Independence Day 2014

This year the 4th of July was so much fun!

I realized afterward.... 

I didn't get good pictures- I think because I was having fun with the kids? At least that's my excuse.

Let's just start off by saying... 

it was HOT.

so hot

The hottest day of the year so far- of course. I mean it was the 4th of July!?

On the 3rd- we met up for our traditional picnic & concert at the park, then fireworks.

The last two years it's been so hot we have opted to stay home to eat in the backyard since we have so many darling kiddos around now. In fact- this was the first year in 7 full years- that all of our kids were home for the 4th. We also had Brittany, Aimee & Sean & their kids, & Wende, Allie & Ethan. What fun!

One of my favorite things from being a kid was lighting these "snakes." 

I put together bags for all of the kids full of bubbles & candy & pop its, etc-

plus got them each a box of snakes.

Jack & Sean helped us light them off & they loved them!

We had lots of snakes-

It was so fun to see the kids excitement as the lit & grew-

Finn & Crew were too little to appreciate the snakes- but they have discovered watermelon. 

Finn here was covered in it & they needed a bath.

We headed to the park to listen to the concert & watch fireworks.

Megan snagged this great parking spot!

It was perfect because it was between two cars - the park was packed- so it was kind of a natural holding place for the kids, we all had a great view for the fireworks and didn't have to worry so much about anyone running off.

For most of these kiddos - it was their first year staying up late enough to see the fireworks!

Big Time Excitement

It was hot & humid -

so Brett (being a genius) went home, pulled a box of otter pops out of the freezer & brought them over.

 I don't think an otter pop ever tasted so good?

 The next morning we were up bright & early enough to sweat it out at our small town parade.

The next morning we were up bright & early enough to sweat it out at our small town parade.

The kids were loving the candy being thrown out- especially Lola.

But Joey- he wouldn't have any part of the salt water taffy- he is way too smart for that.

He was totally snubbing it. Someone came through handing out chocolates & he lit right up.

 Loved the chocolate- didn't want the taffy. Ha- he just cracks me up!

Joey saw spider man & was thrilled.

Brett ran him over & he got to hug him- but I didn't get my camera out in time!

Poor Peter was sleeping away until a piece of taffy hit him smack in the head-

Of course he's an absolute doll & handled it just fine.

Finn wanted to be in the parade--

(crew left- finn right)

Besides all being together, my favorite part of the parade this year was watching Lola get excited about the candy & Cole hugging all the characters who walked by. It was the. cutest. thing. ever.

We came home & cooled off in the kiddie pool.

It is so great to watch my Charlie growing up-

he is so big now. I just can't believe how fast he is growing. He is going to be 5 this fall.

He is such a great kid- Megan & Tony are wonderful parents, which makes it a pleasure to be a grandparent.

 These two monkeys have pretty cool parents too-

We spent the day recovering from the heat & eating leftovers from the night before. As it got dark it was strange that just Brett, Trent & I were home alone. 

It was a good opportunity for us to let Trent be in charge of the fireworks that we had bought. It was also a lesson in patience.... Trent would light a match while standing up, then slowly bend down to light a firework. The match would go out- then he would start again. Brett kept trying to teach him how to do it - it was almost funny. It took about 10 matches per firework.

 Thankfully we had nothing going on so it was a great learning/practice time. 

Not having his older brothers there gave him the chance to be in charge. 

Plus the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks all around us.

Speaking of getting big & older...

Trent turns 15 next month! 

ah- it's a great life

hurray aimee, sean & cole were here!!

It's been a couple of busy days around here!

Because of the Olympics I am actually getting some computer time without having to beat anyone off. I am so incredibly tired right now I can barely keep my eyes open. We have 9:00 AM church, were up late & when we did get to bed a huge storm started up. Thunder, lightening, wild wind & rain= NO SleeP. It was all I could do to get up & sing with the kids at church today. Hurray we were so excited to have company over for dinner last night!

The peanut, ruthie & brittany, plus aimee, sean & cole are in town-

it was fantastic to see them!! we miss them so much.

We BBQ'd & had a great time seeing how big cole is now. When they moved cole was the peanut's age 10 months. There is a huge difference between 10 & 19 months!

Cole is so smart & such a cutie. He's just about ready for piano lessons... maybe. He loved playing the piano & it was so funny because he moved his hands really fast, but hit the keys softly. See, I told you he was a smart kid!

