VBS, Lily Got Her Cast Off, and Father's Day

I signed the kids up for Vacation Bible School at a church close to our house where Ryan will go to preschool next year. It was $20 per child, for 3 hours every day, M-F. Is that a good deal or what? They came home exhausted every single day, but really enjoyed it as they had friends from church doing it as well. Lily was also invited to go to our neighbor's VBS at their church in the evenings, so she had double duty. But she loved every second of it and since she was gone so much in the evenings I took the boys swimming. It was a bit chilly, especially for Max since he has no meat on his bones, but Ryan really took to it. He got more comfortable and was so excited about it and even Max keeps asking to go swimming.

I dropped some food off to donate and found Lily eating her snack. She was surprised and happy to see me.  

Max sat like this the whole presentation, apparently riveted. 

Ryan was up front and kept turning around and smiling and waving at me. His leader had to keep telling him to turn around. And then he'd check to make sure we were clapping after each song. And if Max wasn't clapping he'd yell out to him to clap.

The kids sang the songs they learned for the week. 

Ryan made the one on the right and Lily's is on the left. There were two Ryans in his class and we got a clay pot that said Ryan, but Ryan protested saying it wasn't very good and he didn't like it. It was plain with no decorations. Luckily we caught the other Ryan before he left and switched them because they indeed were very different.

Saturday we had the best day. I slept in and Jeff spent time with the kids. Then I took the kids to the gym and some errands while Jeff did school and worked. He spent some more time with after lunch then worked some more. He somehow had energy to do a family outing and Max suggested we go swimming. And then once he had it in his mind he was pretty insistent. Lily still had her cast on, but we wrapped it up and had the best time. Jeff is such a fun dad and was throwing them up in the air and going down the slide. Max then suggested we get pizza from the pool cafe, and was again persistent enough that Jeff broke down. So we ate at the pool and truly had the most perfect evening. We love spending time with our little family and life is always better when we are all together. On a side note, Lily's cast got completely soaked, but since she was getting her cast off in a couple days we figured it was ok. 

Three weeks finally came to an end and Lily got her cast off! She was very nervous with the noise of the cast cutter and we were finally able to retrieve a token that had fallen down during VBS. She was a bit hesitant to move her arm, though it didn't hurt, but after a couple days she has full mobility now and is using it just fine. She has been to the park, swimming, and the Children's Museum so I think everything is back to normal.

I have been pretty tired this week and watched friend's kids on Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday we went swimming, then took one of my primary kids to get ice cream, then went to a baseball game of one of my other primary kids so we were beat and in bed late. The house is a total disaster, but the kids are staying in Westminster until Saturday night and I am definitely in need of a break. Jeff took Diana to meet me off the freeway and we went to the Children's Museum for an hour before going to a NUCCA appointment. The traffic on the way back was horrible, but the kids were pretty good. Their whole mood changes if the right song is on and they all love "Can't Stop This Feeling" by Justin Timberlake. We listened to it so much getting ready for my lip sync competition that now it is one of their favorites. It was so fun on the way to Denver because Lily asked me to turn on the radio. As soon as I turned it on it was that song. We all danced in the car and sang along. Then I switched to another station and the same song was on. We couldn't believe our luck. When we listen to it later in the day I was singing but not moving much. Max from the back of the car got upset and told me to "Dance!" So I did and he was happy.

Max is just so funny lately. He constantly wants to play basketball with me (we each have our own ball) and he always wants to tell me exactly where to stand when I shoot. It's so exact that if I'm the least bit off he gets very upset. If he hears the word "shower" or "bath" he immediately starts taking his clothes off...he always wants one. He is always wanting to watch  basketball game and I will often find him with my phone in my bed watching. Jeff told me the best way for him to wake up in the morning is to send Max in and they can watch a few soccer or basketball highlights together, since that's what Max always wants to do if he sees us in bed.

Ryan and Lily have lately been playing a lot of Star Wars together with all these little Star Wars figurines my mom got them on the cruise. They have so much fun and are very creative. One night Ryan was sleeping on the couch and came to me, "Mom! We didn't clean up the front room before bed! I'll clean it up." So he did. He got it all picked up before going to sleep, Jeff and I couldn't believe it. And sometimes he is in the most helpful mood and is very agreeable and willing to get things for people. It's very sweet. Ryan also got some new Batman pajamas that he loves. We ordered them online and thank goodness for Amazon Prime because he couldn't get them fast enough.

When we went to get Lily's cast off I had Max with me too (Ryan was playing with a friend). Lily walked Max over to some toys, pulled out a chair for him and showed him how to play. He wanted to switch chairs so she helped with that. I was checking in, but when I looked over to watch them Lily turned and gave me a big thumbs up because she was taking care of Max. I actually got a little emotional as I thought of my three kids and how sweet and kind they are and how blessed I am to be their mother. It was a tender little moment. And then at the pool (Ryan was at a friends house this time as well) Max kept wanting to switch pools: the kiddie pool, then the big pool, then back to the kiddie pool. But Lily was very obliging and she just laughed every time Max wanted to switch pools. She didn't complain and I was very impressed. Lily also lost a tooth, her second one! It was hanging on for awhile and we talked about pulling it out, but it happened without even trying and no pain, so we were all grateful. Lily's new thing is texting. She loves, loves texting and finding little images to include in the text. She used to ask me how to spell lots of things, but then she figured out how to dictate a text so she mostly does that and has me check it. She typically texts Jeff and Granny Dot and Mama Baer, but she's wanting to expand her list. Jeff said it's actually really nice to receive them because they are full of love and usually lots of hearts. She calls question marks "mystery marks" and exclamation marks "excited marks."

