Backyard Fun

Wrapping up Summer

Today is the very last day of summer vacation!   I must admit, I have been slacking off a bit this summer, in every respect.  Most regrettably, the blog.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this summer though, and I think the kids have too!  I plugged in my cord to see what pictures we have to show for what we have been doing all summer, and there is not much!  Usually, I am snapping away, I'm not sure what happened, probably just life, but I don't have many pictures to show for summer either.  Mostly, it was spent in the pool, with friends, and inside organizing things from the move that are still a disaster.  It is hard to believe we have lived here for less than six months!  SO much has happened in that time, I still have boxes to be unpacked and projects unfinished, but school starts tomorrow, so those things will have to wait.  Until the school pictures start coming in by the droves, here are a few random things I have taken this last week.  :)

Baylee LOVES to help me cook.  She made her first rice pilaf, almost all by herself.  She later informed me that she did not like onions or carrots in her pilaf and picked around them not getting to enjoy much of it.  At least she learned the process though, and now she wants to make some every night.  :)  (But definitely with the ingredients SHE chooses)

This little man is just an absolute JOY right now.  I am trying desperately to enjoy the last days before solid foods begin.  He is growing entirely too quickly and I can't believe all of the things he can already do.

Not to mention how very handsome he is, looking more and more like Tony every day!

This one is cracking us up all day long!  She is starting to say more things and has such a sweet side, she is such a little angel *most* of the time.  :)

Look, he can already use a sippy cup... moving right past that...

Here is our little clown!  She is so funny and LOUD.  She is very clingy lately and loves to snuggle.  Brenna loves it too, but Livie lives for it.  It is a fun time with them, I am waiting until they start saying, "Hold you?"  My favorite.  :)

Everyone loves to hold Noah, he is so animated and he just loves all of his siblings.  He definitely is not short on attention!

Aubrey is growing up right before my eyes.  He is almost 4 and I feel like every day he is doing or saying something new that completely surprises me.  He is a treasure, this one.  :)

 

My first born somehow did not make it into any recent pictures... probably because he is always off playing or doing some sort of battle by himself.  He is by far our most creative, imaginative child, always in a world all his own.  Whether he is fighting redcoats or fending off the giant mouseratleopard, (his imaginary animal that is always the enemy attacking him and/or his siblings) he is always busy learning, creating, protecting and imagining.   I love his little personality, with all of his quirks, he is just a fascinating little person and a constant reminder of God's goodness to me!   I can't wait to begin another school year and see what all of these little people have in store for me!  I am so incredibly blessed and couldn't imagine myself doing anything else!

 

Afternoon at Grandma's

4th of July

We had a great Independence Day this year.  :)  We had my parents, Steven Ashley & Chase, Cathy and the Karrers over.  The kids and even some of the adults swam for most of the evening.  It was 106 in Bakersfield, yikes!

How many Grandmas go swimming with their Grandkids?  Probably not too many.

It was Chase's first time really enjoying the pool I think, he kept saying "Bath! Bath!"  :)

The Karrers brought sparklers, which were the hit of the night.

I think of everyone here, Baylee was the most excited about the fireworks and kept screaming when they would go off!

The boys enjoying their sparklers.  :)

I thought this was a great picture that Anne took, it looks professional.

And this is just adorable. :)

Livie loves Cathy!  She hung out with her all night.

Baylee with her sparker.

This one was pretty funny, so I thought I'd add it in.  Luke seems very concerned.  He must know Jaden well.  :)

We had a pretty good view of the Seven Oaks show, so that was great.

MIA (Missing In Action)

That has been me lately.  Where have I been?  What have I been doing?  A whole bunch of this:

Teaching this one to open her mouth for food and not spit it everywhere:

Teaching this one to be patient while it is her sister's turn for a bite:

Teaching this one to keep clothes on while we have visitors:

Teaching this one her letters:

Trying to keep an eye on the big kids "playing" with the babies:

Spending a lot of time swimming and enjoying our friends:

Loving this face:

Enjoying our kid's sweet friends:

And of course, spending a lot of time doing this:

Poor Livie.

She doesn't care most of the time.

Oh yeah, and Brenna is crawling.  Mostly Army crawling, but she can and sometimes crawls for real.  More and more, she is going missing.  It would be much easier if she were bigger.

Oh, and we got a new stroller!  Lifesaver.  :)

We have been on the go with Tae Kwon Do and Gymnastics and having lots of fun outside.  I even got my bike back in working condition and have been riding a little here and there.  I'm sure I'm leaving plenty out, but we are enjoying our summer so far and loving our fun family.  :)