Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Oh my. A little taste of the future??? If only I could keep them in the Cozy Coupe forever.

Kaiya had a blast playing with Aunt Greta at the beach this weekend...

And Mark and Ava spent lots of time filling up a hole in the sand with water. Oh to be 2!

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

makes me smile, too....

A Vacation from my PROBLEMS!

We didn't go on vacation last week. Our friends vacationed with us. But it felt like vacation. A vacation from our problems...or at least having to do the dishes alone. Six kids requires lots of babysteps. Baby steps to bedtime, baby steps through dinner at a restaurant, but oh so much fun.

A big moment for Ava: her first pedicure. That's right, welcome to the world my love. And thanks Katie for that lovely shade of lavender that we will forever remember on her cute little toes.

We had fun just breakfasting on the veranda, (Thomas and Anna), kayaking (definitely not me), and taking baths together, (I'll just leave that one alone.)

Sleeping Bear Dunes. All I can say is that climbing up is just plain miserable. No way around it. As Jeremy said: "that's not a dune, that's a sand MOUNTAIN." And when you are as interested in cardio fitness as I am, makes for a long morning!

We're on a boat.

This collage encompasses a lot of the fun. I think the Family Feud circa 1980 was one of my favorite highlights. My favorite question: "Name the make and model of a car that would have a phone in it". Can you guess the answers??

We also did some serious damage at McDonald's. (note afformentioned cardio health) I love the picture of all six kids moderately contained. With the exception of Ava who is, like she almost ALWAYS is, jumping. (Her cardio endurance should be good to go!) And I spent most of the time doubled over in laughter like that. Funny crowd. Fun crowd. Ache that they left but so thankful for the awesome time we had! Love you guys!

The Newest Mr. and Mrs.

Look at that cute happy couple!

We had an absolute blast celebrating the most recent "J" wedding together with our friends. (We seriously lucked out in the friend department!)

Let me tell you, for a bunch of kids from a Christian Liberal Arts school, and not a drop of alcohol to influence our dancing, I am pretty sure we could not have HAD more fun. Which I think just says what great people we are, and what a great DJs will do for a party. (ok, I'm married to the 1/2 of the djs, but really, they were extra good. :))

Not just the dj, but the life of the party. Oh how I love my husband.
All the J wives, including our newest member! We love you Betsy!
An extra treat was getting to see and talk a few minutes to my blog friend Carrie! (I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made, on the right)
My in laws were there, too, and so I got to take part in the father/daughter dance. :)

If you like it then you better put a ring on it. :)
Afterwards we went out and there were some sweet speeches talking about how much we love each other. So thankful I married into such a great group of people!

Bye, Bye, my Baby, Bye Bye

8-9 months is very sad for me. I feel like that's when the baby stage is really culminating. I love babies. But-I'm thankful she is healthy, and growing, and moving...(ALL over the place!) She spent about 20 minutes propped up on the oven trying to figure out how to get down. :)

Love how she palms her bottles now, too. We are definitely expanding the menu. Today she had hummus, and has enjoyed avocado, ravioli, chicken noodle soup, egg yolks, and mac and cheese.

And, because I think she deserves it, the flute lady in her full, uncropped glory.

July 4th on July 8th

I have had the joy of keeping my four nephews for since last Monday minus the weekend. I'm behind on blogging, but I kept six kids alive. So that's something.

We got some really great pictures of the girls in their 4th of July dresses. (note sarcasm)

All of us, especially Kaiya, were enthralled by the parade. (Love that family picture after??)

Two of the reasons we were enthralled that I felt had to be posted:
1)The man on the tractor with the lady playing the flute behind him. I just realized the collage cut the lady off. Oh dear.
2)The Kazoo band. No, everyone has a KAZOO, and kazoos patriotic songs. I don't know what the real word is, but kazoos seemed right.

Fun in the sun. Bottom left picture: yes, those are definitely strangers chucking beer at us with a water balloon slingshot. You just never know what you're going to find in the Northern Caribbean. (Seriously, that water? Amazing.)

Genetics

Ava: Mama, look the baby has on a pretty skirt!

Clearly she has inherited my great love of sports.