Sunday, July 9, 2017

July - Let Freedom Ring! 2015


We went to the annual "Fourth of July Ice Cream Social" held by our neighbor.  It's always a fun family morning with lots of great activities... like hanging out with the firetruck and getting to practice spraying the hose...
And digging in to the yummy banana splits...
And playing baseball with Dad...


And getting our faces painted...







Avery started dance class, cast and all!  Because she isn't 3, we had to try a month of the mommy and me class.  I tried to convince them she would be just fine in the 3-year-old class, but we had to prove it to them :)  





Ben got a haircut!  He was a champ! 


John finally got his very own truck, something he's been dreaming of for years and years! 

And these two are pretty impressed by the new ride :)



Spidey!




The day had finally come!  When we went to the Orthopedic Doc the week after her fall, they said she could "walk out of there" the day she had her cast taken off.  It was a huge relief since I had flashbacks of Tony having to use his walker for weeks.  So we talked up the big day!  We all wore our swim suits to the appointment and we were headed to our new pool right after! 
She was a little nervous at first..

but things went well...

Until about right there (and why the pictures stopped!).  The tool the tech was using was so hot that it burned her skin on each side of her knee.  She still has a scar from one of the burns.  Needless to say, she freaked out.  Completely lost it.  I had to hold her on my lap and try to hold her still so the tech could keep going.  She kept saying that it shouldn't hurt and she must just be scared.  But as soon as that thing popped off and I saw the marks... lets just say I wasn't too happy!
Avery went from walking with her cast and being unstoppable to right back to Day 1.  She insisted her leg hurt so bad that should wouldn't walk... for days.  Obviously she wanted nothing to do with going to the pool.  She could barely wipe her eyes clear of tears to insist on going home. 
We tried and tried to get her to "forget about" any pain and just start moving!  I called the doctor's office, wondering what I should do.. could it still be hurt?  Will she need physical therapy?  It took nearly three weeks for her to start walking again! 

This was one of our attempts.... what kid doesn't love cleaning cars, spraying the hose, wiping suds all over??  Avery wouldn't budge... 





Of course first and foremost we wanted Avery to be all better for her sake, but we also had an adults-only weekend trip planned and I hated to leave her if she wasn't herself.  Before we left her spirits were high, she just wouldn't walk.  Everyone convinced me it would be fine to go and may even be good for her - she seems to act the most "damsel in distress" for me :)
So off we went to the Lake of the Ozarks for our annual friend's trip! 

We had a lot of fun and after the last couple months we had had, it was nice to get away for a couple days!





At one bar we stopped at along the way, they had an indoor fishing hole.  A young kid that worked there let John use all his fancy stuff and John loved it.  We're still not sure why...

But check on this catch.. shot with a bow and arrow type thing (really technical term, I know).

As much fun as we had, the highlight of my day was getting pictures of the kids. 



I remember seeing this and thinking, "Look how cute!  Wait, OMG, she's standing!!!"  Mom said it was for the picture only, but hey, it was progress..

The kids had a party weekend... Aunt Dawn, Uncle Dave, Aunt Sue (the Greats) and Jimmy all came to stay the weekend, too. 

Crack me up, no pun intended! :)











I don't know who is obsessed with shoes more:  My dad or these kids.  So get them together for a weekend and this is what you get

Standing again!... just for a picture, but standing!

King of the Bed Head

Watching the Cavemen!

Great weekend for everyone!!


And then I got REAL brave.  I don't know what got into me... maybe the weeks of being so limited... maybe just too much coffee one day that made me think I was some sort of SuperMom, but I planned a weekend trip with the three kids to Chicago... by myself!  John switched shifts with someone and would be working a 48 shift, so why be stuck home alone for that long?!
First stop - checking out Tony's work and going out for dinner!

Look at the seriousness of that face, giving the business




Definitely not meant to playing in...

The next day we planned a trip to the beach and we took the train to get there!  It was all VERY exciting!  I kept thinking, "All these people I know live in Chicago and I RARELY hear or see of them going to the beach.. I don't get it!"  Well now I do.  I had to stop taking pictures because it was just too much.  The amount of things we had to bring and the struggle of getting on and off trains, cabs, walking all over, leaving with sand all over... all for about 1 hour in the sun!


But the kids LOVED it!















Next day we took a trip to the zoo!  Highlight was definitely the dolphin show!




And lastly, birthday celebration for Rudy's upcoming birthday!
Super fun weekend, but good to get back home!



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