We spent some time at our pool...enjoying a picnic, when...
...a new-winged-friend decided to join us...
...everyone wants to sit on mamas lap...sigh...
And did you notice Bea's bathing suit!?!? Why wear one suit when you can wear two!?...at the same time! LOL! My girl's sense of style never ceases to amaze me!!!
Eventually we got in the pool...
And on a different day, we had a play date at 2-B's pool with her kiddos! While the girls were casually gettin' their swim on...
...the boys were competing in an intense "SPLASH!" competition...scoring from the moms was a necessity!...
The kid's Halloween costumes already arrived in our home...but I haven't been able to give Wyatt the good news! Every time I try to find my son to give him his costume, he is nowhere to be found!...
Spiderman has replaced Wyatt MANY times this week...around the house, out running errands (oh the looks we get!), and even at night in his bed...
Some might say, "He's a bit obsessed."...but I say, "Who doesn't like having a super hero at your ready...all day...and all night!?!?" :0)
One of the MOST exciting occasions we've celebrated in a long time is the 30th wedding anniversary of our dear friends...my former Youth Pastors...Myke and Pam!!!...what an achievement!!!!...what a beautiful example they have set!!!
We were invited to share in their excitement at Corvette Diner! (A family member of theirs that couldn't make it to the party surprised them by calling the restaurant and ordering them 30 balloons, 30 onion rings, 30 fried pickles, and 30 potato skins...we were ALL excited about THAT kind of surprise!)...
We got to hangout with some of our favorite people...
New memories were made...
...while some old traditions were upheld...
We had an AMAZING time!!!
In other happenings, we had the "Hat Crew!" visit our home...thank you Wyatt for making an extra hat for Bea!...
...and we had the start of the 2012 London Olympics!!!! I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics...H-U-G-E...HUGE! 2 years ago with the Vancouver Winter games, I started a new tradition in our home of making a traditional meal native to the hosting country of the Olympic games on the night of the opening ceremonies...I remember LOVING the gravy cheese-curd fries (mmmmmm!!!!) I made for an appetizer 2 years ago, but this year, we did things English Pub style! For the last month I thought I was going to prepare Fish & Chips for dinner and an English Custard Trifle for dessert, but after watching an episode of Paula Deen's cooking show where she cooked a complete English meal after returning from London, I was hooked! I was toooootally going to make everything she did!
And sooooo...we enjoyed the BEST Shepherds Pie EVER!!!! Complete with sour cream mashed potatoes on the bottom, and a DELICIOUS buttery biscuit on top!...
...and then I made some incredible homemade loaves of bread (because mashed potatoes, and biscuits just don't carry enough Carbs on their own, LOL!)...
...and finally, for dessert, I made a Banoffee Pie!!!...This dish entails a homemade graham cracker crust, a soft creamy toffee, sliced bananas, and a TON of vanilla whipped cream!!!...
All of the food was AMAZING!!!...and we LOVED watching the opening ceremonies together! Let the games begin!...GO TEAM USA!!!! :0)
On the first prime time night of actual competition, Wyatt and I got to sneak over to my sister's house and watch a couple of the heats with them!
This week, something came over me, and I got motivated and inspired to get all of our school stuff organized for this upcoming year. I had an epiphany mid-week of new house rules, new ways to store/display our work, and new schedules...I almost immediately put my thoughts into action. I transformed our buffet hutch into the schooling/activity zone...
...aaaaand, we are introducing chore charts for the first time this year. I just hope this ordinary way of keeping track of their daily tasks, doesn't kill their current desire to be exceptionally helpful without request.
FIIIIIIINALLY, this week brought closure to Wyatt's 11 months of Hip Hop class with 4 recitals over the span of 3 days (that is, if you count the full dress rehearsal on Friday night)! What a BUSY 3 days we just endured! There are over 45 different acts, lasting about 3 hours for each recital. In the past I was the chaperon in the little girls dressing room (hangin' with my Bea for her performance), but this year, since she wasn't performing, I chose to be the chaperon in the boys/Wyatt's room. What a difference between the 2 rooms! The girls room was always LOUD, and colorful!!! And the boys room was shockingly CALM!!! It was just too funny to watch approx. 40 boys at any given time huddled in small groups around small electronic devices. It seemed that each child had their own Nintendo DS, iPad, iPod, or iWhatever, and yet they got so much pleasure from not only playing the games themselves, but also watching (and coaching, lol) each other play!
But on 4 different occasions, it was time for Wyatt (and his class) to shine! Here they are waiting to go on stage...
Please bare with me, but here about 100 pictures (not really, lol) of my HIP HOP STAR in action!!! :0)))
What fun that was!!!!
But did I mention what an eventful, busy, LONG 3 days we had!?!? It all eventually caught up with the us, and we left the performing arts center today with both of our kids in tears...some of us were sad about the recital being over, and that some of our friends will move on to other classes...
...some of us were DESTROYED over not having "icy cold" water...
...but hands down, they were BOTH irritated that I was taking pictures of them crying! HAHAHAHA! Sometimes you just have to capture the ridiculousness that ensues out of absolute exhaustion!...not that their feelings weren't valid...oh no, I'm NOT discounting the total importance of "ICY COLD" water!!!
Soooo, with this recital comes a 1 month break from all things extra-curricular. We are free from piano lessons, dance class, and Awana until September!!!
There's only one way to celebrate...now that our house is ready for it...let's start school tomorrow!!!!
HAHAHAHA!...but actually, I'm serious, lol!
Loved the blog as always, especially their crying pictures...I'm in agreement to capture their ridiculous moments as well.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER...starting school in July?!?! Now that's just mean! ;) it's bad enough we both start our kids the first week of Aug. But now July?!?! It's just going too far...LOL!
Go get'm teacher! :D
Is jenni trying to get up in my commenting section???? Funy post Cheech...
ReplyDeleteOh dear, try #2! I'm having computer issues today so I hope you get this comment! I'm just getting caught up on your blog and I so LOVE all the pictures you posted! Our little Izzy is just like Bea in the fashion dept, though I don't have any earthly idea how she can tolerate 2 layers of clothing every day in this heat! The Spiderman and Splash pictures are my absolute favorites!!!
ReplyDeleteOh hey, we're starting school too! We took about 3 weeks off in July, but needed to get back to work this past week so that we can do LESS school when baby #4 gets here in about 8 weeks!
Did you enjoy Expo or CHEA this year? We got back from AFHE [AZ Families for Home Education] a few weeks ago. It was fantastic! I came back so encouraged for this coming year. I always choose something to focus in on each year, typically something I've neglected a bit in the past year, and this year our focus will be "character training" for my girls, LOL. For me too, now that I mention it. :o) Sorry for the long post - I'm off FB [for now] - because there is not enough time in the day!!!