Tonight the older kids, who were supposed to be sleeping, were apparently tapping a keg in their room rather than drifting away into peaceful slumber. I went into the room to find Aubrey holding her stuffed monkey up to her chest.
This picture was taken two months ago but I just came across it and thought it was cute. Three to one, Greg's odds at management don't look too good!
4th of July Aubrey. And yes, I do occasionally comb her hair. It's just that no matter what it's crazy again 30 minutes later.
All set to watch "The Incredibles" at Movie in the Park night.
That's the new song I taught the kids in honor of the 4th. Aubrey "plays" it so beautifully on the piano, while accompanying it with her lovely soprano. It is truly a musical experience to behold.
We had a lovely weekend. Friday the 4th was Matt's bachelor party (SIX DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING!) and Greg spent the day with a bunch of guys, doing guy stuff like golf and go carts and having a beer. KayLynn's husband David was with them so spent the day with me and the kiddos. We made 4th of July cake, played outside, had a good old American dinner, and after Greg got home, watched the local fireworks from our front lawn. Aubrey was the only kid to stay up that late and she was deeply impressed by the sight of the fireworks and as equally unimpressed by the sound of the fire crackers some local kids were putting off. She spent most of the show huddled on my lap, ears covered, shouting loudly, "I do NOT like that sound!"
Saturday we did family things like errands and house management (a.k.a. Nathan has run out of underwear so somebody please do the laundry. I hate potty training but that's a story for another day.). We also went to dinner where our children must have been bewitched they were so good. Then yesterday evening KayLynn and David came over and put Dane to bed while we walked to our local park with the other two and kicked off summer with "Movies in the Park." Out park shows movie on a big screen with concessions and public restrooms and all the goodies that make it feel like a drive in. The movie was "The Incredibles" and the kids were in heaven. I was in heaven too because it felt just like when my parents took us to the drive in as kids. I had the homemade popcorn and all! That's what the attached pictures are from.
Today was very low key. I did a few errands in the afternoon while the kids napped, we had hotdogs and hamburgers AGAIN, did some house work, read books, managed the massive knot on Nathan's head compliments of his head meeting his wooden bed at high velocity (a pretty accessory he can wear in the wedding), and other normal family stuff. It was a really wonderful weekend.
I hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend and took a moment to say thanks for living in the USA. I especially think that when I look at my girl. There are so many places on this earth where the lives of women are pretty bleak. I'm so thankful that I, and my Aubrey, live in a place like America. Of course I'm grateful for all my men being Americans too but you know what I mean.
HAPPY 4th of JULY!
Being as this is the last day of June and I have posted one gazillion times this month I thought I'd stick one more in. Anyone want to talk politics? Let's all be nice to each other but I'd really love to hear what other people think about the upcoming presidential election. If you have something to say and think you can say it nicely, and be nice to others, let's have a discussion. I'll start.
Greg and I took the kids and spent the evening wandering around the Whitworth campus. It was a beautiful day and we all had a wonderful time. Frozen yogurt from our favorite little restaurant didn't hurt either. Here are some pictures we took on Greg's phone (hence the poor quality) of the science lab where Greg and I met. Look where we are now! By the end of the night Aubrey was saying, "When I get big, I want to go to Whitworth." That's our girl, a pirate in the making.
Waiting for Greg to get home last night we went a little crazy playing with photo booth. All of the pictures are current, except for the first one. That one is of Aubrey and Nathan when Nathan was about 7 months old. I think Dane looks a lot like Nathan did.
p.s. Dane does not have a binky in his mouth all the time. These pictures just happened to be taken right before nap time. Honestly.
I have been putting this post off so that I could include pictures but being as we are having difficulties getting the pictures from the camera to the computer, I figured I'd write now, show pictures later.
