Beatin' the Heat

Although summer 2013 has been cooler than the past few summers, (like 2011 when I was pregnant with Gwen - ICK) we've still be trying to figure out way to keep little miss occupied and cool.  

One of Gwen's favorite games to play lately is "wing wosie". Like most toddlers, Gwen basically wants to spin a few times and flop on the floor -- she tries singing the song with you, but the only words you can really understand is "all fall down"!

Here's Gwen and daddy in action.

Gwen's favorite part-- she gets up a little faster than daddy does. :-)

Mike worked during the day on the 4th of July, so Gwen and I went over to the Hutts' to BBQ and play during the morning and afternoon. Here's the girl all decked out in her 4th of July outfit -- thanks Aunt Nancy! She insisted on wearing the firefighter hat . . . at least she kept the color scheme going.

Saying CHEESE for a quick picture we sent to daddy while he was at work.

Later, all the kiddos swam in the pool with their pudding pops.

We were pretty sure our extra cautious little girl would not like the fireworks and we were right. She did NOT like the loud daytime fireworks. She did however surprise us and like the night show at Wall Park. Our little group packed up around 8 pm (typically Gwen's bedtime) and headed over to Dennis and Steph Kieffer's house -- they have a perfect view of the annual firework show and were nice enough to invite all of us over. The fireworks ended shortly after 10 and Gwen was still going strong! Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of her cuddling up with us watching the fireworks, but she really like the show and kept saying "more pretty". 

On Friday, the 5th, Gwen's daycare was closed I took the day off to hang with my girl! Grandma Rita (Mimi) also took the day off so we loaded up for a girls' day in Wichita.

Here's Gwen prepped for the trip, she has Haley (her baby), her sunglasses, her blanket and Dora on tv!

Chowing down at Chuck E Cheese.

I'm not sure if Mimi or Gwen had more fun playing the games, but we had a great day shopping and hanging out -- I see many more days like that in our future.

Our little garden is doing quite well this year. . .Gwen's favorite part is the balls (peas)! She likes to go out there each night and eat the balls, she likes them so much we haven't had any peas make it in the house yet.

Eating "balls" with daddy.

Here's an updated picture of our garden area -- it's been such a great use for the space between our shed and fence and we've really had fun with it.

Little Miss is also having big fun helping water flowers each night.

Helping Daddy.

CHEESE!


Another thing that's kept us busy this summer is . . . 

We were kinda dragging our feet with the whole potty training thing, but in true Gwen fashion she's pretty much doing the work for us -- kinda like she took herself off baby food and the bottle (the paci was a different story!). Gwen starting telling us she had to potty a couple months ago but it wasn't consistent at all -- then she had a few weeks where she cried when we put her on it. The last couple weeks she's really picked it up though -- I'm convinced the Reese's Pieces are the ticket -- we are not above bribing. When she's home with us she probably goes on the potty over half the time, she's better at going #2 on the potty than #1 -- she gets two treats for #2 and only one for #1 -- oh yes, she's working the system. She's 21 months and we're just taking our time with it, we've already learned if it's Gwen's idea it's much more likely to happen!

Garden Success?!!

Success so far! Can't wait to see it in a few weeks!

Memorial Weekend in Galveston!

The Thursday before Memorial weekend all three of us took off for vacation in Galveston, Texas! We left the house  bright and early that day, and believe it or not Gwen made the trip to Houston in three stops! She did great! It helps to have a DVD player with Barney on repeat. Thursday night and Friday were spent in Houston with Tamie's sister, Dallas, and her husband Gary. Saturday morning, Dallas and Gary paved the way through some wild traffic in Houston, and made it to our beach house!

Our vacation house!

The view from our back deck.

The back side of the house.

The neighborhood.

We didn't waste any time going straight to the beach. It was Gwen's first time in the ocean! She took right to the water and loved playing in the sand. Tamie and I couldn't stop smiling watching our little girl play. 

REAL sand!!

Dad, introducing Gwen to the ocean.

