Sweet Summer Sleeps

The kids have had the most amazing summer sleeps.  Almost every night during this summer, they have slept in the garage, in their "playroom".

And to top it off, they got to sleep on the trampoline too on a warm summer night.

I didn't think they would make it the entire night....

...but they did!

They were covered in mosquito bites...but they did it! 

I think we are all dreading the normality of back to school.....

Early Morning Love Notes

I found these sweet little notes on the breakfast table early one morning when Rich had to leave before we got up. 
I love this man...and his sense of humor...

Last Days of Summer

We're packing in some last minute stuff this summer.
I'm trying to squeeze in some stuff that hasn't been done...in our last couple of days before I lose my kids again to school.
(Yeah, that is how I feel...I'm not ashamed.)

This summer, the kids have been collecting glass, cans, and bottles to earn some extra money.
We finally sorted it out, and took it in to get their cash. 

 
 
 
 I rounded it up...just to make it all worth it.

We also squeezed in a slurpee date, as well as back to school haircuts for the girls.  A day well spent I will say!
 
 
 
 
 They've been pretty busy today just playing. They know that school starts in two days, and I think they would rather hang out with each other, in jammies, building (dreaded) forts, and playing outside in the sunshine, then watching TV - which is a complete shocker to me!

The countdown is on!

The Fair

Yep...It's that time again!
Fair time!!! Yay!

Brynn entered in a postcard entry, and an entry for the sticker.  She got a participation award, and a ticket for free entry into the fair...which means that we got a free ticket into the fair.
 

 We checked out all the exhibits.  This one was particularly hard for me to watch, and after a few minutes I begged Rich to make them come down....

We went to the petting zoo...and washed hands afterwards.
 
 
Each of the kids rode a ride...singular. 
Cannon picked the giant slide....for $3.

Maeve picked the motorcycles...for $3.

And Brynn picked the drop zone...for $6.  EEEEEEK.

 
The flower show was pretty cool, and it was "fun" keeping all 6 kids out of the fountain, and the sand display.
 
 
 
And we had lots and lots and lots of "fun" trying to shove ourselves into the photo booth for our annual picture.  And I think it's official.  We don't fit anymore..


 The whole evening was pretty fun, and then this guy let us know that he was pretty much done with the whole thing.  That, and everything was closing....

Sheesh....

I made eggs for the kids this morning as a side to go with their healthy *ahem* doughnut. 

After they each took a bite, Cannon says to me, "Excuse me Mom.  What cooking school did you go to?  The school of 'Cook-your-eggs-so-hot-that-they-burn-your-kids-mouth' school???"

Uhhm.  What?!?!?!

Vroom Vroooom

Yep. He's finally into them.
They line the hallways, and kitchen table, the crib railing, and at any given time you will find one clutched in his chubby little fist.
He loves his cars!

Buttercup

She's sweet.
She's got four feet...and a tail!
She's Brynn's new love.

Manchester Camping

Our second camping trip was a success!
We drove up to Manchester KOA and met up with two other families up there for a weekend (and then an extra day for us) of beach camping.
And when I say "beach camping" its code for freezing cold, windy, foggy camping. 
Just so we are all clear here.

The packing was super duper easy.  I basically just took out all the clothes that I had just washed from the weekend camping trip before, and shoved them back into the suitcase.  Then I added a few more jackets and pants and socks and jammies for the kids so that they wouldn't freeze to death.  I should have done the same for myself...

The drive was long.
Really, long. 
But I looked back a few times to see this cute little scene....
 
....and this cute little scene.  (Yes, that's the barf bucket.)
 
I won't pretend that I took the rest of these pics.  My camera battery basically died about 3 seconds after we pulled into the place.  These pics are courtesy of Kerri...who was never more then 2 feet from her camera.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We had load of fun, despite the frigid temps.  Lots of dirt, lots of campfires, lots of yummy food, lots of laughter, lots of beer. 
 
And, like any good trip, that needs to be ended with a moment to remember for a lifetime, we got that.  Here it is....
Me to Cannon:"Whoa.  Your face is really pale.  And your lips are white."
Me to Rich:"Uh, honey, that kid is gonna puke. You need to pull over and let him walk it off for a little bit."
Cough, gag, heave, puke. (Hello there smell of half digested cheese-its)
Me to Rich: "Change that. You need to pull over so we can dump the barf bucket."
Good times, good times.

Yay!
I survived!!
Barely.