Summer Happenings

Besides our trip to TN last month, we've had a pretty mellow summer. Jay has taken the kids on a couple of little camping trips now that they have LOVED. We have decided that we definitely want to be a camping family. For the time being though, it will have to be Jay and the older ones doing the camping while I hang out with the little guys. (Yes, that was plural. I don't think that I've mentioned it here, but I am, in fact, already pregnant again. Life is going to get especially crazy come the end of January when we have a not-quite-16 month old, and a newborn! More on that another time though.) The last camping trip was just a boys trip, so Addi and Tate and I hung out and had some time together. We went for tea one afternoon because Addi thought it would be a good idea to do something "girly" while the boys were away. We've been to trying to get to the beach and the lake whenever we can, but haven't made it as much as last summer. It's a little different this year now that we're back to baby restrictions and nap times. We're not quite as foot loose and fancy free!

Now I'm focused on getting us ready to start school again. I spend my evenings trying to plan out our strict schedule that we will never adhere to. But, I do it anyway. I figure that I have to start out especially organized this year, so that come January when there's another baby, I will feel like we've got school things under control and running smoothly. The kids are starting back up with soccer this week and we are planning on starting our first day back to school on the 29th, the same day that Jay starts back teaching at Biola. So, we're beginning to get a little more structure back into our days.

Tate is still doing awesome. He's got the army crawl down, which is pretty funny to watch. I don't know why he won't get up on his knees, but he manages to drag himself around just fine. He's a happy kid. He definitely doesn't like to be too far from me, but I can't say that I blame him! :)

 Well, he's usually a happy kid! 

My birthday was in July, and the kids and Jay framed this, "10 Things We Love About Mommy." They took turns coming up with each thing and writing it out. Addi's are the purple ones, Jake's are the red ones, and Jay's are the blue ones. I loved it! 

Tennessee

We went to Tennessee a month ago to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and all the kids, and had a great time. I got to see their newest addition (#5!) for the first time, and Jake and Addi had such a great time spending time with their cousins. They did not have a bad moment between them even after spending all day together, everyday, for a week. Here are some pictures from the trip.

The Girls

Dance parties on the bed were pretty much a daily occurrence. 

The Boys

The Babes

The Newest Addition

(Sorry for the dark picture...it's all I've got!)

 Both times that we have visited, we have stayed at this cute little log cabin, surrounded by nature. One of our favorite things is to sit in the rocking chairs on the covered porch and listen to the bugs, watch the deer, horses, and turkey, and watch the rain pour down.

 Jake, on the other hand, prefers not to just watch the rain.

We came prepared with the BB gun this time. I think we could fit right in in TN!

 Tate did really well for his first time traveling. As I've mentioned, he is NOT my best sleeper, so we had some concerns that he wouldn't sleep at all in new surroundings and on a different schedule. He did a great job though.

Jake and Addi loved getting to feed the horses too. 

If you ask Addi what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you without hesitation that she wants to be a cowgirl and she wants to work with Daddy. She has the cowgirl thing down pretty well (minus actually knowing how to ride a horse and work on a farm :) ). She really does love horses though.

 We visited downtown Nashville this time to meet some friends of ours for dinner one night. 

 This girl was a Kindergarten student of mine 11 years ago. She's 16 now!

She convinced Addi to get out on the dance floor to learn a line dance. Jake was having none of it though. Our friend even tried to bribe him with $5, and he still wouldn't get out there. 

 We visited a nearby lake one day with the kids. We brought a picnic and a blow-up boat with paddles. What more do you need?

 The whole gang...almost (just missing a couple!).

 The kids did not want to say goodbye, but we're hoping to be back again very soon!