Back from the Beach! --- Beach Post 1

We seriously had a great time at the beach! We went to Garden City Beach with Chad's parents and his sister and her family.

Here are our group shots taken right before we left. As luck would have it, the best one is blurry. :( But at least we captured that we were all there!

the blurry one - where everyone is, of course, looking at the camera smiling

We stayed in the perfect size house with a good layout for the 10 of us :)


Some things to remember....
1- Papa and Grandma decided that instead of eating out the whole time, we would cook 3 nights. We loved that idea. I doubt it saved a whole lot of money because PapaHub bought soooo much stuff. He really loves to go "pick things up at the store."

2- Charlee and Ashton were hysterical together. They definitely have a love/hate relationship. They act like siblings.

3- Chad is horrible at the card game "Bull S---" I had not played cards in so long. It was good to get all the kids in bed by 8 (even Charlee was in bed early-she is a night owl) so we could play "adult games."

4- I dont know how Grandma does not strangle PapaHub sometime. I love you Hub, but Patsy is sooo patient with you!

5- Hub really loves the color red.

6- Girl toys are cooler than boy toys... period.

7- The rocks right outside "our house" were perfect for pictures.... too bad taking pictures of 4 little ones is quite a challenge. See below.







*** More pictures to come... the beach posts will have to come in installments.

Eucharisteo Part 13

*** Before I start, sorry it has been so long. I had a good list going and then I lost it :(

365- Books strewn on the floor

366- Swim bubbles on little backs

367- Learning to swim

368- Overcoming fear of going under... water

369- A good morning run

370- Extra Strength Tylenol

371- Smudges on backdoor glass

372- Inexpensive air conditioner bill on van

373- A good mechanic

374-Picnic lunches

375- Bread for ducks- eaten by Shepherd

376- New Bible Study

377- Fresh green beans

378- 5th grade VBS girls

379- Elementary style humor

380- Shep dancing to VBS music

381- Hunter and Ashton doing the motions to VBS theme song- Bi -Bi-Bi, Bi-Bi-Bi, Big Apple Adventure

382- Summer thuderstorms that pop up out of nowhere

383- Hunter getting into MultiAge kindergarten

384- Ashton sharing his sucker with Shep

385- Sweat tea right when I need it

386- Headache subsiding

387- Flower boxes pouring over

388- Flagstone paths

389- Safe plane rides

390- Spending .72 for $16 of stuff (plus getting Extra Care Bucks back)!!

391- Going to Target by myself.... aimlessly wandering

392- Eating 6 icee pops back to back to back

393- New shoes for small amount

394- Christmas shopping

395- "We love because He first loved us"

396- Beach anticipation

397- Closure of VBS

398- Early mornings

399- Painted toes

400- Picture that brings repeated chuckles

401- Dinner with the girls

402- The bug guy = No more ants!

403- Being friends with the bug guy = basically no bill :)

404- Muddy paws stopped at the door

Gardens, Dogs, and Half Birthday

Finished up our "mini lake vacation" yesterday. Glad to see my parents get back safe and sound from California.

Again, this is really a post that should be 3 or 4 separate ones but I am lazy...
enough said.

PART 1
On Monday, we were going to go the lake but Chad had to go to work at 9 in the morning so I wasnt about to take 3 boys to the lake by myself. We decided to go feed the ducks and have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens. It was fun and a lot less messy than going swimming.

Here are some pictures from our trip.

Picnic Lunch

Hunter

Ashton

Shep

This is such a funny pic of Hunter, but so sweet/ mean of Ash and Shep.

I have people ask me at least once every other a week if these two are twins? Do they look that similar?

PART 2

Wish this was a video but instead I will write the words- just imagine them screaming it at the top of their lungs
Ring around the rosy (or is it rosie)
Pocket full of posies

Ashes, Ashes


We all fall

DOWN

PART 3

I took these pictures for my parents so they could get their dog fix.

Miss Abby

Abby smiling

Mr Ed

Eddie has a question

My Molly

PART 4

And lastly, someones half birthday was yesterday. I cant believe he is as close to six as he is to 5.
Hunter, kid you are awesome. You are so kind. I cant believe you are starting kindergarten. I know you will do awesome. You make me so happy and love you to the moon and back!

A recap of the past couple days

*** Another semi- fragmented post... but I am feeling rushed because we rented a RedBox movie and Chad is going to start it without me if I dont hurry.

Anyways,

We are in the middle of having the privilege of house sitting (but more importantly dog-sitting) for my parents as they are in good ol' California with my brother and his beautiful family.

When we walked into their house to begin our "mini lake vacation", the house was so put together and tidy. I thought, "oh if I just had a bigger house." However, after two days, this was how it looked ( I didnt take a picture of all the crumbs on the floor or of all the track pieces on the living room floor).
Mom, I have already had to do a mini cleaning session.

