Modesitt Family Visits

Carol's Family has been here this week.  We have had so much fun going to the Children's museum.  It was a little bit too young for the oldest, Hope, but the little ones LOVED it!

Carol's Family.

We also took them to the trampoline park which was fun for the older kids.

In other news the boys got their teacher assignments and they seem happy with them.  Though neither of them really know anyone in their class.

One funny story...My sister Julie commented a while ago that Evan always throws out these big words and Alex, her son, just laughs at him.  Well, he just used the word "deflected", he said that his pasta just deflected at him.  How does he know these words!

Speaking of Evan, he has started Flag football and so far he loves it!  His team is the Clemson Tigers.

Summer Coming to an End and Flag Football Starting!

It is August.  What?  When did that happen?  I can't believe this summer is just about over.  The boys start school in less than 2 weeks.  I was hoping to be able to spend their last couple weeks going to the pool and doing other fun stuff, but it has been too cool for the water.  While it is beautiful, it is just not pool weather.   To top it off, Colin has had a fever the last couple days.  So, we have really been cooped up inside.  As luck would have it, today it is finally warm enough for the pool, but since we weren't able to get out the last few days I had to spend the time between Leah's naps going to the library (to return books and getting their final summer reading prizes) and the grocery store (we were just about out of diapers).

We have gone on a couple walks since it's been too cold for the pool...

The boys were not well behaved today at the grocery store.  Four kids by myself at the store is no fun.  Dennis has also been in NY this week, he got back last night.  I think that these long summer days with just me and the kids is starting to wear on all of us.  Here is to hoping we all can get our act together, so that we can enjoy the last 2 weeks of summer!  I haven't taken much pictures with the good camera recently, so it is mostly just some phone photos...

In other news....Leah is trying hard to sit up.  I have to be right there because she will topple over after a few seconds, but slowly and surely she is getting there.  She is also eating some table food now.  I still mostly feed her baby food, but will give her some bites of whatever we are eating (banana, rice, chicken, avocado, asparagus, etc), if it is small and soft.  She is also working hard to pick up some puffs and yogurt bites.  She hasn't quite mastered the pincer grasp, but she is trying and manages to still get stuff in her mouth sometimes.

Mmmm....pasta!

Evan has his very first flag football practice today!  He had a "draft" last week for placement on teams (really just to make sure teams are equally divided).  They measured the height of each kid and had them do drills to see how each kid throws, catches, and runs for placement on teams.  Evan did a great job with all the drills!

We have a busy next few days getting prepared for 2 weeks of visitors.  Monday, Carol and her 4 kids visit.  Then Thursday night Grammy and Grandpa come.  Carol leaves Friday morning.  Dennis and I spend that weekend in Chicago and then Wednesday, Grammy and Grandpa leave and Julie and her family come till the following Monday.  It should be fun, but busy, and I have a lot of meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc to do to get ready!  As well as get the boys ready for school starting.

Almost forgot to mention...there was a family day at Connor Prairie (where the boys did camp), so we all went and had a blast.  They had food and the boys had fun going into some of the old homes on the prairie.   Colin got to throw a tomahawk at the Indian village and did awesome.  He actually got it to stick in the target which nobody else that we saw before him was able to do!

This is Logan going out to lunch on Sunday.  Wearing a cape of course!  Our Mr. Independent is loving to tell us that he is big.  I tried to discipline him this week and he just smiled and said "time out?"  Like he could care less.  Then, he just strolled right to the time out chair and sat down.  When I told him he can't play outside by himself he just looked at me like I was crazy and said, "But, I'm big.".

Adventure Summer Camp

The boys had a blast at Camp this week.  They did archery, canoeing, pony rides, swimming in a lake, paddle boats, sports, mud pit, water slides, crafts, etc.

I couldn't believe the long list of different things they would tell me they did each day.  It was definitely money well spent.  At the end of the week the boys asked if they could do it again next week!  I think it will be a repeat next year!

Some days, we would have a bit of time between when I had to pick up the boys from camp and Tae Kwan Do, and since they are both near each other we killed some time at the playground.

While they were at camp Leah, Logan and I spent quality time together.  I was able to take Logan to his book store story time (and Starbucks) and also to the library story time (which was actually films this week).  We also went on a couple walks.  Logan is able to ride all the way to the playground now, which is a lot of fun.  We had a great week too!

Color Run, Dennis' First 5K!

Well, he did it!  Dennis completed his first 5K!!  We were so proud of him.  It was fun to watch.  The older two boys loved getting color all over them at the end.  Logan was not happy about it.  He likes to be clean, so he spent a good while after cleaning himself, even his shoes, with wipes!

The before...

After the Color Run we headed home to get cleaned up and then we took Miranda to see the Children's Museum.  I think she enjoyed it.  It was a long day, so instead of going out for dinner we picked up some pizza's.  It was a quick trip for Meghan and Miranda, but so nice of them to come visit!  Grandpa McLaughlin was planning on leaving Sunday morning to, but ended up staying an extra day because his car broke down.

Sunday, I gave Leah a cracker for the first time.  She had a huge grin on her face when I gave it to her.

Today, Colin and Evan started their first day of Adventure Camp!  They are doing a week long camp at Conner Prairie, which is an old prairie town.  It's their first time doing a real camp.

Splash Park

This week Dennis is in New York.  Today, I took the kids to the splash park and playground...

Tonight Grandpa McLaughlin and Meghan and Miranda get into town for the weekend to watch Dennis run his first ever 5K.  He has been working hard to build up the endurance to run a 5K.  So, he isn't concerned about time, just trying to finish the race.  We can't wait to cheer him on!

Oh and on the Tuesday the 16th, Leah really started getting more mobile.  She isn't crawling yet, but she is able to roll all around the floor to get where she wants to go.

Leah is 8 Months Old!

At 8 Months Old Leah continues to be a lot of fun.  She is "chatting" a lot now, though she hasn't said any real words.  She did make the "dada" sound a couple times.  Leah is rolling all over the floor now.  She loves to grab her feet and put her toes in her mouth too.  She is enjoying her exersaucer and being stood up on her feet.  She will bounce up and down when she is propped up on her feet. 

Leah is doing great with eating now.  She often takes 2 stage 2 foods per meal.  She is eating 3 meals a day (usually about 30 mins after she nurses for the first 2 meals).  She nurses 4 times a day so she will usually nurse at 6:30, 11, 3:30 and 7:30 (approximately).  She eats her dinner around when we do or right before and then nurses right before bed.  

Leah normally takes 2 naps a day.  One about 1 hr 30 mins-2 hrs after waking up (usually around 8:30ish-11ish) and then again a couple hours later (around 1:30ish to 3:30ish), give or take.  She doesn't fall asleep in the car or in her carseat much unless we are on a long drive.  She will fall asleep still in the ergo baby carrier, if I am walking around with that when we are out.  Otherwise, she really just likes sleeping in her room with the sound machine on.

She is still a pretty easy going baby.  She will cry when she is tired or hungry and occasionally with a dirty diaper, but other than that she just talks and plays.  She loves laughing at her brothers (she thinks they are hilarious).  She also loves her Mommy and her Daddy (much to the delight of her Daddy).

Despite this picture, she really doesn't cry that much.

Leah is still pretty small.  We haven't been to the doctor but she is wearing 6 month clothes and has tiny feet.  Many of the 0-6 Month shoes are still big on her.

We just love her to pieces!