Not too much happing here

Nothing exciting going on this summer with us. Since the 4th of July we haven't done very much because I haven't been feeling all that great. This pregnancy has been a rough one. Hopefully, within the next three weeks it will be over and I can get back to feeling better again. The other kids have been completely board. Kelseanja and Austin just got home from spending a week with Grandma. They got to go swimming and spend a couple days at the cabin. Austin ended up being sick for part of the visit which wasn't too fun for him, but he is feeling better now. Austin also learned how to whistle while he was away. Kelsea told me that she taught him.

While they were gone it was pretty quiet with just Makayla and Jaxton here at home. Makayla had a sleep over with a friend, went to a play, and had a mother-daughter night at the movies and the bookstore which was great fun for the both of us. Adam and I went to a movie, and Jaxton was grumpy and sick all week. I don't understand why my kids are getting sick in the middle of July. It is crazy!

I also took advantage of a quiet night shopping alone and got most of the kids' school supplies. All that is left are shoes and clothes. All the backpacks, pencils, folders, etc are all ready to go. Austin is excited to try out his new backpack although we won't know until August if he will be going to preschool or not. Even then if he is he wont start until September. I did all the paperwork in May so if all goes well he will be fine, but you never know. School starts on August 23rd for the girls. It is going to be a little crazy having a new baby, which we are hoping will be born by August 19th, then school starting so close afterward. Both girls will be attending school all day which I am looking forward to, but it also means two kids to be off to the bus by 7:20am instead of one. I think they will be walking to the bus stop until it gets cold now that they can walk together.

Yesterday, we met with Mom and traded kids around. She now has Makayla for the next two weeks or so and Kelseanja and Austin are home now. Let's just say that the house isn't as quiet as it was last week. It is interesting how when you split your kids up for a little while you learn who is responsible for certain messes in the house. When they are all home it is hard to always narrow in on the culprit, but now I know who is doing what which makes it easier for me to know who need to clean the messes up.

Anyway, I managed to catch a few cute pictures of Jaxton over the last week. He was having fun with his new book and then insisted on playing dress-up with his hat, vest, new orange shirt, and hippo even though it was around midnight. That is what I get for allowing him to take a late nap. But he was so cute! It will be interesting to see how he reacts when the baby comes. I asked him if he was going to be a good big brother and his response was: "Nope." I am not too worried though. He really likes babies and he will eventually get used to being a big brother. It still amazes me how much each of my kids have grown up so much. There is nothing like preparing for a newborn to show you how big your other kids are.

Fourth of July

This year for the 4th of July, we went to church, came home and had lunch and a nap. For dinner we had the classic hot dog and hamburger picnic dinner. We let the kids ride bikes which we don't normally do on Sundays. Jaxton even showed us how he can now reach and peddles and push himself on his bike. It is amazing how fast he learns and picks things up from the other kids. (I am happy he is no longer scrapping his shoes on the ground when he rides.) Then after cleaning-up we got ready and went to the park for fireworks.

This was our first year actually watching the fireworks from the park since we have lived here. It has always been from a distance because we figured it would be too crazy trying to get good seats since half the valley pretty much camps there all day. This year we braved the crowd, which was mostly settled down in their spots by the time we arrived, and managed to get great seats! There was an older couple who told us that they always come to that spot every year and that it was the best spot. They were right! Maybe we will see them next year. The kids were all excited to see the fireworks and could hardly wait. Kelseaja kept asking me when they were coming. Austin hadn't really seen big fireworks up close before and since he couldn't see them yet he figured they weren't going to start. He kept wanting to go home and do sparklers instead. Makayla was just being goofy climbing over Adam, and Jaxton got a little grumpy because he couldn't figure out what we were doing. he hasn't seen fireworks close up either. When the show started, all the kids were glued to the sky. They loved the fireworks! For the city cutting back this year, we couldn't tell. Even the couple behind us thought they did an awesome job and said that things were synced a lot better than last year. We did have to walk a few blocks back to the van, but overall the kids behaved, we had good seats, and the show was really good.

When we got home we did our own little package of fireworks. Usually, our neighbors are around and we combine fireworks, but this year they left. We invited a new neighbor over to join us. After our package of somewhat boring fireworks were finished. Then we all did some sparklers. The kids had so much fun with the sparklers and also poppers that they were sad when it was all over and they had to go to bed.

In the end we remember all the sacrifices made by many men and women through out the years for us to be able to live in this great nation. And while it is not perfect and many of our freedoms are being threatened right now. I love it here and feel very blessed for everything we have. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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