Sunday, July 28th

Sunday was a relaxing day - lots of at home time, followed by Jim taking Linc for a haircut, and me taking the girls to Barnes & Noble.  The guys joined us there and then we had lunch together before heading home to nap.  Soon after the kids were up, our good friends next door joined us for a cookout and a bit of swim time - a great end to the weekend!

Three helpers (one pants-less!) watching Daddy clean the pool.

Just before heading out, I needed to get Waverly dressed and then was going to feed her.  She looked SO adorable in this little dress/bloomers combination, so I ran and got my camera, trying to coax a smile out of her.  This was the look she gave me instead - clearly saying, "Are you kidding me? I am starving and you're trying to take my picture??" lol

Uh-oh!  Full angry arms flailing and all - she meant business.  I love how sweet, smiley and calm the baby usually is, but I have to admit I find it a little cute when she gets all mad and opinionated! :-)

Lincoln was so thrilled to go with Jim to a "boy's hair cut place," as he explained to me.  Apparently, he was quite insistent to wait and have Jim go first, with his turn afterward... but then the hair stylist whispered to him, "How about you go now while your daddy is getting his hair cut, and I bet me and you will BEAT him and be done first!"  Well, this was all the motivation he needed - he was ready to get started!

Handsome guy, forehead bruise and all! :-)

After an hour at Barnes & Noble perusing for books and playing at the train table, the kids made their final selections.

A quick lunch at Taco Bell - I introduced the kids to the pintos & cheese bowls.  Lincoln and Scarlett were not fans at all, but Victoria ate all of hers plus the rest of Linc's!  I kept telling her, "There's cheese hanging out of your mouth..."

"That's okay, mommy, I like it there."

The kids actually took an awesome 2.5 hour nap, while Waverly and I played and stared at each other.  Jim took a turn hanging out with her for a few while I took care of a couple things.  She wants to sit up so badly!

She LOVES her daddy - always turns to see where he is if she hears his voice and has the biggest smiles for him.

Our neighbors joined us for a casual dinner and pooltime, but Jim put our kids (and the neighbor's oldest daughter) to work scrubbing his car first - they were seriously stoked to help wash the Z.

She was genuinely more excited to wash the car than to get in the pool after.

The unsuspecting Lincoln goes to rinse his rag, while Jim gets ready with the hose behind him...

...sprays him with the icy water...

...and sends him running away as fast as he can! :-)

Scarlett, getting thrown by daddy.

Pool time fun!  Our dinner was wonderful and it sure was nice to have a chance to catch up with our friends next door!

Saturday, July 27th

It was the weekend of the homeschool expo, and Jim and I had made arrangements to have several hours to go, browse, and buy.  We returned home exhausted and appreciative of our time - I was able to find all of the items on my list, and Jim spotted a couple of great extras that will be just perfect to add to the mix this school year.  The kids were in an epically silly mood when we got home and we had a fun, relaxed evening...tying them up at their request!  Weird kids ;-)

Prior to leaving, we got the kids ready for karate (which ended up being canceled!) and Jim took them into our bedroom and made them swear an oath of obedience to Gram ;-)  They thought this was pretty hilarious.

I fell in love with this kid-height multi-purpose table!  Jim is going to make one for me - this would be great to have on the screened in porch for our many messy activities... just pull the bins out, hose off and voila!

Jim really tried to sell me on this Fun Ride SuperZ zipline - his idea was to run it from the top of the screened in porch to the far back fence and have it strung over the pool to drop in. Um...No.  Lincoln already needs a crash helmet just for the standard daily stunts he does in the backyard.

Received this picture from Nana :-)  Gram had taken the three big kids to karate and when they discovered it was canceled, she treated them to McDonald's for lunch and play!

VIP lounge of the homeschool expo with my friend Amanda P.!  Haha, not really - but even better, we had a leisurely, kid-free lunch together which has, in 6+ years, never happened (dinner, yes, but never lunch).  We were just about to leave, the lighting was terrible, and we were in the bathroom area, but I had to take the opportunity to photograph this highly amazing phenomenon :-)

Jim was tuckered out after hauling all of our purchases, so he sprawled out on the living room floor when we got home.  The kids had been decorating with yarn (see on the wall behind them?), and took his laying down as an invitation to try and tie him up with it!  They would work really hard to tie him up and then say, "See if you can break free!!"  He always could, of course ;-) They just kept on trying.

After 45 minutes of this, they wanted Jim to try and tie THEM up.  Weird kids!

Then Jim hogtied Lincoln - he could NOT get free and had to scoot around. 

Victoria snipped the yarn around his hands and he freed his feet.  Just your standard, Saturday night kid-roping ;-)