Summer

OK....I know its been a loooooooong time, and I'm sure many of you have given up on me by now. But, since there are several of you who are still making comments about how long it's been since a blog post...well, I guess some of you still love us. That, or you are all just truly nosey people!!



Summer...it's just flying by! My calender the last two months...almost impossible to read! I think (and a say this cautiously) that things are calming down a little bit. Maybe??? At the very least, Owen is now done with his summer session at school, and we are ALL officially on a "summer schedule". It's been rough being the only one up...for hours, after he got the bus at 7:15...all summer!



Regardless of our crazy calendar.....largely due to J's insane baseball schedule and the fact that for whatever reason EVERY medical/dental appointment--what feels like a whole years worth--is squished (is that even a real word??) into the two months of the summer....we have been able to get in some summer fun! Here are some scenes from the summer:



This was Owen's initial reaction to seeing the pool this summer.....

Initially, when I indicated that we were going to go INTO to pool, he looked at me and shook his head "no". Then he saw Ella and J jump in, thought that was hysterical, and decided he'd join the fun.

Wondering if he'd be over the "panda incident", we ventured to the zoo.

All went well--just not a big fan of the Children's Zoo. We did just fine in the Butterfly house though....my second favorite part of the zoo :)

Then to Ella's favorite part of the zoo.....

And now...my FAVORITE part of the zoo....the Gorillas! I can stand there ALL day and watch them--seriously ALL day. They fascinate me!

How can you not want to watch this.......

OK, I know you're not here to look at pictures of Gorillas....but, it's my blog, and I LOVE Gorillas So, just one more.........

There's just something in those eyes :)

Owen's first Carousel ride...I do love Carousels too :) And now so does Owen!

He also loves opening presents...even when they aren't for him!

Gram :)

On July 2nd Brian and I celebrated our Anniversary. Ella was very excited ALL week about us going out for our anniversary, and personally picked out our outfits in advance!! Even though we were not going to a very fancy restaurant, we couldn't disappoint her, and wore our "fancy dress", and suit! The smile on her face when she saw us all dressed....PRICELESS. Here is how she dressed us.....

Swing set fun....

Again...my blog...love flowers :)

Owen's first Fourth of July...mostly spent...you guessed it....on the baseball field!!!!

Monday mornings, back to school, have been tough! This is Owen on a Monday morning waiting for his breakfast!

Moments captured....what are big sisters for???...pushing you on the swing.....

More fun in the pool

So Handsome!

Sharing summer snacks--Ben loves cantelope, and will stop at nothing to get some. Owen was happy to share :)

Ok, I really do have a lot more to blog about, but I'll let you enjoy this blog post for just a little while :)

Joy

OK....I know it's been a looooooong time since my last post! I actually uploaded these pictures over a month ago and never actually got them published onto the blog! I plan of doing a lengthy "Owen update" in the next week or so (I have a lot to say!), but for now you'll have to settle for a few pictures. Once we get settled into our new summer routine.....or should I say lack of routine, I promise a more fulfilling post!

This was Owen's reaction when Ella and I brought him home a bear from Build-a-Bear!! Priceless!!
He was just a little excited to find a bear in the box!!!

A hose and a whole lot of fun!

A Picture Worth a Post of it's Own

Ella and Mikey have been best friends since birth. I was so happy to capture this moment between them. They really do love each other!

Fun with Friends

Yesterday, after Ella got out of school, we went to lunch and then to the park with Michael and Meaghan Grace. These three really do love each other!

Mother's Day

Mother's day......my first as a mother of four.

Owen was very excited to bring me my cards and gifts
A beautiful card, made by Owen, which accompanied a gift...a mold of his little footprint!! A big thank you to his teacher!!

I LOVE this picture of these two cuties!! Look how Owen is holding his hands around her.

Meme, Gram, Poppy, and Aunt Ali joined us for brunch which we had brought in by our favorite caterer.

In my card from my sister--a poem written by her in the third grade. Just ignore the part where is says I punched her in the jaw....wasn't me....I would never (really, I can't believe I would ever do that!!) Aside from that part, isn't that so sweet????

Me and my Baby Girl. I was having Brianna take pics of us two to put in the frame Ella made for Mother's day. She really is delicious!!

Just when it finally stopped raining....a Shower!

This past Friday we celebrated the upcoming arrival of Paige Min Shan. He mommy, Lisa, has been waiting a long time for her. Paige is waiting in a foster home until her mommy and daddy can come to get her.

Lisa, who thought she was going walking with Meaghan Grace's mommy, was quite surprised when 30 of her friends and family were waiting for her in Michelle's driveway!! Everyone had worked very hard to make this a night special for Lisa, and it was. It was filled with beautiful gifts, good wishes, and lots of love for little Paige who we will hopefully all meet VERY soon!!

Lisa, dressed in her "workout attire" approached the driveway
She realizes what's going on....for a moment we're afraid she'll run away!!!

Four lucky Mommies!! Michelle (Meaghan Grace's mommy), Lisa (Paige's Mommy), Joanne (Mia Hope's Mommy), and Me

Lisa got MANY gifts!!

Since this is my blog, I decided to post a picture of part of my gift!! Lisa's son plays many sports and Paige, just like Ella, will be spending A LOT of time on the field. I made Lisa a basket of things to make life of the field a little easier and called it "Fairy on the Field" (Lisa LOVES fairies!). In it were two t-shirts. One said "I have no life, my brother plays baseball", and the other said "My brother plays Lacrosse better than your brother". In the basket were things like travel snack cups, travel spoons, a travel formula/cereal dispenser, sippy cups, a bottle cooler bag and ice packs, a thermos, a blanket, disposable bibs, toys, bubbles, and snacks. The basket came out really cute!!

Love is.......

.....giving someone you care about a foot massage

How cute are these two rubbing each other's feet with lotion after their bath last night?????