Sunday Fun

Lola

That's all. Just couldn't not post these pictures. She's a keeper (at least for today).

Reading

Stop my heart! I love it when these 5 children of mine are all reading. I don't care if it is comics.. picture books.. magazines.. chapter books.. I just hope to instill a love for reading. Now if I could get these pictures to happen every day.. I'd be on the right track.

When this kid get sucked into a book .. he is pretty easy to convince to do his reading.. if not it is torture.. Right now Max's favorites; Garfield. Calvin and Hobbs. Boys scouts Magazine. The Friend. Heroes of Olympus. Wimpy kid.

Alexander and Barrett. They will spend hours with their noses in books on library day. Love Love Library day. Favorites; Garfield, Calvin and Hobbs, Captain Underpants, Origami Yoga, Big Nate.

Jacq loves to read. Reading came very easy for Jacq (as do most things). Her favorite books are fun picture type books, Junie B. Jones, Rainbow Fairies.

Lola. She loves to be apart of big kid stuff. She will look through the pictures of books for hours. She makes up her very own stories to go with the pictures. She loves all things Dora, Princess, Piggies and Stinky face.

Love a couch filled with big smiles, happy children and lots and lots of books.

Rumbis and Rollerskating

Every change we get ~ we stop in to see this special lady. Boy oh boy am I glad we do this. Sometimes we "pack a tent" and other times we just stop in real quick.. I cherish these visit and hold them close. This time we picked up Rumbi's and stopped in to share our dinner and visit for awhile.

Thanks to the Orem Library reading program we headed out to roller skate. Alexander and Barrett were beyond determined to figure out all this skating stuff. It was a hoot to watch. They were for sure on the carpet more then they were rolling around that ring. I had a good chuckle and then decided to throw on some skates myself and help them get around the ring.

Between the scooters, skates, ice cream, and bounce houses everyone found something they enjoyed.  It was a super fun night for everyone.

My Dad is graet! My mom is NOT!

When I saw this latest journal entry from Jacq's journal I had myself a little chuckle. It's true. I am kind of the disciplinarian at this house. Kind of?? Oh boy am I ever. Dad is usually flowers and rainbows. Playtime and treats. Mom is jobs.. and reading.. piano.. clean your room. Don't fight with your brother.. Boo!! So I think sometimes those things equal not so nice. Not so fun. Not so sweet. I won't go through all the things that I do that I think make me a good mom. Especially this week.. there might not be a whole lot of them. :) And let's face it..  I do a lot of things that aren't super good. Dang it! I do! I'm am the first one to admit that I am not perfect. So I won't give you that list either. (Embarrassing!) But I can tell you that I am doing my best. I think I need a manual. Yes.. a manual would be nice.. actually 5 individual manuals would be nice. Raising good productive children for me is selfless. It is frustrating. It makes me want to pull every last hair out of my head.. Some days {today}. Making sure I am teaching the children to work. To explore. To love and serve others. To understand and find things to be true for themselves.. times by 5. It is all hard work. To make sure that they all feel loved. To make sure that they have self-esteem. To make sure that they can be nice, but can still stick up for themselves .. times that by 5. Let's face it.. the mom list goes on and on. Dad's list does too, but this is kind of a mom rant today. :) Anyway.. after my mini pity party, I wanted to share one fun thing that I have started this summer and it seems to be a real big hit with my children. In fact, they LOVE IT!! Pretty sure they would be heart broken if I stopped. They write in their journal and I take a couple minutes to write them a message back.

 

Every morning the first thing they do is write in their journals and ask me.. "Mom.. Mom.. did you write me a message back??" It's pretty stinkin' cute. Love that they want a message from me. Love that they are so excited for it. Makes my mommy heart smile... even on the not so good days. xo.

Swimming love

 We spent pretty much the entire summer swimming at Aunt Lyss and Uncle Jon's pool. It was good times for sure. The children are have always loved the water so we took just about every opportunity we had to get there and swim our little hearts out. Thanks Conleys.

Lola Girl!

This girl.. She is one busy lady.. If there is one thing my Lola girl loves.. it is swimming.. And her array of swim suits..

Pretty much daily..  She can be found in just about every. SINGLE. swim suit she owns!!

 Every time I see her she is in a different one..

 This is just her. This is how this lady rolls..

 Her life is complete with swim suits and dancing.

 This is a signature move. Definitely a favorite. (pause)

 Oh and this one.. Big time Favorite. (pause)

 Now we are accessorizing.

 Every once in awhile.. she will show up with a funky one.. Ha! FUNKY!

 I took all these today.  When I say she is busy.. I mean busy.. Little. Lady.

 I think this is a favorite..  umm yes.. 2 sizes too big and a mermaid. Heck yesser!!

 The end.

The real deal.. 4th of July.

Boy am I ever grateful to live in America. I just love the 4th of July Holiday. I love July weather. I love a backyard BBQ. I love just love a reason to party. I also love how you can't just celebrate a holiday for one day in Utah. Oh Yeah!! Here is the real deal day. The evening of the real deal day, we got together with some of our favorite people {Watsons, Johnsons, Goodwins, Conleys, and us}. We decided to not fight the crowds in the canyons but to do a backyard thing. Everyone chipped in and it all came together perfectly.

This thing is always a super big hit. Don't mind my daughter hanging off the edge. I just pray she makes it to age 5. Age 5 would be good. ..

 Here are some big people. Alyssa, Jon, and Jaxson.

 Brooke and JD

 Ross, Jen and Harper.

 It's ME! Yes I was there. Here's the proof! Maybe not the best picture.. but it's the only one.

And Timmers. He is always a happy guy. Seriously.. always.. but especially when he has one of his attachments. That's love! No pictures of Watsons. Boo! My bad!! Sorry Watsons.. but we were still super glad you came!!

Now on to the children..
Harper. Oh my.. how my Lola loved baby Harper..loved loved loved her.

 Jaxon. Look at him. He is such a little stud muffin. Seriously.. such a cool little dude!

Cole guy! He is a big deal at this house. Lola loves her some Cole guy! And they are pretty dang cute together. Makes my heart smile. Love to see them love their cousins!

Buggy.. My fearless little lady... seriously fearless..

1-800-I-love-auntie. Oh yeah!!

 Jacq

 Taylor Jade loving her some yummy BBQ.

Oh these two again..

I can see it.. it's about to happen.. the whole we can't go anywhere ... do anything without wrestling deal.. that's them. I guess I am grateful that they have each other to mess around with.

Max with the best toy in town. Oh yeah. I think the children have put just as many miles on this baby as they have their bikes..

Brooke and JD saved the day. I forgot how much my children like to light off fireworks. That is a must for the 4th of July and I totally dropped the ball -

Seriously. Love them. Even though they can't sit still to save their life-

 Barrett Boy. GROSS!!

There's my Gracer Goose.  She liked getting in on the action too.

 Max enjoyed everyone's fireworks right from the comfort of his very own scooter. 

 HR.

Sparklers. I love Sparkler time. 

 

 Party!! Happy Birthday America!!