Twin Lakes

While we were in Iowa in August, we took a trip to Twin Lakes for the day. My Mom and Dad's friends, Cheryl & Marty, have an amazing house on the lake and have been generous enough to let us use it to have a family day the last 2 summers. We have such a fun time! I took a ton of pictures, but they are just too cute not to share. Here's a look at some of our adventures at the lake! (My mom, Angie, Tony, Amy, & Dan were all present as well, just didn't seem to make their way into any of the photos, for some reason!)


Playing in the pool on the patio.


Do you think that Aaron likes the water guns?!


Maggie filling up her bucket


Daddy & Maggie have a little water fight! She thought this was hilarious!








Maggie loved these little chairs


Papa & Aaron having a little water fight!


I love this picture! Aaron is trying to soak Papa!


Who do you think was the winner of this battle?!



Aaron, Liv, & Claire explore the paddle boat


Papa takes the kids out for a ride


Off they go!


Jacob was awesome at the paddle boat!




They had a really great water mat that they kids loved playing on!


Claire & Aaron pose for a picture



Cheese!


Maggie & Emma


All smiles! Aaron loved wearing the life jacket and having independence in the water. You could tell that he was feeling like a big guy!


Good times with cousin Brett


Aaron goes for a ride on the tube with Daddy! Surprisingly, he didn't love it, but tolerated a few minutes!



Time for a snack break for Maggie


Maggie & Mommy


Daddy & Aaron


The Coenen Crew!


The 3 little ladies- take 1


The 3 little ladies- take 2


The 3 little ladies- take 3! Finally, a good one of all of them!


Adorable Maggie

Maggie is 18 months old!

Maggie turned 18 months old on September 17th! She is one hilarious and amazing little lady. Here's what she's up to....

Maggie is getting taller and slimmer, and is wearing 18-24 month pants, 24 month - 2T shirts, and size 6 1/2 - 7 shoes. She weighs 27 lbs and 1.5 ounces (50-75th percentile) and is 32 1/2 inches tall (50-75th percentile). She still eats really well. Her note from school always lists the food that they serve at lunch and how much they ate (none, some, all). Maggie's always says all x 2! She likes pretty much all foods and rarely turns her nose up at anything. (I made calico beans last week and she tried them and very adamantly said no!) She loves all fruits and is definitely a sweet tooth!

Maggie has been sleeping in a toddler bed since she was 16 months old and goes to bed really well most nights. She generally sleeps from about 7:15 pm - 6 or 6:15 am. She is an early morning riser and often wakes up really ornery, asking for food or trying to go wake her brother up! When she's not feeling ornery, she will come into bed with Mommy & Daddy, lay there and point to our eyes, nose, mouth, etc and sing! Maggie naps from 1-2 hours during the day.

Maggie is running and climbing and has really great gross motor skills! She has been at this moving thing for so long, that it seems like there isn't anything that she can't do! She can climb all over the playground at the park, hang from the monkey bars and almost pull her legs up to the bar, and loves to try keeping up with her big brother!

Maggie understands everything and is starting to talk a ton! She has been imitating us for a lot for quite awhile but is now talking a lot spontaneously. I tried to count her words and know that she has over 100 words by now. She is starting to imitate some 2 word phrases. Maggie LOVES to sing and can sing a ton of songs- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, ABC's, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and Bah, Bah, Black Sheep.

Maggie is a spunky little thing and does not let anyone push her around. She's got a voice (and a scream) and she's not afraid to use it! She is starting to throw some fits and is getting pretty good at throwing herself on the floor and crying when she doesn't get what she wants!

Maggie is a cuddler (when she slows down) and is very generous with her affection. Even though she is fiercely independent at times, she loves to be held and cuddled!

God blessed us the day he added Maggie to our family! :)

Cousins

Aaron and Maggie LOVE their cousins! When we were in Fort Dodge for the week in August, they were able to spend a lot of time with all of them and they had a blast!


The "big kids", Claire, Aaron, & Brett had a sleep over on the fold out couch. Maggie joined them to watch a movie on the projection tv before bed! (Though she was just walking all over the bed pestering everyone!)

I looked down the hallway to see all 4 of the kids sitting in Brett's room playing together! Yep, Claire is wearing a chicken costume!

Claire is such a sweetie!

Maggie & Claire driving the Gator!

Watch out world, Maggie is behind the wheel!

Brett gave Aaron a ride on the 4 wheeler. (Don't worry- they wore helmets!)

We went to check out the awesome new aquatic center in Fort Dodge. Aaron, Claire, and Olivia are posing for a picture.

Brett & Jacob join in


Aaron loved Brett's goggles!



We had fun checking out 2 of the parks in Fort Dodge that got new playground equipment. The kids had a blast!

Lovin' the tire swing





Brett, Jacob, & Emma

Olivia and Claire

Eatin' at Nanny & Papa's!

We got to enjoy lots of Nanny's awesome cooking and Papa's amazing grilling while we were in Fort Dodge this summer! Everything tastes so good from their kitchen! :)


Aaron, Maggie, & Claire enjoy their food at the little table. Cheese!

Maggie is chowin' down her purple flower cookie from Larita's. (These really are the best cookies ever!)


Banana Nutella crepes!