A Day at the Lake

Well, I finally took the plunge and took the kids to the lake today. They (well Shelby and Casey) have been asking all summer to go and I have been putting them off.

Why?

There's 4 of them and 1 of me!!!!

Well today we met some friends at the lake and had a blast--most of us did for most of the time.

Casey was so excited till she walked into the edge of the water. Then she shot right back out and came running to me (all 3 feet away).

Here is the conversation that followed:

Casey: "There are snakes in that water!!!"

Me: "There are NO snakes in that water!!!" (okay so maybe somewhere there are but there were not where we were--to much noise!!

So Casey goes back to the water and then right back!

Casey: "Mom, there are DRAGONS in that water!!!"

My friend is just buckled over at this point as she watches me try and keep a straight face.

Me: "I am POSITIVE that there are NO DRAGONS in Lake Murray!!"

She stood there for quite some time looking at the water and then asked me to take her in. I walked over to the water and started laughing so hard I was almost crying.

What was she seeing?

MINNOWS!!! They were swimming all over the place and some of them were a pretty good size.

It took her a looonnnggg time before she would go in that water!!! She finally did get into the water and had a blast. She met a new friend who's name was guess what? CASEY!! Here they are floating.

She also got brave and kept going out as deep as Drew. She thinks she is such a big girl now.

Landon decided that if he had to wear a float vest then he would just sit at the edge and not get wet. Suited me just fine!!!

Drew and Shelby had a blast playing with friends and no one was ready to go home.

Here are some of the big kids, Shelby and Abby are checking out the HUGE fish the boys found on the rocks! Drew is in the back ground playing water frisbee with a friend of his.

Now we are all drying out--even things that should not get wet are having to dry out. Why? Because as I was trying to wash sand off of me from holding Landon, he brought me my camera!!!! I quickly grabbed him and the camera (I was only in water a couple inches over my ankles and I had him sitting in a chair) and got them back out of the water. Then I took the battery and memory card out of the camera and it's all drying out. Thankfully, it didn't get fully submerged in the water but it did get wet so....

Finally Found One...

One What?........

A CAMPER!!!!!

It's going to be so much fun!! Who knew that Steve bringing it home last night would be such a big deal to the neighborhood? We had 5 adult neighbors in it and 1 extra child at one time. Shelby and Casey are sooooo excited. I think they were a little wild for Drew last night and Landon was already in bed so he missed all of the fun.

Just a few pictures of our "new" toy--new to us anyway!!!!

Steve bringing it home.

The inside (from one end to the other)

Both of the end beds are king and have curtains to

close them off from the rest of the camper--

Shelby and Casey love that part because

they have "ALWAYS wanted a bed with CURTAINS!!"

So glad we could help them with this deep rooted desire!!

Our kitchen. It has a stove and sink and dorm size fridge.

We also have a stove for outside.

There is a shelf and counter space

(front corner of this picture)

Our dining room--a.k.a two people will be sleeping here.

Who will be here is yet to be determined--either the 2 little ones, or

Shelby and Casey or just Drew. We'll try it a few different ways till we find

what works best for us.

Our bathroom

a.k.a. THIS IS FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

(and I mean ones where it is dark outside)!!!!!

There is also an outside shower.

Saturday...

Yesterday was a great day. All the kids did pretty good on the way down--except Landon who for the past 4 days has been using his MOST OUTSIDE voice while riding in the car!!! Let me just say that it is no fun for the people in the front seat!!!

So what did we do all day?

Well, we went and looked at a few (lots) of campers--only a few of which we either a) could afford and b) pull.

We got lost a few times (and only had to call one of our local friends one time!!!)

OH YEA, and we went to the...

beach and had a blast. Finally I have a kid who is scared of the ocean--that 4th time is a charm!!! While Landon didn't scream and cry at the sight of the ocean (or when the holes we dug filled up with water) he didn't care for it to touch him either!

Casey finally went out in the "big" water with Mommy. Not sure about all of that since I NEVER go any deeper than my ankles!!! Must have been the pain in my foot ridding me of all my good sense (fyi--I ripped my pinky toe nail almost all the way off--don't ask how!!) After a taste of "big" water, Ceasey kept asking to go back to the "big" water but she took no for an answer like a champ.

Shelby also "taught" Casey how to use the small boogie board--well sorta....

The boogie board kept Casey busy for a long time. She would jump on and then run back to the chairs. Then she would run back to the water. This could have gone on forever I think.

Drew and Shelby found some friends--both human and marine. Shelby found a couple of little girls to play with and Drew found a buddy to hang in the water with also. Drew also found a live starfish.

He held it in his hand in the water, while I went and got the camera. It was so beautiful!!

Shelby found her share of marine life also--only hers was in the form of a jelly fish and she didn't actually see it but she did feel it!!!

The life guards were great and put some vinegar on it and right away no sting--well until mommy forgot and let her get in the shower to wash off the sand!!!

I'm not sure just where all the time has gone because it seems like just yesterday when this boy...

was the size of this boy....

It wont be long before I have 3 grown men living in my house. I'm just not ready for the days to be going so fast....

