New Glasses for the Girls

The girls each got new eye glasses this month. They look so cute in them. This is Katelyn's first pair of glasses and Abby's 3rd pair. Abby's eyes hadn't changed much, but we went ahead and got her a new pair. Katelyn is real proud of her new glasses. She is a lot like Aunt Em...and has been begging for glasses for MONTHS!! Finally her wish has come true. We will see how long she will love them. The poor girls got my bad eye sight. I was able to get Lasik this last November and I love it!!! It is a miracle. I wish I had done it a long time ago. It has been many years, if ever, that I have seen 20/15. I love it!! And to get up in the middle of the night and see the alarm clock is awesome. I think Brandon is grateful too because I don't ask him the time in the middle of the night, don't complain about dust in my eyes at the ballgames, and I am able to swim better with the kiddos. Brandon has always had 20/20 vision. Hopefully the boys will get his sight!!

Date Night on Lake Hillsdale

Brandon and I were invited to go with Brian and Tammy Beck to Lake Hillsdale, just 30 minutes south of Olathe. We had a great time! Brandon was more successful on the lake than I was...for sure!! He really enjoyed wakeboarding, and was pretty good at it. Yes, that is my talented husband that is great at any sport. Johnny, check out these moves! I wasn't able to get up on the wakeboard, but the water was sure nice!:) We took a picnic out there and ate on the boat. It was great to watch the sun set! Thanks Becks!!

Brandon helping me put on my boots. Below is Brandon showing off his great tricks!

This is my success in the water!

Brandon in the water with the sun setting.

This is my friend Tammy. She is awesome in the water. The night we went out she got a hold of my camera and went camera crazy. She took lots of pictures...most of which we will throw out because they were of me. But, I was able to steal the camera and get a great picture of her!! Love ya Tammy! (this is the power of having a blog!)

The Berry Patch

This morning my friend Carolyn and I took the kids to the Berry Patch. It was so much fun. It is just about 30 mins away from our home, located in Missouri. Each of the kids got to pick their own blueberries. The older kids pick a few blackberries, but they were not quite ready for picking. We might go back next week to get those. The girls had a lot of fun. They didn't want to leave, but the two young boys had dirty diapers. :( You didn't have to pay to get in, but just pay for the berries. After, the kids took a 5 min ride on the barrel train. They loved the ride. Then we ate fresh blueberry muffins straight from the oven. I bought some Triple berry jam that is supper yummy and it is sugar-free! We also got some honey made in the area. Those who live in the area I would highly recommend taking your kids there. Although, you want to go as early as possible to beat the pickers and the heat!

Abby has found some blueberries ready to pick.

Brent is showing me the infested bush of caterpillars. Yuck!

Claire and Jordan were the best little workers. Claire was up there for having picked the most!

Jack would pick a berry and then throw! (not in a bucket!)

Katie loved to pick the berries, but it not too fond of the taste!

Nile and Abby picking berries.

Jordan waiting for the train to take off!

Abby and Jack

Abby , Claire, Nile, Katie, Jack, Brent, and Jordan.

Our crazy kids!

The Muffin Man, Brent!

We didn't think there was anything as big as Jordan's head, but this muffin comes pretty close!

Jack's Haircut

Yesterday I decided that Jack was due for a haircut. So, I got out the clippers and away we went. He did really well and likes to get his hair cut. I let him hold his hair and he just threw it. I think he looks like a little man now. This is actually his second hair cut. What a cutie!

Let's go mom....wait I am not so sure about this!!

Work in process.

Look what I have!!! Yes, this is my hair.

The finish product. Jack loves cars and trains. Sometimes he will sit in his room and play with them for an hour or so. A lot of the time he likes to line them all up. Then he will take them to a new location and line them all up again. This process will repeat several times throughout the house. He loves his Chevron cars the most. We don't go anywhere without them, especially when we are headed for church or to a restaurant.

