Volleyball Tournament

On Saturday morning, Ethan played in a 2 on 2 volleyball tournament. He played with a buddy from high school and lets just cushion the blow and say that they were rusty. They got to play a lot of volleyball and beat some very good teams but unfortunately they did not advance to the next round. Ethan played very well and put a valiant effort, but in the end the 12 year old and her dad and the 5 month pregnant lady's team advanced. In his defense, his teammate has never ever played volleyball and they did beat a team of high school boys who are currently on the high school team. All in all it was a fun and different way to enjoy a Saturday morning. 

Kelsey just pushed the stroller around the park while I watched Ethan play. We all had a great time

International Peace Park

What started as a trip to "poor mans Manito", turned into a FANTASTIC tour of our very own city. On Saturday we visited International Peace Park. I had never heard of it, Ethan had never heard of it, and so we decided to go. On Friday at work some one mentioned to Ethan that it was a place  with some nice gardens.  When we got there though we both were blown away at the beautify and variety. This park is park that has dedicated gardens to different countries leaving little bits of their culture in their garden.  Well groomed, beautiful flowers, and such nice tributes to so many countries. We had a lot of fun and were getting so many ideas on how to turn this park into a scavenger hunt or like a passport stamping trip for kids. It always makes me sad to discover places in the city that I live that I have never visited or even heard of. What else am I missing out on?! I mean I love it, but there is just so much to do in the world I better get crackin!

Ethan in Greece

Me in England

 

Kelsey and Dad in Switzerland

Me and Kelsey in America

My favorite spot... Dutch! Beautiful awning.

We think this is supposed to be the Stonehenge, but there was no sign and it doesn't really look like the Stonehenge so who knows. 

Me in Finland

Kelsey and Ethan in Italy

Ethan entering Germany

Ethan entering Lebanon

 

Me and Kelsey in Lebanon

 

Me in Japan

Ethan in Brasil. It was so funny, when Ethan saw Brazil he said, "Well there is nothing here to represent Brazil, but I guess in Brazil if you have a patch of grass you are doing well, so I guess this represents Brazil well."

 

Bird house in Netherlands

 

One chubba with another chubba in Mexico

Harp skills in Wales

Second favorite Vietnam

Ethan with Gandhi in India (Gandhi is the tiny head in the background)

Korean Posts

Kelsey's new trick when she is bored

Awesome butterfly bench in America

Kelsey in France

 Warrior poses in China

There were several other countries that didn't make the picture real mostly because they were a patch of cement with a flag pole holding the countries flag. It was a fantastic afternoon and I am so excited to take people there in the future. It was such a pleasant surprise for us and I'm certain others will feel that same way if they get to go.

Virginia

All my reading for Virginia taught me that that state food was ham and biscuits in any shape or form. On Sunday we did just that. Ethan made a ham and biscuit sandwich and I ate ham with a biscuit on the side. Delicious and easy

Apple juice

This picture does no justice to the act.I was out doing some errands and when I came home I heard Kelsey talking to herself so I went to get her in her room. I found her not only shirtless, but with new pants and her hair matted to her head and in all sorts of random locks. Apparently she got into the apple juice and dumped it all down herself. Ethan wiped her down and changed her clothes and then put her in her bed to clean up the mess. She fell asleep before he could clean up her hair and when she woke up, we had a very sticky mess. Its one of those stories that mom and dad find hilarious and anyone else would maybe give a pity smile.

White and Nerdy

A couple of years ago our good friends introduced to us a game called Dominion. We were hesitant at first because all the cards have dragons and knights and castles and stuff, but after playing a few times we were hooked. Its a really fun strategic card game that happens to have a medieval look to it. Anyway, after playing with our friends Ethan found the game on line and lets just say his life has never been the same. He is ALWAYS playing a "quick" round with some other nerdy friend on line. In Ethan's defense he only plays when he is trying to kill time or winding down, but still. I bought the game for his birthday and he would still rather play with his online friends? Ouch.

on Saturday night Ethan was playing, again, and I was playing with my new Google Chrome and Ethan challenged me to a game of online Dominion. I made fun of him, but I agreed. We set up the computer set up our game and started playing and I have to say I had a blast! It was hands down one of the nerdest things I have ever done, but it was really fun playing against Ethan. The online version of the game was fun too because it added sound effects which if you know my dad are a must for games. Ethan even let me win both games which made me like it even more. I can't say that I am hooked, but I can say that I will make fun of Ethan less for loving the online game so much.

Best friends

Ralph Johnson was born on May 13th and Kelsey was born on June 2nd. They are 3 weeks apart! I love Ralphies mom so much and she is one of my closest friends in the whole wide world. It was fun being pregnant together (okay I shouldn't have used the word fun, but I liked being pregnant with Elisa) and now it is even more fun to play together! We always talk about being a mom and try to help each other out with the minimal knowledge of motherhood that we have. I love it and I love Elisa!
But back to the babies... they have obviously been betrothed to each other and I  can't wait to play these pics at their wedding. Okay okay, Kesley does have a say in who she marries, but with pictures this cute should she? I mean seriously. These are such cute pictures.  These two are hilarious together! They chase each other around, make each other laugh, steal toys, share food, and make life wonderful for their mommies! We have been so blessed to have so many great friends in our life.

not kidding... when I put this hat on Kelsey, Ralphie started to laugh. I don't know if its because she looks like the crazy lady who lives down the street or because the hat just makes her that much cuter, but either way he laughed!