First camping trip!

Memorial day weekend we loaded up and headed out on our first camping trip! We drove north to Canada to see Niagara Falls. I took so many pictures that I'm going to do a seperate post about the falls themself. But first, our camping adventure! 

First things first, camping with young kids is. not. easy. It is in no way relaxing. However we had the best time! We made so many memories on this trip! It was different from anything we had ever done as a family. Sure there was crying, and whining, and potty drama. But it was so worth to to see the kids experienced sleeping in a tent. They couldn't believe it! They giggled so much trying to fall asleep. It was so worth it to tell ghost stories in the tent at night. It was worth it to hear Ella start her ghost stories with "One po time," instead id once upon a time. It was so worth all the family time we got and being able to totally go off the grid for three days. It was just very refreshing to get all the quality time together that we did. 

Now that we are back and laundry is done and put away I'm already trying to think of where we are going to camp next! Aside from the quality time we all get together, I've decided that the best part about camping is getting to travel for a fraction of the cost! Bryan and I love to travel, see new things, and have fun and crazy adventure and this is a fun and cheap way to do it! We don't need luxury hotels, we just need a place to sleep at night so we can see as much as we can! 

We drove through Pennsylvania and upstate New York and the was a gorgeous drive! 

We drove through this tiny town in Pennsylvania and it happened to be where the little league World Series takes place! We are so mad we didn't think to stop and take Kade's picture! 

I took an embarrassing number of pictures of our drive, haha! 

Our campsite! We stay at Jellystone Park on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We were about a 5 min drove from the falls! 

Snuggled in the first night, it was COLD at night.

Breakfast the first morning

The pool was heated so they got to swim! 

Snack break

At night they had wagon rides around the park with Yogi Bear. At this point they didn't know who yogi was but they were excited! 

That night we roasted hot dogs for dinner and then roasted mallows for s'mores.

Summer birthdays

Last week Kade's class celebrated the summer birthdays! The kids were so excited that it was their turn to celebrate at school. Next year Kade's birthday falls on his first day of school! 

I love my summer baby! 

That same day the local fire department came to the school to talk to the kids about fire safety! 

Dynamic duo

These two can drive me crazy. They can fight so bad that it makes me pull my hair out! But the majority of the time is spent playing together, laughing, and just loving being around each other. They are best friends to the core and I pray nothing ever changes. 

First 'real' haircut

Ella got her hair but for the first time this week! I have trimmed the back some to help with the mullet when she was a baby but this was the first time actually going and getting a cut. And when I say cut I really mean trim. Her hair has gotten pretty long but the ends were WILD so she just needed a good clean up. She did sooooo well and loved sitting there like a big girl! 

Before

And after! Honestly there isn't much of a difference but it does look cleaner on the ends. 

Potty power!

I can happily say that we are DONE WITH DIAPERS! I have been buying diapers for nearly 5 years now. For one for year I was buying diapers for two kids. Diapers have a been a way of life for us for long time. I have never been so excited to walk past the diapers aisles at the store and know that we are DONE with that part of the baby stage. 

Ella Claire potty trained like a pro! I was kinda surprised but after very few accidents she was well on her way. And now there is no going back. This past week she has even woken up dry in the morning and after nap! She wakes up and immediately takes her self to the bathroom! 

We are all loving this new sense of freedom!! 

After a week of successful pottying, she got to pick out a special prize. It was tough to narrow down to just one. 

She did however decide on the Little Mermaid. That mermaid hasn't left her side since! 

We are so proud of our big girl!! 

Catching up

We have been so busy lately! It seems with school and all our other activities wrapping up we have been going 100 miles per hour! 

Never too far from me :) 

Mother's Day tea with my sweet boy. They sang to us, gave us flowers they potted, and served us tea and cake. 

This picture makes me laugh soooo hard! Bryan got the kids ready for bed and Kade came running down in little sisters yoga pants. I was dying. 

My shopping partner :)