6.29.2018

The kids decided to make a chalk display for the Aunt Jamie and Uncle Matt's arrival for a long weekend!  So fun!  

6.27.2018

We had so much fun this week...I forgot to take pictures!  Here are some iPhone group pics from the week...SkyZone, Incredibles 2 and spending a beautiful sunny day at the Seashore waterpark and loving the wave pool.

6.25.2018 Happy 8th birthday, Juliette!

On Sunday, we met the Smith cousins in Illinois to bring back to Indiana to spend the week.  

 Juliette is 8!!!  She really wanted breakfast in bed...so her sisters and cousins delivered...

 pancakes, eggs and snuggles.

She decided that breakfast was a little lonely in her room so she wanted us to join her.

 Juliette is my sweet,  cuddles loving,

 animal lover, American girl playing

 personality changer, outdoor fun

 creature seeker, trampoline jumper and water loving

 sweet tooth, hugger and sister tormentor

our baby turns eight!

 Today, Juliette wanted to go to Hoosier Heights which is an indoor climbing facility in Indianapolis.  We ate at Chick fil a and then geared up for an afternoon of climbing!!!  

 Juliette had boundless energy, strength and went to the top multiple times.  

 She was excited to get "Kendall" for her birthday!

 Pool fun after a day of climbing!

 Ice cream cake and 8 candles!

 Happy birthday Juliette!  Make a wish!

6.16.2018 Girls in Iowa

The girls got to stay a week in Iowa with their Grandma and Grandpa on the farm and were so thrilled to have this opportunity!  They love seeing the animals and having one on one time with them too.  They had a special surprise when they got to go to the sale barn on Wednesday and they brought home a sweet little baby which they named Lulu.  It was truly their dream!  They so wanted to bring her home...but I think that Grandma wanted  to keep her too!  :)  We are so thankful to them for keeping them but most of all for spending precious time!

6.11.2018 San Francisco, Alcatraz

Coit tower

After a week in nature we were all a little reluctant to get back to the city.  We had such a fantastic time seeing such National Park gems that being released back in the urban jungle didn't sound as exciting.  It has been a long time since we have visited San Francisco...Isabelle actually celebrated her 1st birthday here!!!  Its actually the first destination that Jamie and I traveled to as a young couple!  It has changed a lot but didn't venture to the areas that have really stayed the same.  We had only one short day to spend the day here and as with almost every place we go, wasn't enough time to see what we hoped to.  

I had pre-purchased tickets to the ferry to Alcatraz a few months ago which is important to do early if you want to visit.

We had a few hours to spend before our tour and parked near Fisherman's Wharf to have lunch and see the infamous Sea Lions.

This has changed a lot since our last visit and wasn't too crowded.

Pier 39

The girls had a great time watching the pod of sea lions annoy each other and make a racket!  

It was a warm day in San Francisco...getting a great view of the bay and city.

Golden Gate bridge in the distance

The country's most famous prison...

Alcatraz

In 1853 it was a military fortification.

From 1933 to 1963 this was an "unescapable" prison...although we found out there were a few escapees that were never seen again. 

Not only is this island full of beautiful horticulture, it is a bird sanctuary.  

After it closed, years later it was taken over by Native Americans as a sit-in protest for 2 years.

We took the audio tour which walked us around the prison.

The girls showing the bars where a prisoner had bent the bars and starved himself to escape.

We were there on the day of the very famous escape in 1962 where the Anglin brothers had an intricate plan with plaster dummies in their bed and escaped through a widened vent hole.  They were presumed drowned but were never seen again.  

Kitchen

After a fun and long afternoon at Alcatraz we walked to the North Beach area for some Italian food and gelato to finish the day.  We had a lot of ambitious plans for the day but the one thing that the girls collectively wanted to experience was Alcatraz!  

Until next time, San Fran!!!