Things that make me smile

Yesterday was just like any normal summer day. The kids were busy riding bikes, doing school books, playing with light sabers, playing candyland, watching dinosaur train, cleaning out the dishwasher, asking for snacks and then it was 10:01 am. Seriously! So I got creative and told the kids it was PHOTO DAY! I had them all pick out an outfit that they wanted to wear for a picture and then mommy picked out an outfit for all of them to wear. Then after naps I started hair and to get the girls to sit still for a long time I gave them a pedicure so they had to let them dry while letting me curl their hair. I had everything ready to go when Daddy came home. We did a few pictures at home in the outfits they wanted to wear. X obviously picked out the John Deere shirt out of his closet since that is what he wants to wear every single day. R picked out a new shirt I got for back to school -- I told her we couldn't wear it til then, but this one time I would let her wear it. And Gigi picked out the dress (of course) with every color from the rainbow on it. Each outfit was definitely their personality. Miss Lily wore a dress I had when I was little.
I took a picture like this of the three oldest almost 2 years ago and I can't believe how much they've grown!
Mr. X is such a stud!!

And this is R's typical sassy look!

I love love this picture of them playing peek-a-boo.

I just adore my kids. They are the cutest children ever!! And I am totally not bias! LOL I guess they are not bad pictures for taking them myself. We had planned on having a professional take some pics of us but with this summer being as crazy and unpredictable as it has been we have had to reschedule 3 times and still haven't made it work. So mommy's pictures will have to do. Now just to get mommy and daddy in a pic or 2 and we would be fine!

Enjoy!!!

How to spend the summer

Here is the field guide on "How to Spend your summer" because I know our summer is going fast but it has been so filled with wonderful memories -- and we only are half way through the summer!! I can only imagine what the rest of days have in store for us. This blog will be long because I have been gone for over 2 weeks. We have been chillin in tennessee enjoying the awesome weather and getting some sun! I am happy to have a tan finally. Rule #1 on how to spend your summer: Get Outside and enjoy the sun!!! I have to say I did this everyday on vacation. Sometimes to much, hence the one day of throwing up from sun poisoning..... but it did not keep me down I was out playing with the kids at the pool the next day (with SPF 50 on) LOL The kids are my big motivator -- as soon as X wakes up he wants to be outside. Now Gigi (the new nickname for G given by grandma because she kept forgetting G-Lo!) on the other hand sweats the instant she walks out the door. She is a girl who loves the air conditioning or a nice cool pool if she is outside. {Her Gigi is all ready to watch mommy and daddy play tennis! Our little rainbow!}

Rule #2 on how to spend your summer: Spend it with Family

There is nothing like being with family. It's a little chaotic when all 20 of us get together, but boy do we have some good laughs. The kids have a blast when they get to spend the night with their cousins and stay up later than they ever get too! No one knows you like your family and its fun to be around them because they can pick up on your weaknesses and compensate for them. Denise is an amazing cook, so she cooks these spectacular meals that we get to enjoy! Mom was constantly picking up after us (nate and I kept our room shut so she didn't see the bomb that went off in our room! :-) Kathy is the captain of the boat, something I dislike doing. Dennis was the dish washer -- it did not go unnoticied how many times before we were all up from the table that he was at the sink doing dishes. Kurt is the handy man aroudn the house. And Beth and I were busy trying to keep our kids away from anything breakable!!! It all worked out rather well! :-)

It is rare that the family is together this much so summer vacation is really the time to bond. I know the kids loved every minute of hanging out with cousin Faith, Will, Lincoln, and Mason. I didn't forget you Brooke but they call you an aunt -- so you got promoted!!

Rule #3 on How to Spend your Summer --Get plenty of sleep ..... Nate definately followed this rule to the letter!
Rule #4 -- There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competetion

{will and rosetta the best of buds}

Whether it be tennis, ping pong, jump roping, or even roasting a marshmallow my family puts a whole new meaning on competetion. I think tennis hit an all new high this year in injuries. We are willing to sacrificise our bodies to win a point or in some cases your teammates body. Mom got hit by a ball (nate), Denise got bit by a chain link fence and I rolled my ankle going for a ball. That is dedication... or pure grace! LOL The most memorable night has to be the Jump Rope competetion. It started out with just a jump rope laying on the front porch and soon it turned into a Girls VS. Guys who can jump the most match! I haven't laughed like that in a long time.

{Brooke showing that she really can jump rope -- no gym teacher is going to keep her from jumping} {R is showing everyone how to do it correctly! }

{Dennis showing his stuff}
{and Kate was in the zone}
{The peanut gallery}

It didn't take long for the competetion to escalate and someone looked at faith gliding on the driveway on the ripstick and said "that looks easy!" And Dennis and Kurt were at it seeing who could do the ripstick the farthest. Luckily there were no injuries!
{Kurt just couldn't get the hang of it!}

{Dennis got the hang of it after a few tries! His stopping wasn't that smooth though! }

{Faith showing the boys how the rip stick is done! In a skirt nonetheless!!}

Rule #5 -- Play with smiling babies

This is in here because who can resist!!! {Mr. mason}

Rule #6 -- Always Remember Safety First

Doesn't Lily look super safe in her "very uncomfortable won't let me move" lifevest! She couldn't even get her hand to her mouth. She sure didn't complain though, the first day in it she fell asleep in the water!

{Grandma Judy and Lily}
Rule #7 -- find any excuse to eat cake

We were able to celebrate 2 birthdays while we were in Tennessee. Mom and Faith's birthdays are in July so we always celebrate them on the 4th. Any excuse to eat cake is fine by me!!

{Happy Birthday Mom!}

{Just getting together is celebration enough!!}

{The kids had red, white and blue outfits for the fourth! }
Rule #8 -- Enjoy some fireworks.

And what better way to see fireworks than on the lake. Nothing like sitting by the dock watching firworks with family and hearing lots of giggles from kids who are way up past their bedtimes!! I will just forget the millions of spiders that were around us and the one I carried up to the house with me. Uh -- I have the creepy crawlies right now just thinking of it!!!

{watching the fireworks}

Rule #9 -- Just take it day by day and don't be afraid to be a little goofy!! {Brad and X giving their best mad face! X can't keep from giggling!!}
{Brooke and Brad}
{faith and grandma judy}

{Headed to the pool}

{I see a resemblence}

{This was my boy swimming under water!! What a remarkable change from the first day when he didn't want to get into the water!}

We even had a great time at the playground!! There was just so much to do in tennessee. Which comes to final Rule ... Rule #10 -- spend your summer somewhere other than your own house. I swear the kids get bored at our house the minute we wake up. But at grandma's house there was tons of things to do!! Never a dull moment. Now it isn't that fun living out of luggage, but the alternative was being at our house where mommy would see all that needed to be done and never have a moments rest. I enjoy vacation SOOOO much better!!! :-)

{Faith the water bug!}

{my little daredevil}

{Lincoln driving the jetski!}

{Lincoln and Gigi playing with the water table}

{Will and Faith}

Could you imagine that this little girl wouldn't let go of her tube on the first couple days! Now she is swimming in the lake like a pro -- And summer couldn't be complete without a campfire! We had to have smores..... the kids needed a sugar high!

And Gigi was in Heaven!!! So that's tennessee vacation for you, 2 weeks of utter fun! Hard to beat and hard to come home to piles of laundry, layers of dust and weeds to pull. I want to turn around and head back. But for now I better get some stuff done around the house! See ya --