Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Toothless smile















Hayden lost his other front tooth a couple weeks ago.  I have tried to get a good picture of his toothless smile but this was the best I could get!  His first tooth is already starting to grow back in, so he won't have a toothless smile for long!

Monday

Our day started out with lots of this














and lots of this cuteness















In the afternoon, we went to Burr Oaks woods and enjoyed a nature walk


















And came home with all these















And ended the day with some yummy root beer floats





























What a great three day weekend full of family time!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sunday

Today started out with matching dresses for church.  I just love to match my kids.  Thankfully for the boys sake I now have two girls to match so I can quit trying to match them!  Unfortunately, we never got to show off our cuteness at church today because Katelyn barfed right before we pulled into the parking lot! 


















After church, we worked very hard to transform this














into this















We still have to fill it in with dirt and plant, but I am thrilled with it.  I have wanted to do this for a couple years and finally it is done!  Thanks honey for all your hard work.  We finished the night with some smore happiness.  You will notice Kate's tummy was feeling better!

















This was Kate's first smore experience- she opted to take hers apart and lick out the inside!  Hayden and I tried smores with Reeces cups for the first time and they wonderful.  Definately my favorite way to have a smores now! 

**Kate's black eye you have been seeing in these recent pictures is a result of a tennis lesson by Jack gone wrong!  I'm just thankful he wasn't giving her batting practice!**

Saturday

We had a very busy day.  We started out at Coco Key.  The kids had so much fun. 















Hayden spent the entire time on the slides and this was the best picture I could get of him.














After 5 hours at the waterpark, we came home and got cleaned up to attend a graduation party.  It is hard to believe Brittany is a senior.  She was one of flower girls and I can still remember her with her hair all curled for our wedding and now look at her!  We are so proud of her and know she will do great at Pitt State.

Small Group

This year our small group wrapped up the school year with a bbq at Old Mill Park.  Of course the nice weather didn't stick around for us and instead it was about 50 degrees!  The bonus was due to the weather we had the park to ourselves!  This is a very good thing for a group that has a total of 19 kids between us. 
We had a great evening of food, fun and fellowship. 
















Our evening even included some detective work.  After exploring a bunch of stuff found by the trash can, we determined a car had been stolen and they had dumped a girls personal belongings.  We called the girl and she wasn't even aware her car was stolen, she was out of town.














The kids thought it was real cool when the police arrived.  Luckily the officer ended up being someone from our church and he was more than happy to let the kids look in his car and even pose for a picture!














I am so thankful for what small group has brought to our lives.  It is wonderful to have other families to share life with.  They have been there for us so many times whether it be meals, childcare or prayer.  So many of closest friends have been people that we have been in small group with through the years. 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Picnic

I decided to start a tradition of having a picnic on the last day of school.  Well today the weather didn't cooperate for our picnic so we ended up bringing our picnic inside. 















Peyton enjoyed the picnic from her swing














Following our picnic we got a jumpstart on our summer reading program














And I ended the evening snuggling with these two















What a great way to celebrate my first grader and kindergartener- doesn't get better than this!  The simple things make me happy.

Monday, May 23, 2011

2 months

I wanted to get some pictures of Peyton today.  I only was able to get one this morning before we went to her 2 month check up.


















Unfortunately when I tried again this afternoon (after her 4 shots!) she didn't cooperate very well.  I don't really blame her.  I would be mad too if I had a huge bow on my head, my pants pulled up to my neck and had gotten 4 shots just hours before!














She hoped this fit had caused me to put the camera away.















"Seriously lady- you still have that stupid thing out!"

Sorry baby girl, I promise to leave you alone now.  I can't believe you are two months old already.  You weigh 8 lbs 13oz and are 21 1/2 inches long.  You sleep 10 hours at night and have been for several weeks.  You are such a good baby.  You are so loved by your brothers and sisters.  I love you sweet baby girl. 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Maternity Leave

I am so sad.  Maternity leave is coming to an end.  I will go back to work on Tuesday.  I have had 9 weeks off.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful benefits.  I get 9 weeks off with full pay to enjoy my baby girl.  And then in addition, I get another 2 weeks of bonding time to be taken within the first 6 months of birth.  This time, I am saving my bonding time to be taken around Kate's surgery.  When I had the boys, I was only allowed 6 weeks off and only with partial pay.  I know this is a huge blessing, but I am still sad.  I can't imagine leaving my baby girl all day long.  Actually can't imagine leaving any of them all day long.  I could definately get used to being at home.  Don't get me wrong- it has its not-so-fun moments, but I truly love spending time with my kids. 

I had big plans for my maternity leave.  My list was so long of what all I was going to get accomplished on this 9 weeks off.  I won't show you my list.  It's too embarrassing to show how little got crossed off (and I LOVE to cross things off my list!)  Where has the time gone?! 

THIS is where the time has gone........














Our schedule has gotten crazy!  There were some days I didn't even have enough space on the day to write all the activities.  I hear this is only going to get worse as the kids get older.  So............guess I need to be looking for a bigger calendar! 

And of course some of time was spent snuggling this sweetie pie















She has spent so much of her short little life here in this carseat.  She is SO good!  I can take her anywhere and she will just sleep.  If she is awake, just give her a binkie and she is good to go.  I guess being the 4th child she had no choice but to be good. 

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Biggest Fan

Hayden's biggest fan also happens to be the cutest fan. 














Sunday, May 15, 2011

Hawks

Hayden finally played his first baseball game Saturday after the first two were rained out.  Of course, it wasn't the nice warm baseball weather we had hoped for but we all bundled up and endured.  Unfortunately, Jack and he played at the same time (as they do every game this season except one!) so the girls and I went to watch Hayden and Jerry went to Jack's game.  Hayden had a fantastic first game.  He played 2nd base the first two innings.  The first inning he got all 3 outs at 2nd base.  I was so proud of him.  He then played 1st base for the next two innings and got 2 more outs at 1st.  The Hawks played great and won 14-9.  I am so excited to watch this team progress as the season continues.




















I think I need to get used to spending lots of time at the ballfields in years to come with these two handsome ball players (at least I hope so!)


Friday, May 13, 2011

Big Wheel Day

This is by far my favorite event at Little Angels.  It is so much fun!  Each kid is given an "official" drivers license and they drive all over the town- to the carwash, mechanic shop, drive in, putt putt, and of course the face painting shop!  I have to say their testing for these driver's license is definately lacking.  I was nearly ran over numerous times as I pushed Peyton around!  Jackson's big wheel day was rained out last Thursday and postponed until this week.  We had beautiful weather and the day was a huge success. 


















Kate really wanted to ride too.  She is definately 2!














She was then distracted by this cutie.  She loves Gabe and he is so good with her.  If she falls for an older man in 18 30 years this would be my choice:)