Lake time coming to an end

Its the last weekend before school and we wanted to end it with some family time at the lake. The water is still perfect, the weather was hot, and we just wanted some time away to relax before the school year started! The pictures just kindof speak for themselves but we had a great time. We ate more than we needed...once again and loved playing with the new puppy. The kids played until they sometimes fell asleep on Mama's lap and we had late nights watching movies. Peyton caught a big fish and we spent a lot of time on the boat, especially tubing. I love a few of the pictures of the kids tubing where the picture isn't clear but you can still see their huge smiles and almost hear the laughter. 

Pom Camp

Crossings held a cute Pom camp the week before school started and Hadley was so excited to do it with her friends. They learned a short, fun dance and performed for all the parents on Friday. I was so sad to work and have to miss it. I think this is the first performance I have ever had to miss and I hated it. Thankfully, they have a really awesome babysitter who video taped the whole thing for me so I wouldn't miss it. Hadley was pretty excited to have Kristin, Nox, and Hudson there to cheer her on!

Science Museum Playdate

As we near the end of summer we are trying to pack in as much fun as we possibly can. We planned a day at the Stillwater Children's museum with the Bakers today but thankfully looked online before we left and realized it is closed on Mondays. That definitely would have been a bummer to drive all that way and come right back home. So we decided on the Science Museum instead. We met as soon as it opened and ended up staying ALL day because the kids were having so much fun. The Science Museum just opened a new exhibit called "Curiocity" that is out of this world. It really was the most unbelievable exhibits I have seen. I wish I had taken more pictures but with our season pass I expect us to go back several more times! We had such a great time with great friends. Hadley and Ben are becoming really good friends and I love her being able to be friends with boys and think nothing of it. Of course, Will is Hudson's very best friend and he would never turn down a chance to play with him.  We are ending summer with a bang!

White Water

One of Hadley's very favorite memories of last summer was going to White Water with me while Hudson was at school. There was no way we could leave him behind this year but I also knew it wasn't feasible for me to do White Water with them by myself. We realized a Sunday morning would be the best bet at low crowds and a time daddy could come with us. Hadley was super excited and Hudson had no idea what he was in for. It ended up being overcast and chilly when we got there which was perfect because the afternoon was HOT! We rode lots of rides and neither of our kids were even the least bit scared of any rides that they were tall enough for. They both even did the Bermuda Triangle which is a million stairs to the top and then all the way down on a tube by yourself. I was a little nervous Hudson may panic iin the slide but he actually LOVED it. They both had the best time. They were in a great mood, loved eating lunch there and especially getting dippin' dots (probably their favorite dessert). They also got to pick out a toy as we left which, of course, completed their perfect day.  Because we were in the water the whole time I only got 3 pics but we have  many more memories!

Hudson gets his green belt

Hudson woke up excited to test for yet another belt and keep working his way up to a yellow belt. The day started off as planned and we all went to Hadley's softball practice. Hudson was playing with Oscar and they were having a great time. I was talking with the other moms and had no idea the mischief they were getting into. Oscar and Hudson decided it would be fun to throw baseballs at a wasp nest! And this nest was huge...with wasps crawling in and out of if. All of this was out of sight for me and my first sign of it was when I heard screams coming from the dugout and I saw another dad run in and then come back out carrying Hudson. The little guy had gotten stung 6 times and was letting out the most excrutiating cries I have ever heard from him! It was such a deep cry he was groaning and shaking. I immediately put him in the car and we went to Walgreen's for some wasp sting pain reliever. It seemed to work pretty quickly and we were soon home and relaxing on the couch from an eventful morning. 

Only a few hours later we were ready for our test. Hudson was still a little off-kilter but he was ready to go. We got there, he did great for his entire test, and then it was time to break the board. Matt and I could both see in his face before he even tried it that it was not going to go well. He just didn't seem to have the confidence he usually has. But he tried, didn't hit it hard enough, it didn't break, and the tears began. He said he couldn't do it and just wanted to quit. We talked through it and then he got a great pep talk from Master Lewis. He was told to try just one more time and he gave it his best. He did it and smiled so big. He was awarded his green belt and Master Lewis told him just how proud he was. Hudson is still loving Karate so much and we love how much he has matured in just 8 months!

