PARTY-ING IT UP IN KANSAS!
With 3 birthday parties, a trip to Crown Center, a trip to the doctor, First Steps, the POOL, and play groups we have been pretty busy.
Over the last 2 weeks I have also learned the reality of actually being a mom. It's very hard. Maybe it is hard because I am young (although mid-20's is halfway to 30), the lack of sleep doesn't help...but these past two weeks I have found it hard because I am not a "cool fun hip" mom. I do not know the words to Justin Beiber songs, I think that light up sketcher twinkle toe shoes are to ugly to cost $49, and I had no idea that the child (whom I gave birth too)would be so embarrassed when I ran up to him and gave him a kiss for going off the diving board.

Enough about that and onto our week!!Somehow at Makiya's party modesty went right out the window. The heat set in with the humidity so fast...I felt bad for my poor heat stricken children! But I couldn't help but take this picture!

We started last week off by going to Crown Center for the Clifford exhibit!
3 wonderful things a mom would love about it:
1. It's free
2. Water
3. The candy store next door was closed due to flooding!!!

Tate had to fight for his turn on this toy! A big kid kept trying to take it from him! Tate held is ground though!!

Ainsley headed straight to the dress up clothes!

Aubrey loved reorganizing the flowers and playing in the drawing center!

Note: This is not the intended use for this display. But after Caleb did it, a line of toddlers started to form behind him! What a leader...now if only we can channel his leadership into something more parent friendly!!!

After playing at the Exhibit, we headed across the street to the water shoots!!!It was the perfect day!! We were so lucky to have the Nash family, Ogle family, and AubreyAnna there to play with!

Of course, Ainsley spent most of her time eating per usual! That would explain her 5 pound weight gain in just 2 months! Chunky 27 pounder!!!

AUBREY TURNS 6!!
For her 6th birthday she wanted a pool party! So we invited everyone to come and play! Making it more like a big playgroup was the perfect idea!!
Our "Royal Splash Party" almost became an indoor party... we were lucky!

23 kids, 11 mom's, Andy, plus us at the neighborhood pool!!! 10 pizza's, skittles, juice boxes, watermelon, cheese crackers, and a melted cupcake princess cake rounded out the party nicely! We loved having all of our friends there! There was never a dull moment!! OR QUIET!!!

Ainsley had fun too!! Although that night she ended up falling and getting really hurt...ending in a trip to the doctor the next morning. Always fun!

On Friday Paul and Marlene came up for Aubrey's birthday! Marlene made her favorite Strawberry cake!

After spending the day at the water park it was time for the CINDERELLA MUSICAL @ Theater in the Park! Marlene treated us and we met up with the Nash family! The weather was perfect!

I think his facial expression says it all...Ooooooo!

While waiting for the musical to start we walked over to the stands and Aubrey got a free "birthday popcorn!" The kids also got free bubbles, treasure chest toys, candy necklaces, and a glow bracelet that Caleb ended up leaking all over his clothes! We had a lot of fun and the kids were asleep before we got home!!

Saturday Morning we woke up early and headed to Sean's Birthday Party at Monkey Business!! Ainsley was in heaven!! All the jumping and falling...right down her ally! After Sean's party we started the 2nd and 3rd floor transformation....all the kids rooms moved around and switched. Aubrey got Caleb's old room, Ainsley got Tate's old room, Caleb got the girls old room, and Tate gets the 5th(ish) bedroom!Ainsley loves her new room! She loves being by herself with all things Elmo! She slept in until 8am and woke up happy and cheerful!! She couldn't wait to tell Carson all about her room during Nursery!5 days later... the finished product. All painted, all cleaned, all moved in, all decorated, and all organized. One of the main reason for the room switch was the TENT that her friends gave her for her birthday. Not to mention the year supply of paper, markers, and other coloring utensils!Yes, that really is light purple on the wall (Andy thought it was white for at least 16 hours but I proved him wrong). I cant believe Aubrey is 6. She loves to swim, color, draw, paint, play dress up, and put together puzzles! She is looking forward to Kindergarten and meeting new friends!!
Happy Birthday Aubrey Jean!
This ends our July but not without excitement from TATE!
He has started officially walking! He took 8 steps during Sunday School and has been walking little by little all week. He loves to give kisses and he loves to point and wave! We love our Tater...he's almost 1!!!

HEAT IT UP!

Since the 4th of July we have been very busy with things that are extremely important like going to the pool, playing at the pool, and swimming at the pool. Going to bed late and sleeping in until 7:00am is the norm, and hanging out with friends is a daily "of course!" Pool by morning and Pool by night, new adventures like big slides, deep end, and The Diving Board. Cousin sleep overs, friend sleep overs, and a fixed dishwasher....woot woot!
A birthday party, a new tooth, a sweet tan line, and sugar snap peas along with Israel snack food. "I love yous", first steps, and "oh for goodness sakes!" Bracelets with shapes, diving sticks, and melted fruit roll ups. All of these things describe the month of July! We love July!!On Monday night our cousins arrived in time for a bbq, playing with the neighbors, and bed!! Tuesday morning came and the 3 older cousins stayed while the younger one headed home to Kentucky with Uncle Dave and Aunt Clair!!! Then the fun began. With 7 kids pool toys fly, sunscreen runs out, and chicken nuggets dissolve right before my eyes!! With 7 kids the laughter is louder, the playing is rowdier, and the sleepovers are a blast!!!! With 7 kids $.75 for an ice cream cone adds up but watching all 7 kids with ice cream on their faces is hilarious!! With the weather hot HOT we hopped form pool to pool!!! By night time....no mount of excitement could stop the inevitable...crash

