I'm Diving In!!!

Today has been a great day!  We started off by visiting a new church.  We really enjoyed it and we plan to go back next week.  After church, we went to Jason's Uncle Robert's house.  There we had a cookout and visited with some cousins who live out of state.  If you can believe it, I didn't take one single picture and we were there for hours!  Crazy, right?  It was sooooo good to see everyone!  We finished our night by swimming at Grandma and Papa's flip house.  Papa thinks it will be a couple of more months before the house is ready to put on the market, so we'll have most of the summer to enjoy the pool. Yay!  That makes this mommy very happy!  

 Before we could get in the pool, Daddy and Papa had to clean it out.  The kiddos waited very patiently. 

We did a little relaxing in the pool.

But mostly, we jumped right in and had a great time!!!  Karsyn is absolutely fearless in the water.  It's kind of scary, but it also amazes me!  Evan's loves diving in too!  Payton was a little timid at first, but after a while she plunged right in.  Daddy did a few cannon balls too!

No way, no how, no sir was Addi going to jump into the water. She was happy with Daddy tossing her up into the air...just as long as he didn't let go.  She would grab onto his shirt just to make sure she didn't go flying through the air.

I really loved watching each of the kiddos play.

It was such an enjoyable day!  I'm so glad that we got to spend such a great day together!

Jellyfish, Cheese, A Pool, and Light Up Sticks

This summer, our kiddos are participating in two different reading programs.  It can be a little crazy keeping up with books from two different libraries, but it's been a lot of fun. One program is through a major city-county library system.  We love this program because it hosts a lot of great events and gives out great prizes.  Yesterday, we went to The Children's Museum and Discovery Lab and used some of the passes that the girls earned.  You can scroll down to read all about that.  We're also part of our local library's program.  The kiddos have been able to win fun prizes there too.  Every Wednesday, the library has a fun craft time.  The kiddos and I went yesterday after we visited the museum.  Daddy stayed home to mow the lawn.  Before we got our craft on, we had to stick our books in the drop.  It's very important to everyone that they turn in their own books...even if they need a little help.

Yesterday's craft was jellyfish.  The kids started out by coloring small paper bowls.  I love the way each of my children hold their mouths while they are concentrating.  They just might get that from me.

The next step, was to make a hole in the middle of the bowl with a pair of scissors.  Then, we worked with the librarian to string a piece of yarn through.  That was kind of tricky! Next, we attached the tentacles.  The library staff had put a piece of double stick tape on the inside of the bowl.  The kiddos each attached 6 different pieces of streamer that they picked out.  It was no shocker that Addi picked out all purple tentacles.

Here are the kiddos with their finished jellyfish.  Maybe the window wasn't the best place to take a picture?  Every time we go to craft time, I can't help but smile and I think about how my dad used to take my brother, sisters and I to the library during the summer.  We checked out stacks of books and made all kinds of fun crafts.  I love that my kids are making the same kind of great memories. 

 With our finished craft in hand, we went to pick out books.  Karsyn and Addi played as Evan and Payton searched for the perfect read.

We got our books and then I was in for a good dose of embarrassment.  I reached in my purse to grab my library card, only to pull out a slice of cheese.  Karsyn was very proud and said, "My snack for Evan's basketball game!!!"  She packed herself a tasty treat the night before.  Upon further inspection, I realized the bottom of my purse was completely lined with cheese.  Nice!!!  If the librarian didn't think it before, I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy now. ha!  I was very glad to get our books and go home.  

Jason was done with the lawn by the time we arrived, so I ran to Wal-Mart to pick up goodies for a cookout.  I also picked up an inflatable pool for the kids.  They were all so excited when I got home.  They told me that I was the best mom ever. I mistakenly thought we had an air compressor to blow up the pool.  We had to get out the hand pump.  Evan, Payton, and Addi quickly got to work.  Karsyn had way more important things to do.  She was much too busy playing to help.  Addi kept telling me that they'd get the pool ready in no time, but after pumping for about 5 minutes, they had all had enough.

While our burgers were grilling, Jason and I worked on the pool together.  After hand pumping the pool like the crazy cheese lady that I am for quite some time, we realized it wasn't working.  Stink!  I told Jason to run down to the gas station with the pool and use the tire air pump. The idea of driving down the road with a 10 foot long inflatable pool attached to the top of his car wasn't very appealing to him.  I can't imagine why not.  ha!  After dinner the kiddos were all tired.  In fact, Karsyn laid down on the the couch and went to sleep as soon as she was finished eating. We decided the pool could wait for another day.  While the grill was still warm, I made s'mores while Daddy directed bath time.  Then, Payton and Addi played with their light sticks in the living room...another prize through the library program for getting so many books read.

Between a visit to the museum, making jellyfish, pumping the pool, eating burgers and s'mores, and playing with light up sticks, it was a great day!

Children's Museum & Discovery Lab

Going to a children's museum was very high on our summer fun list.  Today, we visited The Children's Museum and Discovery Lab. The girlies all had free tickets, since they completed one of the library's  summer reading program.  (Just in case you are wondering, Evan participated in the "tween" reading program, so he received a different prize package.)  We got to the museum and the kiddos couldn't have been any more excited.  In fact, they said it was the coolest place they've ever been!  They could not wait to play on the slides and tunnels made out of tape!!!!  They could have played on these forever!

Here they go!!!!

I crawled up there too!  It was fun!

Karsyn and Addi running through!

Daddy and Payton

The next item of fun on the list was the maze!!!  Addi ended up having to do a search and recovery mission for her hair bow. ha!

The the kiddos took turns drawing in a way that they never have before.  The pencil was controlled by the swing.  Karsyn was completely fasinated!

