Water Fun

We had a few friends over for water fun.  We pulled out the slipping slides, water balloons and water guns (and buckets).  We had a wonderful time getting wet with friends. The funniest thing was the younger boys could not get the water balloons to fit over the faucet.  Being the inventive kids that they are, they decided to drink the water first.  Then spit it into the water balloons.  Everyone ran when these balloons came out!

These were the balloons that worked a little better

The older kids were very nice to let all ages play.  We all had a great time.

Summer storm

All of a sudden we had a massive storm! It came out of nowhere.  Our power was out for about 4 hours.  My phone has been doing some crazy things lately so I decided to let it die.  My timing was perfect today.  My phone died right when the power went out.  So I was able to use our generator.  This was a gift about 4 years ago.  Thankfully we have not had a reason to use it in all those years.  Today I got to turn it on to charge my phone!  My hubby and I were so excited to see if it would work after all these years- it did!!

Camp is over

Everyone was ready for bed tonight.  The girls had a great time at camp. They were exhausted!  We were able to go and watch K ride horses tonight.  It was so cool seeing her control the horse after only one week.  She was amazing! 

This was their craft from the week.  It is already on our door.  

Swim lessons

The girls always love takin swim lessons. We have a wonderful teacher!  They cried one day when it was cancelled due to rain.  After lessons we closed down the pool.   The weather was so nice that I could not make them leave.  

Relaxing

After a week in the sun we decided to have a weekend in doors.  Everyone got to choose the inside activity they wanted to do.  It was very nice! 

Also our Meme and Poppy made it home.  After 3 weeks without them around - everyone was excited to hear all about their trip.  

Camps

This week the girls are going to camp. They both have an all day camp. I picked this one up and she said "I am worn out."  This coming from my mover and shaker is a shock!  She must have had a great day!  

Lake day

Today was youth lake day.  We had a great time hanging with the youth!  They are so fun for the kids to hang with.  Especially these special ones!

Lemonade Stand

We had a lemonade stand today.  We made lemonade, made signs and set out the table.  After about 15 minutes, the girls were done.  We did not have many buyers.  (Really only about 5- not including W). We did raise some money for books for a children's hospital.  That was our purpose.  Maybe we will try again tomorrow.  

Milkshakes and games

After a wonderful afternoon at the pool, we cooled down with a milkshake.  Then we headed home to what I thought would be board game night.  It ended up being mine craft night.   It didn't matter what game we were playing as long as we were together.  A great end to a fun day!

Rainy Day Fun

It was another rainy day.  It was nice to be able to kick back and relax.  The girls wanted to make cake pops with their new maker. (thanks CC!)  We had a lot of fun making them.  I am not so sure how tasty they thought they were.  K tried to convince L he needed to eat it!!

Birthday Parties

Today we celebrated both girls birthdays!  We decided to have a swim party - I mean why not??  We have a great pool and it is hot and sunny.  Well today it was rainy!  I truly had no back up plan.  (which is normally not like me.)  So when it started to rain, thunder and lightning, I told people to come on.  We did have a covered area where we enjoyed cake.  It actually turned out to be a great party.  We ate cake and opened presents and the rain cleared.  It did come back and we lost a few people but we played with bubbles and waited for it to pass.  Finally after an hour and a half - the pool was open!  Everyone had a great time for about an hour until the rain came back.  The great thing about the rain was we had the pool almost completely to ourselves.  All in all it turned out to be a great party with lots of smiles, friends and rain!

Back together again

We are back together again!  We picked up our missing two this afternoon.  They were exhausted!  W came right in and took a power nap.  Dad did not get much rest.  The other kids were ready to play.  It was a great day to celebrate our dad.  I am so thankful for my hubby.  He is a great dad that loves our family so much.  He does so much for us all the time.  He will play with the kids no matter how tired he is.  He has great patience with them.  We were happy to celebrate him today

Down to four

With dads job, the kids and I get to have some quality time without him.  Sometimes we come up with fun things to do, sometimes we just hang at the house, and sometimes we go visit family.  Well,  now that w is in the youth group - our mom and kid time has gone from 5 kids to 4.  It has been an adjustment for sure. We are missing our creative game planner.  W is always the one to come up with a plan for something fun to do.  He is always there to wrestle with L.  He is always so good at convincing the others to go along with the plan.  I am excited for him and the time he gets to spend with dad but we will miss him on our next adventures together.  So as the peacemaker, fun lover, cuddlier  and mom go on to new adventures - we will be waiting anxiously to hear all about the new adventures of dad and W.  

One busy week

We had a busy, crazy, fun week!  It begun with fun fair vacation bible school.  Dad was the ring master so that was a lot of fun for the kiddos!  We celebrated one of the girl's birthdays.  

She was super excited to get the doll that she wanted and boots!  She had such a great time playing with it with her friends.  Oh yes...friends, friends, and more friends.  After vbs we spent each day swimming with, playing with, sleeping over with friends!  I truly am grateful for the sweet, kind friends my children have. It was lots of fun but left me exhausted every night.  (That is why I have not kept up with the blog this week- I went to bed when the kids did).  

Another summer fun activity

Today we had family movie night.  We don't get to do these very often during the school year.  We were very excited to have one.  We watched an oldie but a goodie - hop. Dad had never seen it and it was his choice.  I am already looking forward to the next one.  

National donut day

Today was national donut day- so we went and got donuts.  

We also went to visit some elderly people from our church.  Some that don't have family or just can't get out anymore.  We made cookies  and pictures for them.  

The kids did a great job visiting and talking with the people.  We all had a good time.

Fort building contest

Today we had a fort building contest.  Once the supplies were divided, we were off!  For some reason my kids don't put tops on their forts.  One fort was a one room with a porch fort.

The other one had a secret tunnel to the hide out room, a library, a sports room, and a music room.  

This one was the winner!  

As a perfect ending to a fun day...My hubby and I had our date night.  We saw a movie and had dinner!  It was so nice to have a conversation with him without our love bugs around.  

Sleepover friends

Three of the kids had a friend to sleep over last night.  They all had a fun time last night and today.  Or youngest was so excited that she woke at 4:10 and 5:20 to play.  She was finally allowed to get up at 6.  The rest of the house was up then too.  Today was fun but exhausting.  It can wear you out having so much fun.  The worst part about a sleepover is the next night.  When they are so tired that they fight sleep.  Welcome to my summer!

Picnic, book, friends and teeth

Today we were able to see some friends that we had not spent time with in a while.  The kids enjoyed being with their friends again.  I loved catching up with my buddies as well.  

K also received a new book that she has loved!!  So excited to see her dive into a good book.

Lastly, M.A. Lost another tooth.  So off to  be the tooth fairy before I forget.  

Pool day

Today was a semi lazy day. After church and chores, we relaxed.  The whole family (except me) played minecraft.  They love it!  It is fun that there is a game all of the kids like to play together.  Then it was off to the pool!  

1st family date

M.A.  Was the first child to get to do a date with one of us.   It was not really planned.  A and the other kids were hanging at the pool.  We went to the library to chose some books for our summer reading.  Then we were off to hobby lobby (one of our favorite places).  We are definitely the crafters in the family. We got her a bag to color with a gift card I had.  On such a hot day, we needed something to cool us down.  So we headed to Sam's for a really big drink!  After cooling off we headed home to work on the bag.  In my opinion it was the perfect date.  We were doing something we loved with someone we loved and it did not have to cost a lot.  She was very excited to be the first one to have a date.