Mid-Western Trip Part 1

We just returned from a two week trip back to the Mid-West! We had a great time visiting lots of family and friends!  The girls were great!  Haley just loved traveling, being new places, and seeing so many cousins!!  Kyleigh decided to pop out her first two teeth during the first week, and is also trying really hard to crawl ever since the trip (pics of that later!)
Our trip started off in Minneapolis, MN!

We had brunch with the Spinharneys

The Mall of America (or "America Mall" as Haley would say).  We never even made it to the shops...never got past the legos and amusement park!

Haley's favorite of course was the ferris wheel!

View from the top (this is all indoors!)

Even Daddy and Kyleigh joined us!

Our friend, Gina, met us for the evening

Brunch with Paul's relatives, the Gordes

Next, it was off to La Crosse, WI to see my relatives.

This is baby Connor...what a cutie!

This cannon sits on the La Crosse riverfront and I have many a pictures of myself on it as a little kid...I'll scrounge one of those up some day!

Uncle Tom, Aunt Carol, Connor and Erin (Lindsay's cousin)

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Tree down!

Yesterday, we arrived at my parents house to see my aunt and uncle visiting from Hawaii, and we were greeted by fire trucks, police cars, and caution tape. Apparently a tree had fallen and took a few power lines in the process! Anyways, Haley asked is she could go in the fire truck and they were more that happy to have her. They were so cute with her. Eventually, she told the fireman that his seat was too hot and she wanted down (not before she proceeded to show him how she could eat her own foot!). He also wanted to hold Kyleigh which lasted for about 30 seconds before ear piercing screams took over the neighborhood! Poor guy, I think he's scarred for life! Once again, didn't have my camera...thank God for cell phones or I'd miss a lot of great moments!

Delicious toes!

Hard to see, but best I could do!

The Girls

Wedding

Last weekend we went to a wedding in Carmel. We don't have a lot of pics (we actually missed the wedding due to bad traffic...a 1 1/2 hour drive took 3 long hours!!) but here are some after pics.



Haley and the flower girl became instant friends!


Haley thinks this little girl is Alice in Wonderland (she starred in our Spring play at school as Alice)


A bunch of the teachers from school

Happy 4th!

We went to the parade downtown for the 4th but forgot the camera. So, here is a quick cell phone picture and one we took in our parking garage when we returned home. Haley rode her tricycle in the parade. It was all decked out for the occasion! There were over 1000 kids in the parade! Kyleigh followed her big sister in her stroller!

Little Scooter

Kyleigh refuses to be on her belly, so she has learned how to scoot on her bottom to get things she wants (usually whatever Haley has)! I went into the kitchen for a few minutes to check on dinner and came back to find her like this! She looked so proud of herself! I guess there was no need for the quilt and the pillow I had strategically placed! All I had on hand was my cell phone, so sorry for the grainy pictures!

So innocent!


What Mom??

Pictures at the Duck Pond

Paul's latest round of pics







A man passing by asked if he could take some family pictures for us!

An Evening at the Park

We love the swings!

Fun with Family and The Carnival

This past week, Nick, Cathy, and the kids visited from Chico. Haley had so much fun with her cousins. When she is with them, she turns from princess into rough and tumble little boy! We also went to the Nativity Carnival, a family tradition.  Here's a medley of pictures from their visit.

Here was one of the few moments where she was able to turn Anthony into a princess with her.


Dance party with Titi!


Cathy and Kyleigh just watching!


Paul was having fun with his camera flashes. Anthony was his latest subject!


The ferris wheel was definitely Haley's favorite ride this year!

Cousins and buddies!

Anthony didn't want to get off the ride!

The ferris wheel again...this time with Auntie Rara!

Haley was dying to go on the crocodile roller coaster.  We finally let her and she looked a little uncertain at first!

That soon turned into excitement!

This is a funny picture because it is usually Haley's friends telling her that they need some personal space.  Apparently, today Haley wanted some! :) 

Kyleigh can't wait to join her sister on the rides next year!