CARNIVAL TIME!!!!

I had so many pictures from the July 4th holiday, that I decided to break them up into a few blogs so you (and I) didn't get overwhelmed. 

On July 3rd we went to the carnival and meet up with our cousins. 

We were late...of course, so this wasn't Kate and Ian's first time on this ride, but it was Ten and Miles'. Getting ready. Miles wasn't sure about this ride, so he wouldn't ride it without Ten right there beside him.

Uncle Beaubie told the kids to put their hands up in the air. It was so cute. Kate clearly enjoyed this ride. It took Miles a while longer to warm up to it. He kept covering half of his face. I guess that made it less scary.

I love this. Ian with his hands up and huge smile. Kate hanging on, with her face saying "go faster! go faster!". Ten taking in the whole ride. Miles...just along for the ride.

Poor Bub. He did enjoy the ride...I promise. He was just really shy about it at first. After this we couldn't keep him off the rides.

HANDS UP!!!

A couple of trill seekers...

What is a carnival without a Super High Slide?!?! The boys getting ready to "launch". Miles, Ian, and Luke.

Wheeee! It wasn't a race, but Luke definitely won.

A couple of the cutest(and sweetest) boys I know...

The girls turn! Ten and Rachel. I don't remember why Kate didn't go. Truth be told, I don't think any of them wanted to go. I wanted.made my kids do it, so  Ian, Luke, and Rachel were sweet enough to go down with them.

Even though they were semi-forced, at least they enjoyed it! I'm not sure if Ten is getting ready to hang on, or if she is trying to surf sitting down...

I have to say, I was pretty nervous when Ten told me she wanted to ride this. It was called the "Cliff Hanger" but we all called it "The Hand Gliders". Rachel had already rode it and wanted Ten to ride with her. I was worried the ride would start and Ten would want off, but she didn't. she loved it. They even rode it again later.

I know technically this is a bad picture, but I love how everything is fuzzed out but you can still make out Miles and Luke. I just wished they had been looking my way. This was "The Blizzard". Where do they come up with these names?!?! It went around and around while playing music...doesn't sound like a blizzard to me.

Miles told me he wanted to ride this. Well there was a height limit. I wasn't sure they would let him on, but I told him to get in line and try. They didn't even check his height. He loved it! He came off grinning from ear to ear. Ten, Rachel, the Highfield girls(Allison and Grace), Luke, and Kate all rode at the same time. I don't know why, but it always seems less scary if you go with a crowd.

Again...not very good, but it was the best one I had. I didn't adjust my camera settings for the rapidly decreasing light. Kate didn't want to be in the picture and we had lost Ian by this time(he was riding rides with Mackers).
Waiting to ride the "Farris Wheel"

Hi there Ten. Luke checking out the sights. Rachel must have been on the other side.

They said Miles couldn't ride without an adult. It was almost 10pm, and I didn't have enough time to go buy the tickets it would have taken to ride with him, but fortunately God was looking out for him, Brian from church, was a bout to ride with his kids and offered to let Miles ride with them. Miles did! I was so proud of him, for both riding such a big ride and for not being too shy to ride with people from church.

The kids had a great time! This is actually the first year we have taken our kids. I think Ten has tagged along with Alanna and the kids before but I've never taken them. I know they will be looking forward to the carnival next year! Goose and I will have to divide and concur, since Ten and Miles will want to ride the "big kid" rides and Syd and Madi will have to ride the "little kid" rides.

5 Months

It seems like every time I wish for time to slow down...it speeds up. So, I have decided to stop wishing for time to slow down and just enjoy my precious baby. Is it just me or does Madi just get cuter and cuter?? I don't think they come much sweeter than her. She only fusses when she is hungry or tired. She readily gives her smiles and her whole face lights up when she does.

She now weighs 13lbs and 6ozs. and she is 261/2 ins long. She is getting bigger and bigger. I still get comments about how long she is, but I think that is because of how skinny she is.

She has perfected pushing up on her arms. She usually pushes herself back and then becomes frustrated when she can no longer reach her toys. She also get upset if she pushes herself into a wall(meaning she has no where else to go). When I get her and put her back in the center of the floor, all is right with the world again.

She babbles constantly. She hasn't really said "Dada" or "Mama", but I'm hoping they will be coming soon. In the meantime I'll be content to listen to her babbling and watch her blow bubbles.

Madi is definitely more alert to the things around her. She stares at the food on my plate while I'm eating and I haven't even started her on solids yet...we may be in trouble. She also watches her siblings play and smiles when they come close.

She continues to grow to love her siblings more and more. Ten is still probably her favorite, but that is because she is the most gentle with her. Miles loves holding her. Syd is very good to sing to her when she seems to be getting upset. Syd also tells me often that Madi wants to sit in her lap(it really is cute!).

She has pushed up onto all fours a few times but easily falls back down. I predict that she will be crawling or close to it by her 6 month post.

