Andrew's Summer Party

We had our first "friend" party to celebrate Andrew's 7th birthday. We invited the neighbor kids and some friends from Andrew's 1st grade class - in all we had 19 kids at the party! We tried to keep things really low-key and it actually turned out to be a lot of fun and not as crazy as I thought it was going to be!

The Minsons (B.J. & Maggie) drew chalk art on the lovely concrete wall surrounding our townhomes. We filled a kiddie pool with water and shooters...






Then there was a slip n slide...

Isaiah

Emily

Xidis

Zoe

Joshy

Andrew

Elyxzia

We didn't have time to make a cake this year and since Andrew doesn't like frosting, we got an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins

We had hot dogs, chips & fruit for dinner...




Then Andrew opened his gifts...

Here was the chalk art before it got demolished...

My Helper

Andrew is so helpful. He looks after Connor and is so protective of him. Sometimes I get impatient about it because he's sometimes too helpful, but I appreciate Andrew - what a great big brother he is.

Connor's First Haircut

He looks like such a little man in these pictures, I can't believe it. All growed up at 9 months old.

What It's All About

Here is my perfect family. I say perfect not because I think we're anywhere near perfection, but because my husband and three boys are perfect for me. They teach me so much and I am grateful I get to spend my days with them. It has been a soul-searching year for us. We have learned honesty, forgiveness, kindness, the need to count our blessings, to comfort one another, to bear each others burdens, to keep our promises, to support each other, be true to each other, and to look after each other. I guess we need years like these every now and again to appreciate what it's really all about.



















Pictures by Becky Ann Photography

Connor @ 9 Months

The one and only picture this month. Poor third child.

This month he learned how to clap his hands on command (when we say, "Yay!")

Lagoon Day

We got free passes to Lagoon from Randy's work. It was the first time the boys and I had been. Of course we stuck to mostly the kiddie rides, but we all had a good time.

I love this picture of Andre helping Joshy with his seatbelt. I didn't ask Andrew to help him, he just did it. He looks after his little brothers.

Our First 5K

We did a podunk 5K this weekend. It was free and we could bring our circus, so we went for it. Joshy ran most of it (he refused to ride in the stroller or on the scooter we brought for him) and Andrew rode his bike. It took us 1 1/2 laps (out of 3) before we figured out how to accomplish a 5K with three children, but we did it. And we loved it. It's definitely on our "To Do" list for next year.

The Boys

The boys playing with their new Hex Bugs from Grandma Mary: