Random August photos

Hannah watching her brothers at a windy soccer practice.

Garden produce - makes me happy!

Brownies with friends in the backyard? Yes, please!

Sweet and beautiful Brenna

Jonathan teaching Hannah to play UNO.

Max and Ruby weren't too thrilled about their photo being taken, but it turned out cute despite their lack of cooperation.

Grammy and Grandpa sent us these cute shirts to celebrate the Red Sox's great season. Adorable!

Party with Friends!

This was some sort of chase/tag/Skylander game.

Andrew, Sydney, Brenna, Ellie, Will, Grace, Hannah and Jonathan - whew, we have a lot of kids!

No party is complete without an Angry Bird cupcake cake.

Star Wars Legos!

We had a joint Birthday/Welcome-back-to-Kansas-Peterson-family party. There were many children, who played together awesomely, allowing for adult conversation, which was previously unheard of. We have entered a new era, my friends! And we are so happy the Petersons live in Kansas again! May there be many more dinner parties with children running wild and happy!

Petersons Visit!

Silliness at dinner

The three S's - screens, snacks and silence!

Sydney and Andrew working together to solve a maze.

Manicure time

Brenna was a master Lego creator

These photos are out of order, but I'm too tired to fix them. Here's Hannah showing off her bright green manicure!

Sydney mailed us Flat Stanley and he cheered for the Shockers in the Final Four. Sadly they lost, but they made it to the Final Four, which is more than any other Kansas school could say this year.

Hannah and Brenna flying a kite.

Pool noodle or swords? - boys will be boys!

The Peterson Ladies came to visit the first week of April. This visit was extra special because instead of just visiting, they were here to house hunt and school shop! We are so excited that they are moving back and are going to leave a mere 20 minutes away instead of 2 days by car. This is the first time Jill and I will live in the same state since we got married. It's been almost 12 years, and that is 12 years too long.

The week went by in a blur, with lots of bonding of our children. Unfortunately, Sydney was sick for almost the whole week with a mysterious fever. Poor girl was so miserable, which is why she isn't in very many of these pics. But even sick, the week was a success. Jill found a house and a school and we are so very excited to see them again in a month or two!

Girls' Night Out

Lisa, Lora, Hannah, me, Rebecca and Jill

There's nothing like good food and good friends. It's good for the soul!

We had a great GNO with only one child, and she was very well-behaved if I do say so myself. Especially since her rotten mother kept her out until midnight. Yummy dinner at Thai Traditions. I was a little afraid that it would be too spicy, but it was delicious. Jill and Lisa, I wish you lived here so we could get together more often. Love you friends!

Friends

Andrew, Cameron and Christopher taking a popsicle break.

Christopher

Cameron

On Thursday, Andrew's friends Cameron and Christopher came over to play. It was a gorgeous day and so we played outside while Jonathan napped. They played and played and played until I declared it to sunny for boys without sunscreen and took them inside for a little Curious George movie time. And while they played so great together, I planted some flowers and read a magazine while thinking how it might be in a year or two when Jonathan is old enough to truly play with Andrew.