Lakehouse Days

It's that time again...Lakehouse trip! We love this annual trip together, although we missed having Kim and Jason's family this year as it was rather last minute. The cousins all love each other so much! We especially loved the time with Nana and Pop since we're down to 1 week before they leave for Guatemala. I'm trying not to think about that too much, though. What in the WORLD are we going to do without them?

 

 

 

 

 

My baby's 8!

I can't believe I have an 8-year-old. I feel like that's the first real milestone bday, until 12, and then 16. Chris and I had a wonderful week last week with Brighton. On Tuesday we got a sitter for the younger 3 kids and took her out alone to the Rainforest Cafe, and then proceeded to Claire's to get her ears pierced. She was SO excited and SO nervous. She thought she might chicken out in the end, but pulled through! She looks so much older to me now!

 

On Friday, her real birthday, we celebrated with presents, breakfast of her choice, and then had her cake the next day at the Lakehouse (more to come there).

 

Then that night I took her and her best friend, Olivia (our next door neighbor) to eat at the Purple Cow, and then ice skating (all her choice). We decided on this rather than a big bday party, and those 2 had an absolute ball! I must say I quite enjoyed myself just being alone with and watching those two.

 

 

And next week she'll be getting baptized; where has the time gone? I sure love this precious, bright, helpful, sweet daughter of mine. I've loved having her home this summer and will really miss her once school starts again! Happy birthday, Brighton!

(6 weeks old)

 

We always called it a weapon...

Sweet, cute, adorable Carter...well, he's got a big head. There's no two ways around it. And I swear his skull is twice as thick as normal skulls. So today he was playing and being overly crazy, as usual, and fell into one of the outlet covers. I heard a loud crack and wondered what happened. Well, his head cracked and broke it! He cried for about 2 seconds, but quit as soon as he found out he was bleeding. He immediately get excited and yelled to his sisters "Girls, I made REAL blood; come and see!"

 

 

Happy 4th!

We had a great 4th weekend out at my parents. Other than the usual fireworks and swimming, we also had a Family Reunion with Granddad's family. Many came in from Canada, so the Texas heat was quite a shock! But sailing and swimming help that! It sure made me miss Meme and Granddad, though. And although Carter got a little burn, he was laughing HYSTERICALLY at the big fireworks, so I guess they were a hit!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Carter!

Sweet "Cardie" turned 3 years old today - where did the years go? He has been excited all day about his "real birthday" being today. When I asked him a few weeks ago what he wanted for his birthday, he said, "I just want balls, even though I already have too many." It has seemed like he's been 3 for a while, though, as he's amazingly smart for his age and is the biggest talker I've ever met! He loves anything to do with sports, but you might catch him carrying a purse from time to time as well (gotta love having older sisters)! We love you, Carter!

Just born

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

California Trip

For Chris's CME trip this year we decided on Huntington Beach, and could not have been more pleased with our decision. We stayed at the Hyatt right across from the beach (WONDERFUL hotel) for 4 days and had a great time. The weather was PERFECT and I actually needed a jacket part of the time. We brought Gavin with us as he's still "attached" to me, but the older three stayed with my Mom. We played in and walked along the beach, visited Brandon and Mandy and their kids, went up to the mountains, shopped, ate out, and just enjoyed some "peace and quiet". Thanks, Mom and Lauren, SOOO much for watching our kids so that we could get away - I had forgotten how LOUD and wild they can be, but was quickly reminded today! We will definitely be going back to this place again!

 

Gavin was content just to crawl on the beach and collect trash,

 

eat the sand,

 

and just be totally darn cute!

 

Mountains behind Brandon and Mandy's house

 

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime When All the World is HOT?

You buy a $7 kiddie pool and put it at the bottom of the slide, and watch the kids laugh and totally get along for over an hour! Sometimes it's just too hard to make it to the big pool with all 4, so this is called improvising. Ahhh, the joys of summer!

 

 

 

 

Don't ask me what the little one's are doing in the picture.