Summer Stuff

Backyard popsicles

Swinging at the park

Being insane

Sliding down the slides

Sweating it out with our favorite friends, the Puchmeyers.

 

Summer is almost over! And school is around the corner. Annie is starting kindergarten in a few days, so we are trying to pack in all the last rays of sunshine and carefree days!

 

Jackie's Send Off

My sister Jackie is getting deployed to Afghanistan very soon. So, my parents decided to give a her a send off the best way we know how -- throw a big ass party.

 

 

My parents' friend generously offered the use of his work location at the Port of Cleveland, and we set up shop down there to eat, drink and dance like fools.

 

This is my brother Matt helping set up for the party. If any single ladies are out there reading the blog...

 

The kids got right to work having fun.

This is Brooke, JT and Evie.

 

Evie loved Billy and Cate, as all babies do.

Grace, Cate and Annie

Dancing fools.

I am so mad, but I didn't get a picture of just the girls in their adorable tutus. My talented Aunt Cathy made them special tutus and hairbows for the party. They looked so cute!

I love Kate's face here. She's not nearly as excited as me or Kathleen.

Kerri and Katie. Party animals.

Oh! There's the guest of honor! ;)

Gillian, Jackie and Allison

Andrea, Kathleen, Kerri and Erica. And Kathleen's white bra under a black shirt. It was quite a conversation piece that night.

After all the kids went to bed, the night started looking like this. A newly formed girl band took over while the band was on a break.

(Kathleen, Allison, Callista and Erica.)

My mom, Joan (or Pretty Joan, as Annie refers to her) and Meg

Matt joined in the girl group action, and Jackie and Reagan didn't care!

Usain Bolt-ing for Jackie

My family. Plus Gak. Perfect.

 

We are so proud of Jackie and her service to our country. She'll be deploying as a nurse with a forward surgical unit. We don't know where, but we'll be counting and praying down the days until she comes back in July. We love you Jackie!

 

 



Beware of Ninjas

Our kids are so weird. The big girls did this first, and Evie was not about to be left out.

They are 100% responsible for all articles of clothing they are wearing.

This was complete with ninja noises from all -- even Evie.

I am 100% responsible for her lack of pants.



Eighteen Months

This baby is 18 months, and she is a total maniac.

Seriously.

She is a pacifier junkie.

She makes this innocent, sad face, but don't be fooled.

She is a little devil.

After 15-ish months of being the perfect child, we've lost her. She's nuts. She is screaming (or Eve-ing as Matt called it today) all the time. Happy screams, mad screams, bored screams, whatever. She covers them all. She is constantly annoying her sisters. She knows exactly how to push their buttons. She pulled Kate's hair and poked her for 2.5 straight hours driving home from Cleveland last weekend. She climbs on everything. She gets into everything. And God forbid you utter the word "No" in her general direction. Hell hath no fury...

But then, the sweet Evie comes out, too. She laughs and laughs. She loves when we chase her around. She loves to climb on playground equipment totally inappropriate to her age and size. She is so loving, too. She gives her sisters her blankie when they cry. And she is without a doubt the world's best hugger. She pats my back now when she hugs me before bed. It's basically the cutest thing ever.

We can't imagine life without our crazy, happy, lovely Evie.