June 2012

June was a great month for us. We were very excited to have Patrick around more since he was out of school for the summer. We got to spend lots of time as a family and we loved it. At the beginning of the month we had some maintenance to be done on my car, nothing major, just stuff that needed to be fixed. While it was getting fixed we spent the day at my parents' house waiting for the call that it was all finished. Here is Seth and my Dad hanging out that afternoon.

We also bought a treadmill. We got a smoking deal on it and the kids and I love using it. While we were at the mall looking at the different models, Joss had fun going in the display tents. This one is HUGE. Patrick could stand straight up in it without any difficulty.

One thing that the kids love to do is climb into the cabinets on our entertainment center.

My friend Kat had a baby girl and we threw her a rainbow themed baby shower. I made this super yummy cupcakes. They were so perfect for the theme.

One day, we stopped in to visit my old office. The kids loved getting to play with the pinball machine.

One night while we were out running errands we decided to stop and get some ice cream. Joss was in heaven and so was Seth.

One morning, Joss woke up with a red/irritated eye. I was worried that it was pink eye so we took her to urgent care. Sure enough that was what it was. Here is Joss waiting to see the doctor.

Seth loves his blanket. He has started dragging it around the house with him.It is so sweet.

Some times, Seth gets into trouble. Usually for throwing things or hitting his sister. He is not a fan of timeout.

Patrick brought back these wrestling capes from a company trip. At the time the kids wouldn't wear them, but these days they love to run around with them.

Joss loves helping me to cook. She especially loves filling up measuring cups and stirring. One day I was making something that I needed to make by myself, but Joss really wanted to help. I decided to give her a bowl and spoon with some quinoa in it. She was busy for hours.

There is a gap between the wall and our couch. The kids love spending time there. One Sunday afternoon, I told Seth it was time for his nap. He grabbed his blanket and laid down in this gap. It was a nice try but I knew he wasn't going to sleep there so we moved him to his room.

Our kids love to wrestle.

Seth loves to climb and he loves water. On this day he decided to combine the two by dancing around in the toilet. He was so happy. We were not.

One night, Patrick brought home tickets for a diamondbacks game. The kids have never been to one, so they were pretty excited. Seth loved the clapping and cheering. Joss loved the food. Joss is a little scared of heights and was a little uncomfortable with our seats.

We did some more swimming this month. Seth and Joss both had to have goggles on whenever they went into the pool. They loved having them on.

Joss loves to dance and it doesn't matter where she is. Here is a picture of her twirling down the aisles of Target.

Here is our future dentist helping Joss brush her teeth.

Joss was so happy to help me make Daddy a special treat. He loves rice crispy treats.

The weather here is very warm in June. Seth was trying to make sure that he was staying hydrated.

Watching fireworks at Deer Valley Park's Fourth of July Celebration. We were really close again this year. So close that my brother had ash fall on his head. Joss wasn't a fan of the loud booms but they both loved watching the fireworks.

May 2012

Well, to say I haven't posted in a while is an understatement. Don't think that we haven't been busy, because we have been very busy. If you follow on Instagram or we are friends on Facebook you know that I update that way more often than here. With that said, in an attempt to "catch-up" here I am going to do several longer posts, each covering an entire month. So here in May 2012. We started the month off with our trip to Hawaii, but I've already blogged about that in previous blog posts. So this is what did we did after Hawaii... We helped my parents fill up their above-ground pool so this kids could have fun swimming together all summer long.

Coleton loved giving Joslyn piggy-back rides whenever they saw each other.

Joss and Raef washed the jeep hoping that they would be able to ride it.

Joss in the pool

The pool was a still a little cold for these two. Here they are trying to dry off and get warm.

Seth found the doll stroller at my parents' house and enjoyed filling it up like a grocery cart and pushing it around the house.

Daddy brought home work shirts for the kids. They both love wearing them even if they are pretty big on them.

For Memorial Day, my family used to go out for breakfast or make breakfast at a park each year. As we got older that tradition kind of went away, but this year we brought it back. My family got together at Rio Vista park and made breakfast, played on the playground and splashed around in the splash pad. Here is Emmalin on the slide.

Coleton, Hailey, Amberly and Seth going down the slide. They loved making a "bubba-train" and going down the slide together with Seth aka Bubba leading the way.

Gage on the turny swing thing. I'm pretty sure that is the technical term...

Ashlynn and Matt playing in the rocket ship

At Rio Vista park there is a river that runs through the whole park. The kids loved watching the ducks.

Rachel on the stairs

Amberly and Hailey

Seth eating his delicious breakfast

This year we made french toast, bacon and fruit. It was delicous! I think one of my favorite moments of the morning was when my sister, Tiffin, non-chalantly says, "Hey Dad, your shirts on fire," like it was no big deal. By the way, it was put out quickly and no one was hurt.

Kade, Matt and Gage using the sprayer at the splash pad

Seth wasn't too big of a fan at first but he warmed up to the idea.

Joss showing off her new swimsuit.

Rachel and Joss getting dry after the splash pad

Joss loves wearing her daddy's lab goggles

Joss and me cuddling on the couch one morning.