Andrew Turns 7

What do you possibly get a boy who already has so many toys and games?? Andrew has always liked playing golf and is already pretty good at it. We decided a good set of clubs might be fun this year. He absolutely LOVED it! Mike got him some real golf balls as well as some practice balls. He wrapped them up and had him open them before he opened up the clubs. His reaction was something like this:



He was trying so hard to not be ungrateful but you could see in his expression that he was confused as to why he was getting golf balls for his birthday. Then we told him his big present was in Emma's playhouse. It was so much fun to see his excitement.



Mike spent some time showing him how to use the driver with the practice balls of course. Since we have two golf courses right near us I am sure the two of them will have a blast hitting balls at the range.



This year Andrew got to pick two friends and Mike took them to the miniature golf course to play a round of 18 holes. Ever since his birthday he has been asking to go back and play golf. Oh how the simple things in life make a child so happy! Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Summer Adventures

We have some great friends out here in Washington. Some of our friends have this amazing boat and took us out for some summer fun. Originally it was just going to be the boys but then the I decided last minute to get the girls ready to go and have some fun too! I was planning on just relaxing in the boat and enjoying the great summer day....but...I guess it just wouldn't be me if I didn't do something crazy. With only a couple weeks after having Abigail I felt good enough to try something new. Anyone who knows me really well knows that I do not like swimming in the lake. There are not many things that I won't try but it did take a little encouraging to get me in the water. My last experience wakeboarding wasn't that memorable as the lake was cold and it was an eerie day. I did end up getting up after a couple of tries and although the picture is not that flattering I had to post it as proof!

It truly was a miracle that Andrew got on the tube. A couple of years ago Andrew was riding on the tube and when the boat was stopped he let go and when the boat started again he fell into the lake. For a kid who has had a rough go with getting used to swimming, this was not a good thing to happen. He is older now and a little more comfortable in the water. I was so proud of him for getting back on the tube and having fun. Both of the boys had a blast.


Emma loved the boat and had fun walking from the front of the boat to the back. She made me a little nervous at times but overall she was a pretty good listener. Abigail was amazing as usual and slept pretty much the whole time. We sure love our good summer days here AND of course we love that our friends were so nice to share their boat with us!

PHOTOholic

I will be the first to admit that I have an addiction in taking way too many pictures. I just can't help myself. I would say that I have already taken more pictures of Abigail in her first week of life than I did for the first month with any of my other three kids. I have always heard that the last kids usually get less pictures taken of them...I guess I have broken that myth here. It has been fun to try new things so as to not have any regrets this time around. I remember looking back through pictures of Emma when she was really little and being disappointed that there were not that many of her and Mike. I realized that it is never too late and to just be better in the future. So now I take pictures whenever I can of my family. I am known in my family as the picture nazi. I have calmed down a bit over time and have learned that sometimes it is not worth the fight with my kids to get them to pose for me. So to all you picture lovers---just keep taking pictures and don't let anyone give you lip about it! Here are some more pictures for your viewing pleasure!

SISTERS



GRANDPARENTS



SIBLINGS

Dad and Abigail

There is nothing more precious than a father holding his sweet little one. I have really enjoyed watching Mike with Abigail this past week. He just adores her and loves to be able to spend a little one on one time with her each day. I am amazed at how much love Mike has for each of our children. He really is quite an amazing daddy!