Where Have We Been?

We have Bible School this week (and I'm in charge of Grades 3-6). Enough said!!

Also, I've been on a camera strike. Not really sure why, but every once in awhile I don't have the photography bug like I usually do. We had our Kiehl family reunion last Sunday. My camera was in the van. Did I take one picture??!! Nope. By the way, if you're reading this and have any-I'd LOVE it if you'd email at least one to me(:

Anyway, until next time.. I'll leave you with what made me nearly weep with joy the other day! Haydn was in the toy room downstairs making this....

He set up his own experiment to figure out which one of his favorite Hot Wheels is the fastest. He used this complicated (!!) method to keep track of each run. (He has a hot wheels race track that has 4 tracks) He picked out a feature of each car and recorded it. I couldn't make heads or tails of the thing, but it made perfect sense to him! I love that kid!

Daredevil Show!

We went to a Four-Wheeler Daredevil Show last night in Ohio City. This guy jumps a four-wheeler over nine cars! Let me say that again. Nine cars! (okay, actually eight and a space - which counts as nine. Hey, this is Ohio City, you can't have it all!!!) The kids went WILD! They absolutely thought it was the greatest and most daring thing, ever.

Here is "Pitbull" in the air. He went so fast, he's actually a blur!

After the show, he let the kids sit on one of his "quads". This is the one he jumped on the David Letterman Show.
He is a super nice guy with the kids. Haydn got an autograph! On his arm! With permanent marker! Yesssss!
The best part of the whole situation is the take-home application!

The kids want a ramp in the backyard.

I say we just get one of these instead!

Lainey Lu

The other night, Lainey slept over. She is growing up so much, and was an angel! The kids had to play Drip. Drip. Splash. again! Can't get too much of a good thing, evidentally. Later in the day, we went to Grandma Nancy's little pool.
Lainey is so good with Gwyneth. She does a great job holding her. She's had a little practice at home, I think!
I found this at a flea market. I thought it'd look cute in Gwyneth's hair!

Church Picnic

Our church had its annual picnic last night at the Smiley Park. We had a nice visit with our "family"!
There are snow cones for everyone to enjoy (bottom left)There is even a bouncy thing-for a little while Hutch was the only one in there. Talk about every kid's dream!!!
Some of the younger ones played a game of Drip. Drip. Splash! with my mom. It's like Duck. Duck. Goose. but instead of tapping, you use a squishy water ball and splash the one you choose.
Camdyn loved bouncing!
Some of the youth fishing

Another Zoo Trip

Today we decided to head to Toledo to visit their zoo. We love this zoo, and try to make an annual trip.

Since we are members, and John so wonderfully packed our lunch-and also stashed snacks and drinks for us throughout the entire day including afterwards (:, we spent a whopping $15 on the trip, not including gas. (only $8 was actually spent at the zoo for train rides. The rest was spent towards the ever important coffee shop stop in Bluffton on the way home!!!) We didn't even have to buy the kids something from the gift shop since they were given free rubber snakes as some zoo educational hands-on experience. Yay! Talk about a cheap trip!

While we were waiting to board the train, we noticed this sign. It made me a little nervous- I know how my kids are!!!!!!

Checking out the elephants My three little bunnies!

The Toledo Zoo has such wonderful old structures that were built in the early 1900's. I wish I could spend a whole day just photographing these~

The aquarium is so neat. We were pretty tuckered out by this time, and didn't get to spend as much time as we'd like in here.

Haydn, intently watching the fish Hutch on the African train ride
They have GORGEOUS gardens!!! There are very old and established. I think they were part of the very original part way back when they built the zoo. This is my favorite part of this zoo, hands down. Unfortunately, we turned our route around this year, and did not get to these until the end. It was hot and we were all tired. Also, how do plants even compare to polar bears for the kids?!
Like I said earlier, we stopped in Bluffton on the way home for coffee and also to feed Gwyneth. Hutch was sleeping, so John and Haydn ran in while I fed Gwyneth. She was super all day. Here she is playing with mommy in the front seat. She kept trying to get the camera. She is sooo grabby!

We also swung by Van Wert and visited Papa Larry and Grandma Shirley for a little bit and then stopped in Ohio City to see Grandma Nancy. How funny that both grandparents are actually on the way home!

When we pulled in the driveway, these strange boxes were in front of the garage?!!! The kids wondered whatever they could be?! I think John had a good guess.While John was tearing into the mystery boxes, the kids and I sat on the front porch with some ice cream and raspberries that we picked at Nancy's house on the way home. Yummy!!!
John finally revealed what was in the boxes.... Wheels for his truck!!! This was definitely John's favorite part of the day!

The Fabulous Four

The kids love to dress up at Grandma Shirley's house since she has a million things to choose from! Sunday, the four middles came in and had a theme going on! Love the shoes, Cheetah Chick!

