Conversations with Kensli

Here are a few conversations I have had with Kensli lately..........

While I was in her room packing for vacation.
Me: "Kensli, have you seen your sandals?"
Kensli as she wanders out of the room: "No."
Me as Kensli comes back in the room: "Kensli, have you seen your sandals?"
Kensli as she wanders back out of the room: "No."
Me as she comes back in the room: "Kensli, have you seen your sandals?"
Kensli: "Oh, for crying out loud! I have no idea where they are! Would you please quit asking me that question!"

She really knows how to put things into words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mother loves to teach the kids songs that she thinks are funny. A few songs back she taught them a song about the devil, a tussle and winning the fight. Kensli really picked up on fighting the devil. She will go around the house singing about loving Jesus and hating the devil. So, while we were in FL we rode the resort tram everyday to the beach. For our family just getting on the tram brings stares and questions because of our diversity. We were sitting there riding along, having gotten through the initial questioning looks segment without a question or comment, and Kensli hollers out, "I HATE THE DEVIL! HE HAS BABY POWERS!" The bus goes silent and people are really looking at us! I wanted to crawl under the seat! I am going to have a BIG talk with my Mom!

She loves hugs! Her latest thing is to ask for a "big, squashy hug!" I just loves those kind of hugs!

1st Official Day

Last year I worked with Nicholas on some school related things, but waited until this year to put him in a formal phonics program. He is so excited!

You can't do anything without Kensli! She loves life and gives any activity her all. I knew that trying to teach Nicholas to read this year without including her would be a catastrophe, so I ordered her all the materials, too. Yesterday, was the 1st day and she was ready to go. We went over our letter, colored, painted, read, and did all the "schooly type stuff". We started with the letter Ii, and of course I told them the sound SEVERAL times troughout the day. Finally she looked at me and said, "Mom, why do you keep saying that so many times?" It should be a real interesting year!

Priceless

Fun in the Sunshine State

We had a wonderful time on vacation in Florida last week! The kids loved playing on the beach! When we were planning to go the kids and I decided that we could swim in a pool at home, but could not play on the beach. So, we spent our time jumping waves, dodging jellyfish, and building sand castles. Talk about loads of FUN!!!!!!

Our first night we went to a great little place to eat in the Village called the Hammerhead. Live music, outdoor seating, and lots of seafood was allright with us. Afterward, we walked out on the boardwalk to see the boats.

Kaitlyn has become a real pro at eating crab.

The kids with our condo in the background.

Since this was a trip Toby won with Allstate, they had a big reception on Friday night. They had face painting and clowns making balloon figures for the kids. They loved it!



Ricky, didn't get his face painted, but when he realized that I was taking pictures he painted his face. TOO, FUNNY!!!!!!! What a ham!

Here are the beach pictures! As you can see, the kids loved every minute!!!!! We went crabbing one night, but Kensli was far from impressed! She thought that the sand crabs were spiders and had to be carried the entire time. She was not going to walk with those spiders everywhere!

I love this picture of Nic and Kensli! The wave had rushed in and they were a little like WHOA!!!
Another way to catch a wave!

At Rum Runners.........best hamburger ever!

Confusion At Jolee Island

Ricky is a literal person! You can't give him a vague assignment or directions without one million questions! Jokes are hard for him at times, and please don't say there is a hidden pirate ship without it truly being there! Brochures said that Jolee Island had a hidden pirate ship and we were off to find it! When we got to the island there were signs that directed you to the ship, roost, etc. We followed every path and couldn't seem to find the "pirate ship" ! It was actually the first playground that we went to. Do you know how many times we went around and around that little island? More times than I want to really remember. Finally, we convinced Ricky that there wasn't really a real pirate ship. His comment was, "WHAT? What do you mean? The brochure said so! Well.........that is LAME!!!!" Hard on the literal little man!!!!

Toby looking for the illusive pirate ship. He is actually on what they called the pirate ship. HAHA!!!!

A view from Jolee Island.

After the dissapointment of Jolee Island, we rented a golf cart for a couple hours and went for a spin. The resort was beautiful!

Listening to the band on the Green.

What My Kids Do With Their Free Time

What Happens in Branson......... DOES NOT stay in Branson

Wow, what a week! We had so much fun and had a few REALLY GOOD laughs while we were there! Some of the details of the trip shall forever be a giggle in my mind! To put it honestly, when you get grown men off on a trip together they will revert to boys! You know who you are.........and what you did! Lets just say that flippers, pools, races, male ego's, and pool ropes do not make for lots of SAFETY!!!!!! Right, Toby, Bill, and Doyle?* Oh, by the way.......... You might be a red neck if you go snorkling in a pool in Branson!

The girls worked hard and came in 17th place nation wide! The Elliot Team came in 13th! I feel like this is a great accomplishment and one to really be proud of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Team

Kaylie and Kaitlyn practicing buzzing in.

One big pillow fight!

There were 13 people in our condo and 7 of them were kids. Talk about pent up energy! Even though we would get out and do things they were still full of energy! There were lot's of pillow fights, jumping, running, and play fighting (from the boys).

After our team quizzed out we gave them an ice cream party!

We only had 2 days where we were free the entire day! On Friday, we went and rode go-carts and bumper boats! I was really proud of Ricky, because he drove a go-cart all by himself on the Wild Woody! He was the slowest cart, but I thought it so brave since he had never driven a go-cart before! The bumper boats were a wet and wild scream!

All Kaitlyn and Nic would say to Toby on the Wild Woody was, "Faster, Daddy, Faster!"


After the bumper boats......we were soaked!

Wax Museum

The group by the river
The last night

When we left on Saturday, Toby and I decided to take Senic Hwy 7 out of Branson! It was early morning, so the heat of the day had not set in! The mountains were beautiful! The kids loved getting out and looking around, all except Kaitlyn, who was snoozing in the car!

3 Gentlemen and a Princess

*Names have not been changed to protect the injured!