Family Time

Since school has started we have spent the last two weekends of August with both sides of Nick's family.  First we had the Reinhart reunion that is always in the middle of August.  We met on Saturday for a pitch in dinner and saw some of his cousins along with some of the extended family.  Then on Sunday we gathered again for a church service and catered meal.  We skipped out on the service this year because it is almost 2 hours long and there is no nursery for the kids.  The kids could do okay for about an hour, but beyond that would be pushing it and we would have been outside the rest of the time.  It is nice to get to catch up with some of the family you hardly see.  I really only took a couple pics of the kids just to document Langston's first reunion.  I was not in a picture taking mood that weekend.

With Grandma Pam.  The Reinharts are her side of the family.

The next family event was going up to Indy to visit with Nick's dad's side of the family.  On Saturday we first got together with some of Nick's friends from high school who live in Indy as well.  We met at a park that was actually just minutes from his aunt's house and played and hung out for a couple of hours.  It was nice to catch up with the Mounts, Slaters, and Rabucks.  After that we had dinner with some of his cousins and aunt Sherrie.  We spent the night at a hotel, which the kids love to do.  They were especially excited to get up and swim after breakfast.  Once we checked out we met back at his aunts for a picnic lunch.  We had a great time visiting that weekend and  we loved meeting Corbin, Nick's cousin Doug's youngest.  He was born last September and this was the first time we have been able to get together.

Alexa wanted to hold Langston the entire time.

Even Mitchell got to hold her.

Aunt Sherrie

Chillin at the hotel

She was a little cold after her dip in the pool.

Cousin Angela

Noel and Corbin

Doug, Drew, and Mike

Easton and Corbin were cute together

Alexa, Alison, Jessica, and Tina.  Tina and Gary just got engaged that week.

Grandma Pam, cousin Brian, and Aunt Dawn

Uncle Gary relaxing with Langston



Kenan's First Day of Kindergarten

Kenan is attending Scott Elementary this year for kindergarten.  We decided to have him ride the bus so I wouldn't have to load the kids up to take and pick him up.  It works out good because the pickup is two houses down on the corner of our street and another.  Yesterday morning he climbed on just like a big boy.  I told him as I was waiting that he was making me cry because I could feel tears welling up.  He just looked at me and smiled.  The hardest thing was Easton not being big enough to go with him.  First Easton was sad when Kenan put on his backpack because he didn't have a little one.  Then when the bus came into view Easton said "woohoo the bus" and then when he realized only Kenan was getting on he started crying.  That afternoon when Kenan got off the bus I asked him how school was and he said "it was wonderful."  The one thing I found out he didn't like was music class.  He doesn't like to sing in groups.  Today he had gym and he was much more excited about that.

Langston's First Time in the Pool

So you would have thought Langston's first time in a pool would have been in the grandparents pool, but it wasn't.  After 15 or so years their pool finally gave out last week.  This came at a pretty good time with school about to start, but for those of us at home we could have still had a month of swimming left.  Since we still like to swim we have had to make due elsewhere.  So this past weekend we used Burdette passes Uncle Jonathan had given us and headed to the westside with some of the family.  I didn't have a suit for Langston yet but I wanted to still take her in.  I had a tiny cloth swim diaper I had used with Kenan so I just put that on with a onesie outfit.  She sat on my lap for about 5 min.  She cried right at first because I think it was a bit cold, but after that she just chilled on my lap.

The next time Langston got in the water was this past Tuesday in our backyard kiddy pool.  I had since borrowed a small suit from a friend and since it was sunny out she wore a hat as well.  Again we only sat in the water for about 5 min. or so because I didn't want her to be out in the sun for too long.  She didn't cry at all this time and actually seemed to enjoy it.

Aunt Rebecca and cousin Navy

You have to take two pictures to get them all in it where they are looking.

Easton had to show us what he was doing as well.

So sweet

Holiday World, CMOE, and 4H Fair

With only two weeks of summer break left we decided to go to Holiday World and then enjoy the 4H fair.  We had purchased tickets for Holiday World at the beginning of the summer knowing we would go sometime.  I was just waiting until Langston was big enough to leave because we didn't want to take her and have her out in the heat all day.  Also, we wanted to be able to ride some of the rides all together since Easton was tall enough for more of them this year.  My parents and sisters decided to go on a Monday and we figured it was a good enough day to join them.  With all of the heat we had been having it ended up being a great day.  It had rained the night before making things a bit cooler, but the clouds only hung around for the morning.  By the time we got there it was nice and pretty out.  We ended up staying from open to close making the most out of our day.  We still didn't get to a good number of rides because of the lines.  Kenan can go on almost all of the attractions now and he would to if we had time.  Next year we may have to get there more than once to hit everything.  Easton had a lot more fun this year as well because he could ride on a number of family rides.  He looked so little with all of the big kids, but he would even go on the roller coasters if he was able to.  He is fearless and wants to do everything his big brother does.  Angie my sister-in-law watched Langston and she said she did a great.  I missed my little girl since this was the first time leaving her.  She had to have four bottles and she had only had one previously two nights before.  I think she did okay with them but was glad to have me back.

The same week we went to Holiday World was the Vanderburgh County 4H Fair.  The last couple of years we have bought passes and gone almost every day.  This year with Langston and the heat we ended up going only Friday and Saturday night.  Friday night my sister Michele sang in the talent show and they had the Tractor Pull.  We mainly walked around and looked at the animals and got food after the talent show because the tractor pull is really loud.  Nick did take the boys over to the grandstands to watch a bit of it though.  Saturday night was the demolition derby.  Nick and I have gone almost every year as long as we have been together.  Since exposing the boys to it they now love it as well.  This year Nick's parents came with us for the first time.  My sister Michele also came as she has the past couple of years.  We like to pick a car and see whose car makes it the farthest.  Kenan won twice and Michele once.  This was the first year we saw the whole demo derby because they shortened it for fear of rain.  We even had time afterward to ride some of the rides.  Kenan went on one of the big ones with my sister Michele and I even rode the Zipper.

Finally, the Friday we went to the 4H we also went to CMOE with Angie and Tenley.  Gretchen had given us free passes so we had to add to our full summer by using them.  Isabelle went with us as well.

All Tenley wanted to do was grab Langston's bow.