Nine Years Old

 Silas turned 9 at the beginning of August.  We had tickets to the Windsurge baseball game that afternoon.  Popee got to go with us.

After the game, we came home and Silas opened his gifts from us, Popee and Nanee, and Aunt Lindsee, Uncle Eric, and Will.  He got some fun presents and some things that he had really been wanting.

Sarah and Phoebe both gave Silas a Build-A-Bear gift card.  He had never been there and had been wanting to go.  He also wanted a stuffed animal cat, so the girls and I thought maybe he would be able to go and build a cat.  Phoebe also made Silas a couple yarn animal cats.

He loved his new binoculars from Eric and I.

For dinner we all ate pizza from Domino's.  We tried a couple different flavors, BBQ chicken and Feta Cheese.

Then we all enjoyed a fruit pizza.  Happy 9th birthday Silas!

It was great to be able to enjoy the day with family members.  Silas, you are so loved by all of us!

After school on a Friday night three of Silas's best friends came over to eat dinner and dessert with us, then we all went to the Harlem Globetrotters performance together.

Silas requested another fruit pizza!  It is delicious!  Below, Owen, Tyson, Silas, and Isaac.

The singing of "Happy Birthday" was loud, a little wild, funny, and made me smile from ear to ear.  These boys love to have fun together , can get a little crazy together, but are some of the kindest boys you'll ever encounter.  I am so glad Silas has them for his friends.

After eating he opened his gifts from his friends before we headed downtown to the Globetrotters show.

The boys were calling themselves the "four dynamic dudes".

When we finally got to go to Build-A-Bear, they were all out of cats to build in the store.  So, the worker ordered us a cat.  It would be sent to our home when it came in.  Before we left the store he did get to make a certificate for his cat.  The cat arrived safely at our house about a week later.

Happy 9th birthday, Silas Paul! You are thoughtful, kind, observant, intelligent, crazy athletic, and funny.  You are always moving and thinking.  You are a good friend and look for ways you can help others out.  You are competition driven and love to win.  I love you, your heart, and your drive to be the best at each thing you try.  I am so thankful God blessed us with you! Keep being you, working hard, and shining God's light wherever you go.  

Love, Mommy

August Fun

 We spent an afternoon Rock River Rapids swimming and splashing with friends.

We took Lindsee and Will to Rockin Ricos for some delicious snowcones when they came to visit us is August.

We got to go to the lake with Popee, Lindsee, and Will for some fun in the sun.

All three of our kids tried water skiing while we were there.  Silas didn't get up, but tried over and over.

Phoebe tried only a couple times and then popped right up out of the water.  She stayed up for about 5 seconds a couple of times!  And, she was all smiles!

I stayed in the water with Silas and Phoebe to give them help from behind the boat while they were trying to get up.  When Phoebe popped up and took off, I swam to shore to wait and watch her from there.

Sarah was next.  She had gotten up before, but it was two summers ago, so she got back up pretty quickly this time and practiced going back and forth between the two boat wakes.

Then it was Lindsee and I's turn.  Lindsee got back there and did her thing, smiling and waving at us all in the boat.

Then I got back there and went in and out of the wakes and attempted by big "No Hands" trick.... This time I was going a little too fast and didn't get the rope between by legs right, and fell hard.  It's okay, I'm a little out of practice.  I'll be better next time.

We all had a lot of fun swimming and cooling off in the water together.

Then the kids took some turns tubing before we headed back to town for the day.

We got to go to my cousin Jess's wedding.  It was outside at her brother (my cousin's) barn venue.  It is called Emma Creek Barn.  To find out more about this beautiful venue for a wedding or event in your future....

CLICK HERE - EMMA CREEK BARN

Josh and Jordan walked their mom, (my aunt Jan, the mother of the bride) down the aisle.

Below, Jess and her dad, my uncle Dale.

They had a great BBQ dinner and a fun dance after the wedding.

Below, four cousins, Lindsee, Johannah, Jess, and Stacee.

We got to go to Windsurge  basesball game on Silas's  birthday.

After the game we had a pizza birthday dinner.

And, we all enjoyed a fruit pizza birthday cake for Silas's 9th birthday.

Happy birthday, Silas!  Below, Sarah, Will, Nanee, Silas, Popee, and Phoebe.

We took a super fun vacation out to Colorado and spent six days hiking and exploring near the cabin and Pike's Peak area.  We took two friends with us, Jax and Wyatt.  Below, are just a few of our group pictures from our trip.

Lindsee, EP, and Will got to join us at the cabin for a couple days too.

The girls gave Silas Build A Bear gift cards for his birthday.  He wanted a stuffed cat so we went to see what he could build.  They didn't have any cats in stock, but they were able to order him one and it was directly shipped to our house.

Usually before the first day of school we get some sort of sweet treat.  This year it was Blizzards from DQ.

The first day pictures... Sarah - Freshman (in high school), Phoebe - 6th grade, and Silas 3rd grade.

Below, Silas and his friend Isaac.  They were both excited to get to be in the same classroom together this year.

Sarah tried out and made the high school volleyball team!  Wahooooo! Way to go, Sarah Jo!

We had a birthday party for Silas on August 20th.  He invited some of his best buddies over for dinner and fruit pizza, and then we all went to the Globetrotter's together that evening.  Below, Owen, Tyson, Silas, and Isaac.

Lucy has been finding some funny places to lay around our house lately....

One night before bed we had a little visitor stuck on our front window...a sticky feet frog.  We all looked at him and thought he was cool then went to bed.  The next day, before school I brought my watering pitcher in off our front porch to fill it up so that I could water the flowers.  I turned on the water in the kitchen sink and out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement at the top of my watering pitcher... It was that little sticky feet frog!  He was in my watering pitcher and was climbing out...in my kitchen!  I did what you would most expect and began to scream loudly for Silas to come quick!!!! He and Sarah came running into the kitchen, (they must of thought there was a fire or some sort of emergency) and I directed Silas to get that frog out of my house.  He quickly grabbed it in one swoop (thank goodness), and put it back outside in a safe spot among some of my potted plants.  Thank goodness I hadn't taken them to school yet.  I seriously do not know what I would have done if that frog would have been in my kitchen...just me and it...it would have been a disaster.