Dancing Queen

Yesterday Diana started dance classes! I found a great deal on 6 weeks of summer classes through Groupon (daily bargain email) where it was $39 for the 6 classes...of course the required attire cost $70, so maybe it wasn't such a bargain...

Anyway, it was all totally worth it, because she is so adorable! Of course I forgot my camera yesterday so these pictures are from my phone. I promise next week to have better pics.

The class was an hour long and they did half ballet, half tap. Diana was not very talkative describing what went on in the class, except to say she liked the hula hoops! Hope to get more out of her next week...

Enjoy the few pics I got!

Modeling her ballet attire

Cara thought the rooms were great to run around in!

Diana and her new friend!

Family Day

Yesterday was one of the fun days in the Marine Corps. Daddy didn't have to go to work, and he got to spend the whole day with his girls at a Family Day put on for the Marines in the area at a local farm. Diana exhausted herself on...go ahead and guess...the bounce house, of course. I think Cara stole the show, however, by exhibiting her bravery at every turn. Nothing scares this child. Of course, that might just be the added benefit of having an older sister to show her the way. Let's see what the girls were up to yesterday...

Things started out with pony rides. Cara saw the pony from the perfectly cool shade of the stroller, pointed, grunted, and promptly found herself riding the pony. Note that she's not holding on to Daddy. She's holding onto the saddle. Daddy's just there because he tends to be paranoid about everything.

Both girls were excited to pose with the green M. It has nothing to do with the fact that Diana got a package of Ms from her earlier in the day.

After tearing her away from the bounce house, Diana discovered there were other things to do. Just outside the petting zoo, there were some very safe diggers to play with.

Diggers were too boring for Cara. She wanted to go see those little things inside the fence that were moving.

"Hello, you. I'm Cara."

"Hello, little girl. Where's some food?"

"Daddy? Food?"

"Here you go."

"Hey, there. You forgot some. Haven't you gotten the memo? I don't like to be dirty. Please clean this up."

"Thanks. That's a good whatever-you-are."

"Ooo. Wee ones. Just like me. Hello, wee one. I don't have any food anymore, but maybe if I put my hand out like this, you'll come closer."

"Yep, gotcha. Now let's see what you've got hiding in there."

"Hmm. A little leftover food. I think you dropped some right here."

"Let me introduce you to my big sister who has finally decided to join us in the petting zoo now that I know each animal by name. Diana, this is Billy. Billy, my big sister, Diana."

Alright. Enough of that for Diana. Let's move on to something that doesn't move again. (Actually, Diana was pretty brave, too. She went into the chicken coup after the goats and actually picked up a couple of chickens. I was very proud.)

Cara has also learned to be brave on the playground. She climbed all the way to the top of the peg ladder by herself (with Mommy or Daddy with hands 1/2 inch away from her torso, of course). She then figured out that she doesn't need Mommy or Daddy to help her down the slide. It's much more fun just to do it herself. So she did.

After getting home, it was play time as usual. We wanted to give a sneak preview for the big Benninghoff-Simpson wedding Diana started planning in the car yesterday. She has decided the lucky boy will, in fact, be Connor Simpson, and Mommy and Daddy have decided that this picture has to be one of the many shown on their wedding day.

I think my wee one will be much happier to have this one shown at her wedding. Much more traditional.

Miserable…

So in trying to compose a post containing images of our 12 day trip through the Midwest, I am realizing that we did a terrible job of taking pictures this trip! So if you have any great shots of us, our children or our trip, please email them to me and I will include them in a future post! You will be credited, of course.

Our trip began with an overnight stay with Auntie Becky, Uncle Roger, Abby and Charlie on their farm in Ohio! Diana and Cara got to meet Charlie’s cow Philip and even pet him! Cara was much more brave than her big sister! One of Diana’s favorite things from the trip was the homemade strawberry ice cream that she helped Charlie make!

The next day we continued north to Indiana where we saw Grandma, Auntie Wendy, (almost) Uncle Rob, Grandpa and Oma! We had such big fun there. Mommy and Auntie Wendy had fun doing wedding planning activities, including picking out bridesmaid dresses and flowers! Diana and Cara also tried on flower girl dresses, but we were not as successful finding ones for them.

Cute, but not in Cara’s size…

4T was too big…

3T was better…

…but the smallest size was a 2T, which was WAY too big for Miss Cara. Oh well, the hunt continues. They are still pretty cute though.

The girls also got to go to a “jumpy place” that day as well! Both the girls (and the grown-ups) had a blast!

On Daddy’s birthday we continued further north to Wisconsin to visit Grandma, Bobo, Uncle John, Auntie Liz and baby Grace!

On the deck during cocktail hour

Chatting with Grandma

Cara likes to enjoy dip much like her Uncle John used to as a child…one chip, lots of dip, lick it off, and dip again!

Yum!

Pretzels became a new favorite food during our looooooong car rides!

Playing in Gracie’s exersaucer

Uncle John and Gracie with her favorite toy!

Doing “Rida Rida Ranke” with Bobo (a Norwegian nursery rhyme)

Playing before bedtime

Happy Birthday Scottie!

On Friday, we continued even further north to Minocqua to Nana and Papa’s house!

Cutie pie

Who could it be on that wave runner?

Is it….

Diana?!?!

Our very brave girl decided that she was ready to try out the wave runners this year after seeing her 2 year old buddy Logan give it a try!

Diana, Logan and Rosie fishing with Bobo. Logan and Rosie are friends of ours from church at home, and happened to be vacationing at their grandma’s house only 45 minutes away! We had a great Saturday afternoon with them!

Diana giving it a try

They got one! Everyone touched the fish and giggled when it wiggled around.

Cara was NOT a fan of having to wear a life jacket on the dock. However, rules are rules!

Checking out the latest catch

Diana rocking the visor look

Because everyone needs a pacifier leash on their swimming suit…

Beautiful jewels from Nana’s drawers!

Now for the moment I know you all have been waiting for…three years ago, the four 3rd generation Russler children attempted to ride the torpedo behind the ski boat. It was an epic failure…hilarious, but a failure nonetheless. Check it out here.

The last two years, one of us has been pregnant, so we could not reattempt. This year, we didn’t have that excuse. Fueled by pride (and a serious cash bet) on the line, we tried again…

The end is cut short because Grandma was frantically trying to flag down Bobo to stop the boat. Scott fell off shortly after the video cut, after hanging onto the handles, flopping up and down on his stomach for 45 seconds or so. After we realized he fell off, we tried to flag down Bobo as well, and that’s where we lost Elizabeth. John and I are now frantically trying to get Bobo to stop, succeed, and then fall off ourselves!

We did win the bet however, and here are the torpedo masters with their prizes. We are glad we succeeded, not only for our pride and the cash, but to know that we never have to try that again!

Hopefully there will be more to follow, provided I get some good pictures emailed to me…hint, hint. Thank you to all our hosts! We had an amazing vacation!