June 16-30, 2014: Swimming, Sickness, Staycation, and more Smiths!

The fun continues with lots of family in town.  It's a little crazy to swim with 7 kids, but luckily we had plenty of adults! 

 Nora is LOVING the water!

 Kissin' cousins :)

 Best buddies, Ham and Bo :)

After swimming all day, we had a houseful of tired kids!

Nora had a high fever for a few days that turned out to be roseola :(

Even with persistent high temps (103-104), she looked surprisingly perky at times.  When she wasn't sleeping (which she did a lot), she played a little bit...

Trying to reduce our temp in a tepid bath...

 Fever finally broke and we were back to our normal routine!  Celebrating Mallie and Dallie's 37th Anniversary...

We also had a great 'staycation' just hanging at home this month.  Playing moondough outside...

 Just being so stinkin' cute!

 Dancing in the rain...

Ballet class...

While Nick was out of town in CO for the week, Grandma came to stay with us.  It was a good thing too, because the Smith kids (minus Rach and Cam) were still in town so we needed all the extra hands we could get :)

We still managed to get all 6 kids out for story time, picnic lunch, and feeding the ducks...

We also got to celebrate Grandma's birthday with a special dinner at Louie's and dessert at Steel City Pops with Linds and JE...

 The kids are on a major puzzle and painting kick...

 I even took the 3 biggest to paint ceramics...

The kids loved just playing in the back yard...

And watching movies...

 (while trying to simultaneously scratch each other's back :)

Nora's appetite improved during this time...we finally realized it was because she ate better when she thought she was stealing food from Anna!

 Upon return, Nick took Presley and Liam out for a special lunch treat at Olive Garden...

 Liam also attend his friend Anu's birthday party.  The girls were dressed as princesses and the boys were knights.  He was so excited to see his buddies Laksh and Arkadeep...

 The Smith kids left at the end of the month and while we miss them, we are so fortunate to have had a whole month to play together every day!  (And we still get to play with baby Fox all the time :) Can't wait to see them later this year, and maybe visit them in Cali in the future!

June 15, 2014: Father's Day

We had a nice Father's day weekend this year.  Nick played golf that Saturday with Cameron and Daniel, and then the whole family cooked out together that night.  We swam the whole next day together with more grilling out again that night.  The kids made Nick some great cards and artwork...

 And my big surprise was converting our home movies to DVDs...

We know we have a great daddy...but how can you tell?  

Because he is at the beck and call of this one, who most likely is still not walking because she is carried everywhere :)

Because he rushes home everyday to take you outside to play after dinner...

 Because he sits up with you to hold you at night when you have a fever...

Because he finds Decepticons and Autobots (Transformers) everywhere for you, and sends you their pictures....

 Because he takes you for special treats, just Daddy and the big kids.  Like Luby's...

Snow Cone lady...

 And Rusty Taco's...

Because he still gets in great time with Nora too, letting her "stay up late" to play in the playroom before bed...

Because he plans boy activities for just the two of you, like hiking...

Because he waits and tapes the World Cup games to watch together, while helping you fill in your brackets and debate each teams strengths and weaknesses...

  Because he lets you help with yard work and use tools that mommy said you could not use...

Because he adores his girls and takes you to the carousel and disney store for some daddy/daughter time...

Because while he loves doing typical "boy/girl" things with each of you, he's not afraid to break the mold.  He wears bracelets and sings along to Frozen with Liam while teaching his girls to get dirty outside and be tough in sports...

We are also so lucky to have many godfathers and grandfathers who are such an active part of our lives as well.  They are great role models and playmates, and usually the first to spoil you :)

What I don't have pictures of is Daddy reading to each of you every night and tucking you in, wrestling with you, jamming out to music, working hard to provide for us, teaching you about the world with an open mind and acceptance, answering your questions with insight and truth, introducing you to new things/people/ideas, and encouraging you every step of the way.  The kids are so blessed to have you as their Daddy, Nick!