The girls took turns swinging in the hammock with me one evening and it was just the sweetest time. We laughed, talked, and took selfies, which they really love doing these days!
I love them to the moon and back...
Oh my goodness...I look like a horse...but I love this picture because of Madison's smile. She thought this was so funny!
On Wednesday, after Mackenzie got done with camp, the kids and I drove to Newcastle to spend a few days with G-Ma. Brian was driving back from the Sr. Trip in Colorado on Thursday, and then he came to Newcastle on Friday to join us, so he could go to my brother's surprise party Saturday. Poor guy got a little crazy on the alpine slide at Winter Park and burned off a huge portion of skin on his left arm. It hurts me just to think about it! He's pretty banged up on several other parts of his body too. Hopefully he heals quickly. (He did ask what the speed record was, and set his timer to beat it...just sayin'.) Rex and G-Ma got the slide put on the treehouse and the kids absolutely loved going down it over and over. G-Ma was already back at school, so we went up and had lunch with her on Thursday. On Friday, I went and got my nails done after Brian got there, and I LOVE them! I haven't had nails on since well before Mackenzie was born...over 10 years. We met Jamie, Thomas and Taylor at Mazzio's for lunch and then Taylor came back to the house to play with the girls. Poppa & Louise, Grandma Shaw, Rex, Uncle John, Jimmy, Sara, and Jake all came for dinner Friday night...steak fingers, Brian's favorite! I'm so glad we had this one more quick trip to Newcastle before school starts.
G-Ma and Rex are planning to put a rail of some sort around the slide, so the kids can't fall off. Eventually there will also be a fire pole and a zip line here.
Jonah found this little flashlight at G-Ma's and was completely fascinated by it.
Oh, it hurts me to look at it! I told Brian I knew he loved me, without having to engrave a heart on his elbow!
My pretty new nails!
It's been a long time since we've gotten to hang out with Taylor.
There's not much better than playing in a treehouse in your ninja turtle pj's!
Mackenzie went to Day Camp at Tulakogee this week and she had a blast! She wasn't nervous at all about this, but I have to say that it was a weird feeling for me to send her off each day. I can't imagine how I will feel next year when she stays overnight. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to be a sponsor! Brian was gone to Colorado for the Sr. trip this week, so I took her to the church each morning and picked her up at 5:30. I love this picture above of her sweet friends: Bella, Josie, Mackenzie, Aubrey & Emma. I know Mackenzie missed having Kinley there! The kids got to swim, do fun activities like the rock wall, sign language, crafts, fishing, hiking, and more! They had worship each morning and learned about the Bible story of Esther. Another thing that she was so excited about was the lanyard she got with a $5 punch card for the canteen! She spent over half of it the first day, so I had to remind her to save some for the last day too! I loved watching the video's our church put together, since I wasn't there to watch her having fun at camp. I know one thing...Mackenzie came home a very tired girl every night! She can't wait to go back to camp next year! At the meeting the week before camp, I asked if Mackenzie would be able to get ahold of me if she needed me. Connie kind of laughed a little, but reassured me that she could call me if she needed to. This was just a big step towards independence for my "baby" girl, and this Momma didn't like it! But, I love the beautiful young lady she is growing into!
She gave camp two thumbs up when I picked her up the first day!
I love July because the crazy, fast-paced month of June is over, and we get to kind of kick back and relax. Here are pic's from some of our shenanigans!
Jonah looked so cute sitting in the kitchen with his little toes poking out the back of the chair!
Madison's bottom two front teeth are starting to get very loose...I'm not ready for her to lose her baby teeth!
The girls got in a little argument over something and Mackenzie spelled out this message for Madison.
We went to the mall one day, just to get out of the house for a bit, and we happened to go into the Disney Store at just the right time for a Trivia game. They gave each of the kids lanyards and several pins with Disney characters on them. The girls loved it!
Even Jonah got one!
We were looking at backpacks and Mackenzie found this one at Justice. I'm thinking its a little grown-up looking, but very cute!
During Mission Week, we went to Andy B's one day with everyone. I let the kids play games and they scored big time on tickets! Mackenzie won 1,000 tickets on this one game...she was pretty excited!
