Our Week in Review!

**Click on the title to see more pics!

We had a fun, busy week. Monday started us off with Sawyer & Maggie coming over to play. The kids really enjoyed playing with our great finds from the garage sales on Friday! This is the cool doll house we had to get (Ashley said Daniel needed one that he could play with, b/c her Barbie house has too many little pieces)! Maggie enjoyed the double doll stroller we got for 50 cents! Daniel is running into the playroom to get more toys! Maggie found the cool books I blogged about on Father's Day...this is the In My Daughter's Eyes one, by Martina McBride. We went to the library on Tuesday, with Lauren & Ryan. Ashley & Lauren enjoyed making necklaces (she looked for those toys when we went back on Wednesday, but the librarian told me they had found bugs in them, so they were being cleaned--nice)! Grace & Maddie came over Tuesday afternoon, so we had 6 for awhile (when Kate came to get her 2, we had 3 in melt-down mode--it was fun!)...they're playing "Ring Around the Rosie"...they love to dress up and play together--SO FUN! On Wednesday we saw a ventrilaquist at the library and then went down to The Orchard (the new outside mall). Mommy got to shop at Bath & Body Works and get free stuff during their HUGE sale & Ashley & Daniel got to play at the park & get balloons (Daniel kept letting his go and it finally got away)...so a good time was had by all! Thursday was our 4 year anniversary of our wedding in Gainesville. We had 5 kids over here & it was a busy day! As a treat, we got our package from Aunt Won (we opened it after bathtime). She sent us a true-to-life model car of a BMW convertible (she works for BMW now, in Korea) Daniel loved playing with it, with Daddy (it's a special car, so he can only play with it, with one of us)! We also had some sad news. Red, our beta fish that we've had for almost 2 years, committed suicide (he jumped out of the bucket I'd placed him in, to clean out his bowl)! I found him on the counter and thought he might pull through...he put up a good fight, but gave in and went down hard. David said a few words and then he had a burial at see (Ashley took it hard--NOT--she was like, "Can I see the picture?!") We will miss you Red...but life goes on...now we'll be able to get a blue fish in the fall, in time for Gator Football Season! GO GATORS! On Friday, David worked from home and we went back to The Orchard, to have lunch at the Mexican restaurant. It was nice to eat outside and then play at the park area & get more balloons...no pictures, just good family memories!

The Today Show

The Today Show is killing me this morning...but it's all good. On Saturday, Matt Lauer did a special tribute show, in honor of Tim Russert, who died suddenly of a heart attack, at age 58...2 days before Father's Day and shortly after his son, Luke, graduated from Boston College and then the family took a vacation to Rome, to celebrate. He had flown home early, to prepare for his weekly Sunday morning show, Meet the Press, which he had been doing since 1991 (I'm thinking my dad watched it, if it wasn't in competition with Sunday Morning). From what I understand, he was a wonderful man. He broke down what was going on in the political world, for the common man and he did it with honesty and integrity. He was a family man first, who loved his son and wife and had a special relationship with his dad, Big Russ. He wrote a book about his dad and got such a terrific response from it, he wrote another one, with the letters from everyday people, paying tribute to their fathers. I'm going to read both of them this summer. I would suggest taking some time and learning about this fine man.

Matt Lauer did an interview with Tim's son, Luke, and showed a mini-recap of his life. Here is just one link, you can find many others. If you go to it, click on the TodayShow button and watch some of the video clips that pay tribute to this fine man:

http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/14/1143062.aspx

"The best exercise for your heart, is to bend down and pick someone else up." A quote from Tim Russert, that summed up his life!

THEN...as if I wasn't emotional enough, they interviewed John Atkinson, the everyday man who got to play golf on the course the US Open is played on. He is 39 years old, a loving husband and father of 3 young children (his middle child is named Andrea, so he must be alright!)...he has never smoked a day in his life, and yet he has stage 4 lung cancer. This happened to my Grampy too, but he lived a long life of 84 years. It's just so unfair, unjust... tragic. If you'd like to know more about him, he is making a documentary and here is the link:

http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/features/feature_usopen.html

And article about him:
http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/features/special_feature_john_atkinson.htm

"I think the most emotional moment was on the 18th hole, when he and his brother and his family all embraced on the green. We all started crying, it was very moving." Matt Lauer said about the experience of golfing with John (& Tony Roma & Justin Timberlake).