July pics

Some pictures with my "coffee" date after dropping Hadley off at her first day of camp. Hudson loves to go to the coffee shop with me because they have sprite in his favorite cup waiting for him as he walks through the door. They all know his name and love seeing him come in!

Davis spent the night and I loved catching this picture of them sleeping like twins...just like their daddies!

All smiles while waiting on Hadley to get out of her tumbling private lesson. We wrestled on the ground for about 15 minutes. In the next picture Hudson came in with this hair after playing in the bathroom for about a while. He said, "Mommy, I am tired of having handsome hair. I just want to have cool hair."

Love the peace and quiet this tent brings sometimes when the kids pull it out, make a pallet, and lay down to watch a movie.

A couple cute pictures of the kids having fun together swimming. Sometimes I love when neither of the kids have a friend there to play with and they just play with each other.

I can never turn down a couple of sleeping pictures! Summer sure does wear out the kids.

A cute picture of Gauge on the day I met him. He is Ryan and Lisa's new Brittany Spaniel puppy and so, so cute!

It would be surprising if I had a monthly post that didn't include a lemonade stand! I think over the summer Hadley has made about $75. Hudson always loves to help and couldn't care less about getting any of the money!

Donut date at after a slumber party. Hudson's face is hilarious because I took the picture after he had eaten the mouth off his ninja turtle. He was obviously a little upset.

Somehow, I feel like we have had a million play dates this summer. And the kids typically seem to end up at our house. We love it though and I just love having all the fun here instead of missing out on it.  :)
While Matt was at work one day I took Hadley, Grace, Reese, Lottie, and Hudson to the pool. To do the slides you have to be either 48" or pass a swim test. Hudson had really been wanting to take the swim test but was too nervous to do it for quite a while. Finally, with the support of 4 older girls, he took the test and passed it while they cheered him on from the side. It was so sweet to see them jumping up and down and then holding his hand as he walked over to the life guard to get is wrist band. He was more than excited to go to the top of the slide and he did great his first time down. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it because I only took a video. He did it a few more times and was cheered on each time. But...he got a little confident and the girls told him to swim against the current instead of with it over to the ladder. He tried, was treading water, losing his breath, and ended up struggling enough that the life guard jumped in. At that point they have to take away the bracelet and he would have to wait for another day to try the swim test again. Poor buddy was so upset.

Daddy bought Hudson a new ball mitt and he was so excited to practice catching and throwing. He can't wait for his turn to play baseball. Unfortunately, the league we want to put him in doesn't have fall ball so we have to wait until the spring to play. Hopefully, all the games he is about to watch his sister play won't bother him too much!

Just some silly faces from my little guy.

The fares invited us to Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club for a day of swimming and dinner by the pool. Matt and Erik had played golf earlier in the day and we went out there after they had gotten home from playing. The weather was great and we had such a fun time. Hudson loved swimming with his "teacher" and is still trying to understand that he will have a new teacher this year. We ate some yummy hamburgers, drank some yummier drinks, and enjoyed some great company. It was a fun, relaxing day.

Our next door neighbors had their newest baby girl, Olivia, and the kids could hardly wait to go over and meet her. She is just precious and the kids left, once again, asking for a baby brother (per Hudson) or sister (per Hadley)...

We went over for swimming and dinner at Ryan and Lisa's before school started back. We swam all afternoon, Mama and Papa picked up barbecue, and the kids destroyed the house before we left! But the cutest picture I got was when we walked into Peytons room to see her performing a little Karaoke while the others lined up to watch her. I think each of them loved it!

Summer is coming to an end. It's been the best one yet and I don't think any of us are ready for it!