branson

a couple weeks ago the kids and i tagged along 

with sam on a trip to branson.

he was attending the national christian counselors conference.

we were going for the hotel, eating out and sights 

electronics are quickly becoming our traveling best friends.

i-pad, i-pod, dvd and texting cell phones

made our 7 1/2 hour trip a piece of cake.

best car ride we've ever had! 

the kids and i swam for a few hours each day

we also spent a lot of hours glued to our new favorite tv channel

--animal planet--- 

who knew the turtle man was so awesome!

and my favorite thing about staying in hotels--

eating in bed!!! 

too bad next years conference is in nashville...

skeleton family

i found this fun craft in this months family fun magazine.

it looked so simple and i had

all the supplies on hand.

q-tips, cotton balls, hot glue gun

the girls and i absolutely love our hot glue gun

best. thing. ever.

kye was totally into it, he even made 2.

i so enjoy watching him do crafts.

he is also so focused and works hard to do his best. 

here we are--

hanging in the dining room window 

 sofie (with the yellow yarn hair of course)

then lia and kye

and here's sam and i

 

another birthday

a few weeks ago we celebrated sam!!

the worlds largest birthday cards

breakfast in bed made by the kids

birthday candles in the eggs

his favorite coffee ice cream pie

happy birthday to one very special man!!

time to turn the heater on

a few weeks ago we spent the weekend at geode, just a few miles from home.

it was super fun for several reasons--

it was cold and we could finally have a bonfire since the burn ban had been lifted.

we kept the fire going almost non-stop from friday evening to sunday afternoon.

we were so close to home that we had several visitors.

it was beautiful weather.  perfect weather.

we were able to go to our church sunday morning and then drive back to geode.

 

here was lia's list she made before we left.

15 push ups--

wake up mom-

eat bread-

go on walk-

wake up dad-

she's lucky she didn't follow her list and wake mom up!

 

 

of course they made new friends, here's 1 of them joining 

us for breakfast around the campfire

one of kye's flip-flop's fell out of a bag and didn't make it to geode.

he doesn't really like to wear his keen's but i pack them for hiking.

so this is what he chose to wear all weekend--

1 of each 

the smith's came to visit saturday night

and the dascher's came sunday

hoping this isn't our last one of the year.

time to try out the heater and make sure it works.

 

the girls

my sofie

turned 10 this summer

 loves, loves, loves kitties--especially hers

deathly afraid of bee's

picks up snakes, bugs, turtles, frogs, etc...

always painting her nails

movie watcher

organizer/planner

still plays with baby-dolls and barbies

loves reading junie b jones and allie finkle's rules for girls books

starting to stay home alone for short periods of time (and thinks she is pretty cool)

awesome eater and still tries anything at least once

enjoys drawing pictures of families

loves crafts

 

can't get enough of kye saying cute things 

sleeps with her kitty every night

not a fan of walks/bike rides

interested in fashion

thrives with responsibility

in 4th grade

spends hours playing with lia 

my sofie is growing up!

kye's big day

this boy started preschool last week

and he loves it!