Did I mention that I had 5 kids over here this morning? We had a good time though--they all get along so well. Be thankful for the life God has blessed you with...tell your children you love them everyday...and show them too! Hug those you love a little longer and take time to call people or e-mail them or write them a real card and send it in the mail! Love your family and friends and your Lord with all of your heart...pray for them...take care of yourself, so you can enjoy them for as long as God allows you to be here. Thanks for stopping by...sorry for the rambling...just feeling some loss here, but I am so thankful for the life I have been blessed to lead...the people who have come into it have touched me and made me who I am...good and bad! With love, andrea

David's Father's Day

David got to go golfing yesterday, so that was the start of his Happy Father's Day! The kids gave him some small presents this morning, before church. We had a family worship time at the beginning of our service and that was fun. Then after church we came home and played outside and ate lunch. Peggy came over to watch the kids and David and I went to see the second Narnia movie (it was really good, just a little too violent, for all the kids that were watching--but I loved that mouse!). Then we came home and David got to grill steaks and we had baked potatoes, corn on the cob and salads to go with them--YUM! The Cubs beat the Blue Jays and Tiger Woods came back to force a play off game tomorrow, in the U.S. Open...so David was a Happy Daddy!
WE LOVE YOU DADDY! Do you like our green theme?!

Tribute to Don

Click on the title, to hear the song!

I've been thinking about Don a lot this weekend. I planned to do this post, back in April...this is a book we got from a sale at David's office, back in March. I was going to mail it to Pa, but decided to bring it when we came for our visit for my mom's birthday, on April 9th...I wish I had mailed it! We listened to it a lot when we got home from Florida. We had Grandpa Sutton read it to the kids, before they left from their visit with us last month. I'm missing Don today...and my dad, who never got to be a Grandpa (I was thinking about how much he would have liked my kids, while I was having a moment this morning at church...my dad would have been 61 this year...it's been 14 years since he died of a heart attack at 46, in 1994--he didn't make it to his birthday that year, in case you're questioning my math skills!), and my Grampy... but life goes on and the living need to keep on pressing on (I just read that in my Bible study this morning). It's nice to remember, as long as we don't dwell there too long. Here's to you Pa...THANK YOU for being such a special part of my life and for loving my kids so much...we miss you. Daniel still points to your picture and says, "Pa!" and Ashley mentions you sometimes, but she gets upset, as she is still trying to figure it all out. We wish we had more time with you, but we're thankful for the memories. WE LOVE YOU!

If you click on the picture, it will make the words bigger...
These are the other books--they're songs made into board books--they are ALL wonderful (we don't have the Mary Did You Know--yet and there is one from Martina McBride's In My Daughter's Eyes)!

Saturday

Today started off pretty rough...I watched the tribute to Tim Russert that Matt Lauer hosted on the Today Show. It was very touching...he helped so many to be informed about politics, and he told it how it was, but didn't get in anyone's face...and he loved his family dearly. I spent a lot of time thinking about Don and I called my mom. Then I was able to do my Living Beyond Yourself (about the fruit of the Spirit) Bible study and clean our bathroom (that was WAY overdue). Then I got to go to Jeni's baby shower and David got to go golfing, when I got home. Lauren & Ryan came over, b/c we did a "kidswap" last week (that's when we had our date night and saw Indiana Jones). The kids had fun playing together...esp in our water table...hence Lauren & Ryan ended up in Ashley & Daniel's pajamas...I had to post this pic of Daniel & Ryan in the same outfit (Daniel is wearing the one Ashley wore last year and Ryan has on Daniel's old one). Daniel is 3 months older than Ryan... he's taller, but they weigh the same...look at those legs! Ryan is our little brute! Sweet dreams boys...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jen, Cherise & Brian!

Garages Sales & The Library

Kate so nicely had my kids over this morning, to give me some time to myself...I spent it going to her neighborhood's garage sales! She even joined me, with the kids, for a little while (she pointed out that she had more willpower than I do!). Then I did get to have some down time...but not enough, b/c I dinked around too much...the story of my life! We had lunch together and then the kids went down for naps...but Ashley couldn't sleep, b/c she was too excited... Grace & Maddie came over...we were going to go to the library and then the park...walked all the way to the library and realized/remembered that they close early on Fridays. So off to the park we went (with sticky hands--great idea to feed them popsicles and not bring the diaper bag, with the wipes in it)! We had a great time with the girls...like we always do...and then we got to spend some time chatting with their parents, Shan & Jen...so we got into bed after 10:00!

We love our wagon and we love popsicles!
I tried to get a pic of our beautiful library AND the mountains.
David is yelling for Ashley to stop! Maddie is so loyal.
Maddie & Daniel are good buddies.
I just love this pic...they're all so sweet together!
Our wild man flying down the slide!
Busy climbers!

Zoo Day!

I linked an album of more pics, if you'd like to check them out or show them to your kids--just click on the title!

