July 2010

July 1- went running with brian (in awesomely cool weather), had a large caffeine free diet coke from CFA..yummy!, taught kinsey how to ride a bike without training wheels, took the girls to get a yummy pretzel from the Amish market while brian took the boys to the air and space museum near dulles, watched the three oldest play soccer, watched baby birds in a nest down low (with the kiddos), listened to braden tell me all about the fun he had at the museum, got THE pictures ready to be hung for nonny, and watched ephram crawl around outside on the deck.

July 2- helped mom freeze 40 lbs of blueberries, had a "girl date" and went to see Toy Story 3, had chick fil a, and went to the library with the girls and nonny, came home and listened to the adventure the boys had on their 1 1/2 hour hike while we were gone, started reading an american girl mystery to cailey, was the banker for monopoly, listened to the braden tell me about bugs he found, played lots of "Sorry", watched kinsey show poppy how she could ride her bike, fed ephram LOTS of blueberries,, read kinsey her library books, and watched braden get VERY excited about his walking stick:).

July 3- my baby turned 13 months, went on a 3.2 mile hike with cailey and poppy, watched (and played) soccer in the yard with the kiddos, watched kinsey ride her bike and celebrated with ice cream, ran errands with nonny, watched cailey and nonny bake together, ate a yummy amish pretzel, watched more bike riding, played outside a LOT, played lots of games, saw the baby birds venture onto a branch, read books, was the banker for an ENTIRE game of monopoly from start to finish...it took 2 days and Cailey won, took pictures of poppy's projects for him, set up poppy's facebook page, and stayed up too late.

July 4- went on a run and had cailey join me on her bike for the end, went on a wagon 'hay' ride, went blueberry picking, went to CVS twice and got lots of great things, took lots of pictures, changed LOTS of diapers, saw baby birds leave the nest...by flipping out and falling..and hopping off, baked a smore's dessert with cailey, ate corn on the cob (YUM), and went to the castle park for fireworks without nonny and ephram.

July 5- said farewell to macy, nonny, and poppy, traveled home and had NO traffic for the first time in years, and unpacked.

July 6- had an 'at home' day with the kiddos- played lots of games, did puzzles, let them play, taught ephram new things, watched him turn his wave around (no more backwards wave:(, made a grocery store run and got great deals at FL, played more games, calmed cailey down when her tooth was ripped out from having a towel that was in her mouth pulled out..by braden, read more books, and chased four fun kiddos.

July 7- got a surprise at 8:30 when the piano teacher showed up (when we were expecting her yesterday), went running at the Y and it was HARD, took the kids to the pool, loved on the sleeping baby in my arms, did some math with the big kids, tried to do coupons, caught up with some friends, got my big girl ready for swim team practice, TRIED to get the baby to drink, and crashed from exhaustion.

July 8- spent hours celebrating carter's first birthday:), took the kids to the library, read lots of books (american girl mystery to cailey, picture books to the littles, novel to braden), played games, took cailey to summer fun at the library, came home to yummy smelling shrimp and linguine, played outside in the HEAT, pulled weeds, watched nakey ephram discover his belly button for the first time in the exersaucer, and ordered pictures.

July 9- celebrated cow appreciation day with lots of free chick fil a!, did some math, played some games, hung out with the klicks, and got stuff ready for the swim meet.

July 10- woke up to a scared 7 year old in my bed (storm), woke up again (early) for her swim meet which was amazingly short, got some "hot now" doughnuts on the way home, watched the kids 'wash' the van, heard ephram say "down" and "ow" for the second time, watched a show put on by the girls, played mancala with braden, did some math, got my blog books, and the best pool bag ever (four boys scout bag).

July 11-looked through blog books with the kids and laughed at funny memories, relaxed, listened to the kiddos play outside, and snuggled with my baby...who learned how to say two words together: "No, Mama".

July 12- had a very sensitive baby today (cried LOUD just when he heard the word no), took the three big kids to VBS, had a 'my baby is growing up' moment and missed kinsey, went to a class at the Y, ran a little, cleaned, had intentional moments with the kiddos, played with ephram, made fruit on a cloud several times, taught ABC play with me, got my swimmer ready, cooked dinner, and hugged on braden for a long time.

July 13- spent one on one time with my ever growing biggest girl, went to a muscle class and ran 3, got a great deal on capri sun, did crafts with the kiddos, listened to stories from vbs, discovered ephram knows how to point to his ear and nose...and waves forwards now, had our last post placement visit for e, loved on my biggest boy, and planned out tomorrow.

July 14- went to an early morning cardio muscle class, came home so e could nap, got the big kids from VBS and went to the William's pool for a picnic and swimming...for hours:), made a quick dinner, and took them to swim team practice.

July 15- did speed work (SO hard) with beth, got a 911 call (while at the Y) from VBS for cailey's breathing so rushed her to the dr. (found out there was no stroller for e and i was a sweaty mess) and it turned out to be nothing, cleaned, did crafts, did math with braden, and spent great time with the kiddos!

July 16- slept late, listened to piano lessons, watched the kids' VBS show (and beamed to see kinsey SO excited for her first vbs week!), played games, listened to cailey play with ephram (on the monitor) for a LONG time, had two LATE nappers, looked through blog books and spent some great time with cailey, went to a going away party for the martin's, had a great time catching up, kept the kids out late, and had a tickle party!

