Head first into summer!!

 

We are gearing up for a fun 4th of July week! Seriously, I can’t believe next week will be the 4th! How exciting is that?

The temperatures finally heated up, and it makes trips to the waterpark so.much.fun!! It was over 100 degrees today, but it felt SO nice lazily floating around the lazy river! Ahh, I love summer! And the waterpark. {But I could do without all the tattoos and skimpy bikinis on not so skimpy women! Eck!}

Typical day….running errands. Nothing like shopping with 4 kids! :)

Since I’m debating whether or not to chop my hair off, Robin offered to “curl” it so I could see if I should keep growing it out so I can play around with it! It turned out super cute, and Ben gave it 2 thumbs up! Maybe I’ll wait to chop it off. {Only if I can have Robin do my hair every day! Ha!}

Chic fil la is SUCH a treat! And what a fun way to go out with friends! Plus, there is the play area with the sound proof glass that allows you to eat your meal in peace and quiet and pretend that you don’t know who the kid is that is pounding on the glass and screaming your name! Ha! {And, look who else showed up….Ben’s Uncle Larry and cousin Heather! Can you see them! :)}

I blow dried Parleigh’s hair one morning, and holy moley does she have some nice hair! It was full of body, and was so stinkin cute!

Why do my babies have to grow up so fast? I was hold Parleigh this afternoon, tickling her toes and playing with her, and I realized she’s not a little little baby any more. She’s still a baby, but she is getting BIG! It just tugs at my heart to know that her babyhood is almost gone, and soon we will have just “kids” running around!

Father’s Day 2012

I really think this Father’s Day will go down in history as being the best father’s day Ben’s had in the past 6 years! I feel kinda bad about the last 5….but I’m pretty sure this one made up for it!!

I made some insanely great waffles for breakfast. Yum-o! I think I may need to make some more—pronto!

These boys sure do love their father! And he sure does love them too!

The girls had just rolled out of bed. Literally! Parleigh’s a little dazed still. I love her little bedhead in the morning!

The kids picked out an Angry Birds t-shirt for their Dad. I am fully aware that we are about 3 years behind the whole Angry Birds phenomenon. Ben’s been playing non-stop since his surgery! :) {And we spoiled him with a few more gifts, tools for the grill, and a fire pit!! I can’t wait to try it out!}

The kids helped me make some cupcakes…..lawn mower cupcakes. They assembled the lawn mowers.

We went out to Donna and Benji’s for some yummy food—burgers and hot dogs! :)

We were able to enjoy the beautiful, cool weather one last time before it will start to heat up. {It is JUNE for crying out loud!} It was so nice to sit out on the front porch while the kiddos played and feel the cool breeze!

In one of the bushes there was a bird’s nest with a tiny baby bird. The kids where super-excited to see it! It was so cute and so little! :)

We sure do love the Father’s that are in our lives! How blessed we are!

This is where I look back and say: What a week!!

Two questions for you.

When did it become June?

and

Where has June gone?

Seriously! I can’t believe we are halfway through the month! Each day has been super busy and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to slow down any time soon! I’m ready for days spent at the waterpark and the beach. And popsicles. And sun tans. This past week it’s been in the 70s, and don’t get me wrong—that is AWESOME! The windows have been open all week, and I’ve needed a jacket when I go to the gym at night! So, I’m not complaining. For June in Virginia, that is a-maze-ing weather! I think it’s all going to change this next week, and frankly, I’m excited!

I think I’m going to do a really long post to update you on the happenings around here. It’s either that or 20 million gazillion posts. So brace yourself for some fun!

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We took a trip to the aquarium. Our membership is almost up, and we are debating about renewing. It is so much fun for the kids!

We love this huge tank! It’s fun to spot all the fish!

Preston is the only brave one to touch the stingrays. If only his arms were a teeny bit longer!

In one of the exhibits they have books to read. Apparently I’m surprised by the storyline….

 

I made 3 dozen baseball cupcakes for my friend’s son’s birthday. My piping skills need some work…but I doubt 8 year olds really care if the “stitching” is perfect!

 

Parke’s school had “Donuts for Dad” in lieu of Father’s Day. It was fun for him to take his dad for a special treat.

