Weekend in Davenport

Last weekend, I decided to be brave and head to Davenport with the kids while Chad was going there for a seminar. The last time we went with him was when there were only 3 of us, and Evan was only 5 months old. Thankfully, we found a very nice hotel with amazingly friendly owners that had an excellent price on their rooms. Plus, there was a pool, a breakfast buffet, and they had a crib for Laura (all for $57!). The kids and I had several hours to spend on our own, so we made the most of it by feeding the ducks at VanderVeer park, playing in the hotel pool, visiting the Family Museum in Bettendorf, playing at a park, and doing a little work at Palmer while I was there. I didn't get a lot of pictures of our fun since I didn't carry the camera with me everywhere (in other words, nearly all of the pictures are from the times when Chad was with us), but here are my favorite pictures from last weekend.

The snuggles are all in the van and ready to go, just waiting on their owners.

Laura wiped out and waiting for Daddy to get done at his seminar on Saturday.

Evan pushing the limits on the "no touching each other's pillows while someone still has pink eye" rule.

The girls giving their snuggles piggy back rides. (Mostly I like Laura's expression.)

Proof that Calvin & Hobbes went along with us.

Evan a bit miffed because he thought he needed to tear his eyes away from the cartoon on the hotel tv to look at the camera.

Laura messing with Mommy. She fell asleep 40 minutes before I had to have me, 3 kids, and all our stuff checked out of the hotel.

Playing with the mirrors at the Family Museum.

The dress-up area at the Family Museum.

Proof of the happiness that can be bought with $1.38 (the price, with tax, of a McDonald's vanilla cone with 3 cups and 3 spoons). I tested this happiness factor twice during the weekend.

And, evidence that we should have gone home a few hours sooner.

 Overall, it was a good weekend. And as soon as I forget how many miles on the way home looked like the picture above, I'll be ready to do it again next time Chad has to go to a seminar.

You, you, you...high schooler!

Evan: Baby!
Kendra: I'm not a baby. Baby!
Evan: You're a high schooler!
Kendra: Am not!
Evan: Are too!
Kendra: Am not!
Evan: You are too!
Kendra: I am not.
Evan: High schooler.

Huh, who knew that being called a high schooler was a bigger insult than being called a baby...

Not quite Spanish

Kendra: First I'll do this. Then you need to say something in Spanish, like "red" for "elephant", or "unh" for "chair".

Wordless Wednesday

Coffee coffee coffee

Sometimes you can't

 help but take 

 pictures of a

semi driving

down the road.

Alternately titled:

--And I thought Chad traveled with too much coffee.

--I know they're coming out with bigger coffee sizes, but really?!?

and

--If only it was being followed by a milk tanker.

Singing, sleeping, kicking

Sometimes the kids sing.
Sometimes they sing in the van.
Sometimes I have the camera along.
Sometimes I take a video.
Sometimes you end up with a video where the singing really doesn't matter.

Sometimes that video can bring about great laughs when it's being watched.

Sometimes life is just wonderful.

How to avoid discipline

How do you avoid getting in trouble for taking your glass of juice away from the table?

By looking this adorable doing it, of course.