summer fun

After picking up the boys from the sitters today, they decided to get out the slip n slide to cool off. They had a blast!  Even though I had kept Lydie home with tummy troubles today, she seemed to be feeling good enough after nap {plus she was super excited to play in the water}, so I let her out to have some fun.  It's so great to watch them & see the pure joy in their faces.

what's up

jeez.  I knew I hadn't blogged for a while.  We've been pretty busy around here.  The boys are out of school & are enjoying some play days at the babysitters house, lazy days around home & getting to stay up late.  Lydia's doing awesome tackling the potty.  Evan is honing his bike riding & baseball skills.  Collin has some plans for some cool day camps outside fishing & water sports & the boys are even going to do a camp out with Dan in a few weeks.  The boys always look forward to swimming lessons, which are coming up soon as well.  

The most exciting part about summer around our house, of course is the lineup of birthdays.  Evan is on the countdown now for his birthday on June 30..... #7 this year!  He's making plans for his party & of course, all the good stuff he wants!  Collin's bday is July 29... it's a BIG one this year.  TEN.  Really, I can't believe I'm going to have a ten year old!  In between the birthdays is our anniversary.  Ours is a big one too.... fifteen years!  Since we went to Hawaii earlier this year, we probably won't go away, but I'm working on putting together a new bedroom for us.  In all our years, we've never had a really nice, furnished bedroom.  Our bedroom is nice right now, but of course, as is the typical w/ our house, it was only partially finished when we moved in!  Hopefully I can enlist some help so Dan doesn't have to lift a finger on this one.

We've also been working on tons of stuff around the house.  I'm working on a lot of things inside the house {trying to get organized, decluttering} & Dan's been working non stop on the lawn, painting on the porch & of course, making future plans for everything he wants to do.  I talked him into NOT doing a big project this year & instead finishing as much unfinished stuff that we could tackle.  Wish us luck!  Oh & if you LOVE to paint, you're more than welcome to join us!

first game

Last Friday night we had a great night to enjoy Evan's first t-ball game of the year.  Love hanging out & chatting w/ the other parents & grandparents.  Evan told me on the way there he was a little nervous {not really like Evan}, but I told him not to worry.  His team {Houghton1} was playing Houghton 2, so it was a good start to get over his jitters.  He went on to let me know he was going to hit a home run, which I didn't doubt in the least!  Just so you know, he didn't hit it out of the park, but he did run the bases on his first up to bat {he even started lapping the little girl ahead of him!}.  Great work Evan!  Next up, an away game at WP this Friday.

Top 10

Early last month I stumbled across a cool website called peppermint creative for digital scrapbooking.  I ordered a few kits & downloaded a few "pimp my page" challenge templates.  I put a few layouts together & posted them & really enjoyed seeing feedback from others.  Today they revealed the winner & top 10.  Well I didn't win the prize, but was sooo happy to be chosen for the top ten.  Here's my layout:

they also had a bonus challenge template for National Scrapbooking Day:

there's a cool new challenge template for june.... can't wait to play!

happy birthday Kathy!

sorry I didn't get around to posting yesterday.  Hoping you had a great day yesterday & a relaxing weekend away.  Love ya sis!  Stay well & remember:

birthdays are good for us... the more we have the longer we live.

ps collin, evan & lydia are sending you hugs & kisses until they can give them to you in person!