The Last Birthday of June

Yesterday was Alivia's 6th birthday, the last birthday in June! Even though we already had the "big party" we still wanted to do something fun to celebrate her birthday. So, we decided it would be fun to play at the park for awhile and then go to lunch. We invited Haley, Ariana, and Adalyn to go with us. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a blast. I tried getting pictures of them playing, but it was kind of hard snapping moving objects!! So, Ariana was my subject for the day...which is really strange in itself because she's usually the one who's hard to get pictures of! After the park we went to the mall to have lunch. Meal of choice: HAPPY MEALS of course! Then after lunch we headed home. We just spent the rest of the day relaxing and playing. It was a nice day all together. I still can't believe that Alivia is six years old...she's not a baby anymore...or even a toddler. She's SIX. I have to keep saying it so it will hopefully, eventually sink in. I know its so cliche to say, but time just goes by way to fast. I sure hope the next 6 don't go by as fast as the last 6! But, even though it's hard sometimes, I have to admit that each stage each of my children go through is a fun learning experience. I don't think I would chose for them to stay one age forever, even if I could. Its really neat to see them growing and learning new things everyday. Actually, its a blessing!

A Birthday Party Success

Friday night we had the family over to help us celebrate Sammy and Alivia's birthdays. The party was a great success and I think everyone had a fantastic time despite the hot and humid weather! We had the usual summer BBQ feast...hot dogs on the grill, potato salad, watermelon, and chips. And of course we had cake and ice cream too. My dad brought over a huge blow up slide for the kids to play on (and in my hostess craze, I completely forgot to take any pics of the kids playing on it!!) Mike made Sammy an 8 ft x 8 ft sandbox for his birthday gift, so of course the kids also got to play on that too...and no...I did not make a typo...it is 8x8!!! (In the picture below they had just brought the sandbox over to our house so the sand still needed to be leveled)We also had a pinata for the kids. I was so careful with it before the party because I was afraid I would put a hole in it, but come to find out it was made of cardboard and the kids barely made a dent in it...we just ended up ripping it open and dumping the candy out. They still thought it was fun to take their turn whacking the big fishy pinata though. After dinner, we sang "Happy Birtdhay" and passed out the cake (cupcakes actually) and the ice cream and let the kids open their gifts. The first card Sammy opened was a tri-fold card, and when he opened it he turned it to the part that is blank and said, "Ugh...no words!!!" He was baffled and we all laughed hysterically!They both recieved some very nice gifts from our very generous family. Sammy of course is into anything to do with cars and Alivia, being the diva she is, loves anything pretty! I think they were both very happy with their presents.The party wrapped up around 8 or so and just in time too. Shortly after all the guests were gone, the rain came...and it came hard! Of course our parents were all still here, so they had to make a mad dash out to their cars. I'm so thankful the rain held off for us though. The kids had such a great time playing outside and the rest of us relaxed out on the back porch...away from the mosquitoes! Of course, I made sure to have plenty of mosquito spray on hand for those who were outside. It really was a great party and I'm so happy that everyone was able to make it. Andy's cousin, Amy and her kids were here too all the way from Louisianna. We enjoy everyone's company so much. So, we just want to say thank you again for everything. We love you all.

Touch A Truck DayToday we took the kids to Touch A Truck Day at the Midland Library. Haley, her girls, Grandma Cameron, and Andy's cousin, Amy and her kids also went. They had all the different trucks there that are used to keep the city running. The kids were allowed to climb on them, sit in the driver's seats, honk the horns, etc. They were also all given a "fireman" hat, or a "hard" hat. The first truck the kids checked out was the firetruck. They climbed way up to the driver seat and grabbed ahold of the big ol' steering wheel. The next thing we HAD to go to was the tractor...just like grandpa drives.

Sammy didn't want to get out of it! And the last one we looked at was a big snow blower. I think it could clear out our driveway with one pass! It was HUGE! Sammy didn't want to get out of that one either...LOL! We didn't stay long after that because it was very, very hot, and there wasn't really any shade for the little ones. Grandma Cameron offered to treat us all to lunch. She thought it would be fun to go to Logan's Roadhouse. I wasn't to sure about that being there were only 4 adults and 8 children, but to my surprise they ALL were very well behaved. Grandma kept saying she was so proud of her grandkids. I think she said it like 4 or 5 times.
After that I had to get groceries. It was a good thing I brought my cooler along. It was soooo hot. I think my eggs might have fried right in their crate if i hadn't put them in the cooler! Of course, we all got a Slurpee on the way out to cool us down. That's our summer treat after grocery shopping.
The rest of the day I spent cleaning and preparing the house for the big birthday party we are having tomorrow for Sammy and Alivia. Alivia will be 6 on Monday June 30th. I still have some stuff that I need to finish tomorrow, including decorating and baking cupcakes. So, I'm off to bed now...gotta get my rest...it's gonna be a loooong day!

