Double Date!

Last night Braden and I went on a double date with my friend Marsie and her son, Braeden! We had a BLAST...it was so much fun to focus all my attention on my little guy! Braden opened and closed my car door for me EVERY time...such a gentleman:). We went out to eat and then went to see the movie UP. We didn't get home until after 9:00- he was SO happy all night! I am SO blessed to have this sweet boy and had a fabulous time with him! I love you, Braden!

Brian took this picture after I surprised Braden with our evening plans!

Boy Day/ Girl Day

Today Braden went to work with Brian...on a whim....literally a last minute decision as Brian was leaving this morning. He's never been to work with him before and we knew he'd do great and love that one on one time watching Brian work. As expected, Braden did AWESOME and had a great time! He asked TONS of questions, helped Brian, colored, typed, watched Veggie Tales, played with magnets, read, went out to Subway for lunch, read more....and just had a ball! Brian said that in the middle of the day he said, "This is so fun, Daddy!" SO sweet!
Since the boys were gone, we decided to have a 'girl day' and do fun things too. I THOUGHT it was going to storm all day (silly me for actually thinking the weather report would be right) so I took them to Jumpin' Beans first. After that we went out to lunch to Chick Fil A (with a gift card:) and the girls had ice cream too! I finally realized that the weather report was CLEARLY wrong and took the girls home to change into their bathing suits so they could go to a sprayground. Oh...and in between we stopped at Harris Teeter for some triple coupon shopping (and a free cookie for them)...wooo hooo (I digress). They spent a couple hours at the spray ground and we got home just in time to meet Brian and Braden at home for dinner.
Then we went to an AWESOME concert at our church as a family and my completely exhausted children did so great! The concert was almost two hours and I was SO proud of them! Kinsey did a GREAT job too- sitting, singing, praying, whispering...I just couldn't get over how nicely she did! I was amazed because that was a LONG time for a three year old (who had no nap and had been in the sun for hours) to sit. What a great day!
Believe it or not I left my camera home for our girl day...on PURPOSE:).

summer legs...

Poor Cailey gets SO many bumps and bruises during the spring, summer and fall months from all her playing outside! Kinsey has joined her this year (but I haven't taken a picture of hers) since she is doing so many more things outside these days. This is a picture of Cailey's legs on a GOOD day, poor girl! Somehow Braden is able to avoid lots of boo boos...probably because he's my cautious one :).

the lake

the kiddos were working hard building a
'river'


Cailey and Harrison had a GREAT time swimming in the lake
and having Anthony throw them around:)

great team work!

after a few minutes of being COLD in the water,
Braden decided it was more fun to play in the sand:)




playground break!




I'm SO thankful for such great friends!!

We've lived here for almost six years and NEVER knew that there were 'beaches' around the lake that the kids could play in. This weekend we drove a short distance away with some friends and spent the afternoon at the lake. The kids had a BLAST while Anthony and Brian helped them build 'rivers' in the sand. Beth and I got some great chat time (along with Addison:) while we watched the fun:)!!

Tuesdays

favorite part, as always....peas and carrots!
i LOVE that we were able to get a pic of all the kids
together in it!


kinsey was in a sing a long class with
the other younger kids while i played dominoes
and giant connect four with cailey and braden.




cailey loves putting on shows on the stage!

In the summer our Sunday school friends get together every Tuesday for a playgroup. Last week we met up at Marbles for some fun:). I'm SO thankful for friends who let me follow them to all these places so I can go and not get lost...thanks B!!

just cuz....

While Mommy Was Away....

I went away to a homeschooling conference with Janet and Kelly this weekend so the kids got to spend some special time with just Daddy! They went to the airport to watch the planes take off and land, to the science museum, had a HUGE breakfast and trampoline time at the Klick's, and played a ton of games at home:)!!

First Grade...

Braden finished up his Kindergarten math book a few months ago and wanted to do more. I struggle with what to do with him because I DON'T want him to get so far ahead that he'll struggle later on but he LOVES doing it. I've moved him on to the first grade book and we've been doing two or three lessons a week and playing math games (that are essential with this curriculum) the other days. He took his first test a few weeks ago and did AWESOME!! I'm going to keep taking it slow and really watch so that if it gets too hard we'll slow way down but for now he's flying through it!

things we do 1

I've been asked to share some of the fun things I do with Kinsey...and the other two LOVE joining in too:)!