What else is there to do when it's in the 90's and HUMID???  Although, not nearly as HOT as it was close to a year ago in China.

My boys swimming.  It's so hard  to believe that Ryan will be gone in a few month.  He leaves for Lansing tomorrow with his Dad and step Mom to swear in to the Coast Guard.  Six years.  Wow.  I'm proud of him and will miss him like crazy.  Didn't anyone tell him he was not allowed to grow up?

My little fish. Sophia.  This girl can swim!

A boat load of cuties.  My niece Beth on the left who will soon be a nurse, and my great niece Naomi.  Having fun!

I LOVE this picture of Xander.  Seriously, is there anyone cuter.  We are so lucky we were chosen to be his parents.

Cheese!  This is the face I get when I pull out the camera.  L.O.V.E. 

Not a pool picture, but look at that face...

Sha-XAN!

It's been quiet around here :)

We have had a easy weekend with NOTHING on our schedules.  Softball finished up last week and we are enjoying the quiet (as quiet as 6 kids are) and even spending some time in the swimming pool.  Xander is getting used to the water and I anticipate that he will be swimming around at the end of summer in his life jacket.  Our other kids are fish and have been swimming since they were very young.  Putting our pool in is one of our best purchases.

Ryan swears in with the Coast Guard next week.  He is scheduled to leave for New Jersey (Cape May) in September for basic training.  He is enlisting for 6 years and talks about making a career out of it. I have felt very confident that this is what our son needs to do but did end up having a break down recently.  We were all having fun in the kitchen when Sophia said something witty.  I started to laugh and before I knew it I was bawling.  The family looked at me like I was crazy :(  It will be very strang without my oldest child under our roof.  I'm going to be a wreck! 

We will continue to enjoy the quiet around here until the beginning of August when volleyball and cheerleading practice start.  We have a trip planned to the Dells at the beginning of August as well.  Where is summer going???

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy 4th!  It was a nice long weekend :)  We hung out at home on Saturday and Chad played in a Hometown Hero's baseball game in honor of a fallen soldier from our town.  Sunday we headed to the in-laws for a fish fry.  It was a beautiful day and included swimming and jet skiing!  I forgot my camera :(

The littlest 2 girls stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's for a few days so Chad, Josie, Xander and myself headed home for our local fireworks.  Xander was not impressed, although he hasn't been feeling great.  It seems as though all of our allergies are in high gear and we are all stuffy and itchy, with tickles in our throats. 

Today we had my side of the family for a BBQ which was great.  My sister Mary who I hardly get to see came home with her daughter and 2 grandkids so it ended up being a nice day :)

 I tried a new cake decorating technique I've seen floating around the blog world and it turned out so pretty, and it only took a few minutes :)

 This one is Josie's masterpiece.  She did a great job!

Here is my Mom on a newly constructed bench I built from a headboard.  I'll try to get better pictures of it soon, I have so many projects to show and many more ready to be made :)

Did you miss me?

I am still here...just been busy.  Sounds like the story of my life.  We have 4 girls playing softball, on 4 different teams.  Xander is starting to enjoy the game.

He also started Head Start (daycare) 2 days a week.  He is so sad when I leave, but after I'm gone he does fine and has been singing some new songs at night :)  It will really help with his speech.

He is growing and has hit the terrible two's as he's always into mischief, but how do you get mad with a smile like that???

We had a 1/2 of a basketball court poured and the kids are enjoying it.  Although I think Xander liked it as a big sandbox before the pour.  Especially after a rain...

 

I drove Ryan to Lansing for his Coast Guard medical testing and all is good.  Looks like he'll be off to New Jersey in October for basic training.  Unreal.

I, of course, have a million projects going on at once.  This is the newest.  It's the start of Madeline's new "modern" bedroom.  What do you think of the paint color/combo?

I'm so lucky to have a neighbor with a great yard :)

Graduation

Last night was Graduation.  I did pretty well considering a wimp I am.  I haven't loaded those pictures yet but I did have some taken of our family at home, before the ceremony.  My niece came over and shot some with my camera.  Here is my fave:

It is extremely hard to get a good family picture.  Is my family the ONLY one who argues and complains the entire time while getting ready for a event???  Thank God it's a photo and not a video ;)