After reading this Lily said," I really do hope I lose more teeth so she can add them to her collection." And then, "I think the tooth fairy uses our paper and markers because I recognize that marker color." I think she probably does Lily. 

Lily looking all grown up in her jeans, belt, and tucked in shirt. 

Jeff and I had a gift card for Salt Grass from Sarah from Christmas. We went to lunch after I dropped the kids off and had the best date. It is so fun spending time together and talking, laughing, sharing stories, and looking into each other's eyes. We really do that. We just stare and smile at each other and then hug and kiss like we are newlyweds. We both expressed how grateful we are for each other and how wonderful it has been to share our lives together and to have our sweet little family. I think it's so neat how you really do love your spouse more and more as the years go by and find out more and more how perfect they are for you. I wouldn't want anyone else to share my life and eternity with. And Friday we were busy I caught up on blogging Friday and when Jeff came home from work we went out. I had a late lunch and wasn't hungry and Jeff couldn't' decide f he was hungry or not. We went into four different restaurants, looked at their menu for awhile, then left. We eventually went to Dairy Queen for an orange julius and treat. But we had a great time talking and just being together. We cleaned the church Saturday morning, I cleaned the house and ran errands, and Jeff worked on school stuff. In the evening we picked up the kids and Max was so happy to see us, he made us feel very loved.

Sunday was Father's Day and some great progress was made because Ryan went up to sing with the other primary kids. He and Lily were so cute and we drilled them on where to stand so we could see them, since we never end up seeing Lily when she goes up. Later in the day Lisa, Nick, and Michale came over on their drive back from Utah and we had a fun visit. The kids love their aunts and uncles so much. It was a lovely day

Pictures From the Week

We decided to clean up our family room wall, so Jeff took down our list of rules.  The kids were a bit sad, but hopefully we can remember...especially ones like "Don't put your hand in the toilet."

I have never met a child who loves baths as much as Max. 

Max had fun getting into my makeup and whenever we are getting ready in the bathroom he has to come in and use Jeff's toothbrush (Jeff luckily has another one) and insist on more and more toothpaste...or he likes to put the brush under the faucet. 

Lily loves legos!

Lily got some books so Pooh could see his food. 

Stitchy also has a place at the table now. 

I got a big order from Thrive and wanted to catalogue what I got and write the names on the lids. Lily saw what I was doing and wanted to help. She worked so hard on these labels and did a good portion of them. She was very helpful to me and I was so grateful and impressed with her!

We wanted to get a lot of yard work done before the weekend so Jeff wouldn't spend time going it. I mowed the lawn and we filled 3 green buckets with weeks. The kids were so helpful and had fun working. 

Lily's room was in some serious need of attention. We cleaned it out and found some snowflakes Sarah, Michael, and Diana made with her when we went to the Children's Museum together. Jeff strung them up and Lily was thrilled. 

New Sleeping Arrangements

Max and Ryan got stormtroopers from Mama Baer. Ryan wanted to have him sit for breakfast, but that chair is where Winnie the Pooh usually sits, so Max was a little upset. 

Lily wanted to sleep in Max's room because she doesn't like sleeping by herself. They argued a bit about who would sleep where and what type of solutions they could come up with. Finally someone suggested this and they both agreed. They were squished but slept the whole night. Except Max woke up wanting a drink and they Lily and Ryan woke up wanting drinks so there was a 2 a.m. milk party in the room. 

Lily always has fun Lego creations. 

Jeff made a marble maze, which I was very impressed with. We all had fun trying it out. 

We took a Sunday walk and the kids loved walking through this gorgeous field behind our house. 

It wasn't cold, but Max insisted on his jacket and Minion hat. 

Another creation but Lily and Jeff. 

Lily and Ryan have played so well together lately and have a great time making forts with the couch cushions. 

Jeff took the kids to the summer concert series at the lake. The kids love dogs so much, I think eventually we will need to get one. 

They toured a museum for old fire engines. The kids also got some frisbees. Jeff  asked the kids not to throw them, but Lily did and hit a kid in the head. Then Ryan threw one and hit a bush which released a big spray of pollen to the family of the boy who had been hit by the frisbee. I hope we don't run in to that family again any time soon. 

The kids attempted to sleep in Ryan's bed again. It didn't last though so they moved to the couch. 

Lily went home teaching with Jeff and likes to color with the other girls. 

Ryan was very proud of his block pyramid, he worked hard on it.  

Ryan often sleeps on the couch and Lily will sleep in his bed, but this night he decided to sleep in this cupboard under the changing table. He said he lasted most of the night, but moved to his bed at some point because it's more cozy. 

More fun with the couch! 

We visited our friends the Cormack's farm. They have horses, cows, sheep, goats, chicken, and ducks. It was a fun evening and the kids had no fear of the animals.  

Lily really wanted a picture next to these flowers. 

This is a basketball trophy Jeff got from a basketball tournament a few years ago. We gifted it at a white elephant party a couple years ago. It served as the trophy for fantasy football for some guys in our ward. We attended a lip sync battle where Jeff sang Nacho Libro's "Encarnacion" and "Bohemiam Rhapsody" and I did Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop This Feeling" and David Archuleta's "Touch My Hand." Jeff won the competition and the trophy was his old basketball trophy. The difference is that Max is obsessed with basketball so he has loved pointing out all the basketballs on it.  It is like we are meant to have this trophy in our lives. The kids were so proud of Jeff for winning. 

Our neighbors were holding a yard sale and since we were doing lots of yard work Lily kept going over there by herself to look. She'd come back with free items our neighbor had given her, which she was thrilled about. She begged me to go over with her again. I didn't want to, but finally agreed. I saw this car track for $2 and decided to get it. Turns out it was the best purchase ever. Ryan has LOVED it and Lily and Max have enjoyed it as well. I told Lily she was right to insist I go with her.