But for now, I'm just going to enjoy all the fun...of digging in the sand,

running in the water

and watching my beautiful family grow up....

After the beach, we headed over to James Island to have dinner with our friends the Rooneys. They have been trying to get us to go camping with them for forever and this is as close as we have gotten. It was pretty cool because they were in the site right next to where we stayed earlier this summer.

The kids all had a blast running around, catching minnows, eating hot dogs and chips

and cookies and generally just being kids.

While we were there we got a tentative plan for a camping trip in a few weeks. What made us plan something now instead of earlier in the summer? Well we have been looking all summer for a camper that we liked. We have seen several but back to the money and weight issue. We have been very close several times to buying something and then didn't. Well yesterday we finally made the leap. We saw a camper that we liked and will work for us. While it's not what we "thought" we would get, it is what we ORIGINALLY set out to get (before we got that pie in the sky dream going). The big thing besides it fits our family, is it fits well within the budget that we had wanted to stay with in. We are very excited and Steve and KP are going back to pick the camper up tomorrow.

And just for the record, you can still see where Landon whacked his head.....

Also, please click on the pray for Stellan button on the top left of my page. My heart just aches for this family. Their little one is so sick right now. So today and tomorrow, as you go about your day please join me in lifting this family in prayer. We serve a mighty God who is not surprised by any of this. Even when we feel like things are spinning out of control and we are having to change our plans AGAIN, God is still on plan A. I have to stop and remind my self of this many times but it is always true. There are ABSOLUTES in this life and the fact that God is sovereign and in control is an ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!! So while, I am praying for this family and mine, I will be remembering that God holds each of us in His hands and that He is in control--even when our world is spinning out of control.

Love you guys!!!!

Looking Better and Better

aka here you go Mimi....

Well "Head Boy" is looking better and better. Today you can't even really, hardly see it under his hair--well maybe a little!

Pictures....

Just don't do it justice!!!!

Landon fell again today.  Proving once again that A) he has a hard head and B) he still doesn't bounce!!!

Really the pictures don't say how nice it really looks!! 

 How far did he fall you ask?  

He was on the next to the last step (from the bottom) in our house.  

Where was the AIC (adult in charge)?  

Standing right there at the bottom of the stairs.  His feet actually hit mine.  I just couldn't stop the fall!!  

The doctor wants us to watch him closely for the next 48 hours.  We are not to let him sleep for more than 4 hours at a stretch and when we wake him up, we must make him get up and walk for us!!  Yea that's going to be fun. He is also not allowed to sleep in the room alone which will make things even more special.

After getting off  the phone with his doctor, we decided to go for a walk.  I needed the quiet and with 7 kids in the house that was not something that was easy to come by.  So in the stroller he went and out the door we went.  

I tell you all of this so that you to will enjoy Josie and Shelby's,ummmm shall we say ensemble.

They even had hot pink plastic cell phones that they talked on for the entire walk!!!

Fun anyone?

We've had a lot of fun over the past few weeks.  There has been a lot of stress also with Steve working till past midnight on several days and the kids music camp final performance but we have had fun also.  

Here is a look at the kids at Cool In the Furnace:

Drew is 3rd from the left on the top row.  Shelby is first from the left on the 2nd from top row.

We took the older 3 to play Putt Puttand Bumper Boats on night. 

I learned a few things about bumper boats.  

1) no one listens when you tell them not to shoot you in the face.

2) if Casey is the one spraying the water for your boat--you are at a disadvantage and everyone will quickly realize that fact.

3) you will get very wet and you should probably not wear a white shirt

4) flip flops are a better choice than tennis shoes

We have also been to my parent's for a wedding shower.  Hey how often can you say that you drove/rode in a golf cart to a wedding shower.  It was good but the best part was the discussion with Casey before the shower.

Me:  "Casey, are you going to the shower with us (me, Mimi and Shelby) or are you going to stay here with the guys?"

Casey:  "I'm going to the shower.  We have to take off all our clothes at the shower."

Me:  (not even trying to hold back the laughter)"No, we will NOT take off all our clothes.  We can only take off our shoes."

Casey:  "But then we will get wet!!!"

Me:  "This isn't the type of shower that has water.  We will 'shower' Lindsey with gifts to welcome her to the family.  She will get lots of love and gifts just like there is lots of water when you take a shower."

Casey:  "No water?"

Me:  "No water!"

Casey:  "Yea, cause then the presents would get wet!!"  

Later she told Koko that there was not going to be water at the shower--NO WATER!!!!!

So much fun to "see" life from her point of view!!!

Oh look it's...Snow White...(sorta)......

Yep he now dresses himself.  

Let's try that again......

 Ah there's my prince and princess!!!

Casey yesterday while riding in the car:

"I'm peating my self" 

It took me a minute to realize she was saying the same things over and over and that she was telling me that she was REPEATING herself!!!  That girl is just tooo much!!

A NEW LOOK!

Well, what do you think?

I'm still trying to work on a few more things.

It takes me a while but I'll get there.

I have some other changes to make---once I find out how to do what I want to do.

So what do you think?

