Rained Out Cook Out

Over the weekend we tried to have a cookout with a friend from Arron's work and his kids. It was a beautiful sunny day right up until about an hour or two before they were supposed to come over. The kids were going to play outside on the waterslide and the bouncy house before the cookout, but then all of a sudden it got really dark and started thundering and lightning and pouring down rain, so there went all our plans. They still came over, but Arron had to grill our food out in the garage, and the kids had to play inside. We all still had a good time, but just didn't get to do anything like we planned it unfortunately.

Shopping for the cookout. The girls loved riding in this cart. I wish Walmart had these. Might make shopping with 3 kids a little easier.

The kids at the kiddie table eating dessert with Arron and Kenny in the background.

Noah, Chase, Anna, and Mason.

Playing out in the playroom.

They all had a great time together.

Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day we had a nice relaxing day at home. I made homemade lasagna for dinner and got Arron his favorite ice cream for dessert, chocolate with almonds. After dinner the kids gave Daddy his presents, a new game and some chocolate covered almonds, another favorite of his. They all helped him open his gifts, and Noah was especially proud of the card he picked out for Daddy. It was an Indiana Jones card, and it even played the theme song from the movie when you open the card.

Helping Daddy with his gifts.

Look how excited Noah is about the card he got for Daddy.

There always seems to be an animal in the group photo I take on Father's Day. One year it was our cat, Tigger, and this year it's our dog, Bailey.

Sunday's Song

This is my all time favorite song. I love it. It makes me sad everytime I listen to it, but I still love it. It's been my ringtone on my phone for some time now. I don't think I'll ever change it. It's also a perfect song to share for Father's Day, Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman.

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I also really like this new song by Sanctus Real called Lead Me. Seems like another good song appropriate for Father's Day.

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VBS again-Galactic Blast

Noah completed his second week of VBS at another church. He had another great time, and the VBS theme this time was Galactic Blast. At the end of the week they showed a slideshow of all that the kids had done that week, and then they had a marshmallow roast outside and some fireworks. It was a lot of fun. Noah loved roasting marshmallows and eating them, but Anna was a little cautious of the whole thing. She didn't like the idea of getting that close to a fire or having her marshmallow lit on fire either. She prefers them straight out of the bag as is.

Playing a game.

Getting ready to do some singing.

I don't know what they were doing here, but that's Noah in the bright green shirt laying on the ground.

Anna did not want to get close enough to roast her marshmallow.

Showing off her marshmallow which she didn't eat.

Noah roasting his marshmallow.

And eating it with a little girl who was in his VBS class.

Roasting another marshmallow.

And roasting some more with the big kids.

Weekend Getaway

Well we were supposed to be going on our vacation for a week, but unfortunately that got cancelled at the last minute because of some things that went on at Arron's work just a couple days before we were supposed to leave for our trip. We were all very disappointed. I won't get into the details about it on here, but hopefully we will be able to take our trip later on this summer. Since we couldn't go on our trip we decided to just get away for the weekend at least and visit our friends, Steve and Julie in NC. We had a great time and did nothing at all while we were there. It was a very relaxing weekend. We never left the house. We just ate, played cards with them, played with the kids outside, and went to the pool. Just what we wanted to do for the weekend.

(Sorry for the poor quality pictures, they were all taken with my phone actually.)

Hannah and Noah playing with the kitchen set.

Noah and Hannah pushing Anna on the glider.

Hannah, Anna, and Noah on the seesaw.

Anna and Hannah on the seesaw.

Grace and Krystina on the slide.

Steve loaded down with pool toys.

(What it takes for us to all go to the pool, and the funny thing is that's only half the stuff.)

Anna on the far left, then Krystina, Julie, Hannah, and Noah on the far right.

Noah swimming.

Me, Grace, and Anna in the pool.

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Sunday's Song

This is one of my favorites right now, Something Beautiful by Need to Breathe. Sometimes I sing the chorus to Gracie when she's crying and it calms her right down. She likes it too.

VBS-Saddle Ridge Ranch

Noah kicked off the first week of his summer vacation at Vacation Bible School at a church right down the road from us. He's been going to their VBS since he was old enough to start going. He was so excited to go and couldn't wait for it to start. The theme was Saddle Ridge Ranch, and he had a blast making crafts, playing games, and singing songs. They always make the kids a cd of the songs they sing at VBS to take home, and Noah has had his on repeat on his cd player ever since he brought it home. I only got a couple pictures of him at VBS though because we missed the last night of it when the kids sing their songs for the parents. We went out of town for the weekend instead. Noah was sad for VBS to come to an end and asked why it only lasted 5 days, he wanted it to go on all summer. I told him we'd find out when some other local churches had their's, and he could go to those as well. He was happy about that, so next week he's goes to Grammy's church for another week of VBS.

Ready for his first night of VBS.

Getting ready to sing some songs.

Fun at the Arcade

I just thought I'd post a few pictures of the kids having some fun at the arcade in the mall. They always beg to go play there for a little while whenever we go to the mall.

Sunday's Song

Since this is late I'll just make it a short post. I kind of like this new song. I've been hearing it a lot lately, and I think it's by a new artist as well. I've never heard of her before, but I really like her song, For Love of You by Audrey Assad.

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Last day of school

Another school year is over. Noah finished 2nd grade and passed with flying colors. I can't believe he's on to 3rd grade already. It's just sailing by so quickly. I hope the summer doesn't go by that fast.

On his way to the last day of 2nd grade.

It was a half day so after Noah got home we went out to play on the waterslide.

Sliding down on his belly.

Anna splashing Noah.

Sliding down again.

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Memorial Day

On Memorial Day we spent the day enjoying the sunshine at the beach. To be honest I'm more of a pool girl myself. I know I live right here at the beach and have for pretty much my whole life, but I really don't like the beach that much. I like the clear water of a pool, and the fact that there's no sand it. I really can't stand all the sand. This time the sand was worse than usual because Gracie kept rubbing it all over me. We were all covered in sand and no matter what you do it seems like I'm cleaning sand out of everything for weeks afterwards...the car, the bathtub, shoes, bathing suits. The kids had fun though, and that's all that mattered. They loved playing in the sand, Noah loved playing in the bigger waves with Daddy, while the girls loved sitting along the shore where the little waves could wash over their legs.

Daddy, Anna, and Noah in the water.

Grace lounging while she eats some goldfish.

Anna building her sand castles.

Noah building castles too.

Anna and Noah playing in the sand together.

After we left the beach, we went home, got cleaned up, and then headed for a bbq at Arron's boss's house. They have a pool in their backyard too, so Anna and Noah were dying to get in it with the other kids. Noah had to borrow a bathing suit from Cade, and Anna just took her shorts off and got in in her t-shirt. I did have a pair of lil swimmer pants for her at least. It was a very busy day, so they all slept good when we got home.

Anna, Cade, and Noah in the pool. The boys liked staring at the lights that changed colors in the pool.

Noah and Anna playing in the pool.