Ooooooooooh! Aaaaaaaaaah!

Since we've been married it's become a tradition for us to have a little backyard pre-fourth of July celebration. The past couple of years more and more of our neighbors come over to enjoy the fun. Well, more and more of the neighborhood kids.
We did have a couple of grown up friends show up. Do they look bored?

Let the party start!
Come on Jon! Can't you wait just a minute? I guess he's not used to being around so many kids.

David starts the show! Where did it go?

Luckily I was down staffed Saturday night, so David and I were able to take the kids to the city firework show. We found the perfect parking spot to watch right from the car. Of course we were a good two hours early. Wake up kids!
Is it time for the fireworks yet?
Now is it time for the fireworks Daddy?
I need a snack. Yargghhhhh!
Our fourth of July is starting to stretch out over an entire week. That's fine with us. We love it! Hope everyone had a happy fourth!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Father's Day!

Wordless Thursday?

Parental Conversation

I was so inspired by Mack and Amber's videa that I just had to make an attempt at my own. Here's my portrayal my and David's life together, at the moment. The kids are represented by the crashes, sirens, and alarms playing in the background (the most annoying noises the movie making website offered) .

Wordless Wednesday

Field Trip Fridays

Since summer is here again, field trip Friday is back! So this past Friday I drug the kids to Boyd's Orchard for some strawberry picking. Jonah absolutely did not want to go. But I made him. I guess that's what you have to do with prepubescent kids. It's a family trip so let's go! And believe it or not, they all loved it. All of us were picking strawberries. Even Kate. Jonah even told me what a good idea it was. Score!!!

I love, love, love this picture I got of the three of them.
Caroline and Kate pickin' berries. Caroline kept asking is this one red enough? Is this one?

Jonah having fun with the fam. Imagine that?!

They have a big playground that the kids had a blast on. The place was much less crowded than in the fall during pumpkin season also. Very nice. Kate in a tunnel.

Even though the kids loved picking strawberries I couldn't get any of them to eat them. But I learned to make homemade strawberry fruit roll ups a couple of years ago on David's dehydrator. They love them!

It's Official!

Jonah is now a middle schooler. His elementary school graduation ceremony was on Wednesday. Here he is receiving a certificate of completion. Yay Jonah! I feel so fortunate that Jonah has gone to school at Clays Mill Elementary. It is an AWESOME school with FANTASTIC teachers. Especially knowing a lot of people in Louisville who have to deal with a seemingly insane public school system. Jonah's sisters weren't too impressed. Don't Jonah and Kate look a lot alike in this pic?

Here is Jonah and his best buddy. They were in the same class in second grade and have been best friends ever since. I adore him and his family.
Jonah will be attending Jesse Clark Middle School. I hope it it's as wonderful an experience as Clays Mill. Jonah is not happy at all that they have a dress code but is very excited that he'll finally get to ride a school bus. So silly!

Wordless Wednesday

She Likes It!

I love fruits and veggies but I can't get my kids to eat them. Except Kate. She seems to like them too which thrills me to death. Here she is eating grapes. Eating grapes! Yay! Jonah and Caroline wouldn't touch them. Who doesn't like grapes? Do any of you TRU people recognize the plate?

Bounces Off the Walls

Caroline is my little Energizer bunny. She is constantly moving. And has no fear. I'm always trying to think of how I can help her burn off some of that excess energy she has. I remember as early as the 2008 Olympics Shawn Johnson's parents saying they first enrolled her in gymnastics to help her use up some of the incredible amounts of energy she had and thinking that she sounded a lot like Caroline. Even Caroline's preschool teacher this past year suggested that gymnastics would be perfect for Caroline. So after Caroline's third birthday we decided to use some of her birthday money to try out a class. And she loved it.

Look at this place. It was made for Caroline!
Caroline on the balance beam.
Strong arms Caroline! (That's what the instructor calls it.)Caroline on the bar thingy.
At first I just put Caroline in shorts and t-shirt but then I had to get her a leotard so she fit in with the other girls. She was so thrilled.
Doesn't she look adorable? Kate was looking quite adorable that day too.So I just had to get their picture together.They both refuse to look at the camera. But maybe the pictures are better that way. Anyway! Any donations for the Caroline gymnastics fund will be greatly appreciated. ;)

Wordless Wednesday

History Buff

The fifth graders at Jonah's school have a history fair every year where the kids put together a board on a specific event in history. The board has to include basic facts, causes and effects, pictures, and a fictitious journal entry of someone experiencing the event written by the student. Jonah is fascinated with World War II so he chose D-Day. Then there are judges at the fair who question the kids about the event they have chosen. We did help Jonah put his board together, but we made him do all the research and writing. He did a particularly good job writing his journal entry of a D-Day soldier (so well that David and I checked to make sure he didn't plagiarize). His project finished in the top ten of the entire fifth grade. We are so proud of him and his hard work!Jonah once again annoyed when his little sisters interfere. Funny coincidence that his t-shirt says, "Will trade sister for video games." Don't feel sorry for him. He teases them plenty.

Playing Britney

Three Year Old Conversation

Caroline: I'm going to be a mermaid when I grow up.
Me: You are! Oh that's exciting.
Caroline: Do you wanna watch me?
Me: I'd love to.
Caroline: You're welcome.

Wordless Wednesday

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

For awhile now I'm seriously starting to think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. Yucky, overcast weather combined with being cooped up inside (especially with kids) really starts to make me feel like I'm losing it. So in order to save my family that I love so dearly, me and the kids bear the elements and get out of the house. Anywhere. Various stores, library, mall playground, and now the Lexington Children's Museum are favorites. We bought a family membership to the children's museum or Explorium this past winter when dealing with all the snow and ice. (I've quickly realized that family memberships are worth the money after you consider how much it costs to get a family of five into anywhere.) It's a pretty small children's museum I think but very nice. It's good for a few hours.

There are a couple of water play displays which the kids love, but extra clothes are a good idea.
There is a horse area where kids can sit on the horses or groom the horses. Kids love animals.
They have a special toddler area for children three and under.
There is a play food area with a store and dining area. Kids love play food.
There's a bubble room. There's a little play indian village. There are bugs and dinosaurs. There's really just a lot for kids to do. I understand they have an art studio in the afternoons but haven't participated yet.
I definitely think a visit is in order with all this nonstop crappy rain. And I highly recommend it to anyone with small children. Even as young as age one.

Newest Kiddie Trend

Have you seen this show??? It's kinda freaky. But it keeps Caroline and Kate in a hypnotic trance. For a good thirty minutes. So be it. I'm lovin' it! Yo Gabba Gabba!!!