September Randoms

 Oh Peach days!  My kids are still firm believeers that peach days is just a parade.  I love it.  They love it.  Everyone seems happy!  I don't think I'm going to be able to get away with it much longer.  They loved the parade.  I loved watching Luke & Lex waving at EVERYONE.

I did stragically park and take them to the car show this year.  Caleb has really been into sports cars lately, so we took a stroll and found some of his favorites.  Luke is a Halloween love like his mama and had to get a picture with his jack-o-lantern decal on the orange jeep.

Taylor the burrito!  A least I'm pretty sure its Taylor.

Tie die shirts!!  I had the dye handy, but not shirts.  We raided Casey's closet and found some very oversized pajama shirts for the kids!  It was pretty fun and they love them.

"Do you buy a titsling or do you buy a brassiere?"  

Our yard was lookiong pretty good!  So I documented it with a picture.  I love the tall cat tail looking plants in my whisky barrels.  Hopefully I can find them again for next year! 

Oh my goodness.  This kid was catching creepy crawly things all summer long!!  Grasshoppers and snails are always pretty easy to find.  He was excited when he got his hands on the praying mantis.  He got an anklet (picture in orange shorts) at the fair last month and wore it for several months!  I thought that was pretty cute. 

Casey went with Shelby and Darin and Justin to a claim in Idaho to look for the shiny stuff. This picture takes my breath away.  I just want to sit there (alone) and take a million deep breaths and a nap.  After my nap anyone is welcome to join me.

It's difficutle for me to say much about these trips.  It's his hobby and his memories.  I'm grateful he takes the pictures though.

Casey's loves a good selfie.

They never find much gold, but they must enjoy it because they don't give up!  They come home filthy and exhausted.

Tony Grove

Every year we try to get here.  There is just something about this place.  Whenever nature is calling and and we don't have more than half a to spare, this is where we go.   

    

Selfies are a requirement at any otuing, right?  Rylee sure thinks so!

Luke the bug whisperer managed to get a dragonfly.  Lexi was our lookout.  

Casey is always up for an adventure.  Big or small.   That way he dosn't have to work on stuff at home.

The flowers we just dying off.  I think that July is the time to go if you want to see the wild flowers in their glory.  Kids are such mountain goats!!  I'm scared of heights, so I don't do much climbing.

Back To School!

CALEB'S 6th GRADE FAVORITES

TV Show:  Sponge Bob & Boy Meets World

Movie:  the REAL Lion King

Song:  They Don't care About Us - Michael Jackson

Color:  Blue & Red

Food:  Kraft Mac & Cheese, Apple slices & Garlic Bread

Dessert:  Unicorn Sparkle Ice Cream

Activity:  X Box Need for Speed Payback game

When he grows up:  A race car driver or a pop-star

 Caleb was BEYOND nervous.  I kept asking what he was nervous about, but her really couldn't pin point the reason.  Just a little bit of everything.  What if he missed the bus, what if he got bullied, what if he couldn't open his locker, what if he can't remember where the gym is, what if he doesn't see any of his friends....and there was even more things!  I put him to bed at 9 the night before & he was up and down until after midnight.  He survived his first day and even said that he was going to like it!!  New things are nerve wracking! 

My darling identical twinsies got haircuts before school started and opted to be DIFFERENT!  How dare they?!  I think the shorter hair suits Taylor & the longer hair suits Rylee.  Darling little ladies no matter what!

 TAYLOR'S 3rd GRADE FAVORITES

Teacher:  Mrs. Korth

TV Show:  No Good Nick

Movie:  Hairspray

Song:  Never Ever Really Over - Katy Perry

Color:  Hot Pink

Food:  Pineapple Pizza

Dessert:  Ice Cream Sundae

Activity:  Activity Days

When she grows up:  Veterinarian

RYLEE'S 3rd GRADE FAVORITES

Teacher:  Mrs. Korth

TV Show:  Mia & Me

Movie:  Megamind

Song:  Dark Horse - Katy Perry

Color:  Purple

Food:  Green Salad with Ranch

Dessert:  Cheesecake

Activity:  Riding bikes

When she grows up:  Cosmetologist

Neither of these girls were nervous at all.  They have got the grade school routine DOWN and are ready to rule the school!

