Let's Just Say...

All the hard work was
TOTALLY
WORTH
IT!

Just wish I could spend it all shopping!
Argh...school tuition...

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me...

That a Yard Sale was
SO.
MUCH.
WORK.

In case you didn't know, let me tell you

A YARD SALE IS A LOT OF WORK.

Summer Daze

Not many pictures to be had. We have had a lot of fun but I have not been as ready with my camera as I should be.

We have done some of this

and this

and some really good this


I hosted Kristin and Ju for our annual Summer Shopping Trip
(yeah for an outlet and Ikea about 30 mins from my house!)
and we all hosted the Mitchell Family from Tennessee and few days last week.
Again, no pictures. Dumb.

This week the boys are at VBS and LOVING IT while Brooke is NOT LOVING the nursery at the gym by herself. Ugh.

And this Friday and Saturday belongs to my 1st ever Yard Sale, compliments of my childrens' enormous wardrobe, my in-laws moving and me letting go of ALL my baby gear.

Andy says "You won't even make $100."

Them's fightin' words.
I will let you know who wins.

One Of Those Days

It has been one of those days around here.

Majama Day in the morning for the kids, while Mommy did some cleaning.

Ran errands and had lunch at one of our favorite (nasty) spots - Cici's Pizza.

Play for the boys, nap for Brooke in the afternoon while Mommy did more cleaning.

The boys decided to "run laps" in the family room tonight. From the front door to the window, one straight shot, 50 times for Will, 60 times for Jack and then 70 times for Will. All the while Brooke running around like a chicken with her head cut off yelling numbers.

Then I find this...

My prayer is that they will always long for these days and always want to be this close.

Just another one one of those - unforgettable - days.

Top Guns

A few weeks ago Angela and I had the idea of our families going to the Dayton Air Show.
We thought perhaps Andy's Cousin, Jack - a National Air Guard Fighter Pilot based out of Wright-Pat in Dayton - might be able to get us all some tickets for this past weekend.

Did.He.Ever.

As luck would have it, one of the engines in one of the Blue Angels planes went kaput after they reached Dayton on Thursday. After another engine was flown up from Florida, Cousin Jack helped install the new engine so they could make show time Saturday afternoon.

We all quickly became "Blue Angels VIPs." Holla!

Parking up front (as in drive on the runway to get to our section!), air-conditioned tent, free food and drinks and front row seats to the shows.

That.Is.How.We.Roll.

On a sad note, this was the last show for cousin Jack, as his planes get removed from Wright-Pat in less than 2 weeks (we will go up for his final flight - should be AWESOME!). So we got to see his plane up close and see him decked out in his flight suit. The boys think he is really cool!


Showing the boys where the bullets come out!

Cousin Jack's plane - see his name!

Thanks, Cousin Jack, for an awesome day!

Seriously??!!

Did I just spend the morning buying this sweet boy

School Uniforms??!!
Ugh.
While he was trying them on, with his chest stuck out with pride, he said
"Mom, I am really excited about Kindergarten."

Me, too.
I guess.

Yet Another Reason...

Why I love this kid.
And that I can easily win yet another Mother of the Year Award.

We were riding along in the car the other day, listening to the radio (we have somewhat graduated from "Alvin and The Chipmunks") and from the back seat Will says

"Mom? Is this Ke$ha?"

Yes, he was right.
Yes, my children can differentiate from Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
Yes, my children request Kiss 107 Radio Station.
Yes, my children correctly stated "Michael Jackson!" when asked who was singing "Billy Jean" last night on the radio.
Yes, I make my children say "Oh My Gosh" not "God" in Usher's "OMG" song.

Yes, all my children and I love music.
Yes...I am Mother of the Year!

Some Things Never Grow Old

Like when your child falls asleep while eating a meal.

Simply precious!

God Bless America

We had an awesome July 4th Weekend with family and friends. The weekend brought the Soucie/Sorg Christmas Party, that we moved to July this year to accommodate everyone. Almost everyone was in attendance, so that made 29 people this year, from the oldies - Grandparents Sorg and Grandma Lynda- to the goodies - 11 children from 6 to 6 weeks.

We stayed at Shea Soucie's Lake Home in Waveland, Indiana, nestled between Turkey Run and Shades State Parks. My children experienced boat rides for the 1st time - with Brooke yelling "FASTER!" - and the boys went tubing and loved it.

We celebrated Brooke's birthday and Alexandra's 5th Birthday (Todd's daughter). These 2 are little princesses!

We canoed on Sugar Creek, with Jack, my Dad and I coming back 1st (beating Daddy and Will by a few yards!), and hiked in Shades State Park.

We had fabulous meals, awesome fireworks (both amateur and professional!) and had an all around wonderful weekend with our dearest family friends.

God Bless America...and our families and friends!

Summer Fun

Here are a few of the things that have occupied our summer days and nights...

Golf

Boys are going to the range and Daddy is playing some seriously good golf.

Bikes

Even this little gal loves Daddy's old motorcycle!

Swinging

Who doesn't like a little breeze from a swing, with some help from Aunt Ju!

REDS!

Whether it's Marty on the radio, Tom on TV or seeing it live, we are all REDS all the time!

What a summer to be a REDS fan!

Hope you are enjoying the summer, too!
Stay cool!

The Birthday Girl

Miss Brooke had a wonderful birthday!
We started the day off at our new favorite place - the pool at Grandparents Goshorn's new subdivision! They won't move til fall but they are allowing us to use the pool all summer.

Happy Girl

Then we had the Goshorns, Uncle Skip, Aunt Helen, Graham and Godmother Julie over for Brooke's favorite - "Pizza HUT!" Wish you could hear her say it - hilarious!

And the Birthday Girl requested brownies - girl after Mommy's heart!

I was so proud of my 2 year old daughter...every gift was opened with a "Oh my gosh!" and a polite "thank you!" to the gift giver. Bless her heart!

Favorite gifts?

Hello Kitty bike and helmet, including streamers and bell, courtesy of Grandparents Goshorn.

And $1 sunglasses from the Target Dollar Bin from her brothers. Gotta love that girl!
This weekend - more celebrating, as we see all the Sorgs and our family friends the Soucies. Sure to be more spoiling!
Many more Happy Birthdays, Baby Girl!