Favorite Summer Photos - June 2010

I'm finally going through some of the photos from the summer. These are my favorite from June.

We went strawberry picking on a hot, sticky day. The kids ate about a bajillion, Lily fell asleep in the stroller, and we made some pretty darn good jam when we got home.


Lily watched the fun, posed for a few pictures (I love how she would stick her tongue out like that - all the time), tried a strawberry, and sat in the grass.
We spent a few days with our cousins at the beach.

Ryan liked his floaty. Sort of.
I love Lily in her flower bathing suit. Might be my favorite baby outfit ever.
Calvin LOVED being wet
Lily hated her toes in the water. After she figured out it was just like a really big bathtub, she splashed away. I love this photo of her legs. Her chubby, squishy, beautiful little legs. They make me smile.

First Days of School

I am lucky to have kids who are so excited about school.

Luke was so happy to be back. He helped me pick out his school supplies, carefully packed his (Star Wars) backpack and lunch, and practically sprinted to the bus stop. Just like last year, he barely waved good bye. I don't know why, but this year was almost harder than last year. He just looked so grown up and like a big kid now instead of a little boy. I think there may have been more Mommy tears this time around (mostly at the open house - I was post-nights the first day of school and pretty much exhausted).



Evie really, really wanted to get on the bus this year with him. She was so, so excited to pick him up at the bus stop and jumped up a down yelling "Wukey! Wukey!" She misses him so much when he is gone.

It's okay, though, because she got her chance a few days later as she started her first year in preschool. She helped me pick out her outfit and had to have princess backpack on her back, just like Luke. She loves preschool and loves her teachers. She loves her friends. She keeps asking me to have "dat giwl" over to play (usually a different one - and she can never remember their names." She tries to do homework everynight that Luke is working on a project.

Flying Kites

We took the kids, on one windy night right after school started, to fly kites in a big park near our house.

I can't believe we haven't done this with them before. The weather was beautiful, crisp fall. Absolutely perfect - the best time of the year here. The kids were enthralled. And when they were done, they chased each other around the field and laid in the grass. Lily - as usual - was her happiest. Surrounded by kids and people she loves. She is a happy girl, that one.









Love the snot bubble. Just had to throw that one in there.

Star Wars Room

Luke has been asking (basically since he moved in with Evie after Lily was born) when he could have his own room again. We had planned on waiting until Lily was a little older, but then decided it would be a great surprise for him before school started.

Ken took the older kids to Michigan to finish Grandpa and Grandma Barringer, and Lily and I stayed behind. We spent the entire weekend painting and moving furniture and putting up posters.

Luke was so excited. They got in really late and he just looked up with this huge smile on his face. "Awesome" he said, and then fell back asleep. The next morning was spent playing with legos and reading his Star Wars books. He loved it.

10 and 11 months

My beautiful girl is getting so big.

She had ear tubes put in the beginning of August - she had been on months of antibiotics with 5-6 bouts of ear infections that just wouldn't clear up. She did great during the surgery (though she was a little sad when she woke up and didn't recognize anyone). She has seemed to be a much, much happier baby ever since - and no more antibiotics, hooray!

She spent most of the last 2 months getting where she wanted to by rolling. A little scooting forwards on her rear but mostly just flipping herself over to get where she wanted to. She finally started crawling last week - and she got speedy fast.

She continues to be the happiest, most easy going baby in the world. She has a little more stranger anxiety than my other kids did - she gets a pretty crusty glare going if she doesn't know you well. But around our house she is easy. She will sit contently in your lap, with a book, or emptying out her bin of toys. She laughs the hardest when you tickle her chin or when she sees her brother and sister being crazy. She loves them.

She does not like fruit. Or vegetables. But she loves meat, bread and beans.

She loves to be upside down.

She is wonderful and we adore her.

