Setting up the pool June 14, 2009

A few weeks back we went over to my in-laws house to help set up their pool.  They have one of those blue blow up pools that they have to take down every year to make sure that it is ready for the next summer.  It is not a job that just one or two people can do, so we went over to help.  While there I snapped a few pictures…

Jake and Mike bringing the pool over to set up…

Tyler helped spread it out.

Jake pumping it up.

Devon was also helping, it takes a little while to spread it all out, trying to make sure that it is as wide as it can get.

Carson even “helped”

Here is everyone in the pool, way to go guys!

Now it was time to start filling it up with water…

While it is filling they have to push all the wrinkles out.

Memorial Day at OC, NJ May 29, 2009

This past Sunday we headed to the great OC, NJ for some much needed away time with the family.  We decided last minute that we would go away for just one night, and spend Memorial Day down at the beach… I am so glad that we made that decision!  When we arrived on Sunday afternoon we headed right to the beach, well, we only stayed for about an hour because it was quite chilly and windy down by the ocean.  The funny thing is, this did not stop Alexis from going right into the water, which by the way was only 50 degrees…brrrr!!!  Here are a few pictures of our time away…

B got a little nap in after the beach…

I just love this picture of Carson and Braeden’s hands, I did not even position them this way!

Tyler playing his PSP during “down time”

Showing his food to us all, yummy!

Devon is giving Carson a little love…

now they all join in

My parents were down for  the entire weekend and they took us out to breakfast on Monday to one of our favorite spots…Sindia

Here is Mike looking at his iPhone…surprise, surprise

getting their fudge samples…

…and Polish water ice

B’s First Week April 21, 2009

So of course I cannot stop taking pics of the new little man, but I have not had the time to sit and look at the pictures.  Today I sat at the computer after Mike went to softball practice and picked out a few that I liked.

I love baby feet, and when they are my baby I love them even more  

Caught this one right as he was about to sneeze…

He really enjoys being in the swing.

Number 5 has arrived! April 12, 2009

On Friday I was prepped and ready to have our fifth child.  I had a scheduled c-section in the morning.  It was kind of surreal, because I had never come to the hospital and not been in  labor…so to be walking the halls to get to the maternity ward without any pain was weird.  After about 2 hours of waiting for the operating room to be ready for me to get the section, I was able to walk in and within 15 minutes we welcomed our fifth child. 

Here he is with Mike…

the whole gang…

my mom and her newest addition

my dad, with 2 of his 6 grandsons

Mike’s mom holding him for the first time, I am loving the scrunched up face

Devon adores holding his baby bro

And of course Alexis is loving it too!

Being that this is my last child I am going to have to take every opportunity I can get to steal some hugs from him.

My family is complete, and I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me 5 wonderful healthy children!!!

Philly Zoo April 2, 2009

On Monday the kids had off school (end of marking period), so we headed to the Philadelphia Zoo.  Last year I had purchased the zoo membership and we had yet to use it, so with it being close to expiration we decided Monday would be a great day to go.  It turned out to be a bit chilly, but this was actually a good thing.  The animals were all on the move and came close to the fences/glass, it was pretty cool!  Here are a few pictures from our time together…

Half way through our time at the zoo we ran into friends of ours and their two boys.  We all had NO idea that we would be at the zoo on that day.  So for the rest of the time we hung out together.  Here is a pic of all the kids in the tree house room.

The kids had a good time in the petting zoo…

 

Spring Like Day… March 18, 2009

I have been itching for warmer weather, to be able to go outside and enjoy the sun and warmth.  Well, today was one of those days, so after Carson got up from his nap I took him outside to enjoy the gorgeous day!  We were out for about 10 minutes when Alexis and Devon came home from school (Tyler stays after for track practice), so they joined us for some much needed outdoor enjoyment!  They got their bikes and scooters out and awhile later they got the bubbles out.

There are bunnies in our back ally and Carson just loves them!

Yes, Carson is riding Alexis’ old scooter, but he was lovin’ it no matter the color

Feeding the bunnies…

Bubble time…

 

March Madness March 17, 2009

This past Saturday Tyler and Devon participated in our church’s annual basketball 3 on 3 tournament.  This is an amazing outreach that they do!  Here are a few pics from the experience.

Alexis’ Hip Hop Class March 17, 2009

Saturday mornings Alexis takes a local hip hop class.  She has been doing it since September and has really been enjoying it!  Since January the class has been getting ready for their recital that they will do in May.  This past Saturday was parent visitation…so I got to go in and observe her class and watch the routine that they have been working so hard on the last few months.  It was so fun to see Alexis move, she sure can move those hips

Here she is doing her warm up stretches at the beginning of class…

They do this thing in the beginning where they choose a partner and they work together for about 5 minutes to come up with a short routine and have a “dance off”  Here she is at the start of her and her partners dance off.

This is at the end, where she ended with a cartwheel…

This is their teacher showing them some of the moves that they just learned last week, they needed a little reminder

Some pics of the routine

At the end of the class they did this chain thing to music…

Alexis is 8! March 11, 2009

Today we celebrated Alexis’ 8th birthday!  She has been sooooo excited about this birthday for some reason, more than any other that I can remember.  I am so proud of her…even after the “trauma” of finding out that she will be the only girl in a house FULL of brothers.  But I can certainly guarantee that she will be well protected for many years to come  

The happy birthday girl!

Jumping for joy that she is 8 years old!!

I just HAD to get this shirt…soooooo fitting for her!

Licking the birthday cake before blowing out the candles.

Getting ready to blow…

…and blow!

 

Kids Christmas Pictures December 15, 2008

This afternoon we took the kids right down the street to take their Christmas pictures.  We actually tried to do it last Sunday, but after about 10 minutes we knew that is was just too freezing for them to cooperate.  Today was a much nicer, warmer day.  So after Carson woke up from his nap, we headed out.  Mike and I decided that we were not going send Christmas cards this year, so I am posting a slew of pictures on this post (plus I need to make up for all the months of not posting )!

My one and only beautiful daughter (many more posted below)…

Here is the littlest of the bunch (until April)

Our oldest

Most photogenic…

Carson was carrying the webkinz dog around the whole time, every time I took it away from him, he would cry, so we had to get him with it in one picture.

I did post a few in succession of similar shots of all the kids up on the train tracks.  I usually would just pick one, but it was hard to narrow down…each picture has a little splash of each personality.

O.k. Carson had ENOUGH, he just wanted me to hold him and get him home.

A little yawn from Carson right before we left….

Mike got a few pics of the two big boys together…notice their collars in the shot below

And yes Mike had them go out in the middle of the street to get this shot…we only had one driver make a mean face, not to bad!