So, I had thought about this blog long before we even left for camping. I envisioned stories of hellish nights, spending the days chasing kids and keeping them safe from water/fire/mosquitoes/vehicles/strange dogs, etc., and all of us coming down with some awful disease. I mean come on, when you are tent camping with an almost four year old, two year old, five month old and all sleeping in the same tent for four days and three nights it's fraught with nightmarish possibilities.
But it went well!
Truly. I can't even think of anything to exaggerate into an issue. Two of the three nights were great sleeping and the middle one was good enough. The kids had a ball. Greg and I even relaxed! Greg's family is big enough that our campsites consumed an entire loop so the kids had free reign. A kiddie pool in the middle of the loop, bikes to be rode, t-balls to play with (Nathan's new favorite two, thanks Noah), s'mores to be eaten, fun new "Cars" sleeping bags to sleep in, cool food like juice boxes and Double Stuffed Oreos and hot dogs, tons of cousins to play with, lake water to splash in, and extra adult hands to spread the kiddie work around. Heck, I'd go again!
Hopefully I'll get our camera figured out tonight so that I can post some pictures. I took over 200 so there should be something cute to see!
Oh, and a p.s. here. We bought a Bumbo Seat for Dane to use on the trip since he isn't sitting yet and we knew we'd need a place to put him. FYI, five month olds are fully capable of launching themselves out of the dumb thing. He would arch his back and scream and I kept telling Greg, "I think he can get himself out of there." Greg was unconvinced but Dane proved him wrong when he threw himself out of it, over the side, onto the grass. Bye bye Bumbo seat. I'm looking into getting the tray for it so that he can use it a bit longer. He is such a fidget britches! Learn how to sit kiddo!
Please disregard the order of these pictures. I always forget that what I upload first will be shown last. They're all cute anyways!
Lianna with her good friends Kacie and Reghan. Reghan is one of the bridesmaids.
The traditional sisters picture. Look at KayLynn's tummy!
Sexy Hannah and our cousin Ali.
Mom and Bridal Shower Queen Lianna
Shirley, Lianna, and Mom
Shirley's friend Sandy, Lianna, and Shirley
Lianna's college friend Kacie
KayLynn, our cousin Sheena, and Ali
Sweet Lianna
This one's for you Matt!
Our PG-13 game. The object is to get the broom handle into the toilet paper roll hole.
Look how good we are!
In case you can't see, her shirt says "Mrs. Sackmann".
The grandma's making their homemade pizzas
An overhead view of the birthday carnage
Our two year old Nathan with his basketball cake. He got both candles on the first try!
The beloved puppy bubble blower from Aunt Lianna and Uncle Matt
Funny kid. He got a "Cars" sleeping bag and promptly went upstairs for his binky and blankies and proceeded to try and open his presents from that reclined position. 
My cute Mom and Dad
Birthday KayLynn who turned 26 on June 10 with David, Lianna, and Aubrey. She was a good sport about sharing the spotlight with her nephew.
Cutie pie Dane with Aunt Julie and Uncle Jason. Their baby is due in just a few short weeks!
Nathan loved that party favor.
A birthday kiss.
The perfect birthday breakfast: pancakes, a lot of syrup, and bacon.
Tonight at bedtime I was saying prayers with the kids and Nathan was repeating everything I was saying. I asked him if he'd like to pray.
A question has been raised as to how I can have time for not only a t.v. show but reading books as well being as the cumulative age of my children is currently 6 years and 2 months. The answer is simple. I do not sleep and I love TIVO. Not only does Dane keep me up at all hours of the night but I'm rarely asleep before 11:00 p.m. That's not to say that I'm not always exhausted. It's just that in the evening I am so jealous of those few precious hours when the kids are all sleeping and I can do WHATEVER I WANT that I choose to stay up and do just that. Plus, reading is my favorite thing to do and I can't give it up. TIVO provides the avenue by which I watch my program whenever I have a moment. Plus, when you can fast forward through commercials and reality t.v. nonsense the show is half as long. That is why the next time you see me I may have wrinkles and bags under my eyes but I will be well read and learning interpretative dance.
