Frugal Family Fun Week 1

1. Mom had big sister organize a big treasure hunt for the younger kids.  It was great, they were entertained, excited, and got to use their reading skills.  The treasure was a few dollar store toys.

2.  The kids made a few treasure hunts for each other.

3.  Playing with water balloons and the hose outside. (hours of fun)

4.  Sidewalk chalk.

5.  Family movie night. (twice)

6.  Playing card games with mom.  (multiple times)

7.  Putting on swim suits and filling the jacuzzi tub with bubbles.  Lots of bubbles.

8.  Walking to the local elementary school for breakfast AND lunch.  (FREE)

9.  Running through the sprinkler.

10.  Getting candy at the local discount store.

11.  Watch a parade.

12.  Visit a park.

July and August highlights

I am writing this late, so I will do the best I can to list the highlights.  July and August were kind of a blur for me, but we did have some fun!

Alice
Swimming at Grandma's and Aunt Esther's
Sunshine
Evening bike rides
Parade
Fireworks at Silverwood
Triple Play!

Operation Christmas Child

I was wondering earlier today how exactly I should go about doing "Crazy Love" again.  The year has been a little busier as we have adjusted to being a family of 6, and I have had to let some things go.  I am finally ready to start again.

Bradyn came home and said that they are starting the Operation Christmas Child gift boxes soon at school.  Yay, my first mission.

I have saved up a TON of items to go in these boxes, but all items are not even.  More of this and less of that.  So, we will need to go shopping.  And then I will donate the $ for shipping as well.

My kids love filling these shoeboxes for children at Christmas.  It is a blessing for us to be able to fill them.

I can't wait!

Seven, take 2

Now there are two seven year olds in the house.

And this is the first birthday that we have gotten to spend with Allee.

I believe it was also her first birthday party ever.

Being six brought many challenges and changes for Allee.  Sweet girl.  I hope that seven is more relaxing.

Allee is smart and incredibly accepting.  She tries to be a family girl almost all the time, and is mostly easy to get along with.

And she has gorgeous black hair.  Her face lights up every time I tell her that I always wanted black hair.

Allee's birthday picks....

Chocolate cake

Snack artist chips

Orange and vanilla ice cream

Orange soda

Marshmallow cereal

Hamburgers

We are so lucky to have you in our family, Allee.  Love you!

Seven, take 1

My baby is seven.

He may not be the "baby" of the family any longer, but as the youngest child I have given birth to, he will forever be MY baby.

The best thing about this guy, is his ability to get along with everyone.  And his whistling.  Always whistling.  And it always makes me smile.

Colton's birthday picks....

Lemon cake

Cookies and Cream ice cream

Snack Artist cheese puffs and "Doritos"

Cream Soda

Powdered Donuts

Chicken-n-dumplings

And the highlights of the birthday gifts....marshmallow shooters, real cowboy boots and a real cowboy hat, and a "new to him" camera handed down from his big sister.  (The kid is seriously good at photography.)

Love you so much Coles!

Fifteen

Not sure how it is possible for me to be the mom to a gorgeous 15 year old, but she is here living in the house so it must be real.

She has always been intense and it has been a thrill ride for all of those 15 years. (Those of you who do not live in our house have no idea.)

Thankful in every way, that God bought me a ticket for this ride.

Our girl is growing up to be beautiful on the inside and out.  Love her so, so much.

Her birthday "picks" were...

Cheesecake

Vanilla ice cream

Cheddar Pirate's Booty

Orange Chicken and Rice

Any kind of soda except diet

And the big birthday gift.....she got her nose pierced.  She looks just as gorgeous as ever.

Love you so much Abriana!

Alice

We had to say goodbye to our sweet exchange student, Alice, last Friday.  She was here with us for 2 weeks.  She is a city girl, so I am not so sure she was completely impressed by our location.  Also, not so sure she was impressed with our chaotic family.  She was so sweet and polite, though.  We love Alice!

We took Alice to the lake, to the amusement park where she made herself sick on a circular ride, and to a couple of picnics and a baseball game.  She also went shopping with her travel group.

So thankful to have met Alice!

June 22, 23

June 22

Grandma
Elsie
McD's
Water balloons
Slip-n-slide
Mosquito bites all over despite using the spray

June 23

More water baloons
School lunch
Playground
Bikes
Movie
PBS kids
More mosquito bites all over
Itching
Benedryl

Summer

This is my first post in an attempt to write about our summer.

Thursday was boys night since Allee was with my mom and Abri was at work.  We got a movie, candy and pop.  It was fun.

Friday was girls night since Colton was with my mom and Bradyn went to the movie with dad.  We made birthday cake milkshakes and watched a movie.  It was fun as well.

Saturday....I can't remember.  It was a regular home, work sort of day.  Abri and I did go for a drive and buy her a new swimsuit for camp.

Father's Day we drove up to take a tour of a dam.  We had been before, but last time there wasn't much water at all.  This time, it was everywhere.  Tim went out on the "splash deck" and got soaked.  It was pretty fun, though, against my better judgement we left without eating.  There really wasn't much for food available in the rural area where we went.  By the time we had taken the tour and found a grocery store deli we had eaten all the emergency snacks I keep in the car and were all super hungry.  At least the deli food was edible.

Yesterday's events are posted in the last post.  Except we did visit a park for a while as well, and also played at BK and got some swim stuff at Shopko (goggles, tube, life jacket) and new shoes for the littles (4 pair for under $20).

Today's big events were washing the van, running through the sprinkler for the littles, taking a warm bath after in the "big" tub, and then walking the mile to the store for ice cream and back.

Big girl is at Bible camp this week with her youth group.  Big boy is sometimes participating with the littles.

Pop on Car

I am the absent minded frazzled mom quite a bit of the time.

Yes, yesterday I took the kids to Burger King and I left my pop on top of my car.  I was so disappointed when I went to take a drink and it wasn't in the car.

Yes, I am also the mom who feeds her kids fast food on occasion.

However, all was not lost as I went to the bread outlet and got 10 loaves of multigrain bread, 5 packages of bagels, two boxes of donuts (for our camping trip), and one box of cookies (the kids were hungry), for only $16.  Not bad at all.