Our house was actually not in Galveston, technically the house was in Jamaica Beach, about 18 miles south of Galveston. It was quiet and comfortable for our little girl to play outside, away from a very busy Galveston beach.

I want to play in the water!

Staying up late can result in some goofy faces!

Staying up late also results in some pretty pictures!

Gwen climbing all over dad!

Saying CHEESE with mommy!

And here's the results of staying up late!

Along with our beach house rental, came access to a pool and lazy river. We tried the pool and river, but our little one preferred the real thing, the ocean! Gwen loved playing in the seaweed and gloppy sand.

Finding gloppy sand.

Future Baywatch beach babe! Running on the beach.

Trying out the lazy river.

Drawing in the wet sand.

Tuesday, we had to leave and make the 12 hour drive back home. Gwen didn't fair so well on the ride home. Lets just say it was a long ride for all three of us. Barney on DVD got yet another workout... Tamie and I lost count, but we're pretty sure we watched Barney six or seven times. Barney is taking a vacation for a while!

Watching Barney.

One last pic of the ocean. 

May Fun!

The month of May has nearly come and gone. We have got a lot of updating to do! While Mike was away on evening shift, Gwen and I snuck off to Lindsborg to have dinner with the Anderson family. Gwen got to hang out with all of her friends.

Gwen giving a hug to her friend Will.

Even more fun times at Bre Hutts' house. Gwen stopped by and wished Bre a happy birthday and dropped off a present for the birthday girl.

Bre and Gwen!

May didn't have just one May Day celebration. Farmers Alliance had a big 125 year anniversary celebration as well. The FA parking lot was transformed into a mini theme park! FA had numerous activities for adults and kids; but Gwen found the BALL PIT and her night got even better!

BIG smiles in the ball pit. 

I think she likes the ball pit?!

Blowing bubbles at the FA celebration!

If you live in McPherson, you know what the month of May means... All Schools Day. The second Friday in May is McPherson's big local end of the school year celebration. Gwen and I headed to the 100th All Schools Day parade while Mike was at work.

Grandpa Prieb and Gwen at the parade.

After the parade was over, Gwen and I took off for Sedan to see my nephew Jordan graduate high school. Before we made it to Sedan we stopped in to spend the night with Norman and Diana Reeves.

Gwen and Diana playing piano!

Gwen 'won' a huge teddy bear at the FA celebration! When we asked Gwen what the bear's name was, she replied "Bears". So I guess the bear's name is Bears.

Back home with Bears.

The three of us moved over a year ago, and the amount of clutter that we have accumulated is, well... too much. The Hutts were having a garage sale, so the Priebs joined the garage sale party. 

Bre and Gwen hanging out during the garage sale.

Mike and I cleaned out an area on the north side of our second garage and decided to use that space for a garden. The picture below was taken nearly three weeks ago, shortly after we planted some veggies.

As if Gwen didn't have enough stuff in her playroom downstairs. Gwen recently got her own playhouse downstairs. We sold our pool table that took up a lot of space, just in time to fill the spot with another LARGE object. It's nice to have an indoor area for Gwen to play during the HOT summer days!

Gwen's first encounter with her new house!

Spring Time... Almost

Is Spring ever going to get here?! Or are we jumping right into Summer, just like last year? Well, I guess we shouldn't complain to much. The weather the last week has been perfect. Gwen has really enjoyed being outside, and we have loved spending some family time outside.

COLOR with me Dad!?

Coloring all the time!

Gwen is now over 18 months old, and she is really soaking up everything. A little over a week ago, Gwen and a few friends all went to the circus in Salina. After she got her 'freakout' overwith, she really loved seeing the animals. She was terrified of the elephant at the beginning.

Watching the (kitties) tigers play.

Don't bother me while I'm on the iPad!

I DARE YOU TO SAY "NO"!

This never ending Winter blessed us yet again, with more ice. And it sounds like we might even get more winter like weather this week, on May 1! C'mon Spring, you can get here and stay here!

Our tree in the backyard, all iced up.