Family Fun Night

On Saturday, August 10th, Nick and I decided since we weren't doing much that evening and it would be fun to surprise the kids and take them to Lafayette to eat out and go putt putt.  We told them to get dressed and we were heading to Lafayette.  We went to Olive Garden first(had a gift card:) and ate dinner.  Then we drove over to the putt putt place and the kids were excited.  We don't do stuff like this to often so when we do, our kids get overly excited and usually have a great time.

 Daddy trying to get the ball in the hole.

 Of course the boys wanted to pose.  This is how Elijah told everyone to stand:)

 Elijah trying for a hole in ONE, but no such luck.

 Liam, well....we didn't keep score for him.  Lets just say I lost track of how many times he hit the ball!!

 Ellie wasn't the happiest baby girl in her stroller, although this picture is a bit deceiving:).

The last and final hole.  Of course after adding our scores, we weren't surprised to find out that Daddy won.

We then headed out and went to Cold Stone Creamery.  Another huge treat for the kids.  Once again we had a gift card!!

August 2nd, 2013

Crazy as this may sound, my sweet Caden lost his very first tooth at the age of EIGHT!!  It was loose for a long time, but he could never get up enough nerve to yank it out.  So one morning as he was eating his breakfast he suddenly bit down on something hard.  Much to his shock and surprise (as it didn't hurt and he didn't feel it fall out) it was his tooth. 

I've always told him he is going to loose his teeth all at once since it took him till the age of 8 to loose his first tooth....and guess what, he has two more loose which are his top front two.....guess I better get the straw ready:).

Random July Month

Wow, thanks guys....I felt loved that so many commented on my last post.  Yes, there are a few more posts to come as I continue on this "catch up" phase.  Sadly I could have had lots of pictures to post of all that went on in July, but I completely forgot to do ANY pictures from a personal shower I hosted at my house and I only got 2 pictures from my cousins wedding I was in.  Total Bummer!!!

 So at the beginning of July I had a garage sale at our town wide.  Since I live out in country I had it at my grandma's house in town.  My grandma had these wigs she put out to sell.  Oh goodness they were great.  I no longer have three boys, right??

 The pool hasn't gotten nearly as much use as it usually does but thankfully for the first year ever we have been able to keep it clear and not green!!  Yeah to a sparkling pool....now to just get the kids to use it more.  The nights have been cool and because its a small pool it cools off easily.

 It was Ellie's first time in our pool and she LOVED it, which totally surprised me!!

 Thankfully we had a great blueberry year.  We picked ourselves 27 lbs of blueberries and now I have a nice freezer full!!

 Ellie use to get her sippy cup of milk warmed up every night before bed and when she did, this is where she would love to stand and watch.  We no longer do this, so this picture brings back some sweet memories.  Oh Ellie....you are growing way to fast!!!

 Her first ever Corn on the Cob!!  What a hit.  We have a video of her and her cob.  She was very possessive of it and if you tried to take it away she threw a fit.  Seriously girl, its just corn!!

 Ellie got this toy last Christmas but because she couldn't even crawl back then we saved it and just got it out in June.  She thinks she is pretty cute on it.  (but then again I think she is pretty cute too:))

 Jason, Joy, Jayla and Jacki stayed the night one weekend.  Jayla is getting to the age where she will now sleep in a room without her parents:).  She usually has to be near them, but this night we walked down to find this very sweet picture!!  Guess as long as Liam is holding her hand she knows she is safe!!

                                                                   More sweetness!!

                                                      What else are big brothers for?????

 

 Ellie has a very hard time staying put in her high chair.  I do not recall ANY of my boys trying to escape the high chair.  Leave it to Ellie.  The other day I looked over at her and she was getting ready to stand up on her tray!!!  No more leaving her unattended in her chair.

Rehearsal Dinner for Alisha and Brent.

Beautiful bride on her big day.  I love you Alisha and it was a complete honor to be in your wedding!!  I have got to see if my aunt or grandma have any pictures of her and I together.  What a bum I didn't get any.

More to come........

Phew!!

So I guess my blog wasn't missed much since no one asked why I have not updated in 2 months, but that's fine:).  I don't technically do it for you all anyways.  I do it for myself and when I make blog books on blurb.  So its time I get caught up for MY SAKE:)

June was a pretty cool month weather wise, but we were able to get ourselves to Indiana Beach for Nick's work picnic and the kids had a good time.

