Little lady...

Words cannot express....

how much I adore this little girl.....

she really is the star of the show around these parts.....

especially when she pulls this face.....

and doesn't mind her crooked piggy tails.....

Camp Awesome...

I have creative and kind children. I really adore and enjoy them, they are just great kids!  For the most part they play really well together, are kind to each other, and are genuine friends. That's priority around here. They're hilarious and silly and can come up with the most clever ideas when faced with tough assignments like- "It's a lovely day, go outside and play." Case in point: Camp Awesome.
The only requirements to join: You must be in the backyard and you must be awesome. We're an equal opportunity family.

They made a flag with all member's names included, held baseball bats as they walked (?), pulled Kate in the wagon, jumped on the trampoline for a solid 18 minutes, played wall ball, borrowed my radio for the porch and rocked out to some groovin tunes and topped it all off by eating popsicles. Now that's good stuff.

The "Camp Awesome" crew...just taking a few laps around the backyard with their fearless and obviously safety conscience leader. Mom: "Jack, why the helmet?"  Jack: "I don't know, just being a dork!" And that about sums it up.

So when Kyle came home from a semi frustrating night at Jack's (FIRST year 3rd week) of football practice and said..." I just wish he'd hit HARDER!" ........

I  reminded  him that the season was still young and that prayers for our child to want to POUND his opponent were probably a tad bit inappropriate...not completely though.  I also reminded him that his son was the regional director/co creator of "Camp Awesome" and the fact that he could juggle 2 grueling and polar opposite careers during these hot summer months was pretty fantastic in itself....pretty AWESOME!



Mr. Fancy football pants.
 Do you think  having a mother who refers to you as "Mr. fancy football pants has anything to do with your lack of desire to POUND your opponent?  Kyle does. I just can't help it.

 

Kate's attitude at Jack's football games.....not so awesome!

Blogworthy: Hannah Montana

Howdy.....been meanin' ta post about our trip waaaaay back in July to grandma and grandpa's ranch but I just never got around to it. Seeins' that it's almost September, the time has come. This is what we done did in Montana:

The puppy was played with....Kate learned to be in the same room as Haddie..as long as she could jump into grandpa's pocket if need be...

4 wheelers were driven everywhere...not by these 2.....but they sure make a cute photo op....if only Brody were actually smiling and waving at me and not the invisible photographer to my left....

Naps were taken....

A giant front tooth was lost.....

Many a ground squirrel and a few rattle snakes were..well, shot. Look at tough cousin Coty taking charge of all things wild and grody....



The bow and arrow was surprisingly mastered by a certain sometimes frail and timid seven year old....good stuff..



Chubby and delicious 2 year old toes were painted....

All the ladies had a pedicure by aunt Cori....

Hilarity ensued with Aunt Lorri and Courtney...

The tire swing swayed back and forth for days.....

Cousins giggled....for hours.....

Jack aka "Dusty Bottoms"..rode Durango along side the other adult amigos for an afternoon of cow herding. He came back as "Sore Bottoms."

Kate captured the "Classy Cowgirl" award...

A rousing game of "Spin the baby" was played hours on end...

Good times in Montana once again. Grandpa and grandma were such wonderful hosts. Thanks again for having our entire crew, we make quite a house full. Until next year!

wants and needs from this week...

My kids really want a bigger pool. I really need to act on that request one of these days.....



Brody needed just a little help before we left for church...I really wanted to laugh but I needed to hold still so I could take a picture before the adjusting session.....




Kate really needed and I really wanted a better naptime performance as of late.



I really  wanted my favorite Emily to stay for weeks on end (instead of  a measly overnighter) and just sit and eat and laugh and  cook and laugh some more....



Now I really need to start cooking dinner. Oh how I want someone else to do that for me ......with a nice little salad with real bleu cheese crumbles for starters....

Little tip # 412.....

Don't leave your cell phone on the toilet seat lid. That in and of itself should be a universal no-no. Looking back I guess I was winning all sorts of universal no no awards because said cell phone was placed on said toilet seat while darling 2 year old was taking a bath. I simply was multitasking....went to change the laundry load.... 47 seconds later....came back and there ya have it.

 I was officially late to the "put your phone in a bowl of rice for 3 days" party so who knows if she'll work tomorrow. It's D day. I'm so not in the market to purchase a NEW phone, see-ins that I'm in the middle of my contract-Fantastic.  I guess I'll enter this century and learn to text. Not cool stupid cell phone.

 On a brighter note....I give you: 2 dollheads with their hands behind their heads!

The view from my Saturday

Shout and sing the sun came out on Saturday morning!

 Little lady was rockin' sweet hair and equally sweet morning breath as she made her appearance downstairs.  Everyone (except for the Mr.,  and a tentative Cole) was all smiles for today my friends... was race day. I had been looking forward to this day for months. A family 5k was on tap for the morning. It was time to spend outside together being active and healthy....sounds sublime! 

My Morning Kate ready to start the day. I do love a good pair of rain boots. You really can pair them with any outfit....so functional. Especially since it has been raining 85% of these last 2 summer months, but whose counting?!

My thrilled and supportive hero!!

 Never mind my mess of hair or the fact that I wore the

 "gigantor glasses that take up half your face...." the entire time,

focus on the fact that my darling other half agreed to run our little town's annual 5K with yours truly and our older fellas.  This wasn't the funnest thing ever for him but he did it for me simply because he's cool like that. This was big, it was huge...he's not a "public runner."  Neither am I for that matter but I've learned to get over it. It helps if you wear gigantor glasses that take up half your face....no one will see you! -Be still my heart.




Then we came home all tired and sweaty. The sun was still shining..this too was a big deal, so I ventured out and picked a bowl full of beautiful from my garden.

Now that was just a plain old fabulous day!  

The Juners

I adore these two right here...my firstborn and ladylove! They go really well together, she finds him simply hilarious and he loves the positive feedback.  Jack has always been a tremendous help with Kate which I thoroughly appreciate. He's a trooper when it comes to helping with his sister so it's quite perfect that these two pals share a birthday month...June. In honor of my darling bookends I present....the birthdays!



We're all still questioning the pucker....where did it come from? He claims complete ignorance..never happened!



I love this little girl!



The Birthday Boy!
He was pleased with his loot. Comic books, cook books, drawing books, cool fact books, and of course Butter fingers!



Mickey Waffle breakfast it is!



This kid reaaalllly likes Batman..oh, and he's 9..did you get that?



The Birthday Girl!!!



I love this picture...she was so pleased with the entire process! Her poor cake was another story. I had big plans for a giant CUPCAKE cake. (Wilton cake company-stinky design on the pan-grrr).  Needless to say, it did not turn out as I had planned and thus became a giant pink egg with sprinkles!




How is she already 2?




Finally...a barbie doll (ce-EL-LL-LL-LA) has graced our home!




Cole cannot hide his enthusiasm any longer! -Would it be shocking to know that in this home, Cinderella has already lost a leg? Seriously gentlemen...did we have her for 3 weeks?




Oh boy...Strawberry Shortcake!




Nothing more attractive than watching your husband detangle doll hair!



             Happy Birthday my darlings...June is a pretty fantastic 
                               month around here thanks to you!