We had been playing for about an hour at this point and it was time for a bathroom break.  Since the kiddos had to put their shoes on, we decided to check out the Discovery Lab next.  Karsyn and Addi LOVED the Discovery Lab.  While Evan and Payton had a lot of fun, they were a bit too old to get the same enjoyment as their little sisters.  For the little ladies, it was magic!  They loved everything in the lab, but painting was by far their favorite!  As they rolled "paint" on, the board would light up.  After a few minutes, it went dim.

While Karsyn and Addi painted away, Evan and Payton did some landscaping.  They saw it more as putting together a puzzle.

I had to drag the little ladies away from painting!  There were some other kiddos who were really wanting a turn too.  The girls next focused on flowers.  Karsyn grabbed all of the yellow and orange flowers.  They are her favorite colors.

Then, Daddy and the kiddos worked on siding a house next.  They had to measure each piece of siding and put it in the correct spot.  They all worked together.  Karsyn and Addi took a few tunnel climbing breaks.

We wanted to go to the craft workshop next, but it was full.  So, we headed back over to the first area that we visited.  The kiddos climbed through the tape slide and tunnel for a while.  Then, we went to the sledding area.  It was so much fun to watch!

During our visit, we also played on a human top, pieced together flooring, swung on ropes, and checked out a few other exhibits.

We had such a fun time!  The kiddos all loved it, but no one loved it as much as Karsyn.  I think I might get a season pass for the two of us once the big kids all start school.  She and I won't have school on Friday each week and this will be a lot of fun for the two of us to do together.  And of course, we will bring the whole family back as often as we can!  We have a few other out of town children's museums that we hope to visit this summer.  Hopefully, we'll have as much fun as we did today!

Six in Pix - Week 4

My goodness!  A month of summer break has already went by!!!

June 18, 2014 - We went to the movies so see Despicable Me 2.  It was my first time to take the kiddo solo and it went very good!  Then, we went to the splash pad and the library.  The kiddos had a whole lot of fun and so did I!

June 19, 2014 - Our little family had a blast at Black Gold days.

June 20, 2014 - Jason worked his late day and I let the kiddos stay up to wait for him.  It's pure craziness that they weren't in bed until this time!!! It was almost 10:30! And no, they didn't sleep in the next day either.  Ugh!!!

June 21, 2014 - Jason got home from work and asked where we were taking him for date.  Yay for no cooking!!!!  Before we left, Jason was singing as he was putting his shoes on.  Addi came into our room and as serious as could be said, "Daddy, don't make that noise outside.  You will scare cats!"  Jason and I couldn't stop cracking up!  Our little family went to Zio's for dinner.  On the way, Jason reached over and held my hand just like he always does when we are in the car.  I love that after 14 years of being a couple, we still hold hands.

June 22, 2014 - We were very excited to visit a friend's church this Sunday, but Evan broke out in a rash.  Instead of going to church, I took Evan to Urgent Care.  The doctor thinks he's allergic to something, but to what, we don't know.  I was just glad that is wasn't anything more serious.

When we got home, I got some great Sunday cuddles in with the girls.  I know, I know!  I'm totally breaking the rules to this project, but I had to share these too!

Payton & Mommy

Mommy, Karsyn, & Addi

June 23, 2014 - We had a fun play date scheduled at the Splash Pad, but we got rained out!  Instead, we spent the day cleaning and organizing.  If you can believe it, I got almost an entire trash sack full of donation items just from our little play area!!!  (I really wish this picture wasn't so foggy. ugh!) We have a really long, narrow living room.  Our play area fits perfectly in this awkward space by our front door.  I have to admit that there have been times when I've seen big, beautiful play rooms featured on blogs and have felt envious.  All of the "I wish I hads" quickly go away when I see big imaginations fill this little space.  Babies get rocked and put to sleep here.  Chefs cook gourmet meals that get served by waitresses wearing homemade aprons here.  Little hands use legos to build castles here.   Three little girls and one little boy that I love beyond measure play here.  It's a special space!

June 24, 2014 - After gymnastics class, Daddy and I, along with the kiddos, went to vote in the primary elections.  I will be glued to the news after 7:00 p.m.

And that was our week!  Hopefully, the next month of summer won't go by nearly as fast!!!

Black Gold Days {2014}

Every year, a near by community has a festival called Black Gold Days to celebrate their rich history in oil.  They have fair food, rides, concerts and all kinds of other fun things.  Tonight, our little family went for the very first time and we had a lot of fun!!!  As soon as we got there, the kiddos were all handed a balloon.  Karsyn was the most happy about that!

My sweet girl with her shoes on the wrong feet and a red balloon. 

We made our way over to the ticket stand and Daddy bought enough tickets for everyone to ride 2 rides.

Karsyn, Addi, and I rode the Dizzy Dinosaurs first.  We had to ride the purple one, don't you know?

Up next, Evan, Payton, and I rode the Sizzler.  My goodness did that thing make me dizzy!  Listening to Evan and Payton giggle on the ride was worth it though.  It was so fun!!!

The littlest ladies of the family then rode the dragon roller coaster.  They had a blast!

Evan and Payton decided that they wanted to use their last tickets to ride the Ferris Wheel.

Daddy, Karsyn, Addi, and I enjoyed the view from the ground.

Daddy didn't use his two tickets.  He decided to let Karsyn and Addi use them on the dragon roller coaster, while Evan and Payton were still on the Ferris Wheel.  This made for two very happy little ladies.

After we used all of our tickets, Daddy got us two funnel cakes to share.  We gobbled them both down in no time.  Then, we headed home all with smiles of our faces.  It was a good night!