Trampoline

I figured since it's been several weeks, it was time I posted something new:) 

We got a trampoline for the backyard.  We (meaning me) have been wanting a big one for a while.  The kids had a little one for several years that they loved.  It got torn up so we had to throw it away, and I've wanted to upgrade it since then.  So, I finally bugged Brian enough and made it happen!  And the kids love it (so far....a week and a half in;))!  It's so fun to watch them jump on it.  Or half prance/run around if you are Sawyer.  Our kids have some mad jumping skills.....Eli has a pretty sweet flip and has recently started doing a "flip twist" (his words) with a twist while he flips.  Seriously way more talented than me.  Or maybe he's just more daring and adventurous than me.  I'm pretty afraid I might not make it all the way around and break my neck if I try, so I leave the flipping up to the kids.  I do have a mean butt bounce though;)

Parker's First Day

So, Parker started preschool.  Figured I better document it.  He actually started on August 27.  He had to wait until he turned three so he had a couple weeks longer of summer than his older siblings.  He only goes two days a week (which is all I can handle:)) and is there on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Even though his first day was two weeks after everyone else started, I had to get some pictures to document this!  And I'm so glad I did.  Because Parker is hilarious.  At all times, but getting pictures of him can be entertaining.  He was not real thrilled to be going to school.  Any time you would say to something about it to him, he just says "school weird" (in his own little Parker way:))  He has the same sentiments about getting his picture taken.  I kept trying to get him to actually look at me and he would pout and say "me wone mama!" (saying he wants to be alone).  Too funny.  Goofy kid.  But we love him so.  I don't have any pictures of him at his school, but drop off went better than I expected.  He was sad and kept asking me to stay, but he didn't cry.  I think he had fun when he was there, but he was definitely excited to see me when I picked him up.  Three weeks in, he still doesn't like going and hates being dropped off, but goes in without crying.  So I will take that as a win!

Fun fact.....Parker had his 3 year check on the 25th.  Parker and Sawyer are 17 months apart, but built very different and very very close to the same size.  So I was curious to see how far apart they actually were in size.  Parker only weighs 1 lb more than Sawyer and is only 2 1/2 inches taller than him.  So I predict my 1 1/2 year old is going to be surpassing my 3 year old, in weight, very very soon:)

She's 90

Yesterday my grandma turned 90.  90 folks.  That's awesome.  I can only hope I will live to see 90 years....and that our children will too.  And she's still doing relatively well for being the ripe young age of 90!  This past year has been a rough one on her, but she's hanging in there:)  She also happens to share a birthday with Parker.  I seriously had no idea of this fact for almost three years (awesome granddaughter, I know;)).   And Parker is seriously one of the happiest kids I have ever known....I don't think this is a coincidence!  They both bring much joy to those around them.

Anyways, we celebrated this huge milestone with her last weekend with the family.  We all went to dinner at Newport Grill (amazing place....if you haven't been go....just maybe not with 7 kids, just barely 6 and under!!)  It was definitely a little crazy with all the kids there.  But overall, they all did a fabulous job for being at such a nice restaurant.  We only had to go outside and burn off some energy a few times:)  And they gave us the banquet room, so we were secluded from the rest of the place....that helped too.  It was a great evening, although a loud one, celebrating grandma! 

 Grandpa is almost 91, and still going strong!!  While he can rarely remember all the kids names and who belongs to who (psshhh.....I have a hard time with this, and four of them are mine!!)  he gets the biggest kick out of all the kids, and I think we make his day when he gets to see his great-grandchildren.

 Grandma got some fancy new tennis shoes for her birthday.  Because when you're 90 you deserve to have some fabulous bright shoes on your feet!  And Charles liked them too:)

 And the whole bunch!  I need to do some edited of this so it's brighter and you can actually see all of our faces....but proof that we were all there celebrating!

 After dinner we thought it would be fun to "try" to snag a picture of all the kids together.  This is most definitely not the best one I got, but it's the one I clicked.  Bodies count....they aren't all looking, or smiling, but they are all in the picture.  Success!!

 And I snagged this adorable one of  some of the cutest nephews around.  Seriously, these boys....

 And a couple of my favorites.   My kids hit the cousin jackpot....not just with these 3, but with their other three cousins too.  Eli adores ALL his cousins and gets so excited when he gets to spend any time with any of them.  We don't see them often (even though we all live close...this is something we should probably change!) but they all have a blast when they get together.  These two boys are something else.  Just 5 months apart, and silly as ever when they get together.  You should just hear the ridiculous knock knock jokes that come out of their mouths when they get together......

Happy Birthday Grandma!!