Really Long Post

I have been downright neglectful. Its sad really, but i'm going to try and make it up to all of you loyal readers.....this will be a marathon post but will hopefully give you a clue of how our summer has been since after Emma's b-day (the beginning of June). Hope your ready for this!

HIKE TO HIDDEN FALLS (Early June)

Our family likes to go hiking: it's excercise, we get all the whinning out when there is nothing but Greg and I for resources, and we generally love carrying all three of our children at the same time. We wonder why we don't do it more often.....

But really, we had a great time though, it wasn't that far, and the end result was a picnic by the river with our neighbors, can't complain about that. Here are the highlights:

Kylee and Jaycie playing in the river....I think they weren't suppose to get wet since we didn't bring towels (that went well).

Our sweet Sarah became a vampire....oh, I mean she became the real life strawberry shortcake enjoying the delicious treat (strawberries). Just as a side note: Sarah really does smell like strawberries all the time. Its weird really, but just like those little dolls with the scented hair, even after Sarah swims in a chlorinated pool she smells like strawberries....still trying to figure that one out.

Greg with Ky and S. (strawberry shortcake), trying to get wet, while not getting wet, while getting wet....i'm confused, did we bring towels?!

Us.

The whole gang. We love our neighbors! They put up with us and our whinning kids to do spontaneous stuff....gotta love that! Of course this was only halfway through, we still had to hike back.....We had so much fun! Can't wait to do the next randome thing!

GREG'S B-DAY

Greg ventured into his thirties (turning 31) on the 15th (of June....yes, i'm a month behind). We we're thinking of having a huge party but deceided to play it low key, since it was an off year and all.

The girls and I made the cake (went a little overboard with the sprinkles). No, I don't do fondont....i'm not that crafty! I need to learn though...Melissa......

After Cake we deceided to take a walk....Sarah is learning how to ride her bike (FINALLY!). Don't you love the chain link fence? This is our view 24/7 until they finish the school....please, please let the the budget pass so we can get our school.

At least we have a park! Or maybe ther're trying to grow a forest....look at that grass!!

Daddy love!

Swings!!

We ended the evening with performances from Emma...dong some stunt work. She loves to climb now! Happy b-day Greg, we love you!!

MY B-DAY

Well, no pics to document this or anything but I did have a b-day (the no picture thing was my fault....I took the day off literally, i.e. no makeup, hair in ponytail....it was nice). My neighbor and friend Melissa threw a last minute pool potluck lunch up at our clubhouse. It was fun to hand out in the sun and socialize while the kids played!! Thanks Melissa for the great idea and heading it all up. Besides that, we went to dinner a few times before and after but just relaxed and had German Chocolate cake on the day of when Greg got home. It was wonderful! After that reality hit and I had to do two papers and final for one of my classes.....fun b-day. (Oh, and I tured 29....my last glorius year in my twenties, I have gotta live it up).

SARAH'S BALLET PERFORMANCE

Sarah had her ballet performance for her dance studio - Dance Elite. It was the summer program, and the theme was Disney and Beyond. She danced to "Bibbity Bobbity Boo." It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen! I cried. I really did cry! She danced two nights, Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday we had tickets and went and cheered our little dancer. On Thursday I volunteered backstage and got to entertain seven three year olds for two hours. It was such an experience. I was so proud of her and how she just marched right up on stage and did her best. The audience was about 200 people in a large auditorium at a high school. She asked me the other day if she could do it again because she LOVED it! I can't wait to see her in the winter program!!!

Beautiful Ballerina

Cute girls at dress rehersal....checking out the stage.

After the Tuesday performance

The flowers are as big as she is!!

SCIENCE LESSONS

Kylee has learned about static electricity from our trampoline. Her hair loves to pick up the charge and go wild.

FAMILY VISIT

My brother Mike came down the end of June (yes, we're still in June....you might want to do this in two sessions) with his family. We took them to church with us (8:30 am people!), BBQ, swam. Life couln't get any better. We had such a fun time with them and wish we could see them more often. In 8 years you guys need to move down this way!! Its hot!!!

Emma and Austin played so well together. She was showing him her slide....showing off her skills.

Brandon taught Kylee some guitar hero. She looks like a rockstar already doesn't she?

Kylee loves getting tossed. Don't you love the goggles Greg is wearing!?

Emma and Ashley became buddies because they are both sun babies.....they both just get cold too quick!

Kylee and Brandon also had fun with board games. I think they played every game we own....including Chess. It was so cute! They got along so well.

The pictures I didn't get were of Alexis playing Barbies with Sarah and Kylee, and also of Lisa and Me out shopping. What a fun weekend. Hope we can see you guys again soon!!

4TH OF JULY!!

On the 4th we had a really busy and fun day!! It was amazing how much we could pack into one day, regardless of naps. We started out at the church with the pancake breakfast, and bike parade. Food was YUMMY, and the bike parade was so adorable. All the kids strutting their stuff.

Mid parade we had technical difficulities with a loose pedal that popped off.

Kylee was so excited to show off her two wheeled skills. She is a pro now....and of course the decorations that she was proud of too.

Next we headed to our friends the Fink's for BBQ and swimming.

First was the pie eating contest....

Being so lady like.

Hardly anything on the face! Do you notice the hand behind her though?

This is better! Cute girls! This is Kylee with her friend Nicole. Nicole is one of Kylee's best friends (her and Jaycie, and Lauren).

They even match sometimes.

More throwing of Kylee!

Sarah had fun hanging out....though she was mostly in the pool with an innertube around her middle.

They also had a water balloon toss.....maybe this was before the pie eating contest? I don't remember. Sarah loved trying to catch the balloons but I don't think she caught any of them! Nicole and Kylee were hilarious tossing them back and forth without actually catching them.

After all the swimming and fun we had an awesome BBQ....the food was so yummy!!! Susanne and Nate came up and met us at our friends. The kids swam and then we headed up to a firewords show in Lincoln. It was a great show. Wish I had more pictures but since mine is out of commission right now I was at the mercy of others. I think Susanne has some of my kids at the firework show.....i'll have to get those from her. We had a great time!! Thanks everyone!!

SUMMER DAYS

Besides that we've been spending a lot of our days doing this....

Sarah is starting to swim....my kids are little fishies.

Emma even loves the water. This is an unusual picture cause usually she is diving full on into the water.

And hanging out on the trampoline.

I had to add this in just because.....but we do do a lot of this too....

AS if this post wasn't long enough.....here is something funny you can try out too.....go to photofunia.com. Love this!

My baby Emma has finally been recognized!!

And I knew Kylee was cute but geesh!

Well, I could have predicted this....

Ok, i'm done now! Happy Summer everyone!!