July 7, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• Big day today and my people were pretty excited about it. Robby cut the boys hair early this morning-actually as soon as poor Whitman walked down the steps, he was snatched up and sat on a stool outside and began to get his summer do.
• Robby then ran to the grocery store to pick up a few things along with lunchables for our day. At 9:40, my crew loaded up and we headed downtown. We didn't get very far before we had to turn around-I had forgotten my phone. I knew that we were forgetting something and thankfully I checked before we passed the no turn around zone (though I'm not really sure where that would have been.)
• We weren't the last ones to arrive, even with our little turn around. We met our buddies (6 moms and 19 friends) making the total of our group 32. Amber had arranged an outing downtown today beginning with the Clinton Library bug exhibit. 
• There was not a whole lot to the bug exhibit-just a bunch of big bugs. The kids still enjoyed it and after we had finished the bugs, we walked through the Clinton part of the library. My Reagan was a good help with some of the little kids and my boys seemed to enjoy reading some of the information. 
• But always, the highlight for my people is watching the video. You would not believe but all of those kiddos sat completely still watching the video about Clinton. After the video, we headed out of the library towards a few picnic tables.
• Everyone had lunch and even though it was warm, we were in the shade and it was pleasant. My boys ran to check on the trolley stop and indeed it was the stop we wanted. After lunch, we caught the trolley and rode to the River Market area. There we beelined on to the splash pad.
• I had been pretty adamant that we weren't going to get wet but before I knew it, I was taking shoes off, taking Whitman's shirt off and urging them to try to stay dry. Ha! That only lasted for about 2 seconds and then Campbell was laying in the middle of the splash pad soaking wet.
• The only one of mine who stayed dryish was Reagan-she didn't want to walk around in wet clothes. I took my big 3, Whitman and two other kiddos over to the playground for a few minutes. It took Graham exactly 24 seconds to fall and hurt his foot. He probably sprained his ankle but he just doesn't manage pain well and was squealing like a pig. I calmed him down and sat him in the shade while the others played.
• After the played some, Whitman decided that he wanted to go back to the water and I let him. The boys even got a bit wet again-of course their clothes dried much quicker than Keaton and Campbell's blue jean shorts (not sure what I was thinking there.)
• After everyone was finished splashing we headed back towards the Clinton library and our cars. We thought that we might could catch a trolley but waiting in the sun just wouldn't do so after a bit of walking, we were soon there.
• It was hot, hot and we were all dripping wet with sweat-my people were dragging a bit but I could have stayed a bit longer there was still so much to do (box sledding, the bridge by the library and my list goes on.) 
• Anderson went ahead to the car to turn it on and turned the air on full blast. Then they started talking about their Sonic drink orders-I told my crew that their behavior had been so excellent today that I would upgrade their drinks to mediums and let them add candy to their slushes. It was like Christmas morning in my car!
• I was still sweating when we arrived at Sonic but soon everyone had cooled off with their drinks. Then it was time to drop Whitman off at Nonna's house. It is his turn to spend the night with Nonna. He couldn't wait and didn't even mind me taking him inside with only his undies on. His shorts were still a bit damp from the splash pad.
• Once the rest of us made it home, the kids unloaded and then put on dry clothes. They vegged pretty much most of the afternoon long. I worked on a bit of school and soon it was supper time. Robby and I heated up nachos in our toaster oven. These were the best ones yet-beans, chicken, cheese, salsa, sour cream-absolutely delicious!
• After supper, we all went to the bonus room to watch Beauty and the Beast. It is one of my favorites and the kids enjoyed it too. We had popcorn and coke as our snack and afterwards, it was bedtime for the crew. It had been a big day and tomorrow is shaping up to be another full day.