LUKE'S KINDERGARTEN FAVORITES

Teacher:  Mrs. Wilcox

TV Show:  Umizoomi

Movie:  Jack (Nightmare Before Christmas)

Song:  This is Halloween

Color:  Light Blue

Food:  Pancakes

Dessert:  Brownies

Activity:  Riding bikes

When he grows up:  Fire Fighter

ALEXA'S KINDERGARTEN FAVORITES

Teacher:  Mrs. Wilcox

TV Show:  Spirit

Movie:  Aladdin

Song:  Me - Taylor Swift

Color:  Pink

Food:  Kraft macaroni & cheese

Dessert:  Cake & ice cream

Activity:  Swimming

When she grows up:  Chef

 My second set of twinsies starred elementary school!!  I am sad, but not, at the same time.  I think I am ready for this chapter and 100% dreading the next one where they are all in middle school & high school.  I am also sad that I don't have babies anymore and that their innocence will start to go away.  I hate that part!

 I told Lexi that I wanted her to stay home and be my baby forever.  She gave me her world famous 'Lexi Hug' and said, "I can't mom. I need to go to school to learn math & stuff."

They are best friends.  I hope that they always will be!!

August Randoms

 The skate park was a fantastic place this summer for the kids to try something new and burn off some energy.  They got more & more brave every time we went!

Every single one of these kids was so excited for swimming lessons to start!

They all went off of the diving board and they all are able to level up next summer!  My little fishies.

Dylan works out West at Northrop Grumman (Thiokol) and they were doing a rocket test one afternoon.  Not many people knew about it and we had a great view!  We were waiting for it to blow and my parents pulled up behind us.  Surprise!

I think I look so tired in this picture.  But I love snuggling this little one.  She is my baby!!

We had a pool day at Grammy's house.  She made slushies that the kids loved!  It was a pretty windy day & I didn't get many pictures.  But this one pulls at my heartstrings.  Cute, cute, cute!!

I remember my mom doing this for dinner once in a while when I was younger, and my kids love it!  They aren't very adenterous in the topping department.  We have sauce, cheese, pepperoni, ham, hot dogs and pineapple tidbits. They love getting in there and making their own pizzas for dinner.

Luke has been really into perler beads this summer!  He's getting really good at it and it keeps him occupied for quite a while.  He isn't a big fan of TV shows or movies.  He wants to be doing something constantly.  Which is something I love about him!

Here are a couple of race cars he made.  Complete with display stands, checkered flags and a trophy!

Caleb bo Baleb has always been a timid kid and really apprehensive to trying anything new or a little scary.  I get made fun of to this day because I would always say to him, "Just try it. It'll be fun!!"  Watching him get braver and braver makes me happy.

Summer night face masks!

The street in front of our house ended up getting repaved and we took advatage of the perfect black canvas! We made some chalk paint and worked on a few masterpieces!

Casey took the kids gold panning one day while I was work.  Can you see Caleb?

We ended the summer with a trip to the fair. 

Shelby & Malissa met us so that the littles could ride some rides with Makayla.

Cotton candy and cheap carny toys.  Best end to a summer ever.

July Randoms

We had to have a little get together for the 4th of July!  Food, fireworks, Freeze's, games and sidewalk paint!  It was a fun night and I love when cousins are able to build their friendships.

Shayden & Caleb gave scaring the kids their best attempt.

On a whim one Sunday we headed to Porcupine Dam.  Casey and Shelby and I use to go there ALL OF THE TIME! But, life got busy and we stopped!  It is such a pretty place.  I really hate the drive though!  Right when we got there it started to pour rain!  We ate our lunch in the van and watched so many fair weather parties pack up and head out.  We ended up with a fantastic spot to play.

Shelby & Casey had some dirt to clean or whatever you say when you are looking for gold.  So they ran the gold cube and the kids played.  Then those brothers decided to swim across the dam and cliff jump.  Boys will be boys!

We had a family swim day at North Shore in Harrisville.  It is such a fun pool!

My strawberry plants gave us 6 beautiful, delicious strawberries!  Seriously - so much tastier than at the store.  Sweet, not sour.  Tiny though.  Hopefully next year we will have a plethora of strawberries.

Rylee and Taylor took tennis lessons for the 2nd year in a row. They really enjoy it and look so sporty!

Camp Bartlett! Before the church washes it's hands of scouting, Caleb was able to go to camp. Casey joined him too which made my mama heart happy.  Gaga ball was the big hit of the camp.  Caleb loved it!  He also came home with quite a few scary stories from his tent mates!  Memories that will last forever.

At the end of July we had a 90th birthday party for my Grandma Babe!  90?!?  My mind can't even begin to comprehend what she has seen and watch unfold the last 90 years.  I'm very lucky to have my grandparents still!  I'm glad my kids have had the oppourtnity to get to know them too.

It was a great day for a party.  There were so many dragonflies out!