Just a few, in no particular order

I am really struggling with how to work this new photo uploader and be able to insert text, so these are actually in an odd order. While I'm not a total control freak, it is really bothering me that I cannot get this blog to cooperate with the arrangement of photos that I would like for this entry...

Meanwhile, no one who actually reads this (there are at least two of you, Hi Jenny! Hi Jen!) could possibly care less!

6/19/11: Grandma and kiddos (and Cory) playing in the living room

More playing. "We are building castles, mom."

The wagon that holds the legos... I beleve I also have photos of Scout pulling this same stunt

Grandma's flip flops (Incidentally, "flip flops"--or, really, lip lops--is one of Ruby's favorite things to say)

On Saturday, Cory achieved one of his goals for the summer which was to create Scout her own garden box. Here they are planting it on Father's day.

Despite several attempts, I couldn't seem to get a photo of the father and his children on Fathers' Day. This is one of my pathetic excuses for a daddy/daughters photo.

Planting the new garden

Grandma arrived on 6/18 and we went to Famous Dave's for dinner that night.

Scout had picked out this dress the night before as the one that she wanted to wear when she went to the airport to pick up Grandma

We have been incredibly blessed to have had fun visitors and take a few fun visits ourselves, so despite the fact that I know we have tons more photos of Scout's birthday festivities (they are on Cory's camera), I will keep moving on with chronicling our already-busy summer.

Scout and Liam

Last week, some Denver friends ventured up to see us and we took in a park/sprinkle park. Honestly, four kids (four and under), two adults and I think it probably went as fantastic as possible. Yay for that! We took in the world's largest playground (well, not really, but it may as well be when you're chasing little kids around it) and also a picnic. So much fun!

A photo of four kids, all looking at the camera at the same time was a bit of a challenge

From L to R: Matthew, Liam, Ruby and Scout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scout, who's birthday is it?

Wisconsin trip! Part II

Onward from Madison, we continued to Sheboygan.

Ruby loves the rocking chair at Grandma and Papa's house

A trip to the park, some time around the Reichert house, a short ride in the convertible, and a small celebration for little Scout ensued.

Another thing the kids love at Grandma and Papa's house--the bell

Scout in the high grass at the park

Getting ready for the big ride with the guys

Giving the ol' fist pump

The birthday girl and Papa Matty clapping

Pretty pumped up about her new pajamas

Papa helps Ruby with her cake

Papa, Grandma, Scout and Uncle Jake

Ruby enjoys the lawn chair

If there is one thing you can always count on from Grandma Karen, it's a good bubble bath

And finally a family shot, minus Cory who took the photo:

In all our glory!

Wisconsin trip! Part I

Over the Memorial Day weekend, we had a chance to reunite with friends and see family.

We started our weekend in Lake Geneva at the Timber Ridge Resort. Grandma Karen and Papa Matty met us there on Friday (actually we met on the drive not far from the Milwaukee airport), and Jake joined us on Saturday as well. The kids had a great time in the water park.

The Rubester

Scout, with Ruby in the distance

A wedding was what actually prompted this little getaway to Wisconsin. An old friend from high school got married, and it was a great chance to see old friends and have some fun.

A "just the girls" photo--me, Megan, Tanya, Jill and Liz

Prior to the ceremony, me and Cory

Before leaving the hotel room, a family shot... Scout was not too pleased, but upon a phone call later in the evening I learned that she bounced back rather quickly after our departure

Me, Tanya, Jill at the Grand Geneva Resort prior to the ceremony

Before the bride made her entrance, see my friend Liz closest to the celebrant

Megan and Matt

In this photo, we included another guest (a male!), John, who was also a high school classmate

Obligatory self-portrait of Liz and me

The guys--Mike, Cory, Jamie

After the festivities were over, we headed to the Madison area to see some good friends' homes. Two couples we know had recently built homes, and it was so great to see how these projects had come together. Gorgeous homes, very cool to see.

The other guys, Cory, Brian and Mike--on Brian and Jen's screened-in porch, a lovely feature of their new home

The kids eating their pizza--L to R: Ben, Hannah, Allie, Scout, Cameron, Ruby

Ruby and Allie gettin' down

The girls--Jen, me and Jill

The whole crew--Scout, Ruby, me, Ben, Cory, Cameron, Brian, Jen, Mike, Allie, Hannah and Jill

More on the next post...

Preschool is over!

The day after school ended (May 26th), there was an all-school picnic/playdate at City Park.

Scout is standing in front of the City Park trolley

Scout and her beloved Mrs. Elliott

It was so nice to see how far Scout has come this year... and all of us too, I guess. I remember Ruby as being "so little" when her sister started school. And I genuinely knew no one as we started, so it's fun to see how much community is built around that little pre-school. I now recognize people at the grocery store, or just out and about all the time thanks to the names and faces we've learned at FUMC Co-op Pre-School. Next fall--Pre-K!