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!

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!