Crazy weekend...week...month

My house is a mess. Not even a mess by Kirstin standards. A mess by normal people standards. It's awful. It's 11 am on Monday morning and I'm still in my jammies, looking at the mess.

We have had a crazy run of busy, but fun, stuff. A few weeks ago, I wrote in my journal (my real journal) a list of the activities we had coming up--including a list of to-dos to prepare. It was very cathartic, and helped me feel a little less overwhelmed, but looking at that list, you'd have thought we were insane (and we probably are).

Among the highlights, though, were first, camping at Hilary's house. Sisters and cousins (with a few bearded weinie-roast crashers). It was great fun!

This past weekend, we enjoyed two showers (one baby, one bridal), an afternoon of swimming, and my father-in-law's suprise birthday party. It was quite the extravaganza, reaffirming once again how much I love the family I married into!

Then, yesterday, we attended my brother's mission farewell. On August 5th, he will fly to Brazil to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He'll be gone for two years, and he'll spend the entire two years preaching the Gospel to the people of Brazil, (and hopefully learning how to make some yummy beans and rice and cheese balls). We enjoyed a family dinner last night, in celebration, and next weekend Lindsey and Brian will fly in to attend the first annual ******* Family Picnic and 5K run (ready guys?!). We'll take family pictures and say our goodbyes. I'm so excited for Zack, and I can't wait for my own sons to serve missions. I'm glad they get to have so many wonderful examples in their uncles, grandpas, and of course, their father!

Also, Samantha turned five months last week! Wow! I had to include the picture of her crying to illustrate my funny story. She was playing with a toy and knocked it out of reach, so collapsed onto her stomach to get it. In the process of, well, falling over, she knocked the toy farther out of reach. After trying in vain to get to it, she started crying. It was the FAKEST cry I've ever heard!! She would look at me like, "Aren't you going to get me the toy?" Then put her head in her hands and do the fake, hiccupy "A-ha, A-ha, A-ha!" Then look back at me like, "Do you feel sorry for me now?" Then repeat the fake hiccup cry, complete with forehead on the floor. It was quite the show, and I was laughing so hard that Emmeline asked if I was crying. I'm not sure how a five month old baby learns to be dramatic, but she's got it down.

The other pictures are from our campout and swimming at Carly's house. (In Gus's words, "Es Cawy's house! I wove Cawy!")

Sam and Max

I hate animals. Last night, however, we learned that Sam carries a different opinion! She saw Max and it was love at first sight. I think by the time I thought to get the camera, she was a little overstimulated, and all giggled out, but I had to post the video anyway. This is not the first time she has laughed, but it was the first time she has done so continuously. It was so cute to see her following the dog, laughing when he barked, blinking furiously when he licked her, etc.

(In the background, you will hear shreiks (Gus), Willie jumping on me, Luke barking, various people laughing and talking, and general zoo-like fun at mom's house!)

(Oh, and notice Luke's goatee and mutton chops?! It's the July Challenge. It's sick. I hate it. I'm sure I'll have more to write on that later as well!)

The Garden

Yay! It's growing. Well, the zucchini are growing. If you ever come over to my house, though, be sure to comment on the "cucumbers". My kids will only eat them if I can convince them they are eating cucumbers!

We do have a few blueberries and strawberries. I'm anticipating a couple of tomatoes (and since I'm the only one who likes them, a couple is enough). And oodles of zucchini...I mean cucumbers!

Fourth of July

I realize that the wonderful 4th of July was a full week and a half ago, but bear with me...the summer has grown quite full and busy and frankly, I'd rather be outside watching my tomatoes grow than inside posting blogs! Sorry! I'll be on more when the rains return!

Here are some pictures of our Independence Day celebration. We stayed home and enjoyed the fireworks show ala pyromaniac neighbors. It was fabulous...the best part? Putting the kids in bed and going back outside to finish watching the show! The kids didn't like the noise, so we outfitted them with some ear muffs and they were good to go! Samantha got lots of props for looking the most like a firecracker!

The other pictures are of Sam's recent accomplishments. True confession, Samantha fell over about half a second after I snapped the picture of her sitting up. It's a work in progress. About a week ago, we set up her exersaucer. She loves that thing, thinks it's wonderful to stand up, and has recently figured out how to turn around in it and play with all the toys (or watch you as you leave the room, followed by screams as you go out of sight...). Also, in the last few weeks, we started a little bit of solid foods. The stained onesie? That's unauthorized Kool-aid, compliments of Benjamin.

And that's it! I have to go get ready for the All-Star game. T-7 hours and counting...