Summer Catch Up

Feeling the need to catch up a bit. This summer was busy, fun, hot and sticky. We spent a few weeks in Utah, a few days in Chicago exploring the city. The kids got a camping trip with their grandparents and Grandma Walton came for the State Fair. Work was busy - our census is through the roof. It went by way to fast. All of a sudden, the leaves are red and orange and we send the kids off to school in their jackets. Lily is crawling and trying to stand up and saying a few words. Evie is a little girl (and oh, what a girl she is) and Luke has the attitude of a school kid and not a little boy. I am usually looking forward to the beginning of winter - but it just seems like the summer went by so fast.

This summer was a hot, humid Minnesota one. We spent many days at the Lifetime pool (Luke is getting to be a pretty fearless swimmer - he even took on the water slides and loved them) and in the sprinklers an slip-n-slide in the back yard. We were lucky to have Caroline and the kids come down and play so much. AnnaMarie and the girls came down a few times too - and the kids loved it.

Ryan checking out the sprinklers:

Baby Jane - just a few weeks older than Lily. But that girl can crawl circles around poor little Lil.

Being the biggest and toughest (well, maybe tallest . . . not necessarily biggest) has its advantages. It means you win all of the baby wars. Sophie and Lily - you'll have your chance. Maybe.
Calvin has the funniest run. I love it. He swings his arms and shakes his little hips. Even cuter with saggy swimsuit bum.
My Evie girl. She loves this swimsuit - pink and flowers. Now, if it only had a princess it would be perfect.
Luke finally figured out how to do the slip and slide - he could make it the whole way down!
I love Lily's thighs. Love.

MinneMan Tri

I had a little bit of envy last year, as I was 8 months pregnant, watching Ken and his buddies finish his first triathlon.

Given that I was NOT 8 months pregnant this year, I decided to train with Ken and give it a go this year.

It was, really, a ton of fun.

Ken and I before the race:


The swim scared me a little bit - I never really got into a rhythm and remember rounding the first buoy thinking that it was going to be rough getting back to the beach. I realized why when I got out of the water and looked at my watch - I was going way faster than I ever had and had caught up to the wave in front of me. Note to self: need to practice lake swimming - it's hard to tell how fast you're going and harder to pace yourself. But I made it. I was a little worried before the race that they'd be hauling me out on the rescue boats.

The bike was windy and the run was hot - but I was really happy with the way I did. Fourth in my age group overall! Ken did great, too - he came in 2nd in his novice division.

The group of us after the race:


I think we are doing another one in the beginning of September. Gotta practice that swimming.

9 Months (because I'm way way behind)

My beautiful girl is 9 months old (okay, she was 9 months on July 1st, but who's counting really?)

Monthly Lilypie updates:
*She continues to be the happiest baby I have ever seen. She will sit for literally hours with a pile of baby toys or a book or a remote control as long as you are near her.
*She loves her people. She gets so excited whenever she sees Ken, me, or her brother and sister. She giggles and wiggles her hands and feet and lets out her most excited squeal.
*She finally figured out how to move. A little. No real scooting but she figured out she can roll where she needs to get. But she has to be really, really motivated (ie her baba).
*She finally discovered baby food. And real food. And ice cream. And she will ATTACK ice cream.


*She has the cutest thing where she rolls her hands and feet in little circles when she gets really, really excited.
*She still loves to cuddle - which I love. She will get up in the morning, eat, then fall back asleep in my arms for a few hours if I'd let her.
* We continue with the ear infections - tubes in 1 1/2 weeks. Poor thing!

Happy Fourth!

I love the Fourth of July.

What a great holiday - warm weather, swimming, barbecues and friends topped of with an evening of explosions. It's always a multi-day celebration.

And this year was the best in years because I think this was the first 4th of July in 5 years I haven't had to work. Hooray!

We started off on Saturday with my first triathlon then had a BBQ and pool party with friend.

Sunday brought more eating, more friends, and trip to the fireworks, complete with sparklers. The kids had fun with friends and playing with sparklers and glow sticks (Evie liked the pink fireworks). Evie was uncharacteristically timid around the sparklers, though finally got the idea by the end. Lily stared in awe and wasn't even scared. We finished off the week with a few more fireworks on our street a few days

I LOVE this picture from Stacey's blog:




Ev loved the pool and hanging out with the little girls



Luke was a swimmin' fool.




