Last Full Week of Summer :-(

This past week we had VBS at church Monday through Wednesday.  I took the three oldest with me but Lincoln wasn't having it.  I was in charge of getting the snacks ready for each group coming through and Lincoln stood right by my side, holding my leg.  He wouldn't go with his group.  So I left him with Andrew and the twins the next two nights.  He was very excited to stay home with his dad.  Jackson and Ellie had a great time though.  On Wednesday we also tried to do a last swim date before school starts but it got rained out.  Not that I am going to complain about the rain though-we definitely need it!  Also this past week, I decided not to do the schedule.  I just kind of let the kids do their own thing and enjoy this last little bit of summer.  It did involve quite a bit of video games and tv though :-).  And their were several lectures about helping out around the house and not being self-centered.  They helped somewhat, sometimes...

On Thursday, Tom and Mary, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  We went through a few different plans for celebrating with them.  First, I made reservations at a restaurant at the Lake and we were going to surprise them then.  Then Annie decided to just go ahead and come back for their anniversary since Brad was going to be out of town for the week.  So we made reservations at the Pear Tree and thought it would be fun for Annie and her girls to be there as a surprise.  But then Annie decided to come back even earlier, so we just took them out to a nice dinner without any surprises.  I did do some table decorations including some fun candle holders.  It is hard to see in the picture, but Kristin scanned some of their old photos including some wedding ones and then I put them all in black and white and printed them on clear label paper and attached them to the candle holders.  And then Annie and Brad made them a really sweet video that we had them watch while we were waiting for dinner.  It was a nice evening celebrating two special people.  We even got a compliment from Al at the end of the night saying that our kids were well-behaved. 

Jackson was a nice cousin and shared his ice cream with everyone

The weather has been beautiful lately and I have even opened the windows.  I love it!  Friday evening we had dinner at my parents and it was even too cool to swim.  That night while the kids were playing outside, I even put on a jacket.  With the nicer weather, we have met more of our new neighbors.  The new president at  ATSU moved in across the street, but they also have dual residency in Phoenix and spend a lot of time there.  We just met them and their little boy yesterday and they seem really nice.  Another new family moved in just down the street and he teaches OMM at ATSU and they have two teenage daughters. 

Today, Andrew took the three oldest out to the ranch while I got a work out in, did my whole house cleaning, and started packing for our vacation.   I also got to hang out with Miles and Bennett who have become pretty entertaining.  I love to watch them explore now that they are on the move.  I did have a bad mommy moment today though.  We have warned the older kids to keep the door to the basement closed and it was left open this afternoon and Bennett took a tumble.  We all felt horrible.  Jackson and Ellie were both trying to console him and Jackson said he was going to give a knuckle sandwich to whoever left the door open.  He seemed to recover pretty well.  But another problem is he likes to chew on cords.  He always seems to find the cords while Miles likes to get into tight spaces.  And I have to clean our carpets and the wood floor more now with their little spit up surprises they leave me. 

This is as close as they get to sitting up right now-they both do this pose

Very curious

And just a couple more pictures.  One day I let Jackson and Ellie make their own sundaes.  They loved doing it and kept telling me thank you. 

And lastly, just a sweet sleeping baby picture.  This is Bennett, Miles had just gotten up and Bennett was still sleeping.  I'm trying to soak in these moments because our life can be pretty fast-paced most of the time.