Still no teeth, but they must be getting close. Slobber is not the word, she is more like a faucet! I have resorted to having her wear bibs, something I didn't do with any of the other kids.

She celebrated her 5th month on the 4th of July. She seemed to really enjoy it. The fireworks didn't scare her at all and we were pretty close to them. Right by the little league fields actually.

The kids helped me with her photo shoot. So Ten suggested I take pictures of them kissing Madi, like I did in Madi's 1 month photos.

Miles always gives the sweetest kisses.

I love this one. Not a kiss, but still so good!

The kids also made faces to try to get Madi to smile. Syd was more than happy to pose with hers...

Silly Ten...

Miles all of a sudden became too shy to pose with his silly face.

It was a great photo shoot...these month to month pictures are quickly becoming favorites of mine. I hope you are enjoying them too.

Indoor Tents

More indoor activities! Our house has so many possibilities for indoor tents. Goose remembers well making them as a child. He said Grandma never minded them making them and the would have the entire living room covered.  We didn't get that adventurous, but the kids did enjoy making and playing in it. I heard them in there laughing all day. 

They actually had so much fun that we turned the tent around(it was more in the living room) and they slept in it that might. I thought I took a picture of that one as well, but I can't find it. So either I didn't take the picture or I deleted it...oops! Oh well, I'm pretty sure I'll have more opportunities to take more pictures of indoor tents. :-)

Finger Painting

The kids and I have been trying to find things to do this summer to stay indoors and out of the heat. Finger painting was a big hit with all of us. I had bought the finger paints a while back, but hadn't been brave enough to try it. I'm glad we did! (side note: Finger paints by Crayola are wonderful! It wiped of clean from everywhere it wasn't supposed to be...including the kids)

I don't think Miles quite got the point of having four different colors. That or the urge to mix them was just more than he could resist...

Oh well, he had fun and in the end, it's that pretty much what matters?!?!

Monkey see...Monkey do. I hope this is something she will eventually out grow, otherwise I see lots of trouble in their futures!

Ten loved every minute of this. She even drew a couple of pictures before we started, just so she could color them with her paints.

She was so proud of her picture.

Yeah...clearly I'm going to have to give him a few more instructions next time. Boys will be Boys!!!

My Picture

Ten liked my family pic and decided to paint one of her own. I like how she mixed colors on hers. Apparently we still need to work with her on writing from left to right. :-)

We all enjoyed painting...I think we will do it again and soon.

A Slice...

...of Homemade Heaven! Very Few things beat a piece of home made cheesecake.

Cheesecake is Goose's all time favorite dessert. His Mom has often surprised him with one when we have seen her. I know...he is so spoiled! Some years back she gave him the recipe. With all the "practice" making Goose's favorite dessert, and the fact that I'm a messy cook, the recipe has been getting a little worn. 

In our house, our "go to" cook book is cook book from Goose's family. The Mosely Family Cookbook(His Grandma's side). If we come across a recipe that we just love and don't want to lose, well it makes it to the inside cover of our cookbook. I have only put two recipes on my cover. Goose finally added one to his...you guessed it...and it shall from this day forward be known as "Mom's Cheesecake"

Our Little Garden...Now...

It's coming right along. Some of the plants are a little...shall we say spaced, and some are a little close together. It doesn't matter, I'm proud of the kids and the job they did. I can't wait to walk out in the mornings and pick fresh veggies!

Our Little Garden...

I love fresh from the garden vegetables. I think it's from always having them while I was growing up. It seems there was always some one with a garden growing. Whether it was my Gramps, Uncle, Great Uncles or families in our church . We always had fresh veggies. 

Goose and I tried a garden a couple of years ago and it was coming up great, but just when it was starting to put out, our cows got out and eat up what they didn't trample. 

I was afraid we waited too late, but since we didn't haven't any cows to contend with we decided it was worth a try.

Goose readied a spot to put it...

Making the rows...Syd was more of a Supervisor you might say.

She did try, but it didn't last long.

Big helpers. They did so good.

What would Miles have done if Syd hadn't been there to tell him just where to put the seeds?!?!

She loved helping.

He took his job very seriously...

Even Madi came out for some family fun...

Water break...

All planted...

We encountered a few critters....

Goose dug this little guy up when he was making the rows. We were both surprised that he didn't hit him.

Miles thought he felt funny...but he was the only one that wanted to hold him. Ten eventually wanted to hold him, but it was too late, we had already let him go.

Eek! I actually found this one. I hate spiders!!! I don't care what people say about these being tame, if they are big enough to eat a small dog I don't want to be around them. I did let him live, but I moved, and let him go on his way.

These aren't technically critters, but Syd kept wanting to go see them, so I told her we would after we were done planting.

Thankfully we didn't encounter any of the "slithering" kind of critters. The plants coming up, hopefully we will have fresh veggies very soon.