Fun Before School Starts!

Before school started this year, we took a few days to play with the kids. Bill took some vacation days and we played and played.

The first stop was bowling. The kids always love it when we take them bowling, or "bullet," as Hayden calls it.

Bill with his girls while Hayden takes his turn.

Kate was so excited every time it was her turn, but not so happy waiting for her turn.

Rylee worked on her form this time. She really wanted to get it down. :)

Me and all of the kids. It must have been Kate's turn. She looks like she can't get out of there fast enough.

Hayden and Kate were so fascinated with the bowling shoes.

What a fashion statement!

The silly kids all crowding around waiting for Hayden's ball to come back. You know, it takes four kids to get one bowling ball to come back.

Bill trying to keep Kate contained until it was her turn again. What a good daddy.

Hayden and Lana patiently waiting their turns.

Hayden pretending he doesn't know I am taking his picture. What a cute little guy he is.

The final scores! Can you see who won? Yep, Kate. Go figure.

After bowling, we went and checked into a hotel for the night. The only thing they care to do when there is a pool in the hotel is SWIM!

Lana was happy as a clam in the water.

So was Rylee.

Cute girls!

Bill was the good parent to get in the chilly water with all of the kids while I stayed dry and took pictures.

Kate thought it was more fun to get in and out, and in and out of the pool.

Lana kept swimming in front of me so I would take her picture. She is my water baby for sure.

Hayden thought it was fun to be in the pool for about ten minutes. Then he decided he'd had enough of the cold water. That's my boy!

That evening, we got the kids ready for bed in their new pajamas we had let them pick out earlier in the day. They were all pulling funny faces. Silly kids.

I failed to get pictures of the rest of the adventures that week. The kids had a riot going to Chuck-E-Cheese, Classic skating to play on the inflatable toys and roller-blade, and going to see Toy Story 3. We had sleepovers as a family in the family room for a few nights and just enjoyed hanging out together before school started again.

This needs to be a new tradition. I love enjoying the kids and letting them play hard before they go back to school.

Kate's 3rd Birthday!

What a busy couple of months! It seems like time just won't slow down long enough for me to catch up.

Kate turned 3 in July. I can't believe it has been three years since I brought my baby home! How dare she get so big?

She woke up, of course, to her gifts. Her favorite was her new bike. She rode it all over the kitchen all day long.

She also loved her new baby doll. This girl plays with dolls all day long and can't have enough of them.

She couldn't wait to get the baby out of the package to kiss it and snuggle it.

Later in the afternoon we headed outside to play with her new water toy! It's so fun to have a birthday in the summer when you can go outside and have a water party!

Then it was time for dinner with grandma and grandpa and the neighbors. Kate couldn't wait to get to the cake, so we pulled it out while the kids were all still outside playing after dinner.

Happy birthday to our sweet little dolly pants! We love you and love your spunk. And boy oh boy do you have a lot of spunk in you. But you wouldn't be you without that spunk, and we love you for it!

First Family Reunion

Saturday night, we had our first family reunion with my side of the family. Maybe we decided it was time for an official reunion because we are all now married??? Who knows why, but it was lots of fun!

We started the evening at my parents' house for dinner. It was way yummy food, and always good company.

Then we headed over to the church for some "Minute To Win It" games. The adults were paired with a child so they could help them with the games. It worked out great, and it was so fun to watch the adults with the younger ones.

Here is some of the madness! Some of these pictures will make great blackmail some day! ;)


Nikole was paired with Kate. Here they are before their first game!



Danika is just barely walking, so I had to snap a shot of her cute little self wandering around the gym.



Tai watching McKenzie attempting to get 6 penne noodles onto a linguine noodle.



Hayden watching as Andrew tries to sort M&M's.



Jordan helping Kailie try to figure out how to stack the apples.



Andy shooting rubber bands at a pyramid of empty soda cans in order to knock them off the table. He looks like a great shot!



Andrew helping Hayden stack the apples. Andrew was so cute to explain things to Hayden and help him with every game. Hayden ate it up and is still talking about is awesome uncle.



Brooke trying to blow a bubble across the room and through a hoop!



Lana was quite the cheerleader! She got so excited watching her partner, Brooke, play the games.



My mom, successfully got 6 penne noodles on her linguine noodle. (She did have a little help from her cute partner, Brielle.)



Sara and Rylee shaking their booties to get ping pong balls out of the tissue boxes that were
attached to their waists.



Andrew showing Hayden how to properly shoot a rubber band!



Lana trying to sort the M&M's as fast as she could!



Jordan taking a picture of me, taking a picture of him!



Rylee, Sara, and Kate as Rylee gets ready to attempt "Penny Hose."



Bill, Andy, and Danika. Bill was my helper for the night, and didn't get to participate in many of the games. He was Mr. Timer Man while I was Mrs. Picture Lady. :)



My dad attempting to get the penne noodles onto the linguine noodle. Check out that concentration!



My mom flinging a ping pong ball into a laundry basket, using the towel. Look how cute little Brielle is!



Hayden throwing a water bottle at the table, trying to land it right-side-up. I don't think that one is going to stick!


Mike and my dad flinging ping pong balls into the basket.

Cute little Isaak. He wanted nothing other than to get his treat that I had set out at each station for anyone who tried the game. He is so adorable! I asked if I could take his picture, and he did this cute little pose. Then he asked me to take more. He is so fun!

Brooke, also trying to string those darn noodles!

Sara, attempting to get an Oreo from her forehead into her mouth, using only her face muscles. Classic picture!

Andrew helping Hayden stack the cups. Those cups were a little big for those cute small hands.

The cute pair, Brooke and Lana.

Nikole attempting the penny hose game! What a good sport!

Andrew and Hayden shakin' it!

Sara trying to move the blue cup through the stack of red cups. Don't drop them, Sara!

Wow, Andy! That is just the look for you!

Jordan showing us his moves!

Kate showing us how it's done. The little ones could really shake it!

Jordan and Nikole being the sweet aunt and uncle as they help Kailie and Kate. Our kids have the best aunts and uncles!

It was lots of fun, and we had a lot of laughs. Thanks to my awesome family for a fun night! Let's do it again soon!