Happy Fourth!

When Pigs Fly

That is when I will get on another airplane by myself with all my kids.

Worst. Flight. Ever.

Caroline and I thought it sounded like a good idea to take all 6 of our kids (ranging from 2 1/2 months to 6 1/2) by ourselves to Utah to visit Grandma and Grandpa. They were absolute angels on the way out there and we were pretty proud of ourselves. The week was wonderful - doing fun things, eating good food, seeing good friends.

But we payed for it on the way home. Let's recap, shall we?

Night before leaving:
Ryan (4 year old nephew) throws up at a wedding reception
Luke wakes up in the middle of the night throwing up
***everyone is pretty chipper and feeling good the next day so we hope that it'll okay. What fools we were.

Trip home:
*We booked the flight for 5pm, not thinking about the fact that the kids were exhausted and without naps. Thus, everyone starts out super cranky
*We stopped by Temple Square so were running a little bit late. We get to the rental car place 65 minutes before flight is leaving.
*After Caroline and I unload all our millions of bags, carseats, random stuff and load up into the stroller, I turn around to see that Lily has thrown up. Everywhere. All over herself and the stroller.
*We run into the airport, I throw my naked baby in the sink and hose her down. She is not amused.
*By now we have 50 minutes until the flight leaves. We haven't even started through security.
Caroline and I check in (I by now am close to tears). The kids are sitting with Grandma and Grandpa.
*I return to find a random Asian couple, who speaks no English, taking pictures of my sick, naked, fat little baby in her stroller.
*They then bring their approximately 11 year old grandson, who also speaks no English, to see said sick, naked, fat little baby. He stares and points with his hand over his mouth.
*I am no longer just close to tears.
*Now we head to security, amidst much whining, and make it through. Hooray. 30 minutes to go till the flight.
*We make it to the gate, get on the flight (dragging 12 total carry-ons and 6 tired children). Our seats are not all next to each other (3 sets of 2, though they are close) so Ryan and Luke sit by themselves. They happen to be sitting next to the most lovely pediatrician from Salt Lake, who entertained them and held babies literally the entire flight. Bless you!
*We are doing okay for the first 1 1/2 hours. Evie falls asleep, Calvin (2) is entertained with a box full of fruit snacks, Luke and Ryan are playing and coloring and watching movies. Phew.
*1 hour to go. Lily starts throwing up again. Everywhere. All over me, my shorts, herself, the bags on the floor, the airplane. And Evie.
*Evie wakes up crying because she has puke on her head, her face, and in a puddle on her seat.
*The exceptionally unhelpful flight attendants hand me a few wet paper towels. Which do not even come close to being adequate for the lake of baby vomit on the floor of their airplane, let along on my 3 year old daughter.
*We clean up Lily. And Evie. And me. Said pediatrician holds babies and entertains the boys.
*Sophie (2 1/2 months) is crying because her ears hurt.
*We start to land. Lily throws up again. She is sad. Sophie's ears hurt. The other passengers are ready to strangle us.
*We land. So close!
*Calvin throws up everywhere.
*The exceptionally unhelpful flight attendants stare at us with rather annoyed looks while we clean up Caroline, clean up Calvin, attempt to hold 2 crying babies, load all of our millions of carry on bags and usher 6 children off of the airplane.
*We make it home, sleep for about a week, and decide that it is much funnier a week later.

Can you beat that?

Shiner

Rolling out of bed and dropping something heavy you're not supposed to be playing with will do it to you.

Poor baby girl. Good thing she's still a cutie pie.

My First Video

I'm trying to figure out all the wonderful things my camera can do.


On a side note - does anyone know how to link you tube videos directly into the blog and make it look right? I can't figure that one out.

The Usual

. . .chain of events.

Luke tries to help. This usually includes jumping up and down or over the baby to make her laugh, carrying her around the house (she does weigh 20 lbs so this is pretty funny), or trying to feed her.

Lily is not amused.



Evie realizes there is something going on where she is not the center of attention. This is not okay.


She now sticks her face right in front of the lens. Just in case you missed her.