Aug 23 - 29

This week's highlights:

• Ross went to see a movie. 
• The girls took Ross to Petland. 
• I hand cleaned the entire kitchen floor. 
• Eli had an accident and got a fractured skull. 
• We had a family party for Ross's 40th birthday!

Sunday - We didn't go to church this morning so we played around the house. At lunchtime Ross went to see "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." at the movies and I took the girls for their Sunday McDonald's run. After we were back I took a short nap on the couch. Ross returned and I took him and the girls to Petland so they could look at hamster stuff and show Ross what they wanted. I looked for a new purse but was unsuccessful. We came home and had a good dinner and then read and watched TV until bedtime. I did manage to get the office cleaned up in preparation for next Saturday's party.

Monday - Today I stared out cleaning my kitchen floor. Handwashing the whole thing because it's been a long time since it was deep cleaned and it needed it. Then I met Mom at McDonald's play place for Nate and Lilly to play and eat. Then they came back over to our house where we played with and fed Eli until Mom had to leave with them. Mom called later and told me that there had been an accident. She was holding Eli and walking him and Nate to their doctor's appointment when they all fell. Nate scraped his arm, but Eli hit his head. Thankfully Melissa was there a minute later. The docs there sent them to the local Children's hospital. There they found that he had a soft skull fracture and a little bleeding, so they sent them on to Cincinnati Children's for further evaluation. They did another CT which showed the same fracture and a little more external swelling, but nothing else wrong. So they are keeping him overnight for observation.

Tuesday - I spent most of today just thinking about Eli and not getting a whole lot done. I worked on cleaning the floor some more and spent time playing with Lilly. In the afternoon we went outside and blew bubbles and then pulled some weeds while waiting for Bella to get off the bus. Ross got home in time to be with Lilly while I took Bella to gymnastics so I got to stay there and watch her a little and read my book, which was really nice. Eli got released in the evening and is doing well so far.

Wednesday - I don't have a great memory of today, but it was laundry day and Mom stopped by in the afternoon after she had bought a new car. It is a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country. We had church in the evening as usual.

Thursday - More cleaning and prepping for the party.

Friday - More cleaning and prepping for the party.

Saturday - In the morning we all baked a cake for Ross's birthday. Then we cleaned up and chilled out before the party. At 4 people started arriving and we had a great time celebrating Ross! Later in the evening a bunch of us went to Dad's old house to get out some of his furniture.

August 16 - 22

This week's highlights:

• We swam one last time at Andy & Rosie's.
• Brought a cake to Ross's work and celebrated his 40th birthday!
• Went to open house at South for Bella's 3rd grade class.
• Our new bed arrived!
• Bella's gymnastics class was only her!
• Bella had her first day of 3rd grade!
• Lilly and I played at Mom's with Nate and Eli.
• Ross and I went to my cousin Andy's, wedding.
• We went to Ikea and looked for bed frames and had lunch there!
• We went back to Mom's for dinner with Mom and the Blowers. 

Sunday - After church and Mcdonalds we went to Andy and Rosie's to swim. Lilly wasn't behaved that well and so it wasn't all that great, but it was good to see everyone. Bella ended up going to Julia's and spending the night since they were free and the girls wanted once last sleepover before school starts.

Monday - we laid off the tv for a while and did summer school work, cleaned Lilly's room, played with markers, moon sand, and the spirograph. We also played games.

Tuesday - More typical stuff in the morning. Made pancakes, got Lilly a bath and Bella a shower and did some summer school work. We also cleaned the girls bathroom. Mom came in the afternoon to take Bella to gymnastics while I took Lilly to South Elementary to represent the PTC during open house. Bella fell down the stairs, halfway only but on her back. She's OK, but sore. Ross came and got Lilly at the school and then took her to pick up Bella after gymastics. Bella turned out to to be the only one who showed up for class so she got one on one attention for the hour. Then I got home and we unpacked our new bed that had arrived. It's a Casper bed. We're hoping it works out as it seems to feel nice to lay on so far.

Wednesday - Busiest day ever! We baked a cake and went to the store to get balloons and wrapping paper and then we brought Ross his cake and his present from the kids and the balloons at work. That all wiped out most of the day. Julia came over to play for a bit, but then we had to go to Open house at school for Bella to meet Ms. Baltzell and Ms. Stewart, her teachers. Ross met us there and it was hot as usual. But thankfully her main class is air conditioned this year. Then Ross and Lilly went home, while Bella and I grabbed some Taco Bell and headed to church for Gospel Project. Thankfully we got to leave early from that and get home so she could have a rest time before heading to bed before her first day of school!

