Last week

Puppet show for Grandma

Last week was a busy, but normal week for us. How does that work? Well we had visitors! My mom and sister flew into Phoenix, my aunt Karen, Kelsey and baby Jayden brought them down and we grilled out on Sunday. Monday Jo went through her stuff and began packing up. Sadly her house has still not sold in IA, and she has returned to take care of business, but promises to visit --and we WILL hold her to that! Also on Monday CJ had school and dance.

Tuesday, tried to get Jo's car serviced for the drive to IA, CJ had school, and a walk up to the park with 2 dogs, 3 kids and 4 adults --our own little chaotic parade all while trying to beat the darkness.
Wednesday we said see ya later to Jo, went to the library, the Olive Garden and grocery shopping. Thursday brought school and my tire going flat again, despite "NOT" having a leak. CJ 'borrowing' a neighbor's bike, and learning just how not fun it is to change a tire on the van.
Friday, I got to go shopping!!!!!...for FOUR new tires that is.
Saturday Laurelei did dance, Tyson worked on our lighting project and we headed to Phoenix to spend some time with the Bandys' and a stay at the hotel so mom could catch her early early flight. The kids and I had a lazy Sunday morning, went swimming and headed home.

Grandma has a magical touch!

See a very typical week for us, yet busy and fun to have Grandma all week. We miss you.

The babies had fun playing with each other.

Now it is Monday, back to our normal routine...which means I should go locate a dance outfit, wake up the nappers so we can get back to the school on time, and figure something out for supper. It looked like this week was going to be cooler, but I saw an updated forecast and we're still going to be in triple digits this week.

watch carefully....

Okay...I messed something up in the video...it keeps going since the song does, just watch the first minute or so, while there is actual footage, and just enjoy the song during the black part.




Did you see what is WRONG with this video? Admittedly to see it you would have to be watching from a mom point of view.

I could tell you how she has been beggin' and beggin for the last six months to let her do this.
I could tell you how she got the neighbor girl to let her use her bike to prove her point --in the dark.
I could tell you about her determination, persistence and go get it attitude.

I would rather lament at her insistence at being a big girl, independent and tackling the world. Which truthfully is exactly what we hope she'll grow up to be. But for now, she is four and I would like to just bottle her up. Is that okay?

What I did on my summer vacation

 A story inspired from fun new Stampin' Up! Supplies and CJ, four year old extraordinaire.

The Bear Family Reunion.

It is always fun to see family that lives far away or you don't get to see often.  The true is for the Bears.  Each one was excited to be at the reunion.

Martha and Ann organized the festivities and gave each other a high 5 as everyone was having fun.

Here are the Bear sisters, they like to hold on to their flower child roots and have lots of fun.

This is the 'other side' of the Bear family always sassy and stylish.

 

Back row: Jim, Deana, 'Polar' Josh, Martha

Middle row: Karen, Jo, Cyndy

Front row: Grandma, Sara, Ann

The Bear Family portrait

 A fabulous time was had by all.  And so can you!!!!
 

 

The little bear cousins --double sided for double the fun

 

She loved making her bear outfit to match her own.

Shopping with children

This is how one efficiently limits one self to the amount of items bought and how to do it quickly without scrambling after children every other step.

 

This arrangement will last as long as the snack does and as long as they believe you when you say, once we get these few items we'll check out the toys.  Or until someone claims a pit stop is needed.

dog days of summer

Even though we have been in school for over a month, it still feels like summer with no sign of fall in sight.  Here are some random recent pictures to share.

 

Dance...she loves it, I'm amazed.

 

Pool times

 

so sweet and so much fun

 

  

a picture taken by CJ

Smile, it's Sunday

Typical Sunday for us. Went to church, late, by 10mins, but there must have been lots of announcements since we only missed one and a half songs. And bonus for us, it was being led by the youth who went to New Orleans. Each one shared their experience and I know a couple of the songs we sang, they sang there, but overall it was a wonderfully upbeat service. Since we were late by 10mins, and it being so much fun today, it was okay that it ran over, by 15mins.

We skipped out on fellowship to treat the kids to IHOP and to try and beat the after church crowd. Thank you G'ma & G'pa Ryan for the gift card --I know it was a year ago, but we did finally use it, and enjoyed it! It was then a quick stop at Sears, we got a new camera, still have the old one, but the powershot is smaller, more portable, and now I won't be stuck without a camera when Eric takes one.

Family swim, then a "quick" stop to pick up groceries. I sent Eric in with a short list of what we needed, he had his own list in his head for himself. An hour later, we were on our way home. I had a book playing on my iPod to entertain us. We have recently gotten into the chapter books, The magic tree house, and at one time there was a free download on iTunes, so we were listening to the Dinosaurs before Dark. We listened to the entire book.

Waiting is not a fun game, for any of us, but the kids did great! Check this out:



And what was the cause of this great belly laughter?




If anyone is a pro at iMovie, I'd appreciate any help/tips you may have. I have read the help, followed the directions, and can't figure out how to add titles, or combine clips into one nice video. Thanks.

Toro! Toro! Toros!

Friday night we went to a local minor league baseball game.  CJ was disappointed, when she found out we were going to a baseball game and not a football game, but still wanted to check it out.  On the way there, looking for a street, we ended up needing to turn around and Laurelei became very upset, thinking we were going back home and not to the BASE-BALL game.  We all had a lot of fun.

 

Before going, all CJ could talk about was having peanuts, here she is peeling the shell bit by bit to get to her treasured peanut.

 

All the little songs and cheers thrilled Laurelei!  Today we told her to go get her shoes on, and she replied excitedly with, "BASE-BALL?"  No sorry, just a walk to the park.

 

This little guy slept from about the fourth inning through the fireworks.

 

Our row seemed to attract all the little girls.  They all had so much fun, sharing kettle corn, peanuts and drinks.  Ironically, on the other side there were 2 little girls visiting their grandparents from Iowa City IA...small world!

 

  

The evening ended with a great fireworks show!  We all enjoyed them!

few more pictures to share

 

A recent family picture.

 

Skiing, on daddy, and what a blast!

 

She always gets cold, even when it is hot hot HOT!

 

He likes to sit at the table where the action is.

 

Campfire and sunset in our back yard.

Big News....

That's right...after trying and trying and lots of determination, CJ can now snap her fingers.

 

Self portrait of such happiness!

 

Don't tell her that her little brother is trying to keep up with her.

 

Check out the tap shoes...she loves dance, or March March, as she calls it and is doing really well, as in, no tears and mommy doesn't have to sit directly in the room with her!

We miss everyone

We had a wonderful, fast, full weekend with Eric's family.  While we have seen everyone over the past 4yrs, it has been 4yrs (nearly to the day) since we ALL were together!  From 2 granddaughters, there are now 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons!

 

We went to Saguaro National Park East, we did not do any hiking due to the intense heat, but we did check out the great area!

So much to tell Grandpa! 

  

She said she found the "Spanish trail" to get up here.

 

The cousins in their Alaska shirts.  

At the hotel to do some swim time with everyone.

 

We also made a trip to the water park. 

The men went to Tombstone and had a great time, while the kiddos enjoyed a quiet day playing inside.

 

The boys are going to have to stick together with all the big girls running around.

 

The big girls helped to make crockpot apple dumplings for supper Monday night.

 

Grandma and grandpa couldn't be happier with all the grandkids around.

Our house was filled with lots of love and while that hasn't changed, with everyone gone, it seems to be missing something. Thanks for coming everyone, let's make sure it's not another 4yrs!