Friends Are a Blessing

Today went by pretty fast, probably because we kept very busy. The boys played inside this morning before we met some friends at the pool. When I asked Drew to take his basketball hoop back down to the basement he decided this would be the best way to transport it... surprisingly it worked!

At 10:30 we headed to the pool to meet up with a few of the moms from play group plus Lisa came over with the girls. It was a beautiful sunny day and the pool water was nice and warm. It's so much more fun to hit the pool with friends along!

Drew and Ellie are best buddies and where one is the other is usually nearby.

Reese and Grace are usually together as well. That's because they are usually both eating!

Claire and Annabelle are both very laid back girls and they enjoyed hanging out in Claire's wagon together.

My beautiful neice, Annabelle.

Lyla (9 months) trying to sleep - wishing she was in her crib.

Calla (2 yrs/old). Isn't she a cutie?!

Mallory (almost 2), also a cutie and soon to be a big sister!

Three Day Weekend

Tom took Friday off work to hang out with the family. He was able to go golfing with a friend in the morning. In the afternoon, we took the kids to Impression 5 Science Museum. The boys liked showing Dad around - they headed straight to the bubble room.

Drew is actually inside a bubble

Tom LOVES science and had as much fun as the kids checking things out.

Tom did a little experiment of his own today (Sunday). It's no secret our boys love to eat. They especially love "circle sandwiches" - that is a PB & J sandwich with the crusts cut off. Tom decided to let them eat a circle sandwich whenever they asked for one today... they ate 6 sandwiches EACH throughout the day... that was an entire loaf of bread in one day! I'm still not sure how we'll afford our grocery bills in the years to come!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub Two Kids in the Tub

Claire and Levi - this picture is great ammo to embarrass them when they're 16!The kids and I had such a great time in Ohio last week!! We all missed Tom, who had to work, but it was great to get the rest of the family together. Thanks so much to Mom and Dad for hosting us all and putting up with a chaotic house for a few days.

The boys were very proud of their "cup tower". It sure came down a lot faster than it went up :)

I think one of the highlights of our time in Ohio was seeing the boys bond with Uncle Anthony. Poor Anthony usually had both boys hanging all over him. One more year and Levi will be right in there wrestling and playing football with "the guys".

Another highlight was seeing what a wonderful mom Tami is to Levi (though it doesn't surprise me at all!).

I LOVED seeing Levi. What a joy to watch him, so happy and healthy, crawling all over the place. He is definitely ALL BOY! Hands down Levi has the best laugh of any child I've ever seen!

I cannot get over how blessed I am to have married into such a great family.

Bath for One

Claire had a good time in her bath tonight. It was nice to be able to relax and let her enjoy playing in the water. Usually I'm hurrying to get her out so the boys can take their bath.

After her bath Tom was playing the guitar and Claire started dancing (sorry it's so dark - you can't even tell she's smiling!). All three of our kids love when Tom plays music!!

Tomorrow we head to my parents' house for lunch. Dave, Leah and Jacob are in town so we'll get to hang out with them. Yeah!

Down to One

The boys have been in Ohio with Grandma and Grandpa Gheen since Tuesday. I miss them but I am enjoying some one-on-one time with Claire during the day. I finally got out some of our "baby" toys for her to play with and she is having a blast. I know she misses her brothers but I think she is enjoying the quiet house as much as I am :)

The day before they left for Ohio the boys grabbed every pillow and blanket they could find and made a landing pad so they could jump off the stairs. The funny thing is, I remember doing the exact same thing when I was a kid. When they tired of that they moved all their toys from their play room in the basement...

to the bathroom in the basement. At least they were getting along really well that day!

What a Weekend!

This was a fun weekend. Friday night we had a babysitter for the boys. I went to dinner with my mom and sisters while Tom watched live, fake wrestling in our friends' basement (it's too hard to explain, you'll just have to use your imagination). Saturday we went to a party at a friend's house with all the families from Play Group. After the party we headed to the pool. Tom took the videos below of Andrew in the pool. I think Drew liked showing off his swimming skills for Daddy.

Saturday night we grilled out and enjoyed eating on the new deck. Sunday morning we went to church, went swimming (surprise), and then I spent a few kid-free hours with the girls from Play Group. We went shopping and out to dinner - what a blast! Tom and the boys enjoyed some "guy time" and my sister watched Claire for me. Now it's Monday morning and we'll be on our way to Play Group in a couple of hours... I feel spoiled rotten! :)

Another Day...

...at the pool. It was so nice out today we didn't even consider it an option to NOT go swimming. Drew is getting better and better every day. Today, he was diving into the deep end and swimming across the pool all by himself (my mom or I were right there just in case).

Reese swam for a while but I think the highlight of his day was the ice cream cone :)

This is where Claire usually hangs out... in the shade.

She did swim a little today and had a great time in the water!

What a pretty girl in her little pink suit!