Memories of a Busy July

Our busy summer continued into the month of July.  Our July calendar was filled with fun events and summer trips to Indiana and Ohio.  Although we weren't as active during the summer days as we were in previous summers, I still managed to get out and about on a regular basis with all four kids.  We made several trips to the grocery store during the week, which is quite the challenge.  Thank goodness they all are usually very well behaved in the store and for the shorter, smaller carts that Adalyn is able to help me maneuver through the aisles. The five of us in the store are a sight to see as we usually take up the majority of the aisle with the double stroller, small cart and wandering Carter, but we usually come out successful and the big kids often earn kids meals from Sonic for their effort!  

At the beginning of the month we packed up the crew and headed for a visit with family in southern Indiana.  This was the babies' first trip to Indiana and their first lengthy car ride.  They did great on the way home.  Holden got a bit fussy on the last 20 minute stretch home, which is understandable after for riding for so many hours backwards in the car seat.    As always, our trip home was filled with lots of fun events and visits with family.  We went home a few days before the Fourth of July so that we could the big kids to Holiday World. We grilled out with my family at Mom and Dad's house and visited the park in Owensboro that the kids love so much.  

Posing in front of Grandma and Grandpa's House

All smiles at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Riding the Turkey Whirl together.  Carter wasn't so sure about all the spinning!

Addy rode this ride over and over again until I finally had to pull her off.

Fun at the park

Thank goodness for waterproof casts!

Derek is proud of this shirt!

Happy Fourth of July!

Holden isn't feeling very Patriotic in this picture

Our trip home was capped off with a "Meet the Twins" get-together with my side of the family at Ferdinand Park.  It's difficult visiting everyone when we head to southern Indiana, especially with the twins, so Mom and Dad decided to throw a small party and have everyone come to us at the park.  It was great seeing many of our relatives and getting the chance to introduce them to Holden and Wyatt.  I know that our big kids also had a blast seeing their relatives that they don't see all that often and playing with their second cousins.  Unfortunately I was so busy socializing and catching up that I didn't take many pictures of the fun day.  I have been dropping the ball on taking pictures lately.  Hopefully I can get back in that groove as the babies become more and more independent.

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Wyatt and Aunt Ashley

Big kids playing on the playground

After the fourth of July we managed to squeeze in two weeks of swim lessons for Addy and Carter.  Addy has taken them through Normal Parks and Recreation before but this was Carter's first summer taking lessons.  I will admit that the though taking four kids to the pool had me a bit nervous, but we managed.  Carter was as enthusiastic about lessons. so I mostly hung out on his end of the pool and pushed the stroller over to watch Addy periodically through the lessons.  Addy did great and learned two strokes.  It was a bit of a challenge for her to take lessons with her cast, but she did her best under the circumstances and learned a lot.  Carter made big steps in becoming more comfortable in the water and trusting his teacher.  He is definitely much more cautious in the water than his sister was at this age.  Thankfully we had the early morning lessons, so the babies didn't get too hot and were comfortable sleeping in their car seats most days.

Carter working on his back float

Working the backstroke

At the end of July we packed up the minivan for a mini-vacation to Columbus.  We had been debating whether or not we would take a trip this summer, but anyone who knows me knows that there's no way I was going  without a vacation for a summer.  I had heard great things about the Columbus Zoo and Science Center from mom in my mom's group and we hadn't been there, so we decided to make the five hour trip to the Buckeye State.  Derek's mom went with us and was a big help with "kid management."  The Columbus Zoo definitely lived up to our expectations.  It actually has an amusement park and water park connected to it, but we only had time for the animal part.  It could definitely be a two day trip if you planned to swim and ride rides. 

Addy and Carter got to pet a Flamingo.  I was impressed at all of the "hands-on" exhibits the zoo had.  The kids got up close and personal with many animals.

Hanging out with the bears

Wyatt and Holden loving their ride

The kids also really enjoyed our visit to the Science Center.  There was a water table area where the babies got their first water play experience.  They had a water table especially for them with baby seats built in.  Holden was totally hands on and loved the splashing.  Wyatt was more cautious and wasn't too about the whole thing.  The museum had tons of hand on exhibits that the kids loved.  They also had the traveling Myth Busters exhibit that we had seen once before in Chicago.  Addy loved it so much the first time that she really wanted to visit it again, so  we bought the tickets to play with all of the fun things from the show.  The museum had a large exhibit where you walked through towns that were set in different eras.  The kids were really interested in the fifties era as their Grandma was showing them all the things she grew with.  Addy couldn't believe that the televisions were black and white and were in such big "boxes" and Carter thought the gas pumps were funny looking.  We had to explain the concept of phone booths to both of them, which made me feel very old!

Holden's ready for some water play!

The babies had their first swimming pool experience at the hotel.  They were both a bit unsure about being in such a huge "bathtub."


The twins had their four month check up  at the end of the month.  Dr. Boe said that the babies looked great.  The nurses all commented that they were "big boys" for twins.  Wyatt was 25.5 inches long (75th percentile) and weighed 18 lbs. 13 oz. (95th percentile).  Holden measured 25 inches long (75th percentile) and weighed 18 lbs. 8 oz. (95th percentile).  We frequently weigh the boys, so we knew how much they had gained.  Their personalities are certainly coming to the forefront more and more everyday. It is evident that their personalities are very different.  Wyatt continues to be very easy going while Holden is more active and a bit more needy.  The are both characters in their own right and are certainly keeping us on our toes!

 

Four Months (Wyatt-left  Holden-right)