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!

Swinging & Sliding!

We've been going outside to play in our backyard in the mornings...we usually can stay outside for about an hour and then it gets kind of hot...and it's time to come in for drinks and snacks anyway! Everyone had a turn on the swings...and while that was going on the rest of the gang was playing in our water table and around the yard... and then we moved on to the slide. Ryan went up and down it for the first time, all by himself...he couldn't quite figure out how to go down on his bum, so he just went down face first. I love the pic of Daniel helping him along...like, "Come on, keep it moving buddy!" We had a busy day...so more to come... It started out as Ryan & Daniel swinging... and then Ryan & Ashley... then Ryan & Lauren... Ashley & Ryan tickling each other! THEN Ashley & Lauren (that's what they were waiting for!)... and then Ashley & Daniel (he came full circle)! Daniel LOVES our new water table! Ryan, sitting pretty & so ready to try that slide thing... He couldn't figure out how to scoot up to the edge & go down on his bum, so he finally went head first (Daniel giving him a little help)... I guess Daniel didn't think Ryan was going fast enough (he was going pretty slow-- kind of scooching himself down), so he gave him some more help... What goes around, comes around though (Ryan giving his big sis a nudge)! Traffic jam...all 4 buddies... they just kept going up & down and up & down!

Mondays

We used to try and do nothing on Mondays...b/c we were so tired from the weekend, we just needed a "down day" to chill at home, with no set plans. Then we signed up for story time at the new library, and did pretty well making it there by 9:30 (and we even walked, when it was warm enough). Now we're going to have friends come over every Monday and it will be a good thing. Sawyer (4 1/2) and Maggie (1) go to our church and are in our small group. We met them at the park, when Maggie was only 3 weeks old and as Mommy chatted with Brandie & David, we found out that we went to the same church (we had just been once and they had been a few times--something like that). It's been great getting to know them over this past year and we look forward to our Mondays spent together (and sometimes Tuesday). We also have our small group on Monday nights, so the kids will be together for most of the day! That will be SO much fun for Sawyer, b/c Ashley just LOVES to talk to him (he asked his mom once, "Why does Ashley talk to me so much?" Poor kid!). We had fun playing with bubbles...enjoy the pics! Sawyer caught 2 bubbles at once--pretty cool how they're right over his eye, huh?! Do you see the bubbles on the ground, to the left?! Maggie isn't big on smiling, but we're going to get her to warm up to it this summer! I had to put this pic, b/c Daniel is in the corner...poor guy didn't get any face time today (I'm sure he was real torn up about it! He's too busy anyway)! We LOVE our Gymboree Bubbles--they're SO thick, you can catch them (do you see the one in her hair)! Can you see my screen saver? It's the pic of my mom, Pa and the kids at Christmas Time 2006. We miss Pa...

Bible Study Family BBQ

**CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO GO TO AN ALBUM OF ALL OF THE PICS FROM THE BBQ!
After we all took naps (well, I came down to the basement to update our blog, but it was restfull), we went over to Kristy's house for a BBQ with most of the ladies from our Thursday Night Bible Study and their families. We had SO much fun...eating and talking and petting & feeding goats and chickens, and playing bubbles and making smores (more eating)! We need to remember to take the family picture when we first get there though and next time I'll remember to take family shots of everyone! A great time was had by all! Ashley LOVES this horse tire swing--she says HIGHER (but doesn't like to spin)! Of course, Daniel has to ride it too and get pushed by his big sister! Feeding the big male goat (who got kicked in the face by the mean pony)! Petting a baby goat--Ashley is totally hands on! Daniel saying, "Baby Goat!" He is TALKING SO MUCH these days! Ashley got to collect an egg that a hen had just laid! Ashley & Chloe feeding the chickens grass & weeds--YUM! More swinging! Daniel feeding his face with a marshmellow! Playing in the ball pit in the bathroom! Look at his dirty face! Family picture...a little windblown and wornout! Ashley wanted to try on Daniel's Clifford Overalls before bathtime--TOO CUTE!

SHAREFEST

We volunteered with Sharefest on Saturday, May 31. It's a day where many different churches and people from our communities, get together to help fix up local schools and parks. We worked on Frederick Elementary School--one of the oldest schools in our Tri-Towns area. David helped with the landscaping project (which was the biggest one they did--pulling weeds and whacking away at the dead stuff, moved rocks and added mulch--FUN!) and Andrea helped with the childcare. We had 18 kids from 7:30-1:30 (that's when we went home to take naps--there were only 5 kids left). It was good to help our community in this way!

Spaghetti Time!

We had spaghetti for dinner Thursday night, because it was quick & easy and Mommy was very tired! Just had to post this pic...he is too cute! He uses a fork very well (usually)! Every little kid has to have one good spaghetti eating picture!

We love to walk to the library!

Thursday was our last day to spend with Grandma & Grandpa, so while the men worked in the basement, we walked to our AWESOME new library! We love to go there for storytime and just to play and check out books. Then Daddy picked up Grandma and the boys (b/c they all needed naps!) and we went to the park with our friends, Krista and her daughters, Kyra & Erika (they were at Ashley's party). We took some last pics with Grandma & Grandpa before Daddy took them to the bus station and we looked at a cool book--it's the song Grandpa, by the Judds, and they illustrated it! I'll post that on Father's Day... We love to read books at the library... and do puzzles... and make puppet shows... and play with the toys! Ashley & Lauren having some quiet time, reading a book together... Daniel wanting to do everything the girls do... Lauren just wanting anything Daniel has (but he's easy and let's her have his chair--he probably pulled her hair after this was taken though--little stinker)! GOOD BYE GRANDMA & GRANDPA SUTTON! Group shot (Lily was still sleeping--she came over after lunch). Listening to "Grandpa" and looking at the book.