The Family Blog

Gosh, I think it's been a week and a half now since I've done more of a "daily" re-cap. We've had a full, fun, and busy summer so far. It makes me sad that there's less than a month to go. Easton starts kindergarten on August 18th.

As a bit of a prep, Easton did 3 days of Vacation Bible School at our church the week before last. I know I'd mentioned it on the blog already, but we had to find ways to keep ourselves busy without Mr. E around. We did okay...mostly shopping and running errands but the last day (Friday the 9th) we had bagels with my friend Tracy (whose two kids were at the same VBS) and then we headed home. Autumn got to have a real nap in her crib and Dalton and I played with Easton's Star Wars guys:




We're so sneaky!

We left them set up for Easton to see when he got home.

So we went to get him. I must also add that this was the exact day Easton turned 5 and a half. He wanted to show it on his fingers:

I think we saw one of Julie's kids posing like this once but I didn't realize it till I saw E do it too.

Easton showed off some of his VBS creations:


The theme was "God's Love is Soooooo Sweet" hence all the candy on the bag (and in it!) And the pixie stick center of this here butterfly:


And I thought this picture of bees and a hive was fabulous:


Just a random cute picture of Autumn that day:


The next day (Saturday the 10th) was soccer in the morning followed by our previously blogged about camping trip. But that day Easton scored his first two goals EVER!!! Jason missed the first because he was off taking team pictures with the 3 year olds. But he heard everyone cheering and E's name being yelled. He was there for the second one...a total breakaway where Eastie took it all the way down the field by himself. I cried. He's still not real aggressive or competitive but he's certainly more so than when he played two summers ago.

Here's E while we got ready for camping:

He can do it for SO long.

He's trying to be Luke Skywalker:

I need to Photoshop a little Yoda up there on E's foot too.

Sunday the 11th we were camping so we skip ahead to Monday the 12th.

It had been awhile since we'd written to our pen pal...so we pulled out markers and paper and went to work:






Easton drew a Pirates of the Carribbean scene for Isaiah. It's Jack Sparrow in a barrel in the middle there and pirates fighting with canons on either side:


He wrote a semi-explanation on the back:


Then he drew a Star Wars scene to keep for himself. He started with this Obi Wan:


He added a cute little Yoda, an Anakin and a Count Dooku but I did not take a picture. I should. It's up on the wall where I can see it right now. :)

Lets see...swimming lessons started again on Monday too (I think). Easton was breaking the rules (as usual) by not always holding onto the wall when his teacher is taking a turn with another student. After class his teacher told me, "Well, he's a pretty good swimmer so if you don't care it doesn't really bother me..." I still want Easton to follow the rules that everyone else has to follow. He pushes it still but not like he was doing that day.

Tuesday the 13th we hosted a playgroup here at the house for some of the 3 year olds we know that will be going into Dalton's preschool class so those kids (and moms) can get to know each other a bit more. I really think having people he already knew would've really helped Easton with the transition to separating from me for school. I think Dalton is going to do better anyway (famous last words) but even so, it'll be nice for him to stay familiar with his friends. It was Holton (and siblings) and Emery from across the street (and little brother) and a kid we don't really know but met at the end of school and played soccer against on Saturday Alex (and his big sister). Two of our friends couldn't make it but it was still a house full.

I had Autumn wearing her hair in low pigtails for the first time that afternoon and she was completely adorable:


"Hmmmm, I want this bow..."


My hand was in front of my pop-up flash by mistake when I took this one, but I kind of like the effect:



Look how big she's getting. Kneeling. Little toes peeking out.

And she's peeking through the crack in a door here, just looking older to me:


On Wednesday the 14th, Jason worked from home. Not that that matters much to us because he goes to the basement and works. But the kids and I had some fun that morning:






Autumn is always going for the karaoke machine. She opens the lid and takes out the CD and throws it on the floor. I think she might be a little diva.


The boys (and I) made a Lego city for their Hot Wheels:


Then E turned the Duplo box into a car for Autumn:


We had more swimming lessons Wednesday afternoon. Jason came along since it's not something he'll get to see very often. This time E's teacher commented on how brave Easton is (not always a good thing when near the water) and at one point looked over at us and said, "He's just crazy!...It's awesome!" :) He is crazy. The teacher was letting them jump in to him and swim. Well, Easton flipped in. He's a rascal.

Thursday the 15th was gymnastics in the morning. Then I made tortillas after lunch. On a whim. Yum! In the early afternoon we headed to a local (run-down) amusement park for Berkley's 1st birthday party. Berkley is the baby sister of Tabor and Holton, if you didn't remember. She and Autumn should be besties one day but when they were here the other day Berkley was "yelling" at Autumn for fiddling with the buttons on her dress. Tee hee!



Look at how adorable Dalton is as they take off on the roller coaster:


Such cute brothers:


E's gal pal Emily (who was at the party too) took a spin on the roller coaster with my boys:


Dalton tried to take a spin with Holton but Holton got scared and climbed out right after I took this:


E rode that one with Emily:


Our last ride before heading home for the night:


Friday morning I made more tortillas. With a different (better) recipe. And I made more!

Of course I had to take a picture.

After Autumn's morning nap we packed up to hit the pool with Gramoo and my sisters. While I was packing the car I came inside to see Autumn had finally figured out how to climb a stair:

Great.

I didn't even bring my camera to my mom's because I never take any at the pool. Too many kids to keep track of and don't want my nice camera to potentially get stolen. But my mom made a delish BLT lunch and I shared some of my tortillas and then we swam. It's been hot here.

I had to run to the grocery store on Friday night and at 8:30 it was still 96 degrees.

Saturday was supposed to be 103. We were glad soccer was early before it got too hot. Jess and Janna and Gramoo and Lauren all came to see the boys play. Then they came over to our house for homemade cinnamon rolls. Nummy!

In the afternoon because it was so hot, Jason and I set up the part of the whale pool we still have (the slide had too big of a hole).
(See how Autumn's getting braver and sometimes stands by herself for a bit?)

The boys also turned the hose on each other. Well, mostly Easton turned it on Dalton because that's how big brothers are:


I took Miss Miss outside for some pictures. How cute is her little top?


And she ate some grass:




And talked:

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sunday was church. Jason was playing in the worship band again so he has to take off early and the little ones and I were on our own. The kids all had baths after breakfast and were looking cute:


I just love that little 'do rag:




Pretty girl.

You can see Dalton have a big ol' mad behind her there.

I'm not sure what got into him but it was very out of character. Easton was all too happy to pose:








And even though he was in a horrible crying mood, Dalton insisted on posing for pictures as well. And these pictures absolutely crack me up:




Ha ha ha ha!

Finally I got him to come around:



What a goon he was being.

Church was good. I like seeing J up there with his guitar. After church Jason had a bunch of yard work to do and then we went to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.

Yesterday (Monday) morning Autumn showed off some more stair climbing:




And while she took a nap and the boys played in their room, I whipped up a pair of knit shorts from Autumn from an old halter top of mine. I don't have the best picture of them yet...but you can see them peeking out under her adorable top here.

In fact, I made them just to match that top. I bought that cute top on clearance at Old Navy last fall and didn't know what she'd wear it with. So I made something! :)

Yay me. Tee hee.

Okay, now that catches you up on the last week and a half, I guess. I've got a few more specific posts I'm still needing to write but I'm all blogged out for today. Possibly even for the next few days...you know how I've been.

Anyway...

Till whenever that is!