A Very Productive Day!
Wow! I have had a busy day today. My first project today was to get the back porch cleaned off and usable. I have been putting it off all spring, but I FINALLY decided today was the day. During the winter it becomes a storage place since we don't use it and it gets really dusty. For those of you who don't know, our back porch runs the entire lenght of our house and is completely screened in. It's a wonderful addition to our home during the summer. I have just been dreading cleaning it, but to my sup rise it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. I even got the kids to pitch in and help wash the toys off. We actually had it done in time to have our lunch out there. One whole end of it is a play area for the kids and they have been playing non-stop! They love playing on the porch and I feel terrible for not having it done sooner. But, its done now and we can enjoy it the rest of the summer. My second project was to get a sketch challenge layout done for a scrapbooking group I'm in over at Cafemom. (For any of the moms out there, you should really check it out...it's a great place to hang out with other moms who are going through the same ups and downs as you are!)Anywhoooo...since the kids have been so good today playing on the porch, I actually had some spare time to get this done! I am so excited and very pleased with the results. The group will be voting on everyone's layouts in a few days and the winner gets a prize! I'm crossing my fingers...I think that would be really neat.I have also been working on laundry today, and of course the usual daily cleaning. It's about time to make dinner now. I feel very accomplished today. I love days like this! I'm thinking about having a yard sale soon, so I will have some very busy days ahead of me.

A Very Busy Weekend
Finally, I have some time to sit down and write...I've attempted about 3 or 4 times this weekend to add a new post but to no avail. I have been running since about 8 am Friday morning. Now, it's Sunday, we are home from church, we've had our lunch, and I can finally sit back, relax, and do some catching up.

Friday was Sammy's 3rd birthday...and a VERY busy day. We got up first thing in the morning to go to Bay City to get groceries at Kroger. This was the first time since school has been out that I had to take all three kids with me. I was a little nervous about how that might go since it does take some time to make sure we are getting all our good deals and it's not exactly their favorite activity, but to my surprise they actually did very well. Haley also had her two girls, so they kept each other company. There may have been a few moments where we felt like we were losing control, but we survived our first summer grocery shopping trip!!

After we finished getting groceries, we had to rush home to put them away and pick up Andy. Since we weren't having a party for Sammy that day, because of lack of time and family being out of town, we decided to just take the kids to McDonald's for lunch and to let them play for awhile, which I think may have made up for having to grocery shop! Right after lunch we had to take Sammy to the doctors for his yearly check up and to get a vaccination shot that he was needing to be caught up. He also had to get his finger pricked to check his iron. He was not a happy camper and I don't blame him! That's not the greatest birthday present, but he sure was a trooper.

Our next stop was Meijers to get some things that I wasn't able to get at Kroger. Since Sammy was such a big boy at the doctors office, daddy let him pick out a small toy. He picked out a Hot Wheels motorcycle...of course...that boy is "car crazy!"

By the time we made it home, I had just enough time to take care of all the groceries, tidy up the house, and freshen up a bit, before I headed out the door again. It was our last night of VBS, so I had one more round of pictures to take. The kids were very willing to pose for me, and loved seeing themselves up on the screen. I've come to be known as the "Picture Lady!" It's very fitting, and I LOVE it!!! Of course, my kids call me the "CRAZY Picture Lady", but it's all the same! I really enjoyed being part of VBS this year, and hope they consider me for next year. It was really a blessing to work with these kids, especially doing something that I love so much.

Ahhhh...okay, that was Friday! I'm tired already...Saturday, wasn't quite as busy, but busy none the less. Somehow, even though we weren't home much on Friday, the house somehow happened to magically get messy...I'm still scratching my head on that one. So, I spent most of the morning Saturday, cleaning up, doing dishes, and laundry, etc. We also had to get ready for an open house that we were going to. And before we went to that, we had a few other small stops we needed to make. I don't know why when we have so many things to do, it always seems so chaotic, but it does, and I get so frazzled. Maybe because I was still trying to recuperate from Friday?!?!

Anyway, the open house was really nice. It was for Andy's cousin, Missy. The weather was wonderful for the most part, expect for the brief rain shower we had!!! It down pored for about 20 minutes, but once it passed the sun quickly returned. There was a nice breeze the entire night, so even though the air was warm, it was not muggy. The food was delicious, and the kids played and played. Later, in the evening, they had karaoke! What a blast that was. It was so much fun watching everyone sing to their hearts content! Even Andy gave it a whirl!

If I knew how to add a video to this, I'd share his musical rendition of Highway Man. He might not make it on American Idol, but the dogs didn't start howling, which is always a good sign. The kids even had a good time dancing and singing to the music. They were so tired, but just couldn't give up. We finally left around 11 pm and I'm pretty sure we didn't make it out the driveway before they fell asleep!

So, that brings us to Sunday. Andy somehow managed to get up this morning to go fishing. The kids I weren't coherent until about 9:30, which gave us just enough time to get ready for church! Now, we are just hanging out here and relaxing after a crazy busy weekend. It was a great weekend though despite all the running.
I hope everyone has a great week!