Within the first 20 minutes of being there, the remote controls had been swirlied in the toilet by Shepherd. They are working again after removing the batteries and shaking the water out! And a crystal candle stick was broken (surprise mom and dad! didnt tell you that one).

I have had to trek back home (30 minute drive) everyday so far for swim lessons which have been cancelled right when I get there (because of this ridiculous thunder.) On our way back to mom and dads house last night this is what we drove in (this was about 10 minutes from my parents house) I was thinking, "great- no watering," however once we got to their house I chuckled because it was DRY! They seriously dont get rain.

The 3 children and the 3 dogs have been great with everyone being out of the routine. Trust me dad, your dogs are FINE! I even walked them in the thunder last night. I will post a group shot when I take one... haha, talk about vague.

Mom and Dad, hope you guys are having fun. The dogs do miss you. Eddie and Abby demanded some luvins from me last night. Oh and Eddie got fed 3 times this morning. Shepherd has figured out how to open the dog food container (the last two "feedings" were not full servings though so dont fret... DAD!) And though it may not seem like it... we have EVERYTHING under control ;-)
We miss you guys. See ya in a few!

Here is just some cute picture from an awesome jetted bath tub (not pictures of me- geez that would be scary.

Shep

There are so many things about this picture(s) that make me smile.




This morning Shepherd noticed the back door was cracked and went outside. He put on Hunter's shoes by himself, carried on a conversation with Molly, and attempted to ride the scooter.

He melts me.

A few things about my husband.

With our 8th anniversary approaching at the end of the month, I thought I would take a moment to talk/ laugh about my dear husband.

---First, summer workouts started yesterday. He had 99... yes 99 guys show up. Ya'll that is a ridiculous amount! But, I am so proud of him that he has changed the mindset of this community in 1 year!

---Second, the football program had a ladies football clinic a couple weeks ago. I wasnt able to go but once I saw the t-shirt, I knew I had to get one (thanks Susan for hooking me up.) See picture below!

Here is a close-up.

It seriously cracks me up! I love it!

---Third, Chad cant clean. Example below.

He has been home a good bit more these past couple weeks and is starting to get into the groove of my routine. I went out to clean our cars the other day and Chad saw the need! He grabbed the vacuum cleaner and went to vacuuming his car without being told. I was so happy!

You might be asking... why is she is blogging this? There has to be more to this story, right?

If you asked these questions, then you know me oh so well.

Here are pictures of Chad's car AFTER he vacuumed/ cleaned it.




Needless to say, I have a bit of work ahead of me this summer. When I asked him if he thought the car was clean, he said he couldnt find the attachments to the vacuum cleaner. I had to ever so sweetly tell him that they are in/ on the vacuum... the same place they have been since we bought it 6 years ago.

Even Hunter told his daddy that he did not do a very good job.

--- Forth, the boys love having their daddy home in the morning. Even though it is just Day 2 of the summer, they (ok ok, WE) have enjoyed him being home in the morning. I am so thankful that he cut summer workouts down to just once a day instead of twice.

--- Fifth, have our children aged us this much?
For the record, I hate church directory pictures.

Picture #1- Right before I got pregnant with Hunter.

Picture #2- Two months ago (I despise this picture of me). Chad, your face got a bit puffier ;)

Picture #3- Oh, so worth it!

--- Sixth, thank you Chad for all you do. I love you!

Late Memorial Day Post

Just call me "Queen Slacker of Blogging". I have absolutely no excuse besides I have just been in a mood to surf around other people's blogs and not do my own. Sorry I am not sorry (that is for you Mom and Nolan).

We had a great family weekend.

Saturday we went over to the in-laws for a cookout. The kids got tractor rides and got to play in/ beside the creek.

Grandma with Charlee and Shep

Papa Hub gives Smash a tractor ride

Charlee and Shep jumping in the creek... which led to Shep fallin in... we took his clothes off and let him run up the hill butt naked (got a cute picture but No Butts -especially naked booties- on Blog)

*** And I swear, Hunter was there, just didnt get a good picture of him.

Sunday we went to my parents house and had some delish kabobs and finger and tin foil lickin' good brownies (haha Mom). I neglected to take a single picture at my parents house (hangs head in shame).

Monday was just a family day. We did nada but think about how hot it is! Mercy. The boys started swim lessons Monday evening. I was all prepared to take some cute pictures when the director said, "Absolutely NO photography". So, I discreetly slipped my camera back in its case ;)

The rest of the week has been spent running outside for a couple minutes, then running back inside to grab and icee pop. Yum, I have already had 5 today.