Hiatus

We are on our way to WISCONSIN!! For our (now) annual trip to the Dells. The kids and I are flying out this morning and we will be there for just over a week. The boys have their own little backpacks packed and ready. They are SO SO SO excited.  Paul, sadly, has to stay here and work. :(  One year he will be able to come with us! Hopefully.  Anyway, there will probably be a break from blogging since I blog now from my desktop, since my laptop crapped out.  Don't miss us too much. We'll be back with updates soon. :)  Happy Tuesday!

helper

What does Lullaby like to do when she wakes up? HELP. Whatever I am doing, there she is, helping... Here she is helping while I unload the dishwasher.

Stone Mountain

Another adventure at Stone Mountain…

I don’t know what’s going to happen when we move away from here. These kids are going to go through withdrawals… Poor things.  This place is too great.  First stop, river, as always.

Second stop, story time. I hope this guy plays Santa Claus this winter, he is just right for the job.

Third stop, ropes course. Hawken convinced Paul to cheat and carry him across, and now every time we go there, he refuses to even try this part and he insists on being carried.

Did you know wood mulch sticks very well to Pampers diapers? Well it does.

Fourth and final stop, ball barn.  Always a hit.

I was getting hit with balls in the ball barn and looked up to see a very mischievous and happy Hawken and Paul up on the 3^rd floor throwing them at me. They both thought this was the most fun thing ever.

Lullaby was getting tired after a long day of fun, and kept crawling over to me to take a rest. She is so sweet.  And who doesn’t love a snuggly baby?!

The End.

best dog

And… the World’s Best Dog Award goes to… Sakina.

Lullaby

These were the unedited first tries at Lullaby's 9 month pictures. She was crazy drooling because she was teething, working on her 3rd tooth - the top right, which she has now successfully popped through.  She had just woken up from her nap and was happy and silly as usual. I really love this baby. She is SO sweet.  The second picture she is leaning in for a kiss. 

At her 9 month doctor's appointment Lullaby had fallen into the 70% for weight, but is in the 90% for height. She still weighs less than Hawken, but only slightly. She passed her first developmental screening.  She is saying "mama" and "bah" for ball.  She is also attempting to say "up", but she only smacks her lips together and gives a very breathy "puh".  

4th of July

After the splash pad, lunch and naps, we got dressed up in some red white and blues…. The boys were also in their swim trunks, ready for a pool party (which we didn’t end up going to… we couldn’t get the gate to open at their complex, so we ended up hanging out with the Rogers and had a blast there instead).  Lullaby was wearing the cutest little 4^th of July dress you have ever seen. Grandma Stacy made it for her and she looked adorable in it!  The boys were hardly into picture taking. Notice Hawken in the background glaring at me in picture #1, and Sakina glaring at me in the next (picture #2), and then Matix looking like he was in pain in the last one (#3). Nice.

Thankfully, Lullaby was more cooperative and looking sweet and cute in all of them.

Then off to the Rogers for some more fun.  I love that our kids are all friends. They get along so well.

After a while, we took off Lullaby’s dress so she could get around more easily, and just in her shirt and bloomers, she was just as adorable. I love that Stacy thought to put a star on the bum… Too cute.

Ready for bed, cranky baby. This is a rare sight, and only happens when she is tired.

It was a low key 4^th for us, which is just right for our little family. We love spending time with our friends.  No fireworks (it gets dark too late for our early to bed kiddos), but some year soon, they’ll be up for it.

Matix the comedian

Matix is his father's child. Need I say more?

splash pad

Paul started the 4th of July out by reading about the history of the day... the things our forefathers were fighting for and the amazing blessing it is for us to live in this country. We really are so thankful. We love it here.  Then, we went to the splash pad! Actually they call this one a "sprayground" which I thought was so much fun.  We met up with the Williams family and had a blast. It was HOT outside, so cooling down was just perfect.  

All three kids in the same area at once. This only happened because I dragged them all together. It only lasted a few seconds. :)

Paul was trying to shade Lullaby with the nursing cover while she was falling asleep, but it just looked like he was trying to nurse her. I wish. :)

Hawken was SO apprehensive at first, he refused to even take his shirt off.

But then he ran a round like a mad man having the most fun of his life. Here he trying out something new... Interesting.

Lullaby was a little unsure, but, as she is in ALL situations, she was pleasant and even enjoyed herself a bit. She is such a good baby.

Matix and Dries were so brave and tried out the big dumping bucket thing after watching the big kids do it. I was so proud of both of them.

The playground next to the splash pad was really fun too. Hawken spent a little time over there while he was being nervous about the water.  Check out the swings, cool right?

Petal was having the time of her life and made this little excited scream every couple of minutes. So cute.

What a great day. We love the Williams family and always have the best time with them. Hooray for finding awesome people every place we move to!