Having Fun @ Lemme

We had a great time playing at Lemme tonight. Corrine & Ammon were busy building a fort in the forest, while Rebecca was exploring the playgrounds.

Rebecca noticed that I was sitting under a tree while they played. When she saw me she ran to me with open arms to give me a giant hug. This sweet girl loves her mom. She brought me presents-grass, a special stick and pine needle "flowers".

 Rebecca and I went to play at the kindergarten playground. She mastered the rainbow arch years ago and goes up it so confidently. She was going down the twisty slide, so I decided to climb up on it and capture her bright smile as she came down. She kept asking me to take her picture as she came down. She has such a love of life.

The Fort they built has 3 rooms in 1 house for each of the kids. They found sap to help hold it together.

The many faces of Ammon.

I'm so glad we live so near to the school so we can go play. 

These sweet kids of ours can find so many ways to have fun.

A Royal Birthday Party

"A Princess Party" was the party idea Rebecca stuck with for her 4th birthday. She 1st wanted a water party, then a water party with princesses, then she decided a princess party without water would be best. Today was so hot and humid that some water might have actually felt really good.

We planned some fun games for the party.

Pin the crown on Rapunzel. 

I free hand drew this after looking at a cd cover. 

The crowns were just cut out card stock that I decorated.

 The Princess and the Pea 

I started out by telling the kids the story of the Princess and the Pea. We had 4 pillows and a green bouncy ball "pea" for the game. I hid the "pea" under a pillow and the kids would sit on each pillow and try to feel the pea. The "pea" we used was too small to feel in the grass, so we changed it out for a baseball. All the kids were able to find the "pea" this way.

Poison Apple

This game is like hot potato, but with a poison apple instead. The kids passed the poison apple around until Corrine stopped the music. Whoever had the apple pretended to fall asleep. They were then awoken by a kiss-a Hershey kiss. After all the kids got a turn to get the poison apple and get awoken by a kiss the kids ate their very messy melted Hershey kisses.

Treasure Hunt

We hid wands and pirate eye patches in the strawberry patch, rings and bouncy balls in the sand box, necklaces on the fence, stick on earring in the flower box in the clubhouse and bracelets in the playhouse on the deck. The kids had so much fun going around finding the treasures.

Princess Cake

If you have a princess party-you need a princess cake. 

This princess was struggling to not melt in the heat of the day. She stayed nice and cool in the fridge until it was time to cut into her fluffy dress.

Presents

I love the looks on all the kids faces as Rebecca opened her presents. They were all admiring the fun gifts the other kids gave her. She was so sweet and gentle, yet excited opening them.

A couple other fun pictures I got at the party.

A grumpy princess not wanting her picture taken.

A Happy Princess playing with her friends.

A totally engrossed in her new wand from the treasure hung princess.

A sad princess.

 A tongue sticking out prince.

Rebecca and her friends had such a fun time playing prince and princess today! I'm glad she has such sweet friends that were able to come celebrate her special golden birthday with her.

Rebecca's Date Night

This cutie of ours is the only one home for a few days this week. Corrine's off riding horses at Girl Scout Camp and the boys are with the Smith Grandparents. When Rebecca realized that it would just be the 3 of us she started planning a "date night". She talked about our date night for days and all day long today, asking when it was time to go. She was so excited!

On the schedule was dinner and walking around the main lake at Kent Park.

We decided on Noodles & Company for dinner. We'd tried going there once before but ended up going somewhere else. Tonight we were determined to give a try. We ended up really liking it. The 100 choice soda machine didn't disappoint and neither did the mac n cheese.

After dinner we went to Kent Park for our walk. We stopped by the trees planted for Grandma & Grandpa Riddle (Rebecca's great grandparents on Johann's side) and Grandma & Grandpa Clifford (Rebecca's great great grandparents again on Johann's side.)

Rebecca the photographer taking mom & dad's picture.

 I just love this picture of her wearing my hat. 

 The bridges here are awesome. 

They have a rich history to each of them, 

they make amazing backdrops for pictures, 

and their fun to play on!

All night she kept pulling up her shorts under her dress because they just wouldn't stay up! At the end of our walk we learned it was her underwear and shorts that were too big and they would have been down around her ankles if she hadn't hiked them up a hundred time tonight!

Kent Park is so beautiful. Along the path are beautiful flowers in full bloom, ripe delicious raspberries and fun critters to check out. We saw 2 daddy long leg spiders covered in tiny little red hitch hiking bugs.

The serenity of the park is wonderful. Even with all the people we met on the path, it was still quiet and peaceful. It's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy some quiet nature time. I think I know why our sweet girl wanted to come here tonight and I'm greatful for that.

 Speaking of Rebecca she was in the playful mood the entire time and a posing for pictures mood part of the time. Towards the end of out walk she wanted her picture taken. She'd pose for me, then change her pose and ask for another picture to be taken. She can be such a photogenic girl when she wants to be, and can make getting a picture of her hard at other times.

Bath house and beach 

Rebecca and the drinking fountain. 

Thank you Rebecca for planning such a fun date to go on with your mom & dad.