This is for you Dad...

Sunday afternoon

Ah, Sunday afternoon. Isn't this what it's all about? I came back from a meeting to find the house very peaceful and quiet. The boys were playing a board game or something and everyone else was asleep. Good time to grab a book, sneak some chocolate and relax!

Just waitin' around

This is what we do while we wait for Josh's football game to start.

Ethan brought a book and was dismayed when he finished it before it was time to leave. He had no interest in watching the actual game.

We mess around with the camera. Pull a few funny faces...

Kaden wanted to take some pictures as well. He got a great shot of the grass and the end zone.

Kaden loved his red water bottle and would periodically water the grass. He also tried to climb the nearby tree, gathered rocks, ate snacks, and dumped grass on the man sitting next to us. (Just so you know, his granddaughters were doing it too, but I was slightly embarrassed anyway. Needless to say Kaden sat on my lap after that and stayed away from the man sitting next to us.)

Oh and hey, the game finally started. We had to have Josh there 45 minutes early to warm up, then the game before ours went long so we were waiting awhile...

Josh is number 9 this year. He's the smallest kid on the team. Doesn't it look like his helmet is covering his eyes? I wonder how he can even see! But he played some good minutes and their team won. Kind of nice considering Josh's soccer team this last year didn't win one single game. Hope the rest of the season goes well. Wish us luck finding ways to stay busy while we're waitin' around next week!

Can it really be the first day of school?

It's hard to believe that today really was the first day of school. Yeah, we had to wake up insanely early (yeah, 6:40 in my book is insanely early) and the house was quiet for most of the day but I just haven't wrapped it around my head that this will be an every day occurrence for the next 9 months. It's still summer. We should still be staying up late, eating ice cream and SLEEPING IN!

Usually on the first day of school (or even a day of a field trip) Ethan is up before I am so excited he can hardly even stand it. Well this morning I walk in and Ethan's still asleep. I turn on the light and try to wake him. His response was, "I guess I'm not as excited as I thought I would be." Then proceeded to roll over and pull the covers back over his head. It made me laugh. I guess once you hit 4th grade it's all old news! I guess he was a tad bit excited because he walked out to the bus stop early so it's not all bad!

Josh started 5th grade and at his school they switch teachers and subjects like you would in middle school. He seemed to like it, although he said he got lost at one point trying to find his next room. I'm sure after a few days it'll become easy.

Josh started 5th grade and Ethan, 4th grade.

Miss Abby started the big Kindergarten this year. She was super excited and kept asking if it was time to go yet. Well, with afternoon kindergarten she had a little time to wait. She was so proud that she didn't even cry when I did her hair. Didn't complain when I told her she needed to brush her teeth and wasn't even scared when I dropped her off at the playground.

Can I just say that my afternoon was pure bliss. 3 kids in school and the other one was napping. What am I going to do with myself? Maybe I should take up a hobby. Or hey, maybe I'll blog more? Who knows.

Happy 4th of July

Yeah, I know I'm like a month late. But I was getting some complaints from the grandparents about my lack of posting. I know. I'm a slacker. So, I reluctantly pulled out the trusty ol' camera and found that I had a few pictures on there that I hadn't shared.


I'm ashamed to admit this, but this is the first year that my kids have ever done sparklers. I know, they are deprived children....At first they were a tad bit nervous to hold some skinny little stick with fire sparking on the end (I mean, shouldn't I be proud of this? Fire safety and all) but they got the hang of things and enjoyed the 38.6 seconds of spark before the flame died and they had to get another one. We enjoyed fireworks at home this year. (Yes, another first...) Kaden shook on my lap with the loud, obnoxious ones. I'm not terribly sure he enjoyed himself. The other kids did though. Thought it was great fun.

Kaden and I chillin' while waiting for the Daddy and Uncle Sid to get the show started.

Abby's cousin Madi was visiting for the 4th so we did the girls hair all cute. I had to take some pictures. Aren't they cute? Ryan's sister Amber even made the bows special just for that day! Loved it...but unfortunately I don't think I could recreate the hair madness! Anyway, enjoy and I hope you had a great 4th of July!

Family pictures

Merry Christmas to me...in July. Ryan hates all things when it comes to taking pictures. So as a Christmas present this last year, he consented to actually posing for a family picture. Our last family picture was taken when Abby was 18 months at my sisters wedding so it had been awhile. I'm so pleased how these turned out. We had so many good ones that it was hard to narrow it down to just our favorites. I was so excited. Giddy even. It's a good thing that I like them because these pictures will have to do until we get our pictures taken again in oh, 5 years from now! A BIG thank you to Ryan's sister, Amber for taking these! It was a blast!