July 6, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• Imagine my shock today when I walked through the house this morning and saw that Reagan was awake. I did a double take on the time when I neared a clock just to make sure that I wasn't crazy behind my schedule. She is never wake that early without someone waking her up.
• I had the chore list on the kitchen table and the kids quickly started on it. Keaton was the only one with school work-he reading book which we will be doing for a while and her preschool phonics pages when I am scrambling trying for her to finish up. 
• I had finished the treadmill and the kids were putting on their bathing suits when Robby came downstairs telling me that he had broken my treadmill. I guess after 13 years if has finally bit the dust. Can't complain to much about that.
• We loaded up and headed to the pool to meet all of our buddies. When the kid total from our group was added it up, there were 17 kiddos. Which is funny because it doesn't seem like that many.
• I had a dentist appointment at 2 and Robby came to watch the kiddos while I ran there. No cavities for me! The kids enjoyed the pool and playing with all of their friends. They enjoy the pool so much more when everyone is there playing with them.
• Once at home, the kids changed and soon the neighbors were out. Before I realized it, it was after 5 and people would soon be arriving at the house.
• Robby's cousin and her family along with Grannymom, Grandpa, Dana, Lilly and Cash stopped by. We had oreo delight, brownies and Grannymom had a pecan dessert. After eating, the kids took off and played kickball outside and then moved to spoons and xbox upstairs. 
• Everyone stayed for a while and when they left after 9, we finally got around to feeding the kiddos supper. Even though they had eaten dessert, they were still starving.  Once everyone had eaten, they showered and were in bed before they knew it.

July 5, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• The storm briefly woke Robby and I up this morning. Graham said that he heard it too. Whitman overheard us talking about it and said that he didn't hear the storm at all because he was snoring too loud.
• Graham was the first one up and he slept an hour later than usual (until 8) so the rest of us all slept later than usual as well which was wonderful. Reagan was the last one awake but she was up fairly soon after the rest of us. 
• Everyone had breakfast and we started on their chores. Today the kids had to write a paragraph and everyone but Reagan wrote about the 4th of July. Reagan wrote a paragraph about Hawaii. When she was trying to read my scribbled out list, she thought that it said write 10 paragraphs. Glad she asked before she got too far!
• At 11:30 we loaded up and headed to the library. I had run out of book to read to Whitman. I try to read him a story so he can get his attention tank full before I go off and do what I need to do like the treadmill or chores.
• We left the library with around 40 new books-Anderson found some Star Wars books, Graham found lots of sports books, Campbell found a few books to read (she really wants to read long books but still just needs shorter chapter books), Keaton found a few to read with me and I just grabbed most any book I could find for Whitman.
• Once at home, we unloaded and sorted out books. Then it was clean out the fridge time-lunch consisted of sausage corn bread, baked beans, pizza, hamburger and a few tortillas. Afterwards, we quickly picked up the house and then the kids played their ipads for a bit. Soon the neighbors were out and my crew migrated outside.
• Before Anderson went outside, he and I worked on his planet mobile. We finally finished and then hung it in the school room. He was pleased but by the time we finished he was anxious to get outside. Everyone played outside until nearly 7. Anderson did come in before everyone else but then went back out for a little bit. The girls ended the evening by starting to paint some rocks.
• When the neighbors had to go in, my kids showered and then we had supper. After supper, I popped some popcorn for our BBQ tv show that we watched before bedtime.

July 4, 2017-Happy Independence Day!

(click here for today's pictures)