Thursday - Bella got up early and got a shower, and then got ready for school. We took some cute pictures of her before school and then Lilly joined in. She left for the bus stop on her own, but we ended up following her down there since Lilly decided to put shoes on. :) After she was off Lilly and I worked on cleaning the house up and playing and painting. Then in the afternoon we went to Dad's old house to get one of the shelving units. And then to the bank and the grocery store. Once home we cleaned off the shelves and put them up. Then Ross actually beat Bella home. She finally arrived around 4:50. Ross didn't feel well so he rested while the girls and I ate dinner and played. Julia came over for a bit and a bunny was found on our porch. The bunny didn't stay long though.. I think it was scared of us! Then it was bedtime as usual. Back into the routine!

Friday - Bella was off for her second day. After our breakfast Lilly and I went to Mom's so Lilly could play with Nate and Mom and I watched Eli and worked a little bit in the yard. It was a nice cool day for a change. The kids were good too. We left around 3 to be home for Bella, but Ross was already there because he stayed home from work. He wasn't feeling well early, but by afternoon he felt better. So in the evening Mom came and watched the kids and we were off to my cousin Andy's wedding. It was a nice wedding and we got to chat with some of the family, so that was good. And the girls got Wendy's and had a fun time with Mom. Bella even got to go to Flubs with Julia's family and used her own money to buy it. :)

Saturday - We went to Ikea in the morning to start looking at bedframes. We didn't have to skype today since Pat is on vacation with Gran Carthy. We ended up eating lunch at Ikea and came home with a few things we didn't know we needed. ;-) After that I took a nap and then Ross went to pick up our computer, which has been in the shop for a few weeks. The girls played and had baths/showers and then for dinner we went to Mom's and joined her and Melissa, Joe and the boys. It was fun and the kids were mostly behaved.

August 9 - 15

Highlights:

• Met Lilly's Preschool teacher - Ms. Karen
• Bella got to spend the night at Great Wolf Lodge
• Touch a Truck and Chuck E Cheese with Papaw/Grammy B, and Moe and her boys and the Murray kids.  

Sunday  - After church we had our lunch and then met up with Mom at Soak City in Kings Island. Ross joined us this time and we were there for 4 hours playing in the water. Bella road some of the rides she's been wanting to go on with Ross while Lilly, Mom and I played in the wave pools and such. We even got in the big wave pool at the end and Lilly and I rode in an inter-tube together. It was so much fun!

Monday - In the evening we shopped for Julia's present and a present for Ross from the girls.

Tuesday -  Bella wrapped the present for julia and then her mom came and got bella at 1pm for Great Wolf lodge. It was a sleepover there for Bella. 

Wednesday - Did some laundry, met Lilly's teacher, got Bella home from Great wolf, shopped for more school supplies after learning Bella's teacher name and supply list, visited Dad/B and Moe and her boys at the Murray's house, came home for dinner, (Ross mowed and got an oil change while we were out) and went to church and a did late run to Taco Bell for me and Bella. Busiest day in a while!

Thursday - We cleaned the living room, kitchen, toy room and Bella's room. Went to the library and got new books, then the girls helped me peel potatoes for dinner. Played outside after dinner. I went to Target with Moe in the evening.

Friday - Touch a truck and Chuck E Cheese with girls, Moe and boys, Dad and B and Murray kids. Then we all gathered at our house for a few hours and rested while the kids played! I got to run to the bank after Ross got home.

Saturday - Typical laundry / cleaning day. Late I went to Sarah's and we went to The Root Beer Stand, which I thought was delicious. Then Melissa joined us and we played Euchre and watched some tv together.

Summertime 2015!

We've had a great summer. So great that I just couldn't find the time to blog. I think that's a good thing for our family though. :)

And just to keep with my listing habit, here are some of the things we did this summer:

June:
Gave away frisbees for VBS at the June and July Movies in the Park in Fairfield.
Ross attended Origins Game Fair.
Went to Mike and Sarah's Wedding.
Had Vacation Bible School.
Went to Eli's dedication at Princeton Pike Church.
Celebrated Father's Day at Andy's, along with Andy's birthday.
Bella had a tooth pulled and a spacer put in.
Watched Teen Beach Movie 2.
Saw Inside Out at the theater all together.
I attended a baby shower for my cousin Catherine.

July: 
Celebrated Red, White and Kaboom with the family at our house.
Celebrated 4th of July at Andy and Rosie's and Joe's birthday.
I went to a Spa Party with my friend Jen.
Lilly spent the night with my mom, while Julie spent the night here with Bella.
Got my car fixed up with 3 new tires.
Got the plumbing in the basement fixed.
Celebrated Nate's birthday at Pump It Up.
Went on vacation with the Thompson side of the family.

August (thus far): 
Bought our school supplies and new shoes.
Bella went to Great Wolf Lodge for Julia's birthday party/sleepover.
Brought Ross to KI on a Sunday and stayed at Soak City the whole time. 

Throughout the summer there were a number of trips to KI, mostly with Mom, Moe, Nate and Eli. And then there were a number of times we played with Nate and Eli.