Can it really be #7?

I can't believe that it was 7 years ago that Parker and Kasidee surprised us and showed up a little early! Time has definitely flown by!!!

This year we had a joint bday party for Parker, Kasidee, and Addison (because we are going to be in WA during Addison's bday). Accommodating all the ages was a little tricky. We decided to do a "BMX Training" theme. All 3 kids got new bikes for their bdays, so we thought it would be perfect.

We did stations: in and out of cones, jumps, going through water, stop and go, bumpy dowels on the street, and decorating bikes.

Cupcakes in ice cream cones (which I had to do twice because the humidity ruined the first batch that I did the night before), popsicles, and snow cones...it doesn't get much better than that!

We got the kids good and sugared up, wore them out in the hot sun, and then sent everyone home. It was a good time!

Old Souls

I love that even boys can play dress up. Parker and his friend Garrett came downstairs wearing these little suit jackets. I don't know exactly what they were pretending to be...but I am going to imagine that they were pretending to be little gentlemen. Girls...eat your heart out!

Dad's home

Dad came home bearing gifts...
All the kids got fun little stuffed animals, tee-shirts, and Aussie pencils. So cute!

Mark also brought lots of candy home. I LOVE the chocolate there!!! If you ever have the chance, try a Crunchie bar or a Whip. YUM!!!

I sent Mark with a camera, and he came home with 3 pictures. 10 days in Australia and 3 pictures...really?!?!? At least I got 3, I guess. This is a gumtree.

This is a family from Mark's mission. He was able to visit with the Kendricks for an evening. Mark taught Sister Kendrick. He loved seeing them again. I think it was the highlight of his trip!

He is already trying to plan another trip back. He has the Australian itch, and it is worse than ever before!

Slave Labor

I am the type of mom who likes to stay really busy. I am happier, my kids are happier, and everything is better. (By the way, do you see how filthy this door is?!?!? It has never ending sticky fingers on both sides!)
I am also the type of mom who bribes her kids!
Mark was getting home from his trip today, we had one more morning to kill before he came in to save the day. What could we do to stay busy?

Water!!! Water is always the fall-back, when I don't know what else to do. My friend's parents have a pool, and they were nice enough to let us come swim. But before we could go, we needed to do some Saturday chores.

All 4 little monsters were up at 6am with their swimsuits on, ready and willing to do some cleaning so we could go play. I love it!!!

Sappy

My wonderful husband, who was VERY missed while he was gone, sent me flowers from Australia. Well they weren't actually from Australia, but you know what I mean.
Mark isn't the sappy traditional romantic. Don't get me wrong, he is very thoughtful in different ways, but flowers are definitely not his thing. I can count on one hand the times I have gotten flowers from him. (Just to remind you, he does other things, I am not complaining!!!)
But these flowers and a note, "I miss you. I love you. Can't wait to come home!!!" made me a little teary. Mark served his mission in AUS, so he was very excited to finally get to go back. I knew I was really missed.

And I had had a little scare when he flew there. I was expecting to hear from him at around 11am my time, and didn't hear from him until 8:30pm. Needless to say, I was starting to panic. The dream that I had had a couple nights earlier, where I was left husbandless with 5 children was becoming a little too real.
Everything was fine. I didn't listen to his itinerary well enough. I didn't even know his airline, so I couldn't check his flight. Not very smart on my part. And he had phone troubles on his end.

So I was a little emotional about this whole trip to begin with.
I know this is a strange thing to blog about, but I want to remember these flowers and this note. So you get to see them too.

It's official, it's hot!

I don't think there are going to be anymore nice days. Only sticky and stinkin' hot. Summer is here!
The good thing is, that means WATER!!! Water every day, all day long. Ooo, and popsicles!!!Yum!

What is it with kids and sitting on sprinklers?!?!? Are they trying to give themselves an enema? Has Parker not had enough fruit today? Seriously!

Another thing that I love about summer is the smell of sunscreen! I LOVE that smell! It is tropical and coconutty, yummy! (What is up with me and "yum" tonight? I don't know, just go with it!)

I love when everyone warms up and dries off by laying out in the sun.

Summer brings so much more laundry though! Everyone gets wet, comes in and changes, gets wet again, comes in and changes....it is a never ending cycle.

Not to mention all the towels I have wash too!

Having all the kids home ALL DAY is a little overwhelming too. What are we going to do to keep everyone out of trouble? Oh right, I am going home to Washington. My mom and dad get to help me keep everyone out of trouble. Those lucky ducks!

With all the goods and bads, I really do love the summer. I love how life slows down a little. And I love all the swimming. I love how everyone crashes at night because they are so exhausted from playing so hard.

I love how all my kids get a little blonder, and their cute little tan bodies with white little bums. So cute!

I hope you are all enjoying the start of your summers too!

Just us

Mark has been in Australia for work this last week and a half. We have really missed dad!

Every time the door opens after Parker and Kasidee are already home from school, Bailey yells, "DAD'S HOME!!!"
Nope, sorry baby, dad's not home yet. But he gets home in a couple days, and we are so excited!!!

These pictures are actually from Mother's day. The kids are all carrying pillowcases, because that is how Mark likes to wrap presents. He is going green...ya right!

We miss you Mark! Hurry home!

Garbage Duty

Speaking of chores...
all the kiddos fight over garbage duty. It is the job that takes the least amount of time.

Kas didn't even have to put her book down to accomplish her task at hand. She is a multi-tasker, she does her momma proud!

And speaking of a proud momma...Kasidee has really found a love for reading. If she sees a library bag full of new books, she will sit for hours and read and read and read.

I am amazed that she is already reading these little chapter books. She is a girl after my own heart. I have been known to get lost in a book or two. (ok, maybe a thousand or two)

I love the look of "mission accomplished" on her face. It is like the tough guy walking away from the fire...no looking back. Have you seen that skit? Very funny!

I hope it works

Any motivation to get the little monsters to help around the house is fine by me.
My neighbor found this cute craft on a blog and wanted to try it. She wasn't very comfortable using tools, so I volunteered to do the prep work. There were 8 kits to make.

Addison and Bailey thought that playing the the sawdust was tons of fun. I have to admit, I like working with wood and playing the the sawdust too! There is something about the smell of pine when you cut it. I think it just reminds me of home.

My family had a wood kit business while I was growing up. I got to spend hours cutting and drilling. I didn't love it at the time, but I miss it.

This is one of my friends. You can do so many different things with the same project. I thought they all turned out very cute!

Now my kids are all ready to work their guts out...RIGHT!?!?!?

Official birthday post

I love how easy it is to please a 2 year old!

All is takes is a little cake...and lots of frosting!!!

Parker was making her laugh.

She is going to have cupcake coming out of her nose if she isn't careful!

There is a card from Parker, Kasidee, and Addison on this present. They all wanted to wish her a very Happy Birthday.

She put her new present to good use right away...

Bustin' a move to Dora...

It doesn't get much better than this!

Or this...

Or this!!!