• Last night I decided that there was no reason for me to set my alarm so I did not. But it didn't matter at all because Graham was in our room first asking if he could play the xbox. Then Campbell came and joined us in bed and Whitman was next to climb in-all before 7:30. 
• Most everyone was awake this morning before we did get out of bed. I did have to help Keaton and Whitman pour their milk. After a bit, I did urge everyone to start on their chores. Today's chores included a math page from the math book that they were working on in May.
• Everyone did surprisingly well on their math page. I helped Campbell the least (addition of hundreds and thousands) and Reagan went right to work and remembered most things (decimals and some beginning algebra with decimals.) Graham needed a bit of help (dividing with remainders) and Anderson probably needed the most help (fractions) but overall, I would consider it a success and am not too worried about starting back to school.
• Around 11, we loaded up and headed to the pool. Brett and Layne joined us along with Grannymom and Grandpa. The kids swam and swam-even when it was time to stop for lunch, they opted to keep on swimming and eat during adult swim. 
• The food was plentiful as usual and just as we had finished eating, it started raining. The rain was steady but not crazy and after a while the sun began shining again. The kids swam through the rain and didn't even seem to notice.
• At 2, I left with Grandpa to drop him off at his house and pick up something from there. As I walked inside, I thought I heard thunder and soon my phone was ringing. I had planned on running to the store to pick up a few things but lightening and thunder caused the pool to close for a bit.
• Robby called to tell me to just come and pick them up since by the time they could get back in the water, it would be time to go. When I arrived back at the pool, it was raining like crazy. A pool umbrella flew through the air and I became wetter than if I had swam myself. 
• It was a rainy mess but the kids will remember it forever. They were already soaking wet but by the time they rain to the car, they were even wetter. We had a few errands before we arrived home.
• Robby did drop me off at Kroger to pick up a few things and there power was out but people were still checking out so I grabbed my items and headed to the front. Crazy man was behind me and asked to go in front of me and of course I said yes to get him out of the store. As I checked out, I was extra kind and thankful to the cashier after he had to deal with crazy.
• We dropped off Brett and Layne and once at home, the kids changed and I made my beans. Then I played a game of chess with Anderson. I let him win-not really, I was pretty close to winning but gracious I just don't know much chess strategy and he quickly overtook my king.
• Before too long, I realized that I didn't have too much time and was throwing my sausage cornbread in the oven. It is my absolute favorite. Then Robby called everyone who wanted to help to come and make our s'mores dish. Anderson opted to not help and told me that he just enjoyed eating s'mores, not making them.
• It was a mess but all of the kids enjoyed making them. We dipped the marshmallows in colored sugar and then shaped them in to a flag. It was really neat and pretty good too once the marshmallows and chocolate was melted.
• Once the s'mores were made, we loaded up and headed to the Wilson's house. The Little family was there too and the kids had plenty of people to play with. They ran raound and played card game after card game. Tony and Shannon had made lots of food-including some delicious chicken and Shannon's famous potato salad. 
• When Tony could wait no longer, it was firework time. We started with sparklers and Keaton did not want to do one at all. She was a bit afraid of touching the fireworks even though she loved watching them. Whitman loved watching them but he kept his hands firmly over his hears except when he was using the restroom in the grass during the firework show.
• The kids liked the fireworks but I think that there favorite was lighting the Roman candles. Whitman was with me away from everyone else when he took off towards the others-he saw they were doing something that he wasn't. Soon he had his turn.
• We didn't want Keaton to miss out so I brought her down so she could do one. She wasn't too excited about it. I held her hand as she held onto the firework and she didn't seem to mind it at all.
• We stayed much later than we should have since it is the middle of the week. The kids had to have showers when we came home and as soon as they were dry, we were handing them toothbrushes and putting covers over them. 

