Our First Camping Adventure Post 2

Camping Trip continued. . . 

Kyle taking his afternoon nap outside and in the shade 

Breakfast

My Cousin Alex and Elijah riding the tube. . .he loved this which really surprised me

Elijah and I riding the tube.  If you look closely, he is shooting webs! haha

One final boat ride Thursday evening. . . 

Grandma and Kyle

Grandpa and Elijah. . .beginning of the ride

Uncle Tim and Kyle driving the boat

Kyle LOVED driving! :) 

Elijah and Grandma . . .end of the ride! I think he fell asleep every time he road the boat.  He even fell asleep with Alex on the tube at one point! 

Grandpa took Kyle to the front of the boat for the ride back to camp. . . don't you love his new do?

My cousin Christopher is a student at KU and didn't get to come out until Thursday evening.  Elijah took a liking to him immediately! My cousin Kirsten, Christopher's sister, has a picture of Michael Phelps on her phone.  Elijah and her were looking at the pictures a few minutes before Christopher arrived.  We watch swimming whenever it is on T.V. so Elijah is very aware of who Michael Phelps is.   When Christopher pulled up, Elijah said there he is!!! And ran and told Michael Phelps hello! So, Christopher is now lovingly referred to as Uncle Phelps by Elijah! :) Christopher is amazing with kids.  They played and played!  

My family loves pictures! My Mom has compiled an amazing scrapbook for my grandparents over the years.  So, every time we are together (it seems) we take a grandkid line-up picture! Not as many of the cousins were able to attend this year but here we are! :) 

6 of the 17 Weis grandkids. . .in birth order(and no, I am not the oldest! there are 4 in front of me that weren't there but isn't it sad that I am the shortest?!?!)

Kallie, Alex, Christopher, Addison, Kirsten, Austin 

The Reynolds and Garzon families

Elijah not long into the drive home. . . 

Kyle at the same point in the drive. . . 

We always eat more junk food on trips than normal.  The boys enjoyed sharing a package of brite crawlers! 

They thought this was a hilarious game!

On the way home, we stopped in OKC to eat at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill.  

(getting all 3 of my boys to look at the camera seems to be impossible!!)

We are anxious to attend the next Weis Family camping trip in 2011!!! :) 

Our First Family Camping Adventure Post 1

I have always been blessed to have an extended family that spends lots of time together.  Every year either Christmas or Thanksgiving is celebrated as an extended family.  I have many memories of Easter, 4th of July, Labor Day, New Years, and lots of other "days" with my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.  We have many fun family traditions that I am so excited to be passing down to my boys.  One of the fun things that we have done for years (I think the first one was in 1985 which made me 4) is to go camping altogether.  For years this included my grandparents, most of my aunts and uncles, and most of the 17 grandchildren.  Over the years, the numbers have fluctuated some but the biannual camping trip continues.  This was my families first time to go.  Besides being Elijah and Kyle's first camping trip, it was also Ricky's first time to give camping a try.  We only got to camp for 2 of the 5 days as we had  a wedding to attend on Saturday but we had a lot of fun those two days! I think that Elijah was born to camp! 

We spent Tuesday night with my grandparents in Great Bend, KS.  They were unable to attend the camping trip this year so we were glad to get to see them for a day.  We took the boys to Great Bend's new water park.  Unfortunately, I was so busy playing that I didn't get pictures of the fun evening but here is a picture of the main play area.  

Our Loaded Car

Kyle ready to go get Elijah from Grandpa-pa and Grandmother's

Setting up Camp:

Elijah helping my Uncle Tim

Kyle helping everyone. . .or at least trying to 

Ricky and my cousin Austin finishing up our tent

My parents trying to remember how the tent goes together

Our Home Away From Home. . .Elijah woke up on Thursday morning a little delirious as he had fallen asleep on my cousin Alex the night before and we carried him into the tent.  He was so excited when he woke up and saw the lake and realized where he was.  He looked at me and said, "Mommy, I love our new home!" 

Ricky and Alex's round of Badminton. . .they had two little helpers

Mom and Dad preparing Dinner Wednesday night
Kyle and Ricky enjoying camping. . .

Uncle Russ and Cousin Austin

Aunt Diane, Aunt Debbie and Elijah

Ricky got this beautiful picture Wednesday night

Our Summer Post 3

We went to a Dillas game.  It was awfully hot but once the sun went down we enjoyed ourselves. 

Elijah really does NOT enjoy taking pictures.  This is the best one we could get.  .but I LOVE it! 

I got to see a very dear friend of mine from high school, Mandy and her husband, Anthony.  And, I got to meet her beautiful little girl Kherrington.  

She was hungry and ready for Mommy by the time we got to picture taking.  haha

Elijah went to stay with my parents for a week.  I had never realized how much Elijah entertains Kyle.  He definitely missed his brother and was glad to see him when we picked him up! Here are a few pictures of what Kyle did while Elijah was gone: 

Played cymbals while wearing a fancy costume

He played with this empty bubbles bottle for about an hour.  But, the thing that amazes me the most is how he is sitting. . .wish I could do that! :) 

 

 A good friend of mine convinced me to do a mini-spring marathon with her at the Town Club.  While I was a competitive swimmer in my youth, I haven't swam in years.  I hadn't ridden a bike since junior high.  And still, I agreed.  

Pre-race

Kallie, Missy, Becky, and Kennedy(she competed in the youth race)

Swimming. . .I won this part for the females! wahoo

Biking . . .this part took me FOREVER!! Don't ya love my $10 Target helmet!  hehe

Heading out for the run. . . this part was amazingly not bad

Heading to the finish line. . . 

After the race with my medal. . .I am very proud of my finishers medal  even if Ricky does say it is celebrating mediocracy! hehe 

I had NEVER imagined that I would enjoy this event but I did.  Becky won, I got 6th, and Missy got 8th! We have all decided we will do another triathlon. . .just actually train first! :)