Fun at Adventureland Inn

Once a year we meet up with a group of friends (6 couples and their kids)at a water park. It was a group of guys that Eric worked with at his first accounting job. Before we all had kids, we would hang out monthly or more, but with kids, job changes, moving and general business of life it's tough to get together. This year we had plans on going to Omaha and staying there, but due to several reasons we decided to stay in Des Moines and check out the Adventureland Inn. The motel worked out well. No traveling and the kids got to swim, no exciting water slides like at some of the other water parks we have stayed at, but the kids didn't seem to mind.
I noticed when I got home I didn't have any group pictures or pictures of the 10 kids in our group.- Dang


Zach really seemed to gain a lot of courage this year. He has always loved the water, but didn't care so much for it in his face. Not any more, he would stand under the little buckets and he went under the water without seeming to mind. We are ready for swimming lessons this summer.

I think he went down the slides a 100 times. He was caught by surprise the first couple times he went under, but then did just fine. The life jacket worked great, because he could swim around independently.

Every once in a while you have to see a scary picture of me, but just to make sure there is a picture or two of me around just in case. In hind site, maybe a picture of me with clothes on would have been a better idea. Oh well!

Cale, of course didn't want to be left out and went down the slides also. We caught him at the end and he would say from the top, "You catch me", "Yes, Cale I will catch you," "Promise mom" I may have accidentally not caught him a couple times in the past when we were swimming, but I promised and no accidents this time.

Ankeny Easter Egg Hunt

This was the first time it ever worked out to take the kids to an outside Easter egg hunt. The boys really enjoyed it. Cale couldn't wait to eat his candy, no time for a picture mom!

Zach was thrilled to have his basket filled. All the eggs were filled with candy, but 5 eggs in each age category were empty and with a ticket in it to win a prize. No lucky with a prize, but lucky with candy- Mm mm

For some reason, Cale would only put pink eggs in his baskets. I have no idea what goes through their little minds. He likes things to match, so I guess maybe that is why.

Zach before the hunt starts and notice all the eggs on the ground.

Waiting for the directions and then tackle that Easter bunny oh I mean the eggs. (I am not sure why I can't figure out how to order my pictures on here)

My date with Cale

I was able to have a date with each of my little boys this past weekend. On Friday, Zach and I went to the 3 D movie, Monsters vs Aliens. It was a fun movie and it was the first 3 d movie Zach had ever been to, so he thought that was pretty cool.

On Sat. Cale and I got to hang out at the mall together. Zach has never been a big fan of sitting on someone lap that is strange to him, so I have never pushed it. But, Cale didn't seem to mind and the Easter bunny and him seemed like they were life long friends.

Cale loved the train ride at Merle Hay Mall.

Due to our schedules, I don't seem to get to spend a lot of time with Cale during the week. He is growing up so fast and it was nice to spend an afternoon with him. I don't think there was one second of silence, he is a talker!

Book Club Book

Mercy by Jodi Piccult is a book I just read (not with the book club), but I loved it and love her style of writing. I am looking forward to reading more of her books. I really like books that make you think even when you are done reading them. This book dealt with mercy killing.

Water for Elephants was our book club book this month. It was an enjoyable read. I learned some things about the circus that I never knew, but to me not a real page turner.

NCAA Basketball, fun and friends

This past Friday and Saturday, we got to feel like college kids again. No work, no kids, hang out with friends, act goofy, watch endless basketball and play as many games as we can fit into a 12 hour period. Eric and I get our NCAA brackets filled out (we pick opposites the whole way through so we are always cheering against each other, so all the games are of interest). We invite whomever wants to hang out and play with us. We played 500, hearts, up and down the river, Texas hold em, wii tennis, Mario cart, wii fit and outdoor adventure. Of course, everything has to have a wager, and most of the wagers involved running around outside with toilet paper on our heads(I know real mature). Eric's parents are nice enough to watch the kids, so we may regress to our college years and not be bad influences on our kids at the same time. Now tomorrow back to the real word . . .

Swimming at the Mercy Pool

We are always looking for ways to help with the kids endless energy. On weekends when we didn't have anything planned we would take the kids to the pool at the Mercy Wellness Center. The awesome thing about the pool is that the temp of the water is really warm. They use it for patients and for water aerobics most of the time, but have family time on Saturdays.

They also have a small hot tub that we enjoy for a few minutes.

Mom and Dad are here for Spring Break

It's been a long winter, because we haven't been able to see mom and dad since Christmas, but now we are lucky enough to have them stay for several days. Zach is off this week from school, so they are helping us out by watching Zach for the first three days of the week. Thanks mom and dad!