Bike Ride

Last Saturday we went on a bike ride with our friends the Youngs. We had a great time. The kids did really good. We took a bike trail in Overland Park. It was so pretty and shady so it wasn't that hot. We stopped and let the kids play at a park. After our bike ride we had a barbecue with the Youngs at their pool. It was lots of fun. Thanks Brad, Shannon, Bronson, Avery and baby Gavin!

The bike crew...do you think we could be in the summer Olympics next month???

In the pit...the bike mechanics...Brandon and Brad.

Abby and Jack

Avery, Abby, Gavin, Bronson, Katie, Jackson, and Jordan

Gavin and Shannon

Jedi in Training

So, I love my children's imaginations! I find them doing the funniest things. I found Jordan one night in my room inside my laundry baskets. I heard, "beep, beep, beep." I asked him what he was doing and he simply said I am in my Star Wars ship. He stayed inside it singing the Star Wars theme song for about 30 mins. I think we might have a Jedi on hand!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful 4th of July. We went to Rich Hill, MO to visit Grandma Tourtillott and to hang out with the rest of the family. The population in Rich Hill is about 2,000, but it is known for the 4th so there were lots of people there. They have a parade, a carnival, booths, and music in the town square. The kids thought it was so much fun.

When we first got to Grandma's house we were glad to see Grandma, Aunt Linda, Aunt Marilyn, and Uncle Leon. Jack had hugs for them all. Then Grandma Brenda and Papa showed up. They brought Amy and her 6 wk old twins, Jacob and Alexis with them. They are so cute and have grown a bunch. Jack loved the babies!!! He was so good with them and thought it was fun to hold them. We noticed that Jack and Jacob were wearing the same outfits. Of course we had to take lots of pictures of them together. You have great taste Amy!!!

The kids had lots of fun at the parade. They loved collecting all the candy. Jack thought he had to eat every piece he got. Boy, he was wired all day!

One of the booths by the carnival was to take a picture with the monkey Neiko. The kids loved the monkey. If you gave the monkey a quarter he would put it in his pocket and shake your hand. If you gave him a dollar you got a picture of him. If you gave him five dollars you got to hold him and take a picture with him. We thought it was worth it for the kids to be able to take a picture with him. The monkey loved Jordan. He hopped on his back. He was also kissing Jordan's cheek. The monkey was very protective of Jordan. It was really funny. Jack just kept pointing and making monkey sounds.

We are so grateful for the country we live in! How blessed we are to live in such a great place. It was so fun to see all our family!

We made a fruit flag for lunch! It was very yummy!

Jack telling Uncle Leon that the Broncos are the best!

Jack and Aunt Marilyn

Jack is a cookie lover so he had to give Aunt Linda lots of loves for cookies!

Jack and Grandma Tourtillott

Jack gives his mommy loves!

Jack loved holding baby Jacob. He also thought he was a baby too!! Jack do you remember you old car seat that you passed on to Jacob????

Uncle Jason has a lap full of turtles! We miss you Jason...you should come visit more often!

The kiddos collecting candy from the parade.

The parade made Abby hot and worn out!

Jack loved baby Alexis. He thought her toes were funny! Isn't she sweet?

The kids waiting to hold the monkey Neiko.

Here is Neiko, the monkey!!

Is Jordan allergic to monkeys????

Does Neiko want a piggyback ride?

Check this out!! What a cute picture!! Can you tell which monkey is Neiko?

The kids are in the green airplane waiting for take-off!

Jack is that a pink car you are in?? Yes-it was the only one left. Jack loved the ride and cried to get off.

Brandon bought a few firecrackers for the kids to light and watch. They all loved shooting them off with their daddy. Jack was so funny to watch. He would take the already let ones and put them out and pretend to light them. Then he would run from them and say, "Whoa, Whoa!" It was so funny to watch him. He did really good with the sparklers. Overall, it was a great day!

The smoke over took this picture of Katelyn.

Abby lighting the skies.

Jack, our little firecracker. I think he had the most fun!

Jordan