July 3, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• The alarm started ringing fairly early this morning and I was ready to get up and get the first part of this day over with-Keaton's CT scan. Around 9, Keaton and I jumped into the car and headed to Children's. 
• When we arrived, it was sprinkling and I asked Keaton if we should take the umbrella or just get wet. She opted for wet! It didn't take us too long to find radiology. We checked in and then started working on her reading book and school work. 
• Soon, we were called back and the nurse lady was great. She explained everything to Keaton and Keaton laid up there like a pro as still as she could be. The only catch was that she almost had a melt down when I had to take her earrings off. For some reason she is convinced that changing her earrings hurts. 
• After the scan, I had asked if she could see a picture of her brain and the lady took her back to see it. Keaton told me that there were like 24 of them. Then they went to pick out a few goodies for her-colored pencils, a coloring book, a sticker, a stuffed animal, a tiny Sprite and a rice krispy treat. That just made Keaton's day and she was ready to go back and do it all again.
• Of course it was pouring when we left so we made a run for it to the car. We dropped my Pennys to make an exchange and then headed to the Wilsons. Robby had a funeral to go to this morning so he took Whitman to hang out with Shannon. Everyone else hung out at home and completed my long list of chores.
• When we arrived home, the kids had completed their lists with halfway excellence so I counted that as good. I went to work unloading and straightening and soon it was lunch time. Everyone ate lunch and before I knew it, it was nearly 2 and I was on the treadmill for a few minutes.
• We then picked up the neighbors and headed to the pool. We had to take two cars since my seat is out in the big van therefore, we didn't have enough room for everyone. That was fine though and then kids loved playing with their buddies. Robby and I didn't get in but we probably should have since the breeze was nice at first but then it became pretty warm.
• The pool closed at 5, so Robby picked up pizza on the way home and even the neighbor kids came over to eat. Afterwards, they all played card game after card game in the kitchen while Robby and I worked on rice krispy treats. 
• After the neighbors left, my kiddos showered and then Reagan worked on her American flag sugar cookie to take to the pool tomorrow. Then it was time to watch a few tv shows before going to bed. Whitman fell asleep before the shows were over and I had to carry him up the stairs-he is not as light as he used to be!

July 2, 2017

(click here for today's pictures

• Sunday morning and I nearly lost my religion before I made it into the church house. Graham asked to eat the leftover doughnuts this morning and I said that he could. Seconds later he came to tell me that ants had gotten to them. That was about 8 bucks wasted. 
• A few minutes later, Anderson came in asking me to button his pants. I could not since they were Grahams. He said that Graham must have on his shorts so I checked and Graham had on his on. So I had to go upstairs to find Anderson's correct shorts but instead of changing he just wanted for me to button his pants. There was no way that was going to happen. 
• My Keaton has about 100 summer dresses and she couldn't find any one of them that she wanted to wear. She asked me for help and I tried and tried but then I told her that she didn't really want my help and I needed to get ready. She came downstairs wearing a winter outfit and I just didn't car at all!
• Campbell didn't want to wear a dress at all even though she has a few cute ones. That was fine and I told her that she would need to wear her jeans with a top that she picked out. When she came down the stairs, she was wearing leggings and not the jeans that I had told her. I sent her back upstairs to change and she was none to happy.
• We finally made it to church, dressed and with smiles on our faces. But gracious those smiles didn't last long. I had a smart mouth third grader in my class this morning. Thankfully, it wasn't my child but if it had been he would have quickly learned his lesson. 
• At church, I told Whitman that there was a big flag in the front and we walked to go and see it. He said, "I hope it is the American flag." And indeed it was the American flag!
• I guess I can say that the only thing good about this morning was lunch at Nonna's house. She had hamburgers and all of the fixings. The kids taught Nonna how to play spoons after we had lunch. Robby and Pops looked over Hawaii stuff and then soon it was time to head home.
• Robby and I had our nap while the kids watched tv and played. We started stirring around and around 6:30 Robby thought about taking the crew to the pool. They were able to swim an hour before it closed but everyone had a great time. Even though they had snacks and drinks on the way home, Keaton was sound asleep when they arrived home.
• Everyone had showers and then it was supper time-leftovers and fridge clean out night. It seems like we have that alot lately. My fridge is just overflowing but part of that problem is having at least 2 water bottles per kid in the fridge. That is over 12 waterbottles-there is no room for anything else.
• The kids had some time to read in their beds before they turned off the lights. Light turn off must have went well because I don't hear anyone upstairs. 

