Dentist Appointment

On Thursday all four kids went to the dentist.  It was a last minute reschedule and I figured since the girls have a mouthful of teeth too, why not!  I went in with low expectations and left feeling triumphant.  The girls stayed in their stroller because they need to be contained in public because once they are loose, they are next to impossible to corral.  Therefore, the boys were left to manage themselves through their appointments.  They were very cooperative and inquisitive with the staff.

Will and Jack had x-rays too.  Will hammed it up for the hygenist.

                                                                                             

Allison and Sydnee stayed in their stroller while the dentist counted their teeth.

Will was an excellent listener during the appointment.

Jack wanted a play-by-play of the hygenist's moves.  He was a great participant.

Orange lunch. 
On numerous occasions I have subconsciencouly made monochromatic lunches. Today I decided to do it on purpose.  The things you do to break up long, hot summer days.

4th of July on Pokegama Lake

We spent the week of the 4th at a house on Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids.  We experienced all sides of Mother Nature- beautiful weather on a great lake, flooding causing a loss of 12 feet of shoreline (but providing plentiful fishing bait of worms/leeches/crawfish), and a thunderstorm that knocked out power for 2.5 days.

Grandma Linda, Papa Ken, Uncle Robb, Aunt Kathy and their baby boy, Andrew, spent the first few nights with us.  Eli, Jim & Michelle joined us later in the week and helped us wear out the kids (as well as Mom & Dad).  Grandma & Grandpa Benner spent time with us during the week, and even watched the kids for a night!  At the end of the week Uncle Bear Benner even got to stay and play.   Got in lots of swimming, fishing, boating, floating, s'mores and general soaking up the lake.

First arrival to the lake... dock is floating, shoreline a little dirty, but 4-year-old boys don't care

Mom with Jack and Aunt Kathy floating with Will

Jack teaching Sydnee how to fish

We caught a Whopper!

Sydnee loves her Cousin Andrew

So does Allison

Breakfast

Another day on the lake

Gary and Ann stopped by with their kids, we had a great time on the Rave trampoline.  Here our kids helped themselves to their dinner...

A short period of downtime.

We got the dock in and boats hooked up.

The boys LOVED jumping off the dock with Grandpa and Grandma

Kayaking with the boys

Jim and Big Girl Sydnee

Jim with the boys on Party Island

Floating Benner party

Kiddos on the swinging chair

Eli taking Jack for a swim "out to open sea"

This pretty much sums up the week

 

Father's Day 2012

This afternoon, we took the boys to the Quad Cities River Bandits game.  It was a perfect summer day for baseball.  They ate pizza, Cracker Jacks, and drank lemonade.  We enjoyed some time with just the boys.

Jack and Will frosting Moose's cake.  They added red and green (their favorite colors) sprinkles too.  It looked more like a Christmas wreath than a Father's Day cake:)

That is cowboy Buffalo Will and cowboy Jack in the background with Dr. Syd.

Sydnee kept the costume on for several minutes.  We were surprised.  She reminds me of the doctor from Sons of Anarchy with the squirt gun in her hand. 

From sunshine to storms

It was a muggy one here in tropical Muscatine.  After a morning of errands (Menards for a new water heater; Aldi for snacks; and Happy Joe's for lunch), the boys returned ready for Benner Beach.   After dinner, Moose made a house out of the water heater box.  It even had a mailbox:)


Sydnee sporting her shades.

Allison kept her sunglasses on for at least 15 minutes today!

Sydnee and Allison enjoyed sitting poolside and dipping their toes in the water.

The kiddos inside their house from the water heater box.

Summer Days

Last weekend, Moose was a bit under the weather.  He took a nap under the tree and was joined by Sydnee and Allison.


Sydnee snuggled with Moose.  Not sure why the picture is sideways.

Allison collided with the end table.  Moose was called home from work for that one.

Dad saying good bye.

Last week, the kids and I went to the zoo.  Jack and Will giggle at the monkeys.

Sydnee and Allison enjoyed the view from the stroller.

Will and Jack busted out their soldier costumes this week.  The camo shorts were completely a coincidence.

This is one way to get laundry folded and put away. 

Rainy Day

We received some much needed rain in sweet, sweet Muscatine today. 

Allison and Sydnee are already fighting over the phone:)

Jack and Will chilling with the iPad.

Summer's here!

School ended right on time this year, thanks to no snow days.  While there were some rough days in January and February when a snow day would have been welcomed, I am so happy that we were done before Memorial Day.  On Saturday, the kids and I headed to MN for the weekend.  We had a sort of surprise party for Linda Lou.  She is 60 years young this year.

On Sunday, we went to the Truman's for an all day swimming extravaganza.  The boys eased their way into the pool and by 7:00, they were floating and walking freely in the pool.  Thanks again to Tara, Kyle, Stacey, Todd, and Shelly for the hospitality!