July 2016

Can't keep this lady upright!  She LOVES flips and turns and everything gymnastics!

Celebratory frozen yogurt after another t-ball season!

Watching "Dad's Challenge" - aka a Crossfit Competition.

Second place!

Before the storm came and the competition had to be moved indoors - it was right in front of the capital building and the kids had fun running and climbing around!

Fourth of July

We had some friends over before fireworks in the park for the Fourth.  We took a gamble on being able to see any, but it worked out great!  This was the first time we let them stay up for the fireworks and they LOVED it!

Kids love taking their friends to visit Dad (and just going to visit Dad in general!).  This day the Barnard's joined us - always cracks me up how Rudy acts like he runs the place, showing everyone around..

Rockin' out!

Doing some decorating in the boys' bedroom

Home haircuts!

Ben watched from a distance - he is NOT liking the idea of a haircut, as much as everyone suggests he needs it..

Mom and I completed another mosaic wall!  My favorite one, so far!

Believe it or not, John and I actually went out one afternoon without kids!  We spent the afternoon at a couple wineries around Springfield with some friends - so much fun!

Cast buddies!

Poor Bubs - he was running while holding a sucker in each hand (he's known for needing to always have 2) when he tripped and fell forward.  The suckers kept him from breaking his fall very well and he ended up with a fractured arm.  Of course the fall happened around 7 pm and I didn't take him to the doc until the next morning.  He really wasn't in that much distress, but would not use his right arm at all.  John had the honor of taking him, while I took Avery to gymnastics.  He brought him by afterwards and JP was there too, showing off his latest accessory as well! 

Avery, the little nurse

Even though the cast was waterproof (and MUCH MUCH easier to deal with compared to Avery's leg), we didn't think it was Lake Springfield water-proof.

John and Ben spent some time together while I took the others on a boat ride with the Lindsay's that we had been scheduling (and rescheduling) for months!

SO much fun and we really wore these babes out!  But we really missed Dad and Ben... next time...

Catching Rudy and Rufus in some serious snuggle action

A few of the Keough's came in town, so we were able to spend some time with them and Isabela.  A little mini-golf, go-gart, candy shop fun!

Ever since I can remember, Mom has been "pranking" Tony and I on April 1 by telling us there is a pink elephant outside our window... she's gone as far as taping pictures of elephants on the windows, even sent me a card when I first moved out for me to check outside on April 1 (like she somehow managed to plan it right that it arrived on April Fools' Day).  So you can imagine my excitement when I woke up one day and called to tell her that THERE REALLY IS A PINK ELEPHANT OUTSIDE MY WINDOW!!

Our neighbors across the street were having a 70th birthday party and hired the elephant to come hang out for the day!  It was quite a hit!!

And also so distracting walking around the house that day - I mean seriously, this giant thing was right outside our window!

While the kids took naps that afternoon Mom and I worked out the basement stair project...

Check it out!  Wallpaper on the backs of the stairs - I LOVE how it turned out!!

When they woke up, it was back outside for more elephant action!  And we had to call the neighbors over to come check it out, too!  It definitely isn't every day that this monstrosity is hanging out at your house!