Daddy's back!

It was a long 10 days, but we made it!  You may remember that Andy has been in Austin, TX working with USA Football for the past week and a half.  Friday, we went and picked Andy up from the airport.  Talk about timing-his flight was actually on time and all we had to do was provide curb-side pick up.  The kids were excited to have Daddy back, to say the least.  And, Andy was happy to be back with us.

Andy brought some gifts for the boys, and some swag from USA Football. 

Yes, this is a shirt from Texas.

So, the other cool thing we got that day was a hiking backpack.  Found it for sale on a facebook group that I'm a part of.  It's a great backpack and the price was fantastic.  And, we got it in time to use when we go to the Dunes next week.

Ewan was excited about the backpack, too.  He wanted to cart Kella around in it, but he settled for his super-monkey.

Trial hike with Liam

Kella got her turn.

Andy has been wanting one of these for a while, so I was excited that we were able to get it.  Hopefully, we will get some great use out of it.

Banana splits for Ryan

On the 4th, we had a special treat for dinner-banana splits!  This was inspired by a story shared with me on facebook about a family with a toddler with a heart condition that is determined to make as many special family memories as they can and are wanting all families to do the same thing.  Maybe this touched a nerve with me, too, because I see kids with heart conditions on a fairly regular basis at work.  Here is a link to the story http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/20/12323599-one-moms-wish-for-her-dying-son-banana-splits-for-dinner  What a touching reminder to make the most of what you have.  How does that saying go-"One day you will look back and realize that the small things in life were actually the big things."  I know the boys had fun and were excited to have dessert for dinner.  I hope they remember this as a fun thing we did as a family.

who's surprised that Cale put everything on his banana split-not me

Ewan made his just like Cale's

Marcus was a little more selective in his toppings

time to enjoy-Liam joined later and just had some ice cream

I even made a little split for the girlie-chocolate, banana and whipped cream

so as not to be outdone....and it was delicious!

views of the 4th

link to new pics of Liam and Kella

Monday, I had the "pleasure" of taking all the kids to the portrait studio to get Kella and (hopefully) Liam's pictures taken.  It went pretty well.  I got to apoligize to the lady taking the pictures for the tantrum that Liam threw last week when Andy took him to get pictures taken.  (clearly that did not go as planned)  She was able to get one picture of Liam and then he was done.  No worries, Kella needed her 1 year photo taken and she was happy to smile for the camera.  Mission accoplished and the link to the pictures is below. (I know Liam is not really smiling for his picture-he is say "cheese".  It may not be his best picture, but I will treasure it because I know he was cooperating and his beloved blankie is in the picture, too.  Sweet memories.)
http://www.myonlineportraits.com/ViewSharedAlbum.aspx?ShareID=d445a0ee-200b-43cc-94d0-5fd26802a1ad

love to cook, love to eat!

I am one of the millions of people on Pinterest.  It's a nice way to waste my spare time at work and I get to find lots of new recipes that I hope to get a chance to try.  A few days ago I made this one for us.  It turned out great and was easy to do.  Basically, you take buttermilk biscuits in the can, a block of mozzerella cheese, pepperoni slices and create this awesome little balls.  Brush the top with a beaten egg, some italian seasoning and garlic powder, and your done.  Too find out how long to cook them, you will have to click on the link below.  Trust me, you will want to.  They are delicious!

http://richestoragsbydori.blogspot.com/2012/03/mini-post-pepperoni-pizza-rolls.html

the one thing we did this weekend

Our town has a nice, 3 day festival every year around the fourth of July.  We usually try to go and see the vendors and the pioneer camp.  And, the fireworks are easily seen from our house. 

This year, the weather was hot, mixed with daily severe weather.  The fireworks were cancelled due to the dry conditions.  And, Ewan wasn't feeling well (turns out, he had an ear infection-found out Monday).

So, the only thing we made it to was one of the last things-a free family festival at a local church.  I was drawn in by the word "free" and the promise of a bounce house.

We were not disappointed.

Liam played in this bounce house that even had a ladder to slide down.  He kept coming back again and again.  I finally pulled him away when I heard the monitor tell him "one more time".  It was time to do something else, after all.

Ewan jumped here, too.

Kella did not enjoy being restrained in her stroller.

Cale, Marcus and Ewan all had fun on the obstacle course.

Marcus and his friend did the bungee run thing. (you can see his head popping up in the background)

They also had games to play for trinkets.  All the boys liked those.  They also had free drinks and hot dogs.  So nice!  I'm glad we had the chance to go.  It got the boys out of the house and gave them a chance to run off some energy.  They must have saved some, though, because after we got back home, they ran around some more and played in the little pool. 

June is over (sad face)

Holy smokes! June seems to have flown by. I know the days themselves sometimes moved slowly, but overall, the time went too fast.

We are trucking along on our summer bucket list. We have done a lot of reading for the reading program. I would like to be finished with it a week early so the boys can get all their prizes before we go to Michigan. The bible verses are coming along-they are up to "S", and I plan to add "T" tonight. We got to go to St. Louis and see some sites and visit my sister and her family. Marcus got to go to church camp and Cale spent some time in Decatur by himself. We also got to meet baby Everett and see my cousin get married. The boys have become seasoned car riders in the last month.

Coming up for July:
Marcus's 9th birthday!
Boyscout camp for Marcus and Andy
The Cousins' reunion north of Chicago
Michigan vacation
A trip to the Indiana dunes
Finish the reading program
Karate
Relaxing
Vacation bible school

Makes me tired and happy thinking about all we have planned!

Happy first of July!