Flaming Gorge

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Lloyd for an amazing vacation with our family!

Schools out for summer!

The day school got out on June 7th there was so much excitement in the air. I picked up the kids from school with the song "Schools Out for Summer" by Alice Cooper playing. Then we went out to eat at one of their favorite restaurants Panda Express.

So it's been just over a week, and every day when Dane gets home from work, I ask him... "Is it September yet"? They are driving me crazy!!!! Yes, I'm a stay-at-home mom so it's not like I'm not used to them being around all the time. It's just, that with Maddy and Christian home in the mornings, it totally upset the balance of things. Truth be told, for a good hour or so in the morning, I let Sam watch cartoons snuggling on one side of me and Emmalyn on the other (she just realized what the big box we stare at all the time is for). Both usually have a lock of my hair in their hands. And I just sit and enjoy whatever book I'm reading.

Well now, I come down in the morning and Maddy's taken over the morning TV and since I have nothing to pacify Sam and Emma they're usually off making trouble. Christian, however, sleeps sometimes till noon. At about that time, Maddy wants to know what fun thing we're doing for the day. Uh, I'm not your cruise director, it's not every day this summer we're going to take a Zoo trip, or go roller skating. Some days Mommy just wants to catch up on the huge mess that having 4 kids home all the time makes.

Thankfully this summer we're taking 2 big trips. July to Flaming Gorge, Utah a visit with my Dad's side of the family. Then the first week in August, our annual extended family beach trip to Lincoln City. Other than that we'll have to fit in lots of visits to the park, Baskin Robins, and sleepovers with friends.

Time will fly and it will be time to sing "It's the most wonderful time of the year," while pushing the Target cart full of school supplies. Just kidding, I love summer and all it's craziness! Next year Christian starts middle school and Maddy has her last year at the elementary level! I'm not sure I'm ready for that!

Emma shake down

Tell me what you know Teddy.

I said tell me what you know!

That's it I'm running you over with my horse.. Buhaha

Emma's favorite toy, Clippidy Clop. When you pull on his ear he sings.

I'm a pretty pony Clippidy Clop, Clippidy Clop
Such a pretty pony Clippidy Clop, Clippidy Clop
I love to have my coat brushed underneath the old oak tree

Lets run and jump and have lots of fun
When you come and play with me

This song will be forever burned into my brain! So sweet!

My two plumbers

Nothing is worse than when your toilet breaks and you have only one bathroom! This weekend the tank on our toilet broke while Dane attempted to replace a broken handle. What a pain it was to have a broken toilet for a day and a half! Thanks to Daddy and Emma for fixing our potty!!!

 

Ready to just turn it all OFF!

We've never been that big of a "gamer" family, until recently. The kids would have their weeks where they would play video games non-stop for a while, but then get sick of it and forget about playing for a few months.

Then Christian and Dane discovered "Black Ops". Gaming has now become a family event (minus mom). Every night Dane, Christian, Maddy, and even Sam (with a pretend controller) would play this game of blood and gore.

Now the kids are into Minecraft. And well I guess I should be happy that at least this games requires them to think and be creative, it is also VERY addictive! Sam right now has it the worst, as this is his first video game. I could not believe how fast he learned how to play it. If allowed he'd play this game all day long! He mostly likes to see what he can create and then find the most explosive way to blow it up. To control his Minecraft addiction I make him play ABC mouse each day for an hour before he can play his video game for an hour. 

Maddy loves  this game too. However her approach to playing is much different. She likes to create farms with lots of animals. She'll make 2 animals of one kind share a pen, if she feeds them they'll love each other and make babies! Too cute :)

Sundays used to be my escape from electronics. Dinners at GaGa's house. But not anymore! :(   The boys have taken over the two back bedrooms to game with eachother. I think it might be time for a power outage at Wenzel Mountain!

Boys playing Command and Conquer 

Sam teaching Aunt T* about Minecraft