July 1, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• We had told the kids last night that we were going to Lake Catherine this morning to walk the trail and would get doughnuts on the way. As Robby was tucking them in, he thought that we hadn't really checked the weather so he told everyone that if the weather was rainy, we would have to wait until next weekend. 
• The first words that Graham asked me this morning were, "Are we going?" I said that indeed we were and Robby and I went ahead and got on up. I was waiting on the shower when I heard Keaton and Campbell laying in our bed. 
• Soon everyone was awake putting on their bathing suits. Poor Whitman was sleepy and could not understand why we would need our bathing suits to go and eat doughnuts. I tried to explain that he was going to get to play in the waterfall later but that meant nothing to him.
• We ate breakfast at Dale's in Benton and it is now my new favorite doughnut place replacing Shipleys. Robby and I had chocolate filled which were very good. The kids all picked up a doughnut for themselves but also were given 6 free doughnut holes. Dale's always gives the kids doughnut holes but this made my kiddos' day.
• It didn't take long at all to get to Lake Catherine. We drove around a bit and saw a campsite that we camped in just a few years ago and then found a few cabins that may be in the plans for next year. 
• After a potty stop, we headed down the trail. We opted for the 2 mile trail because we have some sense. We walked this trail the last time we were there and it was a pretty perfect trail then and was again this time. The weather could not have been any nicer. We would get a bit warm and then have a good walk in the shade to cool us off.
• We were in no hurry and Whitman lagged behind us. He did great until he fell near the end of the trail. He cut his finger (tiniest of cuts) and this just left him devastated. He didn't even want for me to touch him. 
• It wasn't too much further though and we arrived at the waterfall. The kids quickly ventured towards. Graham and Campbell enjoyed it the most and could have played near and under it all morning long. Robby had remembered Whitman's life jacket so we buckled him and just let him go. At the base of the waterfall, there were some deep spots (Campbell had to swim but not really sure how deep it was) but with Whitman's life jacket on, he could go anywhere which was nice.
• The rocks were rocky (obviously) so we did let the kids wear their tennis shoes. This helped some and they were able to get around better. Campbell could have stayed in for another hour but we eventually called her out and started drying everyone off and wringing out shoes. Once we were all dry, Robby passed our cheese or meat sticks to everyone.
• Then the trail just had a bit more that we zoomed on through and then had lots of fun jumping and swaying on the swinging bridge. From there, it was just a hop skip and a jump to the car. The kids changed into dry clothes and then played on the playground while Robby and I made lunch.
• Robby had bought some little rolls yesterday and everyone was so excited to have their sandwich on that bread. He also had some squirt cheese and as I was making Whitman and Keaton's, I wrote a few words on their crackers for them to read. Whitman is starting to read a few sight words so his crackers were mom, dad and go. I gave Keaton two crackers and one word was fin but I am not sure what the other one was. Bless, she can not remember the sound that "n" makes for anything.
• After we ate, the kids made a relay race and did girls against boys. The girls did win by one second but it was fun watching them cheer each other on and help Keaton and Whitman. Back in the car we soon went and headed back home.
• Robby ran into Lowes and then he dropped the girls and me off at Pennys (we bought 2 shirts for Reagan, 1 shirt for Campbell, 1 shirt for Keaton, a shirt for Robby and flip flops for me) We did all of our shopping while Robby and the boys were doing some shopping at Walmart. We had to rush while doing our shopping so Reagan didn't have time to look for a dress so that will have to be done later.
• Then it was on to Grannymom's house to pick up a pressure washer and then on home to unload the groceries and melting ice cream. After unloading, everyone wanted to help Robby make oreo delight and he was thrilled to show them all how. He is counting on them making his birthday dish for him someday.
• He had time to mow and I did a few things inside while the kids played outside with the neighbors. Then the Wilsons came over. Robby grilled outside in the crazy wind while the kids played games.
• Then it was time for supper-hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, chips, bean dip and beans. All Whitman wanted was chips and lemonade. The boys went to town on Robby's sausages. After everyone ate, we played Ticket to Ride while the kids played some more games and then started a movie.
• Shannon and I told them that if we could play our game without too much interruptions, then we would eat dessert and play a game or two with them. We kept our word so after oreo delight, we played nertz and then spoons with the kids. You would not believe how noisy 9 kids get while playing a game!
• It was nearly 11 when the kids finished their showers tonight. I know that they will be difficult to wake up tomorrow!