Kulzer Kraziness: 3 weeks of Family.....

Well we went on a 3 week trip to see all the family and friends. It was absolutely wonderful!! I tried to narrow down the pictures, but it is just so hard for me!! I loved being able to see everyone, but sometimes it makes it more lonely when you get back!!

Before we left, Lexi ran The Five Alarm 5k with Steve. She finished 2nd in her age group (10 and under) with a time of 29:52. We are so proud of her. She loves training with her daddy!!

Here they are before the race

The final stretch

Steve telling her to sprint but she firmly shook her head "no." She ran as hard as she could!!

Getting her medal

So happy!!

Our first stop was Chicago!! I went up to see my best friend and her kids. We had so much fun! The kids have all known each other since they were very young and it is neat to see how they grow and change!!

Here they are on their boat! My kids decided we need a boat after their day on the lake!!

The girls tubing (Benny went tubing too but I can't find my pictures of that??) They had so much fun!! They all liked to go fast and wavy!!

This we dubbed "doing the Benny." Every time we got out to swim, Ben would relax!

Kathy taught me how to wake board!! The first day I was awful but I couldn't give up because Kathy would never let me hear the end of it, so I got up the next day!! :)

Makenna and Lexi both tried it too!! They got up quicker than I did!

Gus and Ben entertaining themselves on the boat!

Also while we were there, Makenna ran her first 5k!

She placed 2nd also (in 14 and under) with a time of 28:10!!

I ran with her and surprisingly I got 2nd too!! Kathy got the gold medal in her age division! So it was a good run for all us!

Here are our 6 kids!! It is so fun to see this picture because they are all getting so big!

Ben and Gus

Amy and Lexi

Next stop was Erie, PA to see most of my family!!

Here is Kenna meeting Eric for the first time!!

Lexi, meeting Andrew for the first time (yep lots of babies right now :)

The girls really enjoyed having babies around. They helped feed them, change diapers, and hold them. Ben, on the other hand, had not much to do with them!

Here is our motley crew!! I even got to see my Grandparents while I was out there, which was nice since I haven't seen them in awhile!!

The cousins (minus 2). It was fun trying to get all them to look!!

Happy Grandparents <3

Tammi, my Mom, Todd, My Dad, Me,

Ben, Makenna, Andrew, Luke, Lexi, Eric, and Ryan

Popa took us to the horse races at the casino. Popa bet one time and won a little money!!

Kenna in heaven with Popa and horses :)

Here is our crew walking to the world's LONGEST 4th of July parade. Ryan called the girls princesses the whole week. The girls lived that up!!

Eric waiting for the parade

This is what happened when they threw candy!

That night we got to see the Erie fireworks at the beach

Here they are getting ready for the zoo

I LOVE Ryan in this picture... I think that was the only time I saw him sad!

Makenna got a bird to perch on her while it ate nectar.

The birds LOVED Popa

Ben the penguin, and Lexi the drama queen mad because she didn't get to do it first

Eric and Tammi

Ryan and Lexi swimming in the beach

Popa teaching my kids to light fire crackers and throw them

Ben happy he was brave enough to let Popa light the firework and then throw it by himself!!

We were catching fireflies, and sometimes Ryan would catch them a little too hard. Here he is checking to see if it was still walking.

Lexi with her cup full of fireflies

Me my mom and my sister

Next stop was Buffalo NY to see my little brother. Here he is with Ben playing soccer

Andrew dunking already

Making sure Ben learns basketball

Next stop Rochester NY, with a birthday party for Grandpa

I made him a cake :)

The kids flying airplanes by their pond

Uncle Brian, Grandpa, and Uncle Michael would take them fishing

We got to go up to Canada to see Niagara Falls. The kids LOVED it. We went on the Maid of the Mist and got wet!!

The British :)

The Smurfs :)

A little wet

After the falls, we went to Marine Land!! They kids went on all the rides and LOVED seeing the animals! We got to see them feed the Beluga Whales, a marine show, and Lexi and Kenna were finally tall enough for the their first upside down roller coaster!!