We absolutely LOVE to go to the zoo...esp on days like today. It was in the 70s, the sun was shining bright and there was a nice breeze (sorry to all of you who are fighting the heat or floods--but it is gorgeous in CO)! We left home around 8:30 and didn't return until around 3:ish! Tammy & Lily joined us around 11:30...we'd already walked around the whole zoo once! We'd love to go with anyone who would like to join us--we're always up for a day at the zoo!

Ashley talking to Aunt Jay on the phone...she is so tall that she can touch the button to open the van door, with her foot, while still strapped into her carseat! She has many talents! We like to take pics in front of the giraffes...Daniel wanted to be in another family's pic...he ran over to them right after this! We went to the 10:15 feeding of the penguins & ate cheetos! The petting zoo was FINALLY open...it has always been closed ever since we've been visiting. Notice Ashley & Daniel have on elephant shirts?! Tammy & Lily joined us...she's checking things out with her binoculars! I liked this shot (there's another one just like it in the album--tell me which one you like better, if you check it out). We got Lily to smile--even laugh! They love to play the drums! My little monkey climbers!

Free Movie Wednesday!

We went to see the free movie they had playing today--Shrek III...it wouldn't have been my first choice, but the other option was Rugrats and I'm not a fan. It was Daniel's first movie in a theater and he did great for a 19 month old, but we'll leave him with someone next time! We went with Ana, her mom, Esther, and Kira and the kids had fun riding the rides and playing in the play area. Ashley is such a good climber--I need to get her into a gymnastics class!

The movie Mommy & Daddy saw on their recent datenight.
Ashley is sitting pretty!
A smile from Kira...with Mommy & Grandma behind her.
Daniel was SO excited to see Bert & Ernie!
She loves to climb and is so fearless!

Last Friday, 6-6-08

We finally made it down to The Orchard last Friday...it's a new outside mall... really beautiful, with a great play area outside for the kids and a water area, where the water shoots out of the groud...but it wasn't working that day! The kids still had a great time! We at lunch outside, at a new Japanese restaurant, and Ana & I enjoyed delicious Bento Boxes and then we all had ice cream later--YUM! Kira had a great time playing with Ashley & Daniel...we'll have to do it again sometime soon. My little wall climber! Ashley scoping out new adventures... Kira thinking about being adventurous!

My Summer List

I still haven't done the suggestion Tab made, about finding 5 things around your house that make you smile...but I am doing the summer list. It will be nice to go back and read through this, as our summer goes on and as the fall approaches, to see what I actually got done!

Things I'd like to do this summer...

1. Spend time with my mom & Jay
2. Have family fun nights
3. Have Friday Friend Days
4. ENJOY our drive to Iowa & Florida
5. Spend time in God's word, with my Living Beyond Yourself Bible study, A Deeper Kind of Calm Bible study, and our Love & Respect small group study

Ways I'd like to get more organized (maybe I'll get some done, while my mom and Jay are here!):

1. Get my pictures organized, ordered AND into photo albums (need to do this from after our wedding, over the last FOUR years)!
2. Do some scrapbooking
3. Sell our baby stuff on Craig's List
4. Have a garage sale
5. LOSE WEIGHT and get more active

Potty Trained

Have I mentioned...that Ashley is POTTY TRAINED?! She just kind of did it all by herself on Wednesday, May 21. And from Day 1, she has stayed dry through naptime AND ALL NIGHT LONG (not sure how she is doing that, but I'm thankful for it)! I still put a pull up on her, if we're going out for a long time, but so far, she has stayed dry no matter where we are. She's growing up so fast. I wish more of you were around to see it on a day to day basis!
Tab, I was going to have this pic be a "Wordless Wednesday" pic, since it's after midnight...but I just haven't gotten that wordless thing down yet...baby steps...

SEVEN KIDS AGAIN!

**Click on the title to see ALL of the fun pics (there aren't that many, just didn't want to stick so many in one blog & too many cute ones to choose from)!
We had so much fun today! It started out with our regular 4 kids, that we have over here on any given Tuesday...then Lily showed up around lunch time (she'd fallen asleep in the car)... then the rest of the kids went to bed and Grace & Maddie showed up...they watched Pinnochio with me and had some "quiet time" (Ashley never did nap, b/c she wanted to come down with us, but the rest of the gang did)! Then we had a snack (Daniel was still sleeping hard then, but ate later)...played bubbles (SO MUCH FUN!), played dress up...ate dinner (just 5 of them)...and then played on David (Hop on Pop)! Then I got to go see Made of Honor, with Jen (Grace & Maddie's mom) and enjoy some girl time. So a fun day was had by all!