Two Favorites

I think these are my two favorite pictures from the last week. Some days I love my job.

A busy June so far

I promised grandma I would update so she could see what we've been up to. Here's your picture update of our fun June. (thus far) I have tried hard to keep the kids out of the apartment and bring them home exhausted. I would like to say it has worked....but I think the neighbor's below us would disagree!

Bicentennial Park - Downtown Columbus

Our favorite spray park to date.

Off to the Pool.

Sunbathing

Concerts in the Park.

Magic Show and other fun library time.

Science experiments.

Slate Run Living Historical Farm

Hiking and Exploring

Some of the best parks I've seen anywhere.

Well now- there's a little taste. I'm going to have to go to bed now cause I'm exhausted thinking about how I drag these kids somewhere pretty much everyday of the week. By the way, I would like to note that to date, we have not spent anymore than the gas it has taken to go and a nominal amount for meter parking on the days we are in the city. Columbus is an awesome city for families--even if you don't want to spend the money to go to their expensive attractions!

And.....this is what the twins did while I updated my blog!

(Thanks Mom!!)

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

Yes--both those feet belong to the same child.

 And yes, he was blowing nerf darts out of his nose.

Deep Thoughts....by Ava

A panicked scream from the bathroom....

MOM! I need you now. I have to throw up and I can't do it without you!

( Now this is love-- No one has ever used that pick up line on me before!)

Last Day

Last Day of School is here yet again.

Last Day Of Kindergarten.

Last Day of Second Grade.

Last Day of Elementary School. 

First and last days of a school year are always a hard reminder for me of just how fast it all goes, and how limited my time is with these great kids. Another milestone met. While I do love to see them grow and become who their Father in Heaven intended them to be, it is bittersweet because it all happens so quickly.

As we all lined the halls of the school today for the 5th grade clap-out, I happened to be standing in the kindergarten hall with Ava. Next to me was another 5th grade Mom, and beside her was a Kindergarten Mom. As soon as the 5th graders passed our end of the hall, the Kindergarten Mom commented to her son,

"You just barely started elementary school and they are already done. That will be you in a lot of years!"

The other Mom turned to her and said,

"It will happen so fast you won't even know it. It's here and over before you realize it got away from you, and you wonder where the time went."

Couldn't have said it any better myself. We were those Kindergarten Moms just a minute ago.

In a blink, Andrew will be graduating from High School-this I have been told by so many parents and I know, without a doubt, they are right. The good news is--I didn't cry today! (ok I did...several times. But at  least not in front of him!)

And for good measure, the little ones wanted their picture taken too.

The Aspiring Grade Schoolers!

( I know, I know- that will happen in a half a blink.)

Paid

This is a picture of the last medical bill I paid. Yeah, I know. It's not very exciting. But for us it was-- because it marks the end of a very long and expensive train of medical bills. Certainly it will not be the last medical bill we owe--not by a long shot. It is however the first time in 6 years that I will not be making regular monthly payments toward Ava and Katlyn's medical accounts.

When I stop and think about it, we have been truly blessed to be able to pay those medical bills. We have met out of pocket maximums on our insurance every year for the last 6 years. We have written off medical expenses on our taxes all of those years as well. I would sit down and pull all our tax records and see exactly how much that is, but I think I would just die if I saw an actual precise dollar amount.

 I now realize Colonel Mustard is right. We could trade those two in for a brand new Porsche!!! Haha! We could never put a price on their health or their life but I'm not gonna lie--them girls have been expensive!

Needless to say, I have never appreciated the word "PAID" as much as I did when I opened this bill. Here's praying we can keep our kids "paid off" for at least a little while!

Picture updates--What we've been up to

Driving--a lot!

Playing at the park.

Playing ball at the park.

Hiking at the park.

Sliding on the slide at the park.

Getting very dirty at the park!

(Mom is getting sick of the park already!)

Watching all the new baby ducks and geese everywhere!

Visiting the Air Force Museum.

Having tea parties!

Learning to be nice. (After we hit and pull eachother's hair out!)