Air Show

John has a RC Airplane that he has never flown- well besides the one time he accidentally did and wrecked it. Don't ask. Anyway, there is a flying club near our house, and John is thinking about joining so he can have someone actually show him how to do it.

Today they had an exhibition on the grounds, and we decided we'd go take it in. How neat. Even Gwyneth seemed to enjoy herself! Here are some of the planes. There were a whole bunch, and a lot even bigger than these. They also had little helicopters that reminded us of hummingbirds!
To give you an idea of their size!!
Across the road, there is a "Quilted Rock"- so we just had to get our pictures with it. It kinda reminds me of the Big Ball O' Yarn!
This rusty old thing was sitting behind the Quilted Rock.

Enjoying the Flowers

It's Alive!!!

John has a Kawasaki KZ 900 motorcycle in his garage that has not run for about 6 years! He finally decided to try to put it back together since he's been craving a motorcycle for awhile now. (If you don't know.. John grew up in a motorcycle family-both sides. He has always had one until he became pre-occupied with other things, such as a family and a career(: He's been itching awhile for a motorcycle that runs!) The other night, he got it running!!! Look at that face!
He had to take it for a very short trip down the road and back.

He said it still has a lot of work. I say, It's running! Yeah, John!

Gwyneth's New Hobby

OUCH!

Last Saturday evening when we were having a watermelon moment, Hutch decided he'd help himself to seconds without letting anyone know! (: We made a trip to the ER that night and he got 2 stitches in his thumb. He chose mommy to stay in with him (I was so flattered), and he was such a brave little boy! While we were in the waiting room, he tried to convince us all that he was just fine, and we should head home, because it was "all better". (he's so like John) We promised him ice cream afterwards. We had to head to a 24/7 McDonalds! He also scored a Happy Meal, just because he wanted one! The toy:
Hutch didn't let a few stitches stop him from playing outside in the water.

One of the girls at Play Group said, "Oh, you'll have to take pictures and put it in his scrapbook, 'Hutch's First Stitches'". I told her, "Yeah right, these are his Seconds!!" Wow, Hutch, you'd better slow down. You're catching up with Daddy.

On a lighter note... Gwyneth started Baby Food! She isn't too keen on it, but she'll get the hang of it!

Photo Shoot

Last Saturday, Gwyneth and I were inside together while everyone else was out having fun in the sun and water. I thought we'd do a little photo shoot. Loved the capris!!

Holiday at Home

{not my photo}

We had a great Independence Day. I picked up John's mom in the morning with intentions of going to the parade. We had a very bare bones schedule for the day, and just kind of had a "what next" kind of day. Those are my favorites, and it seems like whenever we don't have strict plans and just go with the flow we have the most fun.

When I was getting ready in the morning, I was listening to WBCL on the radio. They had Ace Collins as a guest for the Midmorning program, and he talked about his book
I only heard part of the broadcast, but I did hear the story behind the Star Spangled Banner. It was very interesting, and I think I might check out the book-maybe you could, too, and let me know what you think!

John, of course, got called into work right before we left for the parade, so he missed it.

Nancy and Gwyneth waiting for the parade. Yes, that is a hooded sweater. It was chilly!

Haydn rode on our church's float. This kid is quite the little parade man! Here's the group before. The float is based on our Bible School Theme for this summer "Dino Detectives". Haydn's on the top left.

Here he is! He wasn't waving much. I asked him why and he said His arms were tired by then. Sigh. Poor thing!Hutch is currently caught up on 2 phrases. 1-"sweet" as in,
Me:"Here's your chocolate milk, Hutch."
Hutch: "Sweet!"
2-"donkeyhead" ?!?!
I'm not sure where he got this from, but he uses it constantly. Here's my personal favorite application... He has a shirt with "I heart Dad" on the front. The other day he was wearing it and came in and said, "Mom, do you know what this says? It says I-love-donkeyhead!!!!" (hilarious laughter) WHAT?
I almost fell over laughing when this came through the parade. A real live Donkeyhead!!!! What? Hutch bonded with it immediately!Next stop. Old Fashioned Farmer's Day. Pretty interesting! I personally was obsessed with this cool golf cart!They had barrel rides for the kids. How funny. They have a lawn tractor pulling about 8 of these around the fairgrounds. My kids loved them and rode about 5 times. Hutch cried when he got off each time.
They also had antique car races. That was really neat to watch.


Next we decided to see Kung Fu Panda. HOW CUTE!!! There were only 2 other people in theatre!

After a trip to Wal Mart, we met up with John's sister, who was getting off work, out in a field to take in the Fireworks display
Haydn found a wild raspberry bush and ate them while we were waiting!

We had a full day, and everyone was very sleepy on the way home. Especially dad and mom!