Preparation

We stay pretty busy around here during the week.  Jackson had British Soccer Camp at the Y this past week.  I thought he wouldn't be too excited about it since he just had baseball camp the week before, but he really liked it.  He was excited to go every day.  It was for three hours in the morning and the guys that worked it (actually British) were great.  Jackson didn't get to participate in our Make Something Monday but he was fine with it because we did Father's Day stuff and he already made something in school.  I had already given Andrew a grill for Father's Day so I had Ellie and Lincoln make him some cards.  I also made a candy jar for his office and they helped me fill it with dark chocolate and put their names on it.

That afternoon the kids played outside quite a bit but I had stuff to get done inside including some office work.  So I set office at the dining room table so I could watch the kids outside.  Jackson had a game Monday night.  Anderw and I both talked with him about having a better attitude and trying hard.  I guess it worked because he tried hard, paid attention, and had a good attitude about it.  His team lost by quite a bit but we were so excited for Jackson.  He was the first one to finally get on base (their pitcher was really good and pretty much struck everyone out) and made some good plays.  We celebrated like he won the championship and all went to eat at La Fuente.  My parents and Andrew's mom were there and Molly met us at the restaurant since she was just getting off work.  We sat outside and it ended up being a real nice evening.  The twins weren't too bad and we didn't have to clean up after dinner.

 

We hit up the library on Tuesday after we dropped Jackson off at soccer practice.  I do have to mention that Jackson decided to make himself some lemonade to take to soccer camp.  But he made it in a water bottle we have that also has a spray feature to it so he was spraying himself with lemonade to cool off-ick.  Ellie has been filling out her reading log and got to pick out a prize-a big sucker.  We picked up a few new books and Ellie and Lincoln tried out their craft of making a geode from mixing together some epsom salt and paint and packing it into a plastic Easter egg.  After we were done there we walked over to Andrew's office to see him real quick since it was right there.

Then we came home to do chores and workbooks and then the kids played outside.  We went to my parents after soccer so the kids could go swimming.  I actually got my suit on and soon after we heard Miles on the monitor crying.  He didn't want to quit.  Lissy was in the house so she checked on him and finally just ended up getting him up.  She had a helper to watch him though.

We ate dinner there and then went to Ellie's ball game.  The twins did pretty well for about 20 minutes in the stroller but then they had enough.  So we let them out and they were off.  They loved to walk along the fence line which was pretty bumpy.  They fell down in the dirt every now and then and ended up with dirty shirts, hands, and faces.

Andrew found a way to get comfortable at the game.

Lissy and Caroline got into town that evening so we went by my parents for a bit afterwards to see them.  I don't know if I have mentioned it or not but Caroline and Jared are moving to Tampa for a job change for Jared.  Jared is already down there and Caroline waited for the movers to finish packing up everything and then came home for a little bit before she heads down to Florida.  After a little visit, it was time to head home and get to bed.  When I went upstairs to tell them good night, Ellie was reading her new Amelia Bedelia book from the library and was loving it.  Jackson was reading his Action Bible and is making his way through the Old Testament.

We planned on going swimming again after soccer practice on Wednesday. Ellie was wanting to invite our neighbor/cousin, Faith so I let her.  I also had her mention to the LaBeths that we were going and they could go to.  They were already going to the Country Club but Gracie wanted to join us.  So I ended up with one extra person in the car which meant Ellie was on the floor board.  I did have to get gas and go by the bank but we made it to my parents' house just fine :-).  They all had so much fun together-lots of giggling.  That evening Jackson had a game and Caroline came with me to watch him play. Ellie wanted to go walk around the park for a bit so she and Caroline took the twins for a little walk. With that distraction, we were able to keep the twins in the stroller for most of the game.  But they were getting pretty rammy by the end and we were right by the parking lot so I didn't want to let them out.  We got to watch Jackson bat a last time and then we left a little early.  Then later that night, Lissy, Caroline, and Molly stopped by the house and surprised the kids with a sleepover.  They showed up at the back door and tried to scare them a bit.  They went by the movie theater first and picked up some big buckets of popcorn.  So they set up down in the basement and watched a movie and tried to sleep.  Jackson ended up back in his bed and Molly went up to Ellie's bed.  But then Ellie and Lincoln got a second wind close to midnight and stayed up later. 

Lissy and Caroline stuck around Thursday morning so that I could do some grocery shopping after I dropped Jackson off at camp.  I was glad I didn't have the kids because it ended up being one of those annoying, frustrating shopping trips where I had trouble finding some things I was looking for and then other things were just out of stock.  While I was gone, they got Miles and Bennett's water table out for them to play with a bit.  Then they headed home when I got back.  In between putting stuff away, doing laundry, and getting lunch going the kids came up with a plan with their friends to do a lemonade stand to raise money for the tornado victims in Oklahoma.  They even made some signs and Jackson and Gracie rode around the neighborhoods with their signs advertising their stand.  Sad thing was that none of us really had much lemonade to use.  They did include some grape kool-aid though and some popsicles.  After some generous donations, they ended up with a little over $60 and a plan to do another one.  They are having to wait until this Thursday since Ellie was heading out of town.  They even had Tiffany do a little video commercial for them on her phone and put it on Facebook. 

