Summer so far in pictures

I am always amazed at the amount of pictures I take with my phone.  I downloaded them to my computer today and from May through July I took about 147 pictures.  I figured by posting all these pictures, it will remind me of some of the things we have done this summer.  No wonder I am so tired.  These pictures don't even include everything.  

Simone swinging at the park.  It was bright out, but it wasn't horribly hot yet.  

The boys playing on the play set at the park.

Joseph wanting to play outside like always.  He looked like a little soccer player here to me.

More outside play.  Loving the sidewalk chalk

Eating some yummy cupcakes from Jilly's.

Not a very good picture because Samuel was moving too much, but this was our first time bowling with the kids.  They loved it.

Eating at FroYo, one of their favorite places

This is difficult to see, but the boys were having a little cuddle time all together in Samuel's bed.

We were face timing my mom because she found a picture of my when I was about 6 months old.  Couldn't believe how much Simone looks like me.

We grew lots of veggies this year and we had some yummy green beans.

Went to the Botanical Garden and fed the fish and walked around.  

Eating brunch at the Botanical Gardens.  It is SOOOO good.  If anyone has a chance to go, it is well worth it.  

All three kids having fun together.  Right before this, Joseph stood on his chair and it folded up and he went flying on the floor.  I ran as fast as I could to grab him and almost wiped out myself because my shoe slipped on my napkin as I jumped up with grab him.  There is always drama.

Simone hanging out with her Uncle Jonathan.

Samuel got to sit in a huge fire truck when we were in Tulsa.  He is afraid of heights so this was a big deal for him to sit up there.

The boys were so tired in Tulsa, we couldn't keep them awake.  

Simone and Papa hanging out on Father's Day

Joseph got to go to a wedding with Savta and Papa.  He thought it was so cool even though he had no idea what he was attending.

Samuel had his very first dentist appointment.  He did awesome and his teeth looked great too.

When we were in Michigan, Joseph was obsessed with this basket of cars.  He clearly never wanted to part with them even in his sleep.  This is how he feel asleep almost the entire time when we were there.  Plus he slept on a cot the entire time too, which was really cool.

All the cousins hanging out in Michigan.  They had matching pajama's and loved being together.  They also loved watched TV at night and eating popcorn.

We started finishing our basement and this was the first step, demolition by the plumbers.  It was a mess and still is a mess.  Not to mention stressful.  The noise, the planning the organizing.  

On a day that was way too hot to go outside, we set up the bounce house.  Everyone needed to get worn out and it did the trick. 

Samuel had an amazing time at Burr-Oak camp.  This was one of their swim demonstrations.  He is actually trying to swim now.  It is really excited.  He wouldn't go off the diving board, because it was too high up.  Maybe next year.

My Dad made these cute little bowls and they are perfect size for Simone portions.  This summer she started eating solid food and she hasn't stopped.  She is an amazing eater and I love it.  There are only a few things she doesn't like: peas, kiwi, pancakes, waffles and not a huge fan of eggs.  

The kids hanging out at night.  

Simone started crawling this summer too!

Went to the zoo and had to get painted.  

Joseph too!

Had to ride the train.

Always like to go to the boat house after the zoo.  Fun for everyone.

Playing outside in the blow up pool and hanging out to dry off.  Clearly the kids love it!

Simone started her quest to becoming a doctor.  

And there you have it.  Summer so far.  We still have one more month to go.  Lots more to do.

Picking

I can't really explain where the weeks have gone.  Life has been super busy.  I think the heat is getting to all of us.  We are all cranky and irritable.  

We also began finishing our basement.  It has been very stressful.  The plumbing is done for now, the HVAC is done for now and the framing is in progress.  It is a mess in the basement with sawdust everywhere.  Dave and I are slowly trying to work our way down the list of things to do.  I picked out all the lights for the basement yesterday.  There is still so much to do.  I think that has added to our crankiness.  

Last weekend was pretty difficult.  The kids were as good as they could be, but it was hot and Dave and I were in a funk so we weren't exactly the most patient of parents.  On Saturday we went to the zoo and saw the new Sea Lion exhibit.  I didn't bring my camera because we just had too much shit with us and it was hot, so I didn't want to carry anything extra.  Of course the kids got some paintings on their arms, we rode the train and walked around a little bit before it was time to go.  We didn't see any animals except for the sea lions.  It was a pretty quick trip.  After the zoo we went to the Boathouse.  We really like the Boathouse, but it still stresses me out being there because I am always worried the kids are going to fall into the water when they are trying to feed the ducks.  The stress of the experience is almost enough for me not to want to go.  The food and beer are both good though.  

The weekend before we intended to go peach picking at Eckert's, but because it has been so hot out they are not allowing peach picking.  The peaches aren't growing like they usually do, so they aren't allowing the public to pick them at every location.  I think one location is allowing limited picking.  They were allowing blackberry, tomato and pepper picking.  It was awesome.  The blackberries were huge and delicious.  We still had a ton of fun.  I posted pictures.  

