Wrapping up Summer: Fun in the Sun

Okay People.  You may want to grab yourself a bowl of popcorn because I'm telling you right now this is going to be a long one.  Because we have been SUPER busy.  I love summer.  Never a dull moment around here.  And when there is down time we get to just hang out in our back yard.  Nothing better.  So since I have been MIA for so long, I figured I would fill you in on the nitty gritty of what we have been up to.  Buckle up!

 The second weekend of August we went down to Oregon to celebrate my cousin, Heather's, wedding.  We went a couple days early to help out and get in all the family time we could.  Our first stop was the Polk County Fair.  Now think of the smallest fair you have ever been to and divide that by 3.  This fair is approximately the size of my living room.  Perfect for 4 kids 4 and under!  We had a great time just playing and checking out the animals with Mackenzie and Dominick!!

 By Saturday when the wedding rolled around we were pretty excited to fulfill our jobs as program passer outers.

 Although apparently Ben did NOT want his picture taken...

 Mackenzie was the flower girl but she also volunteered to help Abby.  Abby was not too excited to share her job...

 The wedding was perfect and we had so much fun celebrating with Heather and DJ!!

 The next week, Lisa and the kids came to stay with us for the whole week!!!  We headed up to the lake to enjoy some fun in the sun and more quality cousin time!  Our first endeavor was the annual swim across the lake.  This is something that Robbie's family has been doing as long as he can remember and that we started doing with our kids when they were 2.  This year, Ben swam across all by himself and decided to swim back too.  He was more than half way back before he needed a little help.

 Abby and I swam together...

 3 adults and 3 4-year-olds.  Not too shabby!

 The rest of our time at the lake was spent telling secrets...

 and paddling...

 and boating...

 and wake boarding...

 and catching up on the past two years...

 Towards the end of their stay, Lisa needed to spend the day with her grandpa so it was just me and the 4 kids.  We were VERY busy.  After spending the morning playing upstairs and taking our EVERY toy in the playroom, we headed outside where we ate a yummy lunch...

 Swam in the pool...

 Dressed like we were going to swim in the pool (even if we never did)...

 Played house...

 Did some rope swinging...

 Played some baseball...

 Dug some dirt...

 "Painted" nails with bubbles...

 And finished off our perfect day with Popsicles (and a much needed bath!!)...

 We spent the last weekend of August trying to soak in all the sun we could get and we FINALLY got the boat out to American Lake.  The sun was out and it couldn't have been a better day with our little family.

 We did some boating...

 Fishing...

 Resting...

 Driving...

 And just had an all around great day...

 Because my life wasn't crazy enough, we brought home some baby chicks last week.  Meet Blackie and Alina...

 This really was an exercise in teaching my husband that I am not as predictable as he thinks I am and I think that once he gets that chicken coop built my mission will have been accomplished.

This weekend we headed out to a wedding...

 And wrapped up with one more trip to the zoo with Andrew (and Grammy and Grandpa and Auntie and Uncle too!)...

Last Thursday was my TENTH (can you believe it?!?) first day of school as a teacher and I am ready to head back tomorrow for day three.  The kids start school on Friday (prepare yourselves for another meltdown) and I am ready for the routine that the school year brings.  Summer, I love ya (although next year I am hoping for some sun in July).  Thanks for a great time with my kids and my friends and my family.  It really doesn't get much better.

Cleanin' out the closet

It's that time of year. Back to school shopping.  I love it.  It feels like a fresh start.  And you know too well that my wardrobe needs a fresh start.  On my way home from the wedding this weekend (more on that later) we stopped for school shopping for me and the kids.  After we loaded them up, I sent them all to the car so I could do my part to keep The Gap Outlet in business.  When I got home, I figured that if I was going to put some stuff in my closet, I better take some out.  So I unpacked from the weekend and started the clean out.  By the time I started, everyone in my house was asleep, including Robbie.  You may remember when I told you about how I like to vacuum (and change the sheets!) while the kids are sleeping.  Well let me tell you, they aren't the only ones in my house who can sleep through a train wreck.  Who else here has cleaned out their closet while their husband was sleeping?  No one?  You mean you couldn't get away with this?

Yep.  That's him.  Sound asleep under a pile of my clothes and hangers.  I love you, Babe!!

I'm still here!!

Jeez!!  I feel like it has been a long time.  Sorry.  Hope I didn't lose you, whoever you are.  Summer has kept us quite busy.  What have we been doing?  Well  I thought you'd never ask! 

We've been playing at the lake, when the sun comes out long enough.  We had a couple day trips and one long weekend and are hoping to get up there again next week for our annual swim across the lake.   Stay tuned for more details on that!

 

While we are at the lake we like to collect rocks

 and swim

and go tubing

and hang out on the boat.

 (I love you too, Buddy!)

We spent July 20th celebrating being 4 and a half by making cupcakes

and watched almost everything we had on the DVR.

 (This is thanks to a combination of there being nothing on in the summer and the 58 degree days we had in July.  Obviously, "Swamp People" is NOT my show.)

When the sun did come out, we took full advantage and relaxed in the pool

 and went to a concert in the park with Grammy and Grandpa

where we danced the night away.

 (Yeah...those are cleats...)

We hosted a bridal shower for my cousin Heather and are excited to go to the wedding this weekend!

 We practiced water skiing

(I imagine this going better with another adult so that they don't have to pull each other)

 and jumping off the big dock.

 Most recently, we went to the zoo with cousin Andrew (after dressing ourselves...)

 to see the new baby leopards.

Sooooooooo cuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!!!!!!!!

So there you have it.  All of the excitement that we can handle.  We have about a week and a half left before I have to start getting ready for school and we intend to make the best of it.  Come back soon!