We don't need no stinkin' truck

We have had our eye on a picnic table at Lowes for a while now.  with Cameron working nights we had some time during the day to do things and we decided we really did want that picnic table but the problem is we don't have a track. So we figured out our own solution to that problem. . .

Pure silliness!

I love these crazy kids! Last night as the kids were getting ready for bed, I could hear uncontrollable laughter coming out of Katelyn's room. I go in there to see what is going on. Lilly and Peter are beside themselves with glee because they have their pants on their head and their shirt around their waist. Katelyn squealed, that's just like we did when we were kids! And so she and Grant had to join the fun.

Exploring our backyard

We've been in Kingsport for 4 months now and it was just last weekend that we decided it was time to explore our backyard.  I think having a friend tell us about all the snakes in the area may have been part of the delay. . . It was so fun just hanging out and exploring back there. The kids found the longest sick ever, which of course had to be documented. . . I loved watching the play and hav ed fun together.  

Putting with the pros

Today we decided to try our hand at putt putt golf. It was . . . Interesting. . . But we had fun . . . Most of us.

baking with the pros

These two love to be right where the action is when it comes to cooking... and most everything else...  As soon as they notice me getting ready to make something they both run to the kitchen table, grab a chair push it across the room and are ready to help. Thankfully they are good at taking turns, I think you have to learn that lesson pretty early as a twin.  

Lilly especially loves to help, it doesn't matter what I'm making she wants to be right there, adding, stirring and mixing and she has a few burn scars to prove it... poor girl!

I love these faces that Peter makes,  he is such a funny kid, If only we could understand what he tries to tell us.   He started taking speech this summer and it has helped but we still struggle.  Lilly on the other hand can talk a mile a minute.

all Done!  now if only we knew a couple of kids who liked to frost cookies...

I can't believe the kids start school tomorrow.  They are all growing up way too fast. Katelyn will be in 4th, Dallin 3rd and Grant 1st, I totally remember being in those grades... it's weird.  This summer has been so busy. Everyday we have had multiple things planned and we've loved it.

  (Picnic style movie night)
My house is a complete disaster, it's becoming the new normal, I just have not taken the time to clean we've been so busy and I would rather spend that time with my kids going to the children's museum or swimming or having a million friends over to play.  but now that the kids are going back to school I am ready to get my house in order.  I decided to put the twins in a mother's day out program at a local church, I know they will love it and it will give me a little more time to get our house ready to sell next spring.

 With the help of this cute little trouble maker.  I'm sure between the two of us we will accomplish a lot.

Chalk

Chalk never looked so good.  The kids had a great time decorating the driveway in some very cool chalk art. unfortunately I got so distracted by this cute little guy that I completely forgot to get a picture of all the cool artwork.  

by the time we went inside, he was completely covered in chalk. so, so cute

Love his sweet 3 toothed smile. he thinks he is so big and wants to do whatever everyone else is doing.  

 Grant made an awesome colorful sunshine,  he was so excited about it and wanted to show anyone who would listen.  it was pretty amazing!

Adventure Camp

Somehow the kids talked me into doing something we like to call adventure camp. Basically we invited all their friends about 30 kids, ages 3-10 to come spend 2 hours a day doing crafts and games revolving around a theme.  

The first day Katelyn was in charge and we did an ocean theme. We played Fish, Fish Shark. did ocean relay races, made a cute fish tank out of paper plates and decorated fish sugar cookies among other things. 

The next day Grant "took charge" and we did a jungle theme, we decorated snake wind socks,  had a zebra cake eating contest (yes I know zebras don't actually live in the jungle) and lots of other jungle-ish things.

The last day Dallin did a space theme, we make alien masks and did alien bowling.  We ate flying donut sauers on a string... without hands of course. painted flying saucer paper plates and a bunch of other things.
The kids LOVED it!  I on the other hand was completely exhausted and vowed never to do it again... until next year...

Ten Months

This little guy is growing way too fast. At 10 months he has finally learned to crawl and is as happy as can be to be able to get where he wants to go. It also mean he likes to spend his day following me around hoping I will pick him up. which of course I do because how can you say no to this cute little face.  He is still sightly terrified of Lilly (who is completely oblivious of this fear) She is still completely and totally in love with him and would like to be touching him at all times.  All of the kids love Charlie and cause quite the commotion as they fight to sit by him in church.  He loves feeding himself but also tolerates being spoon fed, none of our other kids had patience for that by this age.  He is super cheerful and smiles and laughs easily. We all love this little guy!

Kid Swap

 Last year my friend Randi organized this thing called "kid swap" the idea was simple, families would be organized into groups 4 families in each group, once a week all of the kids would go to one persons house and have different activities while the other moms would get a chance to run errands or sit alone in her quite house. It was a win-win.  The moms loved having a short break and the kids loved doing fun activities with each other. so we did it again this year.

 This year we were in a group with the swendsens and Willards.  We tried to have a ocean theme. We made paper plate Jellyfish and for snack we strung fruitloops onto pipe-cleaners and shaped them into fish. we aslo had some bead work going on as well as water activities

 we love to play people bowling with my big exercise ball and we added a fun twist by having everyone fill a cup with water and putting it on their heads, always a favorite.

 These little guys had the best time just hanging out in the pool.  no structure needed for these three.

 Charlie just loves being in the thick of things. as long as he is around people he is happy.

 the girls had the most fun making our paper plate jellyfish. they boys were content having a water fight... anyone who says boys and girls are the same should come hang out with us.
overall I think it was a successful kid swap.

Summer Fun

This summer has been a crazy whirlwind of activities and it's flying by!  we have spent the summer swimming with friends, rollerskating, watching movies, playing at friends houses and having friends over to play. Everyday we have lots of fun activities planned. It's been great, here are a few highlights.

 A mama Swallow decided to build her nest on our outside toybox... she may be regretting that decision but it's been so awesome watching these little baby chicks grow.

 we took a trip up to Dallas to do a temple swap with the Petersens. The night before, we stayed the night in a fancy hotel, watched the lego movie at the dollar theater and ate some delicious food.

we have also spent some time at the children's museum this summer. This "bubble room" is my kids favorite, they love making paths for the ducks to race down.

 We got to hang out with my parents in GA, we had a great time at the "fun factory" where the kids got to roller skate and play in the bounce houses and jungle gyms.  we were there for 4 hours and there were still complaints when it was time to go.

 We love play dough, it offers hours of entertainment... too bad it also offers hours of clean up...

Did I mention swimming?  our summer is not complete unless we make multiple trips to the pool.

 we also had a fun time in Georgia for a family reunion with Cameron's family.  It was awesome!  we love hanging out with our cousins.

did I mention having friends over?  I would have to say that's probably one of our favorite things to do.  whether it's to play in the water, to watch a movie or just to play everything is better with friends.  

Celebrating the 4th Georgia Style

 This year we were lucky enough to get the hang out with my parents for the 4th.  We kept it pretty low key, but the 4th of July isn't the 4th without a sparkler...

Or Two...

Or Three

 The kids (and Dads)  had so much fun, I mean who doesn't love playing with cool sparkly explosives?

 Charlie and Grandma watched from a distance, that is until the mosquitoes became ravenous and started attacking with reckless abandon, then they went inside and watched from a window.