The week is moving very slowly.  It was 107 yesterday and I have no idea what it is going to be today. When Samuel gets home from camp we are heading to the pool.  We need to wear our kids out so we can all have a nice relaxing evening.  

I have a picture of each of the kids with George, so I had to post one with George and Simone.

Posing

Samuel was striking a pose

Of course Joseph had to as well

On our way to picking

On the tractor to get to the blackberries

This hat lasted on her head long enough for me to take the picture.  She isn't a huge hat fan.

Simone loved her some blackberries

Here we are picking

Yum, lots of blackberries

Picking tomatoes

Samuel was a big helper

Here's what we got

My big girl

On Friday Simone has her 9 month appointment.  Luckily she didn't get any shots, but they will be coming when she turns 1.

Here are her stats.

Height: 28.50 inches (81%)
Weight: 19 lbs, 1.4 oz (55%)
Head: 17.32 inches (50%)

Right now she is tall and skinny.  I thought for sure she would be a higher percentage for weight.  She is so heavy and has rolls everywhere.  I love it!

We had a pretty nice weekend considering it was HOT!!!  We went to the pool on Saturday and played inside the rest of the afternoon. On Sunday, I took the boys for a long walk to the donut store (we were gone for about 45 minutes) and then we stayed in the rest of the day.  Luckily a cold front went through and it will only be 95 today.

The boys both have school/camp, so I am going to try to get all my grocery shopping and cleaning done.

I really wanted to try to get Joseph to use the potty this summer, but he is so stubborn and has not much of a desire.  I think we are moving in the right direction though.  I don't really want to put pressure on him to go in the potty because I know it will happen soon, but he is just so strange.  He has started to tell us all the time when he pees or poops in his diaper and wants to be changed.  The other funny thing he does is jumps up from whatever he is doing, runs into the bathroom, sits on the little potty (with all his clothes on), clearly goes pee, runs out and tells us that he has peed and asks us to change his diaper. If we try to get him to take his diaper off and pee in the potty he screams "NOOOOOOOOO!"  I guess he is just not ready, but it is so strange.  Samuel was so excited to pee in the potty and was pretty much potty trained by Joseph's age.  I am just taking Joseph's lead and encouraging him to tell us when he pees and at some point we will move to actually going in the potty.


Kids are so funny and unique.  I love it!

Someone is already 9 months

I seriously can't believe that Simone is already 9 months old.  She is amazing.  She is happy 98% of the time.  She is still military crawling and every once in a while does a normal crawl.  She has two bottom teeth.  She is starting to pull up in her crib and on some of her toys.  She laughs like crazy at her brothers.  She is a super cuddler.  She is starting to try out more solid foods, but prefers more pureed stuff, but eats almost everything we give her.  

Tomorrow we have her 9 month appointment, so I will post the results.  

I still have not lost all my baby weight.  I still have about 10 more pounds to go.  I am starting to really focus on the food that I am eating and trying to exercise more.  Hopefully by the time she is a year I will be back to where I was when I got pregnant with her.  

Here are some pictures of my princess:

Look at those chubby cheeks.  I just want to squeeze them.

Happy Baby!

A little pose

More smiles

Big eyes

I could post tons of pictures of her because she is just so cute.  

Michigan Trip

We had another extremely busy weekend.  We left on Thursday morning and headed to Michigan for the weekend.  The boys had another weekend of constant activity.  They went fishing, bowling, swimming, slip and sliding, birthday celebrating and just all around fun.  We had so much fun seeing all the family from Canada and getting to celebrate Noah's first birthday.  Also, Samuel and Joseph had so much fun playing and hanging out with their cousin Jacob.

We had a house full of boy biblical names.  We had a Jacob, Samuel, Joseph and Noah.  I just thought that was kind of funny.

I think Dave and I are more worn out then then boys.  We need a few more days to recover.  I did about 7 loads of laundry yesterday and I have two more to do today.  That is always the worst about getting back from vacation.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July.  

Here are some pictures from the wonderful weekend.

Boys getting ready to go fishing.  

Samuel catching his first fish

Aunt Melissa and Simone

Melissa and Jacob

Cousin time.  Eating lunch outside and checking out the aquarium with frogs.

Clearly laughing like crazy

Brotherly love

Painting the bird houses

Having fun painting

The boys with matching pajamas

Being funny boys

Oma and Opa with the grandkids

My handsome Samuel

All the ladies.  Kristen, Melissa, Oma, Simone, me and Aunt Irene

Celebrating little Noah's first birthday

Yummy cupcakes

Simone being happy as always while Uncle Joe is holding her

Joseph is posing for the camera

Another day of fishing 

Such a cute boys picture

Samuel caught another fish

Putting up the bird houses

Putting it on the tree