Brett & jack were gone at scout camp this week & came home Friday night. No wonder I am feeling that school isn't starting early enough this year... partly I was missing dad & all his help. I worked a luncheon on saturday afternoon & the girls & I have done some school shopping. wow- it's been a crazy busy weekend.

Now I'm going to take my sunday nap! ZZZZZZ

*do you take a nap on sundays?

Gardner Village With Prego & the Girls

Today I went to Gardner Village with my pregnant sister Ruthie & my nieces Aimee & Britt.

(I have to call her prego sister now cause it's almost time for that baby to be born ya know.) Aimee brought the always stunning Cole & he was sooo cute. I got to hold him a lot & he was so happy & smiley! As you can see I have no pictures...I forgot my camera~ dang!

So I am posting a little picture of a postcard I bought for my favorite old friend steph. I just love to send her funny cards because I can picture her in my mind laughing & I know how much she appreciates funny things.

My friend Jill is back from having her Internet down for seven days. I thought two was bad~ I would truly go crazy. Her link is to the right. She is amazingly thoughtful & has tons of great friends. I feel like I learn a lot about friendship & service reading her blog. She is very inspiring to me. One of those kind of people you wish lived in your neighborhood!
***

This afternoon Trent brought home a note from his teacher.

this is what it said-

"Your child's behavior was inappropriate today

Trent hit _____ on the head, took his shirt and pulled it, then put his face in ____'s face and talked loudly to him. Trent said the reason was because he didn't get any sleep last night and that he was too hyper. (while talking Trent wiggled around & flapped his hands & arms- lol) I asked him if he was able to run around at lunch recess to see if that helped him with his wiggles. He said it didn't really . I visited with him about school & class rules of keeping hands, feet & other objects to himself. He said he knew the rules. I told him that when you break a rule like this you need to pay 5 minutes of recess and write sentences. He said- OK, I will. Please visit with him."

I was completely at a loss. I read the note to him except for the LOL part- and asked him what the heck happened. First he said it was private then he admitted the kid in front of him in the lunch line- the one he "hit"- wouldn't go & was bugging him so he pushed him. He has NEVER hit or done something like this before.

What to do ... what to do...

I figured the sentences & 5 minutes of recess were enough & reminded him to never do that again. I have never known Trent to ever be aggressive, I really think he was just messing around & it went too far. For now I will leave it at that. I am meeting with his teacher on Monday about other things so I will get the details I'm sure. She is really fun but she is strict and she never disciplines without letting the parent know- thus the note. I don't think in my 20 years of parenting any of my kids have ever brought something like this home before. They miss behaved sure- just never got caught, I guess.

Chloe's Birthday Dinner

Tonight was Chloe's birthday dinner.

She decided to have her birthday dinner tonight instead of Tuesday~ since that's the night before the first day of school. She chose the menu~ steak, chicken, potato & fruit salad~ plus peach & blueberry pie with ice cream.

YUM!

Notice I put 12 candles in the pie on accident.

Brett noticed & pulled one out just in time.

Aimee, Sean & Cole came~ is he the CUTEST baby ever or what?

Brittany was here too!

Megan brought her friend Tony.

It was a lot of fun. We should do this more often. Chloe is such a doll~ and I am not saying that just because I'm her mother!

Happy Birthday Chloe~ We love you!

Cousin's Camp Has Started

Baskin & Robbins- yummy!


Aimee & Cole- two cuties!

BEFORE

AFTER
Two summers ago Ruthie & I started Cousin's camp with our kids. We've had so much fun now it's a tradition. This year it is two nights & two days at our house. Sarah & Chloe made a spa & have treated us all to our choice of spa treatments-LOVED IT! I had the foot & back rub, with a hair brushing. I highly recommend it. We just had our official kick off meeting where we voted on activities and now we are having a DDR tournament. We are heading off to Baskin & Robins or as Trent calls it "Basket of Robins" at 2:00. Happy Day- Aimee & Cole came to join us- I can't believe I'm a great aunt!?. Our newest cousin Cole is arguably the cutest, even though they are all cute. We are doing a boys craft- making bird feeders. A girls craft- homemade scrapbooks. Hailey is in charge of making & teaching the girls how to make taco salad for dinner. Then, we're watching an outdoor movie with roasted marshmallows later tonight.