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This week I did not drop all of the cookies from a new package of cookies onto the floor and then put them in the cookie container anyway.  Nope not me.

I did not finish Landon's popsicle (which had been in the pool, licked by Landon and then placed on the out door bench).  Nope not me at all.

I did not let 2 of my kids have goldfish crackers for breakfast one day last week nor did I let all of them have chocolate chip cookies before breakfast on 2 different days. 

I did not ask my husband to go to the grocery store to get 1 thing for dinner while our friends were here only to have to send him right back for 2 more things.  That would never happen since I had been to the store 2 times that day already.  Nope I'm to organized for that--really I am.

I am very on top of my house work and  did not have to wash the same load of sheets 3 times (with baking soda or vinegar) because I forgot to take then out of the washer 2 different times while my friends were here this weekend.

So lets hear it.  I know each of you had something you didn't do this past week.  Leave a comment or post on your own blog and let me know.  

Wonderful Weekend

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend and hope that all of you did as well!!  So what did we do?  Well on Thursday, Steve took the day off from work to go and do some odd jobs for Grandma while the kids and I tried (and not very successfully) to get the house ready for our friends, The Rooneys, to come for a visit!!  On Friday, Steve had to go play golf with a customer and Jen and Lance got here around noon.  That's when all the fun began!!!

We had to send the guys to the store 2 times within 5 minutes of each other on Friday night just so we could get dinner fixed.  They were real good sports but the last time they did ask for a COMPLETE list!!  We usually play cards at night but Friday night EVERYONE was tired so we just sat around and talked. 

We got up and got going on Saturday.  The guys cooked breakfast on the grill--scrambled eggs, grits and bacon all outside!!  Yea no bacon smell in the house!!!  Love that grill and the guy that uses it!!  The kids chomping at the bit with "what are we going to do today?"  We had some ideas but needed some time to get them together.  We had already decided NOT to go out to see fireworks--majority rules and we didn't let the kids vote!!!  

So what did we do after Casey and Landon got up from their nap?

We had a great, funny, messy time.  Here is our agenda:

1. We had them do a dizzy bat race--2 at a time.  Yes even the moms and dads joined in.  Some of us even managed to make it without falling!!

2. Ice cream eating contest--the catch?  

The ice cream was in a bowl and you couldn't use a spoon (well we let Landon use a spoon but he quickly decided that he was missing something and ditched the spoon!!)

Click on the picture to make it bigger because you really have to see Landon's face!!!

3.  Next we pitted the girls against the boys in a "Who can stick the most Cheetos on their partners face using cool whip."  Will and Josie were the "lucky" ones who got the cool whip all over their faces.  Drew and Nate  applied the cool whip and Cheetos to Will while Shelby did Josie.  Casey started out on the girls team but then quickly changed her mind when she saw what was happening.  The girls won.  Josie did a great job holding her head back so that the cool whip didn't slide of her face as quickly as it was for the guys.  

 

4.  After all the sticky fun we had a water balloon batting contest.  A pretty good way to clean off as long as  you hit the balloon.

5.  Next came a good old fashion water balloon fight.   I think the adults had just as much fun filling the balloons as the kids did playing with them. 

 I also thing we got almost as wet!!  

Landon was a little perplexed by the fact that when he threw his "ball" it popped and got water all over him!!!  Just wait till next year!!

The rest of the day, we just stayed at the house and played Spoons and Shanghai.  We added a new rule to the Spoons game where instead of someone being out at the end of the game, the first person grab a spoon gets to have the person with no spoon do something silly.  The best one so far, was when Lance had Drew walk around clucking like a chicken!!  Drew did a great job!!!  He gave it his all and it showed!!  We invited Mr. Rick over for dinner and he said sure.  Mr. Rick is a co worker of Steve's and I'm not totally sure that the fact that there were 7 kids in this house was disclosed to Rick.  He was a great sport and even played Simon Says with all of them!!!  We are so glad that he came.  After dinner we went out to do the few fireworks that we had purchased.  I really don't see spending money on something you are going to set on fire so we didn't have very many but boy did our neighbors have plenty and they spent the big bucks.  So really we got to see a great firework show and the traffic to get home was nothing!!!  Landon LOVED the fireworks and got excited every time. After the fireworks (which lasted till about 11) we brought the kids in and gave them their dessert and sent all of them to bed.  There wasn't any fussing (after we got Casey in the bed) because they all went right to sleep.  Then the adults stayed up and played cards.  What a blast.  Here are the last of the pictures from our weekend.  It really was over too quickly!!!  

Best Buds:  Nate and Casey

The Gang: 

(on the ground left to right) Shelby, Josie, Will, Drew and Nate

(back row left to right) Steve, Landon, Rick, Lance, Casey and Jennifer

Casey doing her first ever sparkler.

  She has was scared to death of fireworks last year but not this year.  I think because the big kids were so psyched up so was she.  It must be something good as happy as they were and she should be happy too!!

 Nate trying to do a sparkler while holding his ears.  He really didn't care for the noise.  He never cried but he held his ears.

Lance and Jen.  

Aren't they so cute!!

Me and the love of my life.

Hope that all of you had as much fun as we did this weekend!!!