 The ONE and ONLY ride I will go on.  I get so sick any more when riding rides.  Thankfully Caden was a wonderful chauffeur and kept the car on the track!!

 Dippin Dots....a food my kids love!!  We thankfully do not have to buy these as they are part of our "food" that is provided thru Tate & Lyle Picnic.  What a plus!  Honestly the kids wouldn't have gotten them had it not been for T&L!!

 Of course Ellie got her first taste of those tiny little dots of ice cream and she LOVED it!!  Pretty much ate the entire cup full.

 Daddy on the other hand can handle rides and so he will enjoy them with the older boys.

 And this is what Ellie thought by the end of the day!!

Caden's 8th Birthday!!

Better late than never.....right?????   

 

Caden turned 8 years old on June 9th.  He wanted a "friends" birthday party so that's exactly what he got.  He invited 4 of his close church buddies, but only 3 of them could come.  Caden chose Phineas and Ferb theme this year.

 They played outside all afternoon.  Dodge ball is what they were playing here.

And they drove the go kart till it actually quit working!!!

 Then it was time for presents.  He got the much wanted razor siege he has been asking for.

 

 Of course I would have happily made him a cake like I do all my other children, but he wanted an ice cream cake.  Of course I was happy to have a break from cake decorating but I tell you what those puppies are expensive and I think I'll push for decorating a cake next time.  (even though I was thrilled I didn't have to decorate another cake this time:))

 Happy 8th birthday sweet Caden!!  We love you and enjoy your energy in our home.  He sure do bring many smiles to our faces and often Nick and I just laugh at the funny things you do. 

I know....it looks like he is 5 years old....but take note to the other 3 candles:)  5+3=8

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico 2013

We were so blessed this past week to take a vacation just Nick and I to Mexico.  We did pretty much nothing but relax and we truly enjoyed our time of doing nothing but soaking up the sun each day and enjoying one another's company.  We went to Grand Princess Riviera Resort in Playa Del Carmen.  It was a beautiful resort.  Well kept, but not sure we would ever return:).  Rooms were only half decent and the food was NOTHING to talk about.  Needless to say we didn't gain much weight at an all inclusive resort since we didn't find much to eat.  :)

 The entrance to the resort.  Big and beautiful looking!!

 One of the many, many pools!!  We spent EVERY evening here after we had spent ALL day at the beach.

 This was our view every day from 8:30am-4:30pm.  We sat in the same spot each day. It was reserved for what rooms we had so it wasn't hard to get a seat in the morning.  We always choose the end for sun reasons and because it was a great view of the ocean without a lot of people blocking our view.  It was also under a hut so we could get shade if we wanted it.

 Our room.  We asked for three different things with our room(like king bed, 3rd floor and ocean view) and we got none of it.   So we stuck our double beds together and it seemed to work out just fine.

 Random pictures of us on our way to dinner each night.  The resort was about a 10 minute walk from one end, near the beach (and where our room was), toward inland to the front of the resort(where all the nightly restaurants were).  We absolutely loved that walk back and forth but if you aren't someone who enjoys that then this place might not be for you, because it is a large resort with lots of walking!!!

 This was the beach food every day..  Chips and salsa everyday and then they would change out the main course each day.

 Two days we had Paella which is a rice and seafood dish.  We LOVED this and were glad to eat at the beach each day as that is where we found the best food.

 On Monday we knew the weather wasn't going to be nice and we didn't mind getting wet, so we chose to go into town and walk around.  Once we got to town though, the weather cleared off and we didn't ever need the umbrellas we brought.

 Another of the pools at night.  Breathtaking!!!

And these next four pictures are just because.....several nights we were just up for some fun and we would do goofy shots. 

 

 

 And last but not least as I have over 100 pictures....this is what we got to come home to!!  Oh man, I missed my kids like I had never before on a vacation.  The boys are wearing the shirts we bought them and Ellie is wearing the headband a lady at the beach made for her.

What a great vacation we had.  We couldn't have taken this vacation without the help of my parents, nick's parents and my aunt joan.  So a huge shout out to them and their hard efforts in keeping our kids the entire week.  We love you and are so grateful for you!!!