summer fun

We've been keeping busy around here this summer. We have a list of things we want to do...kind of like a summer bucket list. I'll share that at some point. One of the things my kids wanted to add to the list was crafts. We do crafts that I plan and direct a lot...but I wanted my kids to know the fun of just creating completely on their own - no directions, no rules (ok, maybe one...no glitter glueing on the floor...only at the table! :), no right or wrong way to do things...just whatever their imagination can create! Thus I started...

...the scrapbox! In it I placed some left over craft items, old scrapbook papers, and a few things from the Dollar Tree.

My kids love being able to dive into the scrapbox any time they feel like creating something!

They know they are allowed to use anything in the box anytime they want and I have loved seeing their creativity come out and see the dozens of items they have come up with recently!

These are just a few of their creations! :)

Scrabble Jr. is one of our new favorite games. Then I found these letter cookies at the Dollar Tree that are just about the same size as the regular game pieces so we had to have a special game of Scrabble one day!

Of course followed by eating a few of the cookies.... :)

This is where we are a good part of the day!

:)

And this is where we are another good part of the day! LM Giggles looks scared here...she's totally just playin'! Lol

So goofy! :) And I love his little belly! These two are ridiculously TAN after being outside so much every day - even with multiple applications of sunscreen. Not fair! :}

He came running up the side of the slip'n'slide saying, "Look, Kiki! I'm David Hasselhoff!!" I said "What?! How do you know who THAT is?!"

"Spongebob."

Oh. Of course. I should have known. Ha.

pool party

I'm so behind in my blogging! Sorry for those of you who keep checking back only to find the same old post! Lol. Let's see if I can do a little catching up in the next couple days.

Incidentally, the internet is out at our house so I'm sitting at SB borrowing their internet and can I just say that it is a pet peeve of mine when the entire place is empty except for two other people and I am sitting in one of the nice comfy leather chairs in a corner and some guy comes in and decides to sit RIGHT SMACK DAB NEXT TO ME!!! Isn't there some unspoken rule out there about sitting at least one seat away from someone, especially when the whole place is filled with empty spots?? Ok. I feel better. :}

So after Jonathan's weeball game a couple saturdays ago, I ran around getting ready to have a pool/birthday party that evening for Michael, who's birthday was the day before. Birthdays are important to me. Every person is a creation of God's worth celebrating. Usually moms are pretty good about making sure their child's day is celebrated in some way, even just dinner at home. However, since Michael's mom isn't around to do that anymore and dads don't always think to do anything except maybe say happy birthday in an email (!), and his siblings live too far away, I always want to make sure he gets to do something fun to celebrate. This year he had been wanting to come swim in our pool so it made perfect sense to combine the pool with his birthday.

Guys are easy...a few pizzas and some cold drinks and they're good to go! :)

We hung out in the pool for a while and then tried out the coolest thing in our yard...

...the slip'n'slide! My kids' dad made this last year and it was great but he made some improvements on it this summer and now it is just completely awesome!

You go faster when you take a child with you!

But put three adults on it and ohmyword! Soo fun!! Who needs Dollywood Splash Country when you have this?! :}

And yes, that is a fire hose that is pumping water up from the river.

It goes for forever...and you still end up a ways into the grass!

Happy Birthday, Michael (a little late...)! I hope you felt properly celebrated and had fun! :)

adventures in weeball

My favorite almost-nephew just finished his first season of weeball and I got to be there to see his last game.

This is Dave, Jonathan's dad. :)

Everyone practices catching the ball...and parents help. I liked the lots of parental involvement! :)

Jonathan's whole team. See him? Third from the left on the front row.

Isn't he cute?? :) Good job, buddy!!

**Hopefully the next time you see his picture on here, it will be with his little sister who is due to arrive in just a couple short weeks!!**

getting older

My car is getting older. It hit a milestone this saturday....

Aww...big moment about to occur!! :)

So this is the road I was on.

Yay!! Thank the Lord for allowing my car to reach ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES!

More updates soon! )

pampered

When a baby shower starts out like this...

...you know it's bound to be a good evening!

(I love this pic!)

This is Shannon and her cousin Jessica...my friend in real life, and my "bloggy friend" from Shady Nook.

I, of course, wanted to do a baby shower for Shannon...and Laura wanted to do one with me. Together we decided a girls' night out might be a better idea this time than a "regular" shower. We didn't have our definite plans yet so we hadn't mentioned that plan to Shannon. The funny thing was when Shannon commented that it might be fun to do a girls' night out instead of a regular shower! Lol! She was a little afraid I might not like that idea... as it turns out, we were all on the same page! :)

Shannon's other cousin, Jennifer, decided to not get a pedicure...so I told her she therefore got to be in charge of my camera for the evening! She took the above pictures - great job Jennifer...and thanks!! :)

After pampering our toes, and dinner at Chili's, we came back to my house for Leah cake and presents and just to hang out.

Jennifer is also my real-life/"bloggy" friend...from The Cozy Cottage. Go check out her cute blog and say hi! :)

Shannon's sweet roommate from college, Sybil, even came in for the shower! She's so cute. :)

So, what do the five of us girls + Shannon have in common? And when was the last time we were all lined up around her?

When we were all bridesmaids in Shannon's wedding several years ago in 2003!

Our "bouquets" looked slightly different this time... ha!! :)

And good grief, I'm short. Lol!

So colorful! So happy! Yay for cute feet! :)

Shannon, I hope you enjoyed your evening out! I am praying that little girl decides to make her appearance early...just not too early! lol :)