Backpack Wall

August 12, 2014

Prior to the first day of school, I selfishly made a backpack wall for my kids - for my own sanity!  Each has a chalkboard and a clipboard.  There always seems to be a field trip permit, t-shirt order form, picture day envelope, newsletter, or calendar that I need to keep track of.  With this many kids, I was hoping this little wall would help.  (And it has!)  

Yay me!

Cub Scouts Visit Creech AFB

August 11, 2014

Branson's Cub Scout den had a special pack meeting at Creech Air Force Base.  It was SO cool.  The father of one of the boys in our pack is highly ranked and was able to give us a tour and gain access to the flight simulators for the kids to use.  What a treat!

We were lucky to have Grandaddy join us!  He's a walking book of knowledge.  Grandaddy was able to fly the simulators too and blew up a target - Branson thought that was awesome.    

Branson's Date with Mom

August 9, 2014

Branson earned a date with mom and he decided to take me to King Putt Indoor Mini-Golf!  It's his most-requested date location :)  

The facility is all indoor and black-lighted. 

If I added correctly, we tied!  Crazy.

Afterward, we went to Yogurtland for dessert.  
Thanks, son, for being such a good boy and an excellent example to your sisters.  You're a pretty cool kid.  I love being your mom!!  

Late July 2014

July 12 - August 1, 2014

One of our family's favorite restaurants is IHOP.  Who doesn't like a good breakfast for dinner??  After we paid the check, we walked into the breezeway that leads to the parking lot and found our children looking very intently at some apartment magazines.  They were completely serious.  It kind of cracked me up!

We have the missionaries over for dinner once a month.  The kids love asking them questions.  Branson always wants to sit next to them.  Annika usually has a crush on at least one of them.   

There was no room at the table for another body, so Annika agreed to sit in the Bumbo.  She's not an infant, but she still fits!  She's such a little pixie.

  Natalya loves that her daddy took a little nap on her shoulder.  :)

July 24th, 2015

My daddy's birthday is July 25th, 1934.  He turned 80 this year!  We celebrated on the 24th because of a little birthday surprise we concocted.  I asked all the siblings to contribute to a get-away for my parents for his birthday.  They agreed and I gathered enough money to put them up in the Culver City Hotel with a little extra for dining.  My dad used to mop the hallway floors of the Culver City Hotel when he was a kid.  He went to high school at Alexander Hamilton High.  He set up pins at the local bowling alley.  It was certainly a trip down memory lane!  I asked some of my family members to meet dad and mom for lunch at a local restaurant.  They were able to visit his old home - the one his dad built.  It was a touching experience and I wish I could have been there!  (I can't travel while I'm pregnant.  Boo-hoo.)  Since I couldn't be there, we had a little family party for him instead...

  

I made his favorite - German Chocolate Cake with coconut frosting.

The most special gift I could give my dad was a tribute to him via letters from loved ones.  With my mom's help, we were able to locate email addresses of friends and family from all over.  I asked them for a letter to my dad with a memory or experience they would like to share along with a photograph.  The result was astounding.  I received letters from people around the globe all praising my dad for countless reasons.  He inspired some to be better, he was an impressive scout leader and airplane instructor, he helped testimonies of Jesus Christ to grow, he was an involved parent, and he taught most of the pacific coast to water ski.  He is one extraordinary man!  Our hats off to you, Dad!

We made it to August!  The kids spent a couple weeks in swimming lessons.  Erin has been their instructor for years - and Annika was finally old enough to join her siblings and cousins!  The LOVE to swim.

A Special Announcement

July 12, 2014

After a few weeks of being sick all the time and unable to hide it from the kids (they thought I had a perpetual flu) we decided to tell them that we were expecting.  

I called my friend Sarah and asked if she wouldn't mind taking a few pictures of the family's reaction as they discovered the news...

 First I had them line up.  

Then I passed out little chalkboards with their ages on them. 

Then I showed them the last chalkboard - the one that daddy and I would hold. Written on it was, "1st trimester".

It took a second to sink in.  Then Natalya said, "Trimester?  Seriously?  You're going to have a baby?!"

That's when Branson said, "If it's another girl, I'm going to punch this tree 'til it explodes."  We laughed.

Natalya reiterated the news to the little girls.  Their blank stares turned quickly into smiles and hugs... 

I think Annika is still digesting the news. 

Welcome to our family, little one!  We're beyond excited!!

July beginnings, 2014

July 1-11, 2014

We started July with a bang!  July 1st was Grandma's birthday.  We made it special with balloons, taco salad, and yummy cupcakes.  Happy 78th, Mom!!  You are in integral part of our family.  We love you so much!

On July 2nd we swam a lot.  My little fearless Annika will not drown on my watch!



Independence Day

We made the 4th of July extra special this year.  It was fun to dress up and be festive.  The weather was gorgeous. We decided to spend a day with the cousins!  We really enjoy being able to spend holidays together.   

It's a party!  (Well, it's always a party when the cousins come over.)

Then we made our way to Providence for their annual 4th of July fireworks display.  Beforehand, we went to the cousin's house to light our own fireworks. 

Uncle Bryan lighting the snakes  

I'm not sure why, but kids always think the little growing snakes are SO cool.  Maybe not James.  I think he's trying to hide in the garage.

Sparklers are the best!  Who doesn't like to write their name in the air with fire?

Once it was dark, we walked to the Knickerboker Park for the big fireworks display.  They always orchestrate it to music.  The kids were completely captivated - then completely wiped out.  I'm pretty sure there were at least 2 kids asleep on the walk home.  That's a sign of a fun-filled 4th! 

July 5th, 2014 

5:30am

I woke up before Brian did because I wanted to take a special test...

Upon reading the results, I then rooted around the garage for a cute pair of non-gender-specific shoes, took our chalkboard off the wall to make a "Congrats" sign, and slipped the pregnancy test inside the shoe...

When he woke up, he was shocked and delighted to find we were expecting another little Reeve!  This sweetheart is due May 9th, 2015.  More details to come :)

  

July 6th we played a lot of Qwirkle, the kids new favorite game.  It's kind of like Dominos, but cooler.

July 10th was a visit to the dentist.  My kids LOVE going to the dentist.  Why?  The waiting room has toys and a TV.  They have a restroom with a tiny potty.  The staff is nice.  The dentist is cool.      They get prizes.  And they never have any cavities.  Annika is the best patient ever.

July 11th was Natalya's performance for parents after attending musical theater camp.  She was the lead roll.  So talented!!  I'm definitely a proud mommy.