The Mees Family: July!

We started off the month of July on summer vacation. We ventured to Minneapolis, stopping in Des Moines for one night and for a trip to the Des Moines Zoo. So as July started, we had made our way to Minneapolis and were starting our adventures there--including staying within walking distance of Mall of America. The Mall had quite a few things to do for kiddos, including the American Girl store and bistro, an indoor amusement park (no need for suncreen! yay!), and lots of neat restaurants. We also went to the Minneapolis Zoo, the Minnesota Children's Museum, met cousin Benjamin for playtime, went to an awesome park, and had time left over to swim in the hotel pool. Minneapolis ended up being the perfect vacation destination for us this summer, and I would definitely recommend it to other families with young kids! Plus, the weather was in the 70s each day and perfect!

American Girls Saige and Emily made the trip, of course. So they had to get dressed and ready to go in the morning too! The girls had a fun time bunking together on the pull-out couch in the hotel. I think staying in the hotel is always half the fun of the vacation, in kids' minds.

Rides at Mall of America!

American Girl store! First we had to get the dolls' hair done :) Then the dolls joined us for lunch in the bistro. This all seems so absurd right up until you have little girls and end up doing it yourself. It actually was a really fun day :)

Dining at the Kokomo Island Cafe :)

The Minneapolis Zoo had a Big Bugs display, which was right up Lauren's alley!

Here are Greg and Lauren painting with water on the rooftop deck at the Minnesota Children's Museum. This place was awesome!

Hannah doing her art project up on the rooftop deck.

A really cool water room at the museum.

Probably their favorite display...this one had a bunch of wood, nails, craft supplies, and real tools! Hammers and screwdrivers, and even power drills. The girls had such a good time in their workshops creating their masterpieces.

That ice cream is a SMALL! Hannah has the kids size in the background, which is still like 4 scoops. Craziness.

We went to a really neat park called "Chutes and Ladders". This place was enormous and so much fun! Water features, slides, climbing equipment...everything you could possibly imagine.

Back at home! We came home on July 4th, and while we were going to push it and try to get to Columbia that day, we decided the extra two hours was just going to be too much and put us home too late. So we got home just in time for dinner on the deck and fireworks. We put the girls in pajamas, thinking bedtime was near...several hours later, Hannah was still up having fun with friends and neighbors and doing fireworks! Lauren did tucker out early. All of us were exhausted by the end of the evening, and the girls opted for a sleepover in Hannah's room :)

Random shots and summer fun--

Visiting cousins in Columbia! On this visit, we had a sleepover with the Dyers!

One of my favorite pictures!

They had been quiet upstairs for too long, so I went up to check on them...the dog was lying on the ground between them and they were petting him :)

Grace is such a good big cousin--here she is reading to Lauren :)

Early morning baking!

Also that weekend, we gathered at Papa's house for some playtime that morning and then headed up to GGA's house for a campfire/hot dog roast and fireworks. A great time for cousin playtime! A fun time was had by all.

Lauren continues to amaze us at the food she doesn't like...all sweets. Here, she's actually handing her S'more back to Papa A. !!!

In Mid-July, Maggie and Sam came to spend a week with us. They went to VBS at our church and also we went on a number of outings around Kansas City. The cousins had a great time!

Here we are in Warrensburg, MO before the Drum Corps show that we saw.

The Mees cousins also joined us in Warrensburg and this has become somewhat of a tradition--our second year running! It was a great time!

A silly picture of the crew--and believe it or not this was the best picture!!

Legoland!

Legoland 3-D movie!

Lauren back at home...all geared up for riding her bike :)

Sam giving Lauren a ride on the neighbors' car :)

Paradise Park--this is Lauren carrying her foam balls all the way up the stairs so she can shoot them at everyone. She got really into the game this year!

Water room at Paradise Park!

3 cousins doing bumper cars! Lots of fun :)

Back at home at the neighborhood park--getting some playtime in when cousins are in town.

The end of VBS party--such a great night! Lots of games and good food, friends and fun.

Back at home...I took this shot so I could remember what our driveway looks like most of the time during these days :)

Sisters having fun in the tub...with LOTS of bubbles :)

Tiffany Springs Water Park on a hot summer day.

This is Lauren at the library--you got your picture taken with the rocket ship if you were in the summer reading program :)

Hannah bungee jumping at Amazing Play at her friend's birthday party :)

Late in July, we took another fun vacation! This time, we ventured to Branson with Gramma Jan and Grampa Bill. We went to the Dixie Stampede, Silver Dollar City, and also the Butterfly House. We had a wonderful time!

Good sports on the water ride!

Candle making!

One tired crew!

Butterfly house! This place was really neat! We got to release butterflies out into the open for the first time, and got to try to identify lots of different species of butterflies.

Greg got the closest encounter with a butterfly! :)

Back at home...

Lauren wanted her picture taken with the groceries :)

Checking out books!

Kate and Hannah--being silly :)

I think Kate tried to pick Hannah up and this is what happened :)

Sweet kiddos!

Dyer and Mees cousins at the zoo!

No caption does this justice.

Lauren LOVED this snake! She was fascinated by it. She is so interested by snakes, spiders, and bugs. She is still a little scared by them, but very interested.