Happy Days!

I was SOOO happy to spend some time with my college buddies (We have been friends for 18 years now!) How time flies! We just missed all the rest of you. Can you believe how Carrie's and Shauna's kids have grown? The Mommy's and all the kids had so much fun! Now that Carrie has moved here, we will have to make this a frequent tradition!
A Great Sight---Shauna and Carrie

This reminded of us of the opener of "Little House on the Prairie"

Taylor, Lexi, and Maddie

Cienna

Carrie's kids (Lexi, Taylor, and Noah)

Baby Dylan makes a friend

Brandon and Brock
Cienna and Dalton
Dylan and Ethan
The Kids
Cienna
Lexi and Taylor
Leah!
Ethan
Benj all bundled up---he insisted on bringing the hat
Maddie Pie

A Little More of Aspen Grove

Time with Grandpa for Maddie and Dylan
Benjamin and the bear!
Want some? I'll share with you!
Brandon catching a fish!
Ethan and Brandon
I just got my camera back from Aspen Grove, so on the memory card were some cute pics Brandon took while I was sick in bed. Here they are:

A "Mini-Week" at Aspen Grove

Well, last year, we began going to Aspen Grove for their "mini-week". Last year, we stayed in the A-frame cabins like we did in our childhood when we had family reunions. This year we upgraded to what is equivalent to hotel rooms. Wow! What a difference! Having a bathroom in your room is fabulous; especially with 5 kids. Even better is having 2 rooms that adjoin with 2 bathrooms. I admit that last year, going to the outhouse in the middle of the night was a little frightful. Not to mention trying to stick the babies in the shower. (They had no bathtubs in those cabins!) In my childhood, I just loved Aspen Grove, and I love it now!!! The kids have so much fun at their camps during the day; and Mom and Dad get a much needed rest! Although tomorrow morning, we are going to air rifle target practice! Hope I don't shoot anyone by accident! Should be fun! My parents were hosting this trip and were planning to be here; but my Mom was required by her Dr. to receive a colonoscopy today! Not so fun! We are hoping that they are going to be able to join us tomorrow. The kids keep wanting to play with Grandma and Grandpa---so we hope that my Mom feels better soon enough to join us. This mini-week only lasts a couple of days! We will hope and pray!!!

Some time with the grandparents!

My Mom has been really sick! As fun as our family of seven is, we haven't been around as we tend to stress people out. Our children have really missed their grandparents, and really enjoyed seeing them for a couple hours last night. My Mom is feeling a little better, thankfully, and hopefully is on the path to recovery. She has been sick for a couple of years, all because a Dr. never called to tell her of bacteria found in a sample given (clostridium difficile toxin). So, she suffered horrible side-effects for several years, before he finally realized he had never called with the results of that sample. She has been on a strong regiment of antibiotics (many rounds) to get rid of this bug! Not fun! Without being able to eat much due to the nausea and the massive diahrea, she has lost energy and strength. We are all hoping that she has finally gotten rid of all the sickness and can regain energy and health! Pray for her!!!

A Summer Picnic with L-3 Communications!

Well, Brandon's work picnic was at the State Fairgrounds! We thought the kids would have a blast with all the blow up toys! Their reactions sure were interesting. Brandon, Ethan, and Maddie had the most fun. Most of the time Benj seemed scared and wanted to stay in the stroller. Meanwhile, younger sister Maddie kept trying to climb over rails and was willing to attempt any and all rides. She kept getting mad and screaming when she had to wait for rides or when we would pull her away from climbing over rails! That girl has no fear! I guess she is in the right family for that; with four brothers! Anyway, they did enjoy themselves and we were all exhausted within a couple hours!

Memories----fun with friends!

My friend Angie, just gave me a bunch of pics she has taken over the summer---many of these have been from our summer outings. I thought they were precious. I am so grateful that my children have found best friends in the neighborhood---it doesn't get better than that----Mommy is also grateful for the friendships she has found here! (don't you love talking about yourself in third person? It really demonstrates my need to get out more; especially when I begin to call myself Mommy!)

Benj hugs are the best!

Don't you just love those spontaneous loves from children? I do!

HUMMER FUN!

Ethan and Benjamin got to take a wild ride with their best friends Coleman and Aidan! What fun. How come they didn't have these when I was a kid?


The men and their vehicles--Scotty helping the boys with the Hummer, Brandon with the double stroller!