Poor Jonah just got a sucker and a bouncy ball...but he was happy as could be!
That's a pretty full schedule for a day...
Tea parties with your big sister are the best!
We did another Jonah re-enactment. It's not as good as the original, but it was still funny!
This was during Mission Week. We do a VBS type program at an apartment complex that is made up of a largely Burmese population. This picture reminds me of the "one of these things is not like the other one" song!
This is such an amazing ministry the Lord has given us!
Mackenzie came back a tad bit dirty!
We went to a staff get-together at the Steen's house one evening and the kids loved it! They definitely feel at-home there, since it was our home-away-from-home last summer. Jonah loved digging in the dirt in the backyard.
The girls went straight upstairs and got into Ms. Debbie's dress-up closet!
Mackenzie wasn't feeling well one evening, so she made sure to put her mark on the last cookie so she could have it the next day!
Minions!!!
Poor Mackenzie wasn't feeling well at all.
Waiting for the movie to start...
I forget where we were going, but Madison came into my bedroom dressed like this. Oh, how I love her funny sense of humor!
Our friends, the Bradford's are going to be moving to Dallas in August and we are so sad about that. Madison will definitely miss Isabelle!
Madison went with me to get donuts on the morning that Daddy put together the swingset. It doesn't happen very often, but I love having one-on-one outings with each of my kids.
Cutest donut ever!
We had Madison's friend, Abigail over for a playdate one day while Mackenzie was at Day Camp. They hadn't seen each other since school ended, so they had a fun time playing together. Totally unplanned, they had the same swimsuit!
Oh, the joy of summer!
This was one day when we went to see Connie & baby Kelsey. Daddy went back to see them, so we hung out in the waiting room.
Yes, Jonah is definitely used to having his picture taken!
We went to the Pierce's one night for a going-away party for the Bradford's. I am so thankful for all of the wonderful friendships that God has brought into our lives.
Mackenzie's attempt at a dive didn't exactly go so well...
It was little Clark's birthday too!
Mackenzie wanted me to "iron" her hair before church so she could look like me.
It's easy to see why he has me completely wrapped around his little finger!
Block towers don't last more than a few seconds around Jonah so you have to build fast!
Sometimes its just fun to be silly!
We went to ToysRus to look at birthday present ideas for Jonah one day.
Of course Madi found some things she loved as well!
Jonah is really into Miles & his rocket ship right now!
And, a boy can never ever have too many Hot Wheels, right?! He had a complete meltdown when we left the store without these that day.
So Madison found these My Little Pony bath toys that she just fell in love with. We didn't buy them that day, but she kept talking about them until I finally gave in and told her if she would help me clean the house, we would go back and get them the next day. She worked very hard, so the pony's were all hers! She was one happy girl! Mackenzie was at Day Camp for three days, so this was kind of just a fun thing for Madison while she was gone.
Mackenzie went to Day Camp at Tulakogee this week and she had a blast! She wasn't nervous at all about this, but I have to say that it was a weird feeling for me to send her off each day. I can't imagine how I will feel next year when she stays overnight. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to be a sponsor! Brian was gone to Colorado for the Sr. trip this week, so I took her to the church each morning and picked her up at 5:30. I love this picture above of her sweet friends: Bella, Josie, Mackenzie, Aubrey & Emma. I know Mackenzie missed having Kinley there! The kids got to swim, do fun activities like the rock wall, sign language, crafts, fishing, hiking, and more! They had worship each morning and learned about the Bible story of Esther. Another thing that she was so excited about was the lanyard she got with a $5 punch card for the canteen! She spent over half of it the first day, so I had to remind her to save some for the last day too! I loved watching the video's our church put together, since I wasn't there to watch her having fun at camp. I know one thing...Mackenzie came home a very tired girl every night! She can't wait to go back to camp next year! At the meeting the week before camp, I asked if Mackenzie would be able to get ahold of me if she needed me. Connie kind of laughed a little, but reassured me that she could call me if she needed to. This was just a big step towards independence for my "baby" girl, and this Momma didn't like it! But, I love the beautiful young lady she is growing into!
