LOVE

This kid just walked in from a very long football practice. First thing he said was, "Do you know what I need from my mom? Do you know what I want? I want a delicious, warm grilled cheese sandwich made by my mom with the secret ingredient......love. Will you please? I also have that dead squirrel I can taunt you with........" (See squirrel post.)

Who could turn this face down?;)

CARDS

Ben and I just finished a wild game of PHASE 10. I was killing it. Until the end when he narrowly and viciously beat me. His comment? "Well played, playa. Well played."

TREK

Liv went on Trek last week. And absolutely loved it. She didn't know a single person in her family when they left, but came home with several new best friends. Kelsey and "Jackson with the chocolatey eyes" were two of them. When we asked her how it went she said," THAT was probably the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life." Mission accomplished, pioneer.;)

We made her apron!! A successful shopping trip to Goodwill provided the rest of her clothes.

SHOES

I should have known shoe shopping with Kate would be hilariously frustrating. Several pairs she wouldn't even consider trying on. They had to be sparkly. Significantly sparkly. I found a nice pair of Toms. And several pair of sturdy Nike running shoes. She found these......

It was heartbreaking for one of us when these shoes proved to be just a titch too big. We settled on a pair of navy and white glitter striped keds with star beads on the laces and a pair of cora patent leather ballet flats. We both wanted a pair of those!

LAUNDRY

This has been a bad week for laundry. I am sure part of it is my fault, but seriously.... Who stuffs their pockets (that is plural, as in MULTIPLE POCKETS) with Swedish fish, a wad of playdough AND  a black permanent marker without a tight fitting lid? Ben. And Nick. You are killin me, boys......

ZOO

The bank was one of the sponsors for the "Do At The Zoo" this year so Chris and I got dressed up and attended it. I hadn't been to the Denver Zoo before....It was fun! The animals were all out with their trainers, putting on tricks and thoroughly entertaining us. After such a fun night, we are considering rhino adoption......;)

DUCKY

Today the kids earned their first of three prizes for the library's summer reading program. Kate got this cute yellow rubber duck. Appropriately named Ducky.;) On the way home, she was squeaking Ducky about 15 times a second. I asked her if Ducky could please be quiet. She replied,"Let me ask him. (Pause.) He said no." Damn Ducky. Little did Ducky know, someone was waiting for him as soon as we got home. Maisey. She wanted him from the second she laid eyes on him.  Maisey went so far as to tackle Kate, bending her backwards into the couch to get it from her hand. Lots of squealing, giggling and barking went on, but somehow Kate came out on top. Later that evening tho, as things were settling down for the night, Maisey came and laid down by my chair. She was quietly and ever so thoroughly working over the cute Mr. Ducky. And this time, the dog won.

DAYTRIP

Last week the Herzogs and the Smiths headed downtown for a little day trip. We visited the Denver Firehouse Museum and took some cute pictures. Then we walked down to 16th street mall for lunch. And entertainment. Liv took a seat at the street piano and tickled the ivories for us while Ben talked to the random T-Rex wandering the street. The city is crazy! And we love it.

BACK TO SCHOOL

We have a new Third grader in the house! It all started yesterday.......

Yesterday we went and met his teacher, who was also Nick's third grade teacher and just an amazing, fantastic woman. (Ben's mother may or may not have written a small pile of letters to ensure he could get this teacher for third grade.;) As soon as she saw us, she said, "IS THIS BEN?!?!" And gave him a giant hug. He put away his school supplies, did a little project and then we were off to get his school picture taken. Then he was done for the day! 

Today, Ben was up at 7am on the dot and jumped in the shower. (He was forbidden to get out of bed before his alarm went off at 7am. He would have been up by 6am if we didn't have a sleep sheriff in the house!) He was fully dressed and ready to go by 7:15. The one thing this boy is NOT is a dawdler.;) He spent the morning playing with Maisey and building a fort with Kate until it was time to leave. (It IS kind of nice having the kids all leave at different times in the morning. The house seems rather quiet!) In the car on the way there, he said he was "mostly excited and wondering what they were going to do." He has a thing about telling jokes to his teachers so we talked about what would be a good back to school joke for Mrs. Reini. As soon as we pulled up to the curb, he hopped out and was gone. Just like that. And I miss him like crazy.

BACK TO SCHOOL

I cannot believe how fast this summer went! Totally ridiculous. We need another month to play!!

Today was Olivia's first day of highschool.  (Also totally ridiculous.) My girl is growing up and there is simply nothing I can do to stop it! We have had a weird fever/sore throat/ yucky bug going around our house this week and she woke up with it. Determined NOT to miss the first day of her Freahman year, she told me to "drug her up" and then she threw up in the kitchen garbage. She felt like a train wreck when she left but managed to make it through the day.

She rode home with a new friend today and was relieved to have friends in all of her classes. Happy but tired, she had a snack and quickly passed out with her favorite blanket.

And this guy started middle school today!  He was up on time today and ready to roll before everyone else. He requested a breakfast of French toast but only ate a little due to being nervous! 

He was SO EXCITED to get to wear his new school shoes and coordinating socks. Seriously, he is so big and handsome. I don't know what is happening to my little kiddies. 

He came home on top of the world. The first thing he said was "middle school is AWESOME! Today alone was better than all the days at Northeast (his elementary school.)" He has buddies in all his classes, a gym locker next to his BFF and is really looking forward to all the lunch menu options. ("Mom, there is this blue fruit juice that was calling my name today.....") 

Two down, two to go. Stay tuned!

LUNCH

Nick made "lunch" for he and Brady today.......complete with cold sodas and a little You Tube......

CUB CAMP

 

This frog ended up coming home in Ben's water bottle. And swimming in my tub.....

Little sister loved the "tot lot" camp she went to..... Adventuring, making playdough, and watching a movie is her kind of camp! Especially when it is with friends......

LIPS

"Mom, can I pleeeease put this on? I found it in my bin."

"Really? Hmmm, I don't think so. Not right now."

"Pleeeeese Mom, pleeeeease? I will give you my chores for a month. (Pause.) I will never wake you up again. Never. I promise. I am kidding. I won't."

"Okay....."

MODEL

I wish this little girl would do some modeling. She struts around the house like she owns the place but gets SO shy in front of others! She loves make-up and putting together outfits and posing in front of the camera. Every.Single.Day.

DATE NIGHT

Some new friends, Brian and Laura Standage invited us out for a night. We had a few options, but chose to hit "Casa Bonita." It is reviewed as being a MUST SEE place in Denver that has waterfall divers and sick Mexican food. The reviews were, on all accounts, correct. But we had such a fun night together! Laura and I had to grab a picture with the high school diver who was neither Mexican or highly skilled.;)

CHURCH

MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID

Today a little girl at the pool let Kate try on her mermaid tail. Kate was, of course in heaven. I asked the girl where she got it and she said Amazon. I looked up the brand and DANG! That fabric tail costs $125.00!!! Seriously, WHO pays that for a pool toy? Not this mermaid mother. Glad I got pics of her in this one!