

I really didn't take many pictures I realized today.

I guess taking 5 kids to the water park by myself was enough excitement in itself.

We had a huge fiasco with Owen's braces.  I was so afraid of him getting a blister again.

Let's just say carrying Owen and Evie, in life jackets in the water is no easy task!

Here's Owen chillaxin while I let Liam and Kate do a bigger kid area.

Thankfully Evie was content to sit in the stroller for long periods of time!

Here's the cool big kid area Liam and Kate couldn't get enough of.

 I did take them later (with out the younger 3) to do some of the bigger slides.

Which they tried.

and hated.

We LOVED our room though.  A bedroom for the kids, one for us and a common area with a table.

 I actually brought "real" plates, cups and silverware.

figured it took up as much room as 3 days worth of paper products

and I didn't have to buy anything.

Here's my makshift counter space!

and coat rack turned pantry!

Let me tell you packing this family for a trip is quite a job.

I had one whole bag just for Owen's medical stuff.

I remembered practically everything...

except the fact that 

confining 5 kids in a small space for long periods of time

means you might want to bring some toys.

Mommy forgot to pack ANY!

After raiding the diaper bag and the booths at Daddy's convention this was our stash for the weekend.

Evie didn't mind the toy situation.

She just turned the stroller into her own personal jungle gym! 

We had such a good time.

Made some good memories.

I really enjoy my family!

Kalahari Play Place

Remember the "Big Surprise"?  

The Christmas morning scavenger hunt that ended in typical subdued excitement?!

We decided to take the kids along to a conference Eric had at the Kalahari in January and make it part of their Christmas present.

We had a really nice time as a family.

Oddly enough I did not take a lot of photos.

Just spent time enjoying the kids.

Here are some shots of the indoor 4 level play-place that they literally could have spent all day at.

  

Owen was intent on gathering red balls to put in the shooters.

The kid can move when he's motivated! 

We used the awesome sit and stand stroller our friends the Lawsons gave us so that Owen didn't have to wear himself out walking all the long long halls and could enjoy playing.  

 Zane was no where to be seen most of the time.  Later I realized it was because he was lost and couldn't find his way out of the HUGE play gym.  

One time he came out and said, 'Wow!  I found you Mom!  I finalwee got out a that awesome pway pwace!  [pant pant]  Bye mom!"  and ran back in.

Kate was a monkey in seventh heaven.  She wore herself out each day.

We spent significant time here each day while Daddy was at the conference.  

1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 working together to load the air cannon.

This was really the first time Evie realized she could do some of the things big kids can.

She worked so hard to do this slide and then she did it over and over and over.

Here's the only shot I got that shows how high it was.  I think there was another level above that yet.  the kids absolutely loved it!

Lego Land

Over Memorial Day Weekend we traveled up to Chicago and met Eric's parents and sister for some biking fun. (with a minor detour to Indianapolis to get Owen checked out. It's a long story.)

Remember the cool "Bike the Drive" —where you ride your bike on Lake Shore Drive with 1000 of your closest friends. The event Eric couldn't participate in last year because he broke his arm?

Well, this year he got to. Weather wasn't as nice, but he really enjoyed it.

I stayed at the hotel with our many small children. Too early for them and 30 miles might be a bit much for the young set.

We had a blast none the less. My kids think Super 8 is the coolest. Totally cracks me up.

We watched cartoons, jumped on the beds, had baths and got ready for the main event (in their eyes): Lego Land!

Enjoy the pictures!

Kate's "Alone Vacation"

In August Kate traveled with

Grandma Rohrer and Aunt Brenda

by herself

all the way to Minnesota

to visit her

very own

girl cousin,

Addelynn.

She still refers to it as her

"Alone Vacation"

She had a great time!

See for yourself:

We Just Might be Crazy

In January Eric came home

and announced that

his FAVORITE baseball player

OF ALL TIME,

Andre Dawson,

would be inducted

into the Baseball Hall of Fame

this summer

in Cooperstown, NY.

I think I shocked Eric

when I said

"I think we should go!"

(After all, he never got his wish—

to name one of our children Andre.)

So we tentatively planned the

road trip of Eric's dreams!

(Of course

this was before

I was pregnant.)

So when July came around

we were

just crazy enough

to load up our

many small children

for a 3 day

1400 mile

12 hours in the car

trip!

