Letchworth Park Hot Air Ballon Launch

Yesterday we headed out to Letchworth State Park for their annual balloon launch. Our trip got off to a rough start though. We ended up getting a flat tire as we passed a car so TJ pulled over and we proceeded to unload ALL of our stuff we had packed in the back so we could get the tire changing gear out. Just then, the Damstedts in our ward, drove by and turned around to help. Thanks to them we quickly got back on the road. Once we got there, we met a group of families from our ward and we sat and had a picnic while we waited for the balloons to go up. Once they started to blow up the balloons, the kids got so excited. The were totally in awe of them. They all (including Topher) just stood there still with their head up and mouths open. I have to admit that it was pretty exciting to watch. We really enjoyed the day with good fun and good company.

This is what they call the Grand Canyon of the East.

Tons of Balloons going up at the same time.

The fire before lift off.

Lift off.

So cool!

Maura gave it a thumb's up.

T.J. and Topher were amazed by the balloons.

Timmy helped me keep Topher from running on top of the balloons that were still on the ground.

I Can't Believe It

I can't believe that I have to carry one of these around with me wherever I go now. Yes...one of my children has a peanut allergy. Poor Topher had a really bad reaction to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich a couple of weeks ago. I gave him the sandwich and within 5 minutes he had hives all over his face. They started moving to his arms and then his eyes started to swell shut. After giving him benedryl I ran him to the ER and they kept him there until he looked better. They told me to follow up his pediatrician. The Dr. ended up calling me at home and calling in a percription for 2 EpiPens. He told me to avoid all food with peanuts in them and foods processed in the same place as other peanut products. He says to be really strict with him for 2 years and there may be a possibility that it may go away when he's older. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Does anybody have any advice or suggestions for me?

A Day at the Creek

We drove to Hamburg on Monday and packed a picnic lunch. The adults ate and the kids played. The kids were just about ready to go home when we decided to go look at the little creek down the road. The couldn't help but get in and throw rocks. Even Topher had to get in on the action. He was a happy camper as long as he could throw stones into the water. It was really fun to watch them have such a good time in the water. They all got so wet that they had to ride home in their chonies. They thought that was pretty funny. We will definitely go back again when it is a little warmer.

Timmy the Soccer Player

Well, after many weeks of waiting, it finally came....Soccer Day. I signed Timmy up for soccer a while ago and we has been impatiently waiting ever since. He was so excited to play, but once we got there, he got a little nervous and wasn't sure he wanted to stay. After much coaxing (and realizing that a friend from his class at school was there), he decided to get out there and do it. It was really rainy and really muddy, but he had a good time.

The Birthday Festivities

Maura was very sure of what she wanted for her birthday. First of all she wanted a big yellow duck, she wanted to go to the zoo, and eat dinner at Chuck e Cheese. We decided to go to the zoo the day before because Thursday was supposed to be rainy. She had a lot of fun, but was very tired by the end of the day. When she opened up her presents the next day, she was ecstatic to get the big yellow duck she had been wishing for for 2 months. That evening we went to Chucky e Cheese and the kids ran wild. After they had had enough, we had cake and went home. We had a good time celebrating our little miss Maura.

Watching the elephants.

Topher was in awe of the polar bears.

Maura had more fun running over this bridge than looking at the animals.

She had to stop all along the way and pick up flowers.

The long awaited yellow duck.

Riding the rides at Chuck e Cheese.

Maura loves pengiuns, so she got a Happy Feet cake.

Happy 4th Birthday Maura Rayne!

Maura's 1st birthday

Maura's 2nd birthday.

Maura's 3rd birthday

Yesterday was Maura's 4th birthday. I can't believe how fast time has gone. I can vividly remember the day I had her. She is growing up so fast. She has become a good big sister, a big helper to mom, and has dad wrapped around her little finger. I hope she continues to grow and be a sweet and kind girl that she is now.

Maura-isms

My Maura is so silly. Sometimes the things she says make me laugh so hard. Here are some examples:

We were going to run errands the other day and and she asked me, "Mom, are we going to go to Old Gravy?" (Old Navy)

"Mom, there is a bug on the ground!" She goes to look closer and says, "Oh...its just a piece of lin (lint)."

The other day she was playing with something and it fell on the floor. Maura exclaimed, "Oh Crab!" (I think she meant "oh crap" but that's ok with me)

A Random Post

Here is a random post of a lot of different things. I wanted to add these pictures for journaling purposes, but they didn't really go together accept that they have they have some really cute kids in them. We had some happy kids after we ate pizza from our new favorite pizza place.

Timmy and Maura enjoying the nice spring day by having a picnic in the shade of the trampoline.

I found these beauties in the backyard!

My Maura enjoying the beautiful flowers

Here is Topher putting up his dukes. He is so silly.