July 17- overslept for a far away swim meet but made it on time (it was still EARLY in the am), cheered on my girl, hung out with beth, went shopping with cailey and had a 3 musketeers date, got the kids matching suits and clothes for the beach:), listened to braden share his testimony with me...and decide he wanted to share it on sunday, went with the fam to get triathlon packets and carb up the kiddos for the race, had early bedtimes, spent great time in the bible with braden, and got ready for our big day!

July 18- woke up SUPER early again to cheer on cailey and braden at their triathlon, cheered VERY loudly, was SUPER proud of both of them, gave baths, went to the kids exchange, hosed off the baby in the driveway from a nasty diaper...literally, rested, had napping kiddos, went to braden's baptism, was SO proud of him for sharing in front of everyone, gave lots of hugs, watched ephram FINALLY hold his cup!!:), had lots of friends there, took lots of pictures, had kinsey come in my room at 9:45 pm and say, "i thinks i should sleep in your room so i don't has bad dreams. weally. i do. i promise.", and crashed.

July 19- ran 2 miles before taking a great cardio muscle class, took the kiddos swimming and had a GREAT day at the pool (which was empty b/c all the kids are back in school), taught a class, took braden and kinsey to the mall for a cookie and sale shopping, got great deals on swimsuits for the kiddos next year, and tried to catch up on blogging.

July 20- ran 1 mile before an awesome cardio box class, took the kids to the pool, helped kinsey learn freestyle, cleaned for hours, took ephram to the doctor for his 1 year visit (we are off schedule b/c of the adoption)...worried because he didn't gain any weight since the last one, snuggled him after he got 3 shots, had a great family dinner, watched a CRAZY thunder/lightning/downpour storm with the family, cleaned more while the power was out, had a heart to heart with cailey, was SUPER proud of the kiddos for helping clean, and had super sore feet and quads.

July 21- went shopping with the kids, cleaned, listened to the baby breathing on the monitor during his nap (PRECIOUS), played games, talked with laura, hugged LOTS of littles (and a few biggies), did a kickboxing class with laura, talked some more at night...and started my one month until the beach challenge with kelly.

July 22- went to a muscle class with laura, spent 3 hours of FUN at the pool with the kiddos and laura and her kiddos, played games, enjoyed rest during 'nap/quiet' time, watched ephram stand up and immediately sit down when we saw him, felt really sore from all the classes, and got a year's worth of cheese!

July 23- had an 'at home' day with the kiddos and re grouped, played games, did crafts, taught the baby how to put shapes in his shape sorter, really reflected on how proud i am of the way cailey truly loves and adores her baby brother...always putting his needs above hers, and realized we REALLY need to all work on loving each other more.

July 24- went to cheer on cailey at her swim meet (and was SO excited for her for getting her best times ever..so was she!), went shopping with braden and spent some great time talking with him for hours, rested, went to the mall with the family for more shopping and family time, and went on a late 3 mile walk with susan.

July 25- went to church to find it all redecorated, went to the mall for lunch and shopping with the fam, went walking at 4:30 with susan in 101 degree heat, went to ice cream sundae sunday and bingo at church, watched cailey in her first cupcake eating contest, ate lots of red skittles, fed ephram lots of ice cream, and got lots of sticky hugs.

July 26- went to a not very good muscle class, hung out with kelly and the littles while the big kids were at basketball camp, came up with a new positive reinforcement system for the kiddos (hope it works!), taught abc play with me, went walking with joanne, ate a super late dinner, hugged my kiddos, and went to bed sore.

July 27- went to an endocrinologist appointment, hung out with kelly and the littles, picked up the kiddos from basketball camp and watched them both get awards, did crafts with the big kids, checked math review work, sang lots of songs, heard ephram say "cracker, daddy, doggie, ma ma, no, and go" A LOT today, went to a cardio circuit class with kelly, went on a walk with susan and tricia (and chatted with T afterwards) lost 7 lbs my first week of the 'challenge' kelly and i have going and put my extra sore body to bed.

July 28- played with the klick's, was excited to hear cailey got three shots in a row and won basketball cards, was not excited to hear cailey drank RED kool aid...hello red 40!, was happy she didn't get a headache, went to chick fil a with lots of a kelly's friends, hung out with the big kids while the little's napped, went to the Y for kickboxing (with a horrible instructor) and muscle, came home and fed the kids while cailey was still at swim team practice with brian, went on a walk with susan (only 2 miles) , and crashed...feeling VERY exhausted tonight.

July 29- listened to piano lessons, took the kids to bball camp, ran two miles on a treadmill with no air conditioning with kelly, rested, ate an early dinner, took the kids to play at the mall, and went on a walk with susan (felt much better today).

July 30- played with kinsey and ephram while the older two were at bball camp, baked a cake for susan's (our neighbor) birthday with help from the kids who decorated it, tried sunset slush and didn't like it, fretted over my baby boy REFUSING to eat anything today, snuggled and prayed for that same baby boy...that his teeth would stop hurting him:(, took an AWESOME muscle class with kelly and thought parts of my body were on fire at different points, and didn't walk...day off!

July 31- woke up tired, went for a walk/run, cleaned, did laundry, played hi ho cherry-o with the three oldest, read books with ephram, listened to brian play with ephram, went on a road trip to get school desks with brian while susan and jon watched the kiddos for 5 hours, shopped a little, was missed:), missed my babies, got lots of hugs, and polished nails.