Later that afternoon we did a little more swimming and the kids played outside until dark that evening.  Ellie, Faith, and Addi came up with a dance/tumbling routine they performed for us in the yard and it brought back memories of all of our dance performances with the old neighborhood gang.  Jackson even got in on it and opened the performance with a little break dancing.

Ellie was up early the next morning as she left to meet up with Andrew's mom and fly to Michigan to visit the Brimmers.  They were surprising Lauren for her birthday and I think it was a success.  She comes home today and we are so excited to see her again.  From the pictures I got and a couple phone conversations, I can tell she had a great time.  They got to go to the beach on Lake Huron, do some shopping (they got matching outfits), go to an amusement park, the Rainforest Cafe, and more.  I do think she will be ready to be home though-she kept telling me how much she loved me and missed me while we were talking on the phone.  She didn't cry or anything though.  Then she sent me a couple texts from Mary's phone telling me she loved me and missed me :-).  I have to save those. 
Oh, and she lost her other front tooth while she was there.  I told her that I thought that would happen.  She is bringing it home for the tooth fairy though.

Friday was Jackson's last day of soccer camp and they were supposed to have a little tournament and awards ceremony.  But a storm started rolling in.  We went a little early to watch things and they had already moved into the building.  There wasn't a whole lot they could do inside because they could wear their cleats and were slipping around on the floor in their socks.  Also, Jackson's group ended up with just a quarter of the gym, so not much room.  At one point the fire alarms started going off and then there was this long, loud roll of thunder but I think some people thought a tornado was coming.  There was a little bit of chaos but the alarm was just a fluke and the maintenance man got it taken care of.  The soccer coaches filled out evaluation forms for each kid and Jackson got some great comments on his.  He already said he wants to go again next year. 

It rained on and off the rest of the day.  Jackson and Lincoln were out playing at one point when I noticed it was probably going to rain again so I went out to get them home.  Lincoln has been nervous about storms ever since the time he was in the LaBeth's garage when the strong storm started.  You just mention that it might rain and he sprints for the house.  I spent part of the day getting ready for vacation by going through my bag of overnight toiletries to throw away old stuff and see what stuff we needed for vacation.  I also tried to sew up the waistband on some of Lincoln's shorts since they were falling off of him and they were 2T.  My sewing machine kept messing up though I ended up just handstitching them.  I also thought I would sew some of the ties back on Miles and Bennett's crib bumper pads but decided to just take them off.  They were always standing on them and pushing them down which also ripped the ties off.  It was actually kind of sad packing them away though.  I have used them (or at least one of them) with all the kids.  I am keeping them and thinking I may be able to use the fabric for something sentimental for the kids some day.

Friday night we headed out to Matthew and Kristin's for a barbecue with friends.  It was a nice evening and it didn't rain on us.  At one point it got very windy so we moved inside.  The kids had a fun time playing and we had a good time visiting.  Then the next day Andrew headed out early to do some brushogging for most of the day.  The kids and I got some stuff done around the house,  picked up some lunch for my family, and then headed to my parents' house.  Kaitlin and Zane and their kids came into town for the weekend.  We hung out by the pool for part of the day and it was nice.  My dad also a couple new toys out for the kids.  Well, they aren't exactly new since they are from when we were kids, but they were new to them.  They have loved the teeter-totter and the pitching machine.

When we got home that night, Jackson had decided to make a sign for Andrew for Father's Day and also prepped some stuff to make him some toast for breakfast. 

Andrew was up early on Father's Day and went on a bike ride with our neighbor.  They actually ended up going on a longer 30 mile bike ride.  I got to track him online and he kept a great pace for his first 30 mile ride.  Jackson made him his toast and we gave him his cards and gifts when he got home. Then I ran to the store and then he headed out to the ranch when I got home.  We ended up not going to church so that he could go out and help his dad out a bit on Father's Day.  I did get to watch it online though.  That afternoon we were back at my parents.  We gave my dad his gift-a Stan Musial Cardinals shirt along with the beach chair rental for vacation. 

Caroline came over Monday morning so that I could go to my hair appointment.  Kim is always amazed how long it has been since I was last in.  I usually just go around every 6 months.  After I was done with my appointment, I wanted to run my sewing machine by a repair shop.  The lady just had me stay while she looked at it so it took a little longer that I thought it would.  She just adjusted a few things here and there and hopefully it will work better.  Not that I use it too much though.  Then I was on to Ice House to get my car serviced before we head out for vacation.  When I got home, I fed the kids lunch and got stuff ready for the rest of the day.  Sara and her kids got into town so we headed over to my parents to see them.  They had fun playing in the pool but then we had to eat an early dinner and head to Jackson's ball game in LaPlata.  Andrew took him earlier since he has to be there 1/2 hour before the game.  I brought Lincoln and the twins a little later and then my parents, Caroline, and Sara and her kids came after that.  Jackson had another good game.  There were some good plays in the field and he got a good hit.  He was only up to bat twice and walked the first time and got the hit the second time that started a rally for his team.  They have struggled so he was so excited to run over home plate.  After the game, we picked up 1/2 price shakes at Sonic and went to my parents for a little night swimming.  Then Jackson and Lincoln had a sleepover at my parents.