Billy's Birthday...

Well, my sweet hubby turned 41 this week and one of the things he wants every year is for the family to run the neighborhood 5K together (includes training beforehand) and then we head to Pappadeaux for lunch. He's pretty easy... So we've been jogging... Simon and Emi stay in the stroller, but we let them out to run a little....

DONE!

Then we showered and went to lunch... MMmmmmm.....

"I don't think I like the calamari..."

Then home for ice cream cake and presents....

Ummm, not sure what the bird pose is...

Yay for turning 41! And Billy, thank you for always being older than me.... :)

Swamped... Completely Swamped And It's Only June...

Whew.... I think this is the summer where the 2 age groups in my house collide. This is really the first summer since we brought the shorties home where I am having difficulty balancing 3 year old activities with 11 and 10 year olds. I am lucky, the shorties go to an MDO 3 days a week, so I have time for the older kids and errands. But now that summer camps and Kevin's athletics have started, I really need to find my groove. This week Aaron is in soccer camp, so I drive from Kevin's conditioning to the YMCA for pick up back to back. Thank goodness I at least have another mom to share drop offs with! I know it's only going to get harder as they start school activities, so I'm hoping I will nail all of this soon. It is no party having to stop and find a bathroom for Simon and Emi and then speed up to get to a pick up. :)

We're also busy in June with Billy stuff. He keeps us busy with Father's Day and his birthday being a week apart. I hope he had a great Father's Day, we grilled and went swimming at my dad's. It was truly a food fest. I have a few more gifts to pick up, but I think we're close to ready for his birthday...

I'd love to use my crock pot more this summer, getting going in the kitchen at 5pm is no fun. I also with my kids would eat salads for dinner sometimes, but when is that going to happen?? Simon and Emi got their last Botox injections in their necks last week. I am still amazed at how far they have come when I see their baby pictures and look at them now. The doctor did say he may want an eval for Simon with an occupational therapist, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your summer.

Time For A Catch Up....

Since everyone decided to share strep and then Kevin one upping his siblings with hand foot and mouth, I didn't get a chance to post pics from the end of school. Olivia had her piano recital:

Then we finished our stint at our beloved elementary school. I still can't believe that next year I won't have any kiddos at the school down the street. It's a strange feeling to have a school in your neighborhood that you have no affiliation with anymore. She looks so mature....

As far as my older boys go, middle school is kind of anti-climactic. They give out awards, but hey, they're 11 now, no big thing... They did get their yearbooks signed and managed to finish out the year with decent grades (not good enough for me) and smiles on their faces....

Emi and Simon finished their year in class with Miss Monica. I love her. I just LOVE her. I'm sad that when they go back, they will have a new teacher, but change must come and they are getting older and need to be challenged...

So we have easily settled into the summer slow schedule. Emi and Simon go a few days a week to an MDO so I can do things with the older kids that I can't do with 3 year olds. We also have started swimming lessons with the little ones, they need to be comfortable in the water... Big kids have sports camps throughout the summer (Olivia is at a volleyball one as I type.) and we're hoping to get some time at the beach if Billy's schedule allows for it.... Here's to summer!

5 Days, 5 Strep Diagnoses...

What a start to the summer! 5 kids with strep and it's a tough one to get over... Temps of 102 all day and everyone is miserable and achy...

Did I mention Kevin now has hand, foot, and mouth disease?! Calgon isn't enough for this week....