July Roundup

July was a busy month for us. We were settling into our new house and new routines, but running full steam at our new church too. We had a few moments of down time where we really got to enjoy our family, and we really enjoyed that.

We started out July with a trip to see the new Cars movie. #1 was 2 years old when the first one came out, and #2 and #3 have only seen it on dvd. We really loved it! It's like a James Bond movie for kids. I wondered if the kids would really follow the plot (because there were really 2 story lines going on at the same time), but they totally did!




For the 4th of July, we really enjoyed a few days at home. We did a little exploring around town and ended up at Chili's because they had a kids eat free night. It was better than a cookout. We didn't attempt the city fireworks because it was a drizzly, rainy night. The kids in our neighborhood shot off some fireworks in the road. It actually really frightened our 3 because one accidentally shot off toward our driveway and flew between my main squeeze and #2 and almost hit our car. The rest of the night #2 was a mess. We let them all fall asleep on the couch while we watched "A Capitol Fourth" on PBS. Call me a fuddy duddy, but I really liked that show. I added to my bucket list that I'd like to be in Washington DC one year for the 4th to see that concert live.

Part of jumping into church with both feet was that I got to fill in BLG classes on both Saturday night and Sunday for 3 weeks in a row. I liked it! Teaching is my thing. It's a little stressful to do it when you're not sure where you're supposed to be going or who the people are around you. I also got a chance to sing in church on praise team and for a special. I sang Blessings by Laura Story. (Here's a link to the service...I sing at the end). I was grateful and excited for the chance to sing - it's also my thing, and I wasn't sure that I was going to have a chance to do it here - at least for a while.

We were also blessed that for almost 2 weeks we had people from church bring us food. We had more meals than we knew what to do with. We also had an old fashioned "pounding" and were given tons of food and pantry stuff and gift cards. Between what was given to us as welcoming gifts by people in the new church and as going away gifts from people in the old church I didnt have to pay anything for groceries for 2 and a half weeks!

The kids spent some time writing letters and texts and facebook messages and videos to their friends. They also learned to skype. The way kids skype and the way adults skype are diametrically different. Adults have conversations and show people things. Kids start out talking and end up making funny faces and strange noises.

#1 is into building things. We've started building a model car together.



It's harder than either of us thought it would be. #1 was a little upset that we had to start on things that were small and on the inside of the car. He wanted to put doors on the body, and put the spoiler on the back. So we stopped here....



We'll continue on it on another day.

One morning we woke up to #2 screaming in pain. She stumbled into our room, holding her neck, crying so hard she could hardly breathe. After a couple of minutes we finally figured out what happened. The kids were watching the Disney channel (we leave the TV tuned to the Disney channel when we go to bed on the weekends so that when the kids wake up, they can turn on the TV to kids shows and we can catch another couple of winks....don't hate)...so the kids were watching the Disney channel when the "Mickey Mousekersize" show. #2 was doing crazy jumping jacks just like Mickey told her and injured her neck. She seriously couldn't move it for several days. She was putting ice on it and taking pain meds. After no improvement over a few days we took her for an exray.




It ended up just being a sprain, and a couple days later, she was fine again, but it scared the mess outta me!

We have also had the habit of going to the neighborhood pool every day! #1 and #2 have really improved their swimming skills, and #3 likes the steps. I have to douse #1 and #2 in sunscreen or they will be red. #3 however is getting quite the tan. I have no idea where that comes from! He didn't inherit it from mom or dad!



In the middle of the month the kids and I traveled to my Mom and Dad's house because my sister, bro-in-law and someone very special was there visiting....you want to know who??



Yeah....my newest little nephew...Here's what he looks like awake....



Yeah...totally adorable... We also got to hang with this cutie....



She's a mess, and she's into everything. While we were there, we got to play and swim and take pictures and #1 got to go with his grandpa and 2 uncles to see the Rays play. Apparently he was quite the trash talker. Don't know where he gets that from....



And here's the fab 5 all together....



At the end of the month, we had an late night bowling event where we got to hang with the high school students after church. They were crazy and we had a lot of fun.



We found an apartment for Grammy and she moved down with us. Our good friends Taylor and Marc were awesome, and they packed and drove her down and helped us move her in. Marc organized Grammy's entire home office, and Taylor organized nearly her entire kitchen.



At the very end of the month, we took the HSM students to Student Life Camp at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA. The theme was Devoted. And it was awesome. I got to teach a small group of girls, and it was a great way to get to know them better. Main Squeeze even got "Youth Minister of the Day."



There were lots of fun things to do, but the thing the students remember most was the Bible teaching.



That means it was a good camp....



And that pretty much summed up the month for us....I know August is almost over. You'll hear about August soon enough