 

Ben brought home a pork butt, and the first thing he said when he was putting it in the fridge was, “I’m gonna smoke this thing and we’re going to invite the Conner’s over!” We invited them over for dinner and FHE last Monday. We sure do love them!

Parleigh woke up from her nap and she was not happy! I pray that she is teething right now---that would explain her constant crankiness. Otherwise, it’s going to be a fun 18 years!

I sure do love this guy!

The kids ate so much food! They played hard before hand, and we didn’t feed them any snacks after school, so we had that going in our favor! Ethan gives it a thumb’s up!

Drum roll please?

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Yummo!!!

 

Check out her freckles! Isn’t she adorable?

 

Love this girl! We have too much fun together!

 

About 6 years ago {forever ago!} Ben got a hernia. It’s only taken this long to get it fixed! He had surgery  Tuesday, and has been home healing ever since! {If I can get him to sit still and rest, maybe he would heal faster!!!!}

Just so you know, he was a “fall risk!” That made us laugh!

Getting ready to go in for surgery!

Post Op. He was feeling pretty good! Surgery lasted about an hour, and then an hour in recovery! We were ready to go home! :)

 

Parker had his Kindergarten Celebration on Wednesday. They put on a program with singing and speaking parts.

Parker’s part:

“While we were learning to read and write, we were also learning about our country.”

 

Parker loved his teacher, Mrs. Olenych and Mrs. Brown, the assistant. He’s had a great school year, and we are crossing our fingers Preston gets her next year!

Mamaw came to celebrate with us!

Kindergarten graduate!!

::June 2012::

::June 2011::

After graduation, we celebrated by getting the boys haircuts and eating at Jimmy Johns!

 

This little girl has grown up so much these past couple of months. This week she is officially potty-trained. Meaning NO MORE PULL-UPS at bedtime! Woo hoo! It was really just a matter of saying “No more pull-ups!” and she was fine! We should have done it a long time ago!

This little girl has a fascination with small boxes. {Or in this case a tote!}

This picture cracks me up: Like the deer head hanging on the boys’ wall? Ha ha!

 

Parker loves to build: Planes and guns. And plans with guns.

Ester sent Ben an Edible Arrangement. It didn’t last long!! {Like 5 minutes? Max?} It was super yummy!

Friday was the last day of school!! Holy moly, I can’t believe he’s done!!

::June 15, 2012::

::September 5, 2012::

After we picked Parker up from school, Ben took the last ride in his pick-up truck. We sold it to a fellow fireman. It was a bittersweet last drive to the fire station in his little Toyota. We are ready for a bigger truck {with a lawn business and a bigger family, we need something a bit bigger!} but it was harder than I thought {for me!!} to let his little “baby” go!

 

That night we had our first annual Ward Cookout at First Landing State Park. It was so.much.fun! The weather was perfect! The kids had a blast! And it was fun doing something a little different!

 

Saturday morning Robin and I woke up super early and ran an 8k. What fun! {Oh, and I forgot to mention, earlier this week I had a foot appointment, and after being stuck with needles and literally shocked to death, I found out I have tarsal tunnel syndrome. Which explains why my feet fall asleep when I run and exercise!}

Ready to run!!

5 words: I.Should.Have.Peed.First. :)

Other than that, it was a great run! I ran with Robin the entire time! I think I like it better that way! :)

This is what they told me about my running:

There were 171 finishers in the Women 25 to 29 age group and 1243 finishers in the race.

Your overall finish place was   771 and your age group finish place was 95.  Your overall finish percentile was 62 while your age group percentile was 56.  Your time of 53:49 gave you a 10:50 pace per mile.

Not too bad. Considering I haven’t ran since the 1/2 marathon. {Unless you count me freaking out last week that I had an 8k in a week and I was SO not prepared! So I put some time in on the treadmill and ran through the neighborhood a couple of times!}

 

And that catches me up to Father’s Day! It has been a crazy/busy week! I don’t know how we got through it! {We did have help with some meals….thank you Robin, Sherrie, and Sharon!!! It was a HUGE help!} Ben is slowly healing. And we are now ready for a much slower week!