Memorial Day 2009...

Happy Memorial Day-

This Memorial Day weekend was great, and especially since the weather cooperated and the rain held off! The past few weekends have been busy for Miss Danielle! For mommy's birthday we took a day trip to Jordan Creek Mall in Des Moines. It was a perfect day for some shopping, a nice dinner and we even took the kids to their first Build A Bear Workshop, Danielle slept thru the whole experience so next time she will get to 'Build' her own stuffed animal and accessorize it too! She of course made out with a couple very cute summer outfits with matching head bands and some adorable little Crocks!

One of the newest most adorable thing about Danielle is that her hair is getting SO long, on top that is! We now put her hair in 'pretties' regularly. But when she doesn't have a pretty in, and she just wakes up she tends to get a case of 'bed head'. Daddy thinks that she has a perfect 80's Punk Rocker do, what do you think?!

Our friends Mike & Kirsten welcomed into the world their first baby, Lila Louise on April 18th. It was wonderful to have her out to our house for her first visit, seeing her in this picture in Danielle's bouncy seat really makes me realize how BIG our little girl is getting. She isn't such a little newborn anymore :) We are excited to watch Lila grow and her and Danielle to play together and be little girl friends!

This weekend was great. We were able to spend a lot of time outside and together. We ventured to Dubuque for the day. Dubuque has so much to offer for families and that is what we liked the most. We took the kids to the Fenelon Elevator Co for a Cable Car ride up the huge hill. Daddy was especially excited to do this since his Grandma used to take him there when he was little. Danielle was just along for the ride on mommy's lap and Dylan thought it was pretty cool. Mommy and daddy just tried not to look down on the way up!

We also ventured to the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. We toured around inside and once again Danielle slept the whole time! Dylan loved the fish and walking around outside to the boats and even the kids play area. He of course loved riding the bouncy ducky!

On Sunday we ventured to Cassie's Graduation Party! We are so proud of her and the kids surly LOVE her so much, she has taken such great care of them many times! Her and her family had a wonderful party and it was such a beautiful day. It was especially fun to see family and there were many that saw Danielle for the first time. There is nothing like great company from good family & friends.

We then decided to go back to Dubuqe and stay at the Grand Harbor Resort & Water Park for the night. Dylan loved the water and him & daddy had all kinds of fun. Danielle and mommy had our suits on too and just relaxed lazy river side! It was a great night. We went back to the room thinking that both kids would be all tuckered out, nope, it was time for Dylan to make himself comfortable in his own bed and baby girl snuggled with mommy & daddy!

On Monday we woke up, had breakfast and Dylan kept saying, 'water, fun', he was ready to go back to the water park and I think daddy was ready too! This time they again ventured down the big kid water slides, neither of us could believe that Dylan loved them as much as he did, they were definitely a BIG hit! Danielle and mommy sat around the water again and the boys did everything that boys do! The water park was a huge hit and we will for sure be visiting another water park soon. We can't wait until we can all do those fun water slides together, baby girl just needs to get about Dylan's age now and that will happen! But she is perfectly content in her cute little swimsuit hanging out with mommy or in her stroller, just taking in all of the activity!

We decided to take our time getting home so we decided to relax after such a busy morning, we stopped and had lunch at one of mommy & daddy's favorite places in Dubuque, Bricktown! It was wonderful as always and the kids were great. Dylan was pooped out and laid on daddy's lap most of the time and baby girl had a full belly herself and slept thru most of our lunch. We surly had a great relaxing weekend and really enjoyed spending 3 whole days as a family, there is nothing better than that!

After lunch we drove home and made one last stop..... at the cemetery. We can't forget the true meaning of Memorial day, to celebrate those who have given their lives for us. We especially remember Great Grandma & Grandpa Kinney, Great Grandpa Holub. The cemetery is always beautifully decorated with flags everywhere. We also celebrate the life of our first born, Dalton James. It is always very important for us to take the kids to the cemetery so Dalton knows that we will never forget him and to see the beautiful life he is living thru Dylan & Danielle. We said a family prayer and I caught a couple priceless shots of Dylan staring down at his Great Grandparents & Big Brother's grave, and even giving the flowers a precious kiss :)

Thank you lord for blessing our family. It was a wonderful weekend of togetherness and thank you for protecting us and our extended family & keeping everyone safe in their travels.~