Then we thought

"What the heck...

let's swing by

Niagra Falls on the way!"

Yes.

We just might be crazy!

But we had

SO MUCH FUN!

The kids were great.

We took our time

and made stops interesting.

Although

here are some short clips

of some of the silliness that

ensued in the car

day 2...





Enjoy our pics...




This was a dream come true for Eric.

Glad we did it.

For Eric

Camping Trip

second week in July

we took a little

weekend camping trip

to Chain-O-Lakes.

Grandpa and Grandma Rohrer

joined us the second day.

They stayed the night.

We headed home.

Other than Zane

crying and wailing

the entire time we set up camp

Causing a complete stranger

to offer to "hold our baby."

Yeah, we're those people

with the crying baby.

Other than that

we had a great time.

Mama was pooped by the end though.

Mountain Mama

(Yes, I'm going with a John Denver theme)


So we drove up to this "high point" to get a good view.

Off road.

It was really bumpy.

Did not agree so well with Evie.

So on the way down

Neil let me drive.



I'm happy to report

the Jeep survived

and so did Neil.

Eric says the video does not do it justice.

Rocky Mountain High

In June Eric and I also got to take a little trip

sans kids

to Colorado

with Eric's dad

to see the cabin

he's building there.

One word: WOW

See for yourself....


We (and by we, I mean Eric's good arm) helped stain spindles for the deck railing.

Lots of spindles.

Lots of staining.

Beautiful cabin.

I picked up sticks

until I realized bending over

over and over

was not my favorite.

So I took pictures.

Had dinner one night in this new "green" development in Buena Vista.

It is actually built on the old dump.

This climbing rock was in the park space outside the village.


So was this outdoor living room.


Eric looking pensive.

While, uncomfortable, it would clean up nicely.


Then there were these "play holes" where kayakers could practice their tricks.

Click on the photo below to learn more about it.

it was fascinating.

We did a lot of driving to look at mountains.

Not so much hiking.

I was 18 weeks with Potter version 5.0.
Neil and his yellow Colorado Jeep

at the top of a "high point" we drove to.

(be sure to see next post)

More staining.

Eric had a heck of a time getting a rubber glove over his arm brace.

Dinner with 2nd cousin Scott, Heather, and son Bridger

Heather just delivered baby girl Iris Addela last week!

Can't wait til Evie gets here!

Wisconsin Trip

In June we traveled to Wisconsin Dells and met up with my brother Mark, and sister-in-law Lana, niece Addelynn, my mom and dad, and sister Kim. Tim and Mindy were unable to come due to the passing of Tim's grandma Conrad. Wisconsin was a good halfway point because Mark and Lana live in Minnesota.

We rented a cabin and had a great time. Too bad it rained the ENTIRE time. But it did clear enough on the last day for us to enjoy the water park passes that came with the cabin rental. It was nice to just hang out, take naps and play games. Good times.

Enjoy the pics.


Here is a video of some water slide action.

Chicago

So...

we had this

weekend trip

planned

To go to

Chicago

and visit

Janet.

And Eric

was pumped to

"Bike the Drive"

with his Dad.

Then

he

broke

his

arm.

But we went anyway.

Had a great time.

Although

I didn't take many

documentative photos

Saw Janet's apartment

Ate pizza

Enjoyed the beach.

Kids' favorite: spotting the Super 8 signs!

Here's some pics...

enjoy.

The Creation Museum

Tuesday we went to Cincinnati with Grandpa & Grandma Rohrer and Aunt Mindy and Uncle Tim to the Creation Museum. It was great! A world class facility! Of course there were tons of dinosaurs. And they had a planetarium. Needless to say, my kids were in heaven! They also had a petting zoo, which Owen loved.

The information was fantastic and interesting. There were plenty of things to keep the kids interested. I would have like to take my time a little more and read everything, but even with all 4 in tow I felt like I got to see everything I wanted. It was also rather evangelistic—everything pointing to Christ. I would definitely recommend going! Well worth it.

The dinosaur that terrified Kate, Owen LOVED, and Liam was "very brave" as he passed by.

The Church Camp Out

This past weekend we went camping at Chain O'Lakes with our church. This is the 7th or 8th year we've done this. It is so much fun.

Kate & Lydia scratching their backs on a tree.


Liam & Owen riding bikes.