Europe Back by Popular Demand

I have had a fair number of requests to see all of our Europe pictures. I just don't have the patience for that. So I am just going to give you our scrapbook pages from the trip.

Monkeys

How do you mess with your husband?

Every time I get my hair done, I come home and Ryan can't even tell. Whether it is a cut or a color or whatever it may be. So this time I had Mandy put in bright red extensions. Let's just say, Ryan noticed. "Um, you know that looks terrible, right?" Yes, yes I do. I took them out the next day.
We played charades with the kids after FHE Monday night. I wasn't sure Cody would get the concept, but we let him try. On his first try, he picked up the card, put it down, got off his chair, put his hand over one eye and said, "Aaarrgh!" Any guesses?

Monkeys

Brandon learned a new trick this week:

So of course, Cody copied.
Then the kids realized that if Brandon climbed up the door frame and Kathleen walked under him, she could give him a shoulder ride.
And all the while, their super safe, and super responsible mother, just laughed and took pictures. I think we may be doomed.

Paper Helicopters

For family home evening we made helicopters. It was so much fun.

Soccer

The kids have never been able to ride their bikes to school because I haven't been able to figure out what to do with Cody, who will not learn how to ride. So now that Cody is in preschool, I can ride with the kids on Wednesday (because they have late start so we can go after Cody is at school). So we have been planning this for weeks and then on Wednesday morning we woke up to RAIN!!! But that would not deter the kids. So off we went. Someone should tell them that mom still has to ride home in the rain after she drops them off. But they had the time of their lives.Kathleen and I went on a date and rode bumper boats.
We had a fancy little surprise this year. Our peach tree got two peaches. I wasn't expecting them for another year or two. They were the best peaches I have ever eaten in my life.
We also made chocolate-covered-strawberries with strawberries from our garden.
Brandon made macaroni and cheese for the first time.
The other day I found the boys just hanging out, laying on the ground, talking. Then they started hugging. It was so cute.
Cute Brandon.
At preschool this week Cody got to be an ant. They went on an ant march and he got to be the leader. He was so excited.
The kids had their first soccer games on Saturday. They were pretty cute. I was mostly surprised that Cody actually played. It was perfect weather and a perfect day.

Happy Present Day

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of PRESENT DAY!!
Look at all that loot. The kids actually got along instead of fighting for one day.
Playing with Cody's present:
Here they are after their first day of school with their super cute school work:
The kids wanted to show off their outfits one day this week. And yes, they all dress themselves.
Brandon was pretty excited at the "pirate" on his pants.

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for all three, yes, I said it, all three kids. Here they are in their cute sweaters we picked up in Italy.For some reason they wanted a picture with their backpacks.



Cody said, "Mom, when all your kids are at school, you will have to eat chocolate." Well, check that off my list.
We had a great time harvesting in our yard this weekend.
We got a ton of apples and even have some peaches this year.
Kathleen was really excited about this funky carrot we pulled.



We asked our kids what they wanted to do for their last day of freedom. Unanimously they said they wanted to go to Camel's Back Park. So we did and had a picnic.

Then we took the out to ice cream, then swimming, then had a bbq. And their last request:

To make sticky popcorn and watch a movie. We had so much fun with them. And now...freedom for mom.