not even the excitement of "Uncle" Andy buying The Lightning Thief could stop them!20 minutes into the movie...everyone was asleep!The only problem with everyone falling asleep downstairs is waking them up and taking the too bed!!! 6 times up and down the stairs....that's a lot of stairs and a lot of carrying!! Tate is just awesome!!! He took his first 3 steps and cut a new tooth in the back!!! He waves and points. He plays catch and hide n' seek. He is a climber and an eater!!! He is now wearing 18 month clothes!!Thursday and Friday with 7 kids in toe we went to the pool in the evening but in the morning 3 additional friends joined us for playing!!! Ainsley loves having Yonny over to play!! She is quit the entertainer...twirling, singing Elmo's World, and jumping!!Aubrey kepts to herself playing with play-doh!No amount of heat or humidity stopped the younger kids from playing outside! They played "Greek Gods" and battled.
(Faith, Liam, Micha'el, Paul, and Caleb)It was a fun week!!! Lots of new excitement too!
Caleb opens his eyes under water and jumped off the diving board without a life jacket and swam to the ladder all by himself!!!!
Aubrey did too!!!
Ainsley only managed to obtain small bruises this week...she is crazy and always falling or bumping into things!!!
We love July and we loved spending time with our cousins!!!!

News:
Happy Birthday Mom and Aunt Bonnie!!!!

Summer Summer Summer
June June June

All dressed up and ready for church. Record time I must add...Everything prepared the day before, nails painted, hair done, and teeth brushed!

I squeezed Tate into sandals (his feet cant fit into normal shoes they are to wide from top to bottom) and he cant fit into his church pants any more so shorts it was!

Caleb's hair is growing perfectly and turning white from all of the sun!

After church during nap time...of course Caleb doesn't nap.Monday at swim lessons. Ainsley and her best friend Makiya!

On Monday after swimming lessons a bunch of extra friends joined us for a full day at Splash Cove! It was perfectly hot, the water was full of kids, and we packed extra food!

Ainsley and Carson were together constantly. Holding hands, going deaper and deeper in the water, and sun bathing together!

Ainsley loves bandaids. She always wants one and says she hurts in the weirdest spots!

July 1st

Pretty Ainlsey! All dressed up and ready for her friends 3rd Birthday Party at Diana Rose Farmstead! I wanted to make it extra special for her so I dropped the 2 older kids off at The Alons house and Ainsley got more and more excited the closer we got!

Once we got to the Farm I held Tate and Ainsley waiting in line with her friends to ride the pony!

You were suppose to be 3 but Ainsley was brave enough to hop right now! She loved and was so excited!

She has a blast waiting and watching with her friends. Looking at all the animals and playing.

She loved the goats. Feeding them, chasing them, and pulling their tails! Sandwiches, Slides, Cupcakes, a pinata, and most importantly the present she picked out just for Lucy!

July 2nd...what do you do when it's perfect outside?
Clean out to van and lounge around until our friends arrived to swim!

The neighborhood was quiet with almost everyone out of town...so we could be a silly and loud as we wanted! 5 families met us and we headed to the neighborhood pool for a long swim and a yummy lunch! Then after everyone left for the pool our day turned terrifying.

Ainsley had a bad fall. A really BAD fall. Blood everywhere and coming quickly. I am so thankful I was able to get a hold of my neighbor who rushed right over. Once the bleeding stopped and she was all cleaned up I was relieved to find no broken bones and all of her teeth still in. An hour later she was running around asking for her favorite friend Reagan!

With Aubrey and Caleb gone to see Toy Story 3 (again) with their friend Sean, Ainsley's friend Reagan came over to play with her and cheer her up! They played for over an hour and then Ainsley went over to their house to see their Vacation RV!!!

July 3rd!!! Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Judy came up and then ......
THE DICKSONS arrived from Kentucky!!!!!
Yummy food, the swing set, and air hockey tables helped the kids get re-acquainted!!!

Then off to the neighborhood pool! Caleb wanted a life jacket because Faith had a life jacket. Ainsley sat on a chair next to Aunt Judy and ate candy, and swimming swimming and swimming took place!!

Livvy, Aubrey, Seth, Paul, Faith, and Caleb!

Inseparable Caleb and Faith!

Finally after fireworks, Grandma and Uncle Dave's Birthday celebration, and playing it was time to go to bed! All together! Of course, this is not how it ended up....Paul and Olivia ended up in the top bunk, Ainsley and Aubrey ended up in my bed and Caleb ended up in Ainsley blanket by the door!

Faith and Caleb...as always!

Also this past week we took the kids at night to see ToyStory3 (so cute). A friend watched Tate while we took the 3 older kids...they loved it!
Aubrey and Caleb finished and passed swim lessons! They even get to skip the next level for the one ahead!!!!! Way to go!!! The house is clean, the van is clean, and we are heading into July head first!!! Tate also acquired a next giant tooth and is constantly saying Uh-Oh and gives kisses!