Monday, July 30, 2018

Water Show

 Our swim club does a water show each year where all the syncro swimmers and divers practice their performances before their state meets.  It always coincides with Brian's work meeting abroad, but I have managed to take the kids each year, usually with my brother and his family.  B decided he'd sit on the lifeguard stand, and mow the concrete.

 My brother invited Papa this year, which was wonderful.  As usual, the boys all flocked to him.
And the two littlest, so cute and snuggled having snacks.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Camping

 We had such a fun weekend camping with friends a few weeks ago in the most beautiful spot.  The kids played games, went on a hike, explored lakes, built their own fishing rods, climbed rocks and just enjoyed being in nature.  I'd say the adults had equal fun.











Sunday, July 8, 2018

building and taking apart

Our house has been busy lately with projects building and creating all kinds of things. As well as taking apart stuff for fun and for parts to build new stuff with.

 Yesterday's creation was a megaphone designed by AC with parts picked out from the hardware store. Sure it looks like a beer bong and would work well if used in that capacity. But it's nothing but a megaphone to him so I just let it happen. I do wonder what the guy at the hardware store thought about the dad and eight year old kid buying beer bong supplies from him on a Saturday afternoon.  


While AC found his beer bong parts, B ran all around the hardware store with this miniature plunger. I'm sure we were among their favorite customers that day. We didn't buy the plunger and he later recounted the story in front of his mom saying, "I wanted to get the sponger but you said no". 



This was at various times a car, airplane and boat. 


LT built two different vending machines that actually functioned pretty well. Well enough to dispense goldfish and oyster crackers to himself and enthusiastic little siblings.




Two very old laptops were taken apart and even B got in on that effort. And of course one wears a magician's hat for that kind of work.




the 4th

These guys will have memories of 4th of July celebrations at the pool much like we do.  

Saturday, July 7, 2018

A few Wedding Pics

 B was hilarious at the wedding (though incredible through the ceremony sitting still).  
A left the wedding with a 75 foot long picture the kids all drew.  Luckily it didn't fit in his carryon and managed to just stay in KC.
 And this picture cracks me up of B with no shirt laying on the stairs with his cousin glaring at him, I am sure in her head she's thinking, "What is he doing?!?!"
 Its impossible to get a pic of all of us, but this was the best we could manage.  Brian looks tired (understandable given he was traveling all week and met us in KC) and B, who knows...
 Uncle Tom gave a wonderful toast to these two amazing people.
B has managed to perfect saying, "cheese" when we take pictures, though it never amounts to a smile.

40th Birthday!

 I had the best birthday this year and the celebrations aren't even over!  It started with a 5:30 AM run with a good friend.  She insisted we went for coffee afterwards (never hard to twist my arm for that one) and I realized she had been running with candles and a lighter in her bra the entire 7 miles.  There is an old actor (maybe 75 year old man) who is always at the coffee shop at 6:30 when we finish our runs, and always drinking a beer.  He sang Happy Birthday to me and all the staff and clients joined in.  I haven't had happy birthday sung or blown out candles in 20 years.  So fun to feel like a kid.

 At night 3 of my friends planned the most incredible evening filled with good food, laughs, drinks and my closest friends (and family).   I am such a lucky person.
 And I got to blow out a candle again.
 Unfortunately we didn't think to take a picture until several people had left, but we did manage to get a few with most of us.


I can't wait for all the fun adventures we have planned for this year, the other 40th birthdays we get to celebrate and this decade in general.  Its such a privilege to get older!





Ice Cream post vaccines

 One of the traditions we have is that after vaccines the kids get to get to Little Man Ice Cream (or another treat of their choice).  Yesterday LT needed two vaccines at his 11 year appointment.  I had originally had a babysitter lined up to watch the other two, but she got sick and so everyone ended up coming.  It was incredibly bright out, but the pictures get the point across well enough.  
 When I asked B what kind of ice cream he got, he yelled, "SCOTCH!"  (butterscotch)