You will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard you hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 NLT

Vacation Bible School

This week I've been helping with VBS. I was recruited to take pictures for a little "movie" to be shown at the end of each day. It's really cute and the kids have enjoyed seeing themselves up on the "big screen." We had a few kinks to work out the first few days, but I think we've got it figured out now. It just wouldn't be right if everything went the way you planned. Last night I even finished taking the pics early enough that I was able to help with the kindergarten crew. It was so much fun watching these kids. They crack me up! While they were playing their game outside, I was talking to an old friend. She mentioned how neat she thought it was that so many of the youth (group) were helping with VBS this year. It seems as if its usually just the adults/parents. It reminded me of when I was a teenager and helped with the VBS one year. It was so much fun and such a blessing. Then I got to thinking about the influence I may have had on those young kids (who are now the youth), and the influence the youth now will have on my own children. It also reminded me of some of the people who had the most influence on my life when I was a teenager. Two people specifically. Two people who were probably close to the same age as I am now (which is kind of funny and weird to think about.)Two people who I genuinely looked up to. Two people who will always hold a special place in my heart. I believe God sent them into my life and just the right time, and for just the right reasons. They took me into their home with open and loving arms. They loved me for who I was, and encouraged me to be myself. They were always there to listen. They were always there to make me laugh and to help me see the brighter side of life. (You know how teenagers get...everything is the end of the world..LOL) But mostly, they showed me Christ's love. I have not always made the best decisions since I've known them, and I have lost my way a time or two...but it was their example, and their influence that helped me find my way back to Christ. The things they had taught me were always in the back of my mind. I will never forget the things they shared with me, and the confidence they built in me. And I will especially never forget the love they shared. I hope they know who they are. Although we rarely see each other these days, they are always in my thoughts. I hope they really understand just how important they are to me. Their friendship and guidance was a true blessing. Love you guys!

I want to hear from you...

Hey all, I was just going through the settings on my blog and realized that I had it set so only bloggers could leave comments. So, I changed it so that anyone can now! Just click on "comments" at the end of each post and send me some love!

Hope to hear from you soon.

jenn

Happy Birthday to Me!!!Today is my 28th birthday so I decided to take a picture of myself to celebrate and reflect. Sometimes I can't believe that I am 28. The years seem to fly by so quickly...Im sure my parents are thinking the same thing..LOL! It seems like it was just yesterday when I graduated high school and met Andy. So much has happened since then. But I am grateful for each day. Most people are worried about getting older, but to be honest, I feel blessed to be getting older. Maybe its the optimist in me...I may not always feel this way, but I hope I do. The way I see it, each year brings new adventures, new experiences, and new wisdom. I am looking forward to being 28 and all that this next year brings. I have a wonderful family and great friends to help me celebrate...what more could a girl ask for?

Family Vacation and Celebrations
Thursday night, after Andy got home from work, we loaded up the van and headed up to the River Valley Campground to stay the weekend with my parents. After we got to the campground, Dad started the campfire and mom made smores. They were yummy, but oh so messy!!!Friday, we hung out at the beach with the kids for most of the day. They also rode their bikes around the campground and played at the park.Saturday, Julie, Ryan, the kids, and Grandma Myers came up for the day to celebrate my birthday and Father's Day. The weather was beautiful. Andy and I took the kids on a pontoon paddle boat ride earlier in the day...before it got to hot. Sammy was a little scared at first, but we let him help daddy "steer" and then he was fine. The girls thought it was great as long as we kept moving...they thought if we stopped that we would sink!After breakfast on Sunday we packed everything up to head home. We did take the kids to the park for one last go around. They weren't very happy about leaving (i wasn't either), but when we told them we were going to see Grandpa Mike, it made it a little easier.We spent the rest of the afternoon at Mike and Teresa's hanging out on the back porch. Haley was there with her girls. It's so fun watching Sammy and Ariana play together. He just loves her!
Here is the best dad in the whole (yes, I'm a little biased)...nothing warms my heart more than to see Andy with the kids. He is a great dad, and a wonderful husband...we are pretty lucky!

Fun in the Sun
Saturday we spent the day at the campground with my parents to celebrate Becky's 20th birthday. The weather was great...hot and sunny! We spent most of the day at the beach swimming and unfortunately getting fried! At least I did anyway. And I even wore sunscreen. The kids had a great time though. We are leaving tonight to stay the whole weekend camping with my parents at the same campground. We will be celebrating my up coming birthday and Father's Day this time. I'm crossing my fingers for more sunny weather.This is Ethan...he loved playing in the water and really hammed it up for me when I was taking his picture...he's so goofy!
This is a "treasure" that Alivia found...it was a shell that was still connected so it could open and close...she thought that was pretty neat.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and don't forget to send Dad some love for Father's Day.