Random July

Took the kiddos bowling, because Mike hadn't "Groped" any pins in a while. Everyone had fun and I totally won! ;)

The boys have slept in our room a few times this summer. We've been trying to take more opportunities to say "yes", so we usually say yes when they ask. They won't always want to sleep on our floor. Sarah? Nope. Sleeping beauty likes her soft mattress and 50 pillows.

We went with the Smith's to Tibble Fork Reservoir to try something new. It was pretty, but there isn't much beach, which makes it hard for a baby. Since I knew it would be too cold for Audrey I didn't bring her swimsuit, but that was a mistake. She had fun playing in, and trying to eat, the sand. The boys mainly built sand castles and all the kids paddle boarded and canoed.

We went to Cowabunga Bay with the Crawfords. It was raining part of the time so this is the only picture I took. 

Audrey was "helping" me garden. This consisted of her plucking anything she got her grubby hands on. 

Trying out her Christmas present a little early. 

Trip to the reservoir

Lifting Hands International Service Project

My friend Rachel Jolley introduced me to a charity called Lifting Hands International. Their goal is to give aid to refugees here and abroad. This particular service project was to help refugees at the southern border. Regardless of the politics involved, which complicates things, there were people in need. I posted on Facebook that I wanted to assemble some kits and had a great response. My friend Tracy Flores shared my post and a friend of hers that I didn't know rallied her friends and they sent me a TON of stuff. I created an Amazon shopping list and her friends bought most of it. My parents bought 50 bottles of shampoo and I bought the rest in addition to filling some other holes. We ended up making about 120-130 kits and had a lot of extra toothbrushes, combs and washcloths to donate to the charity to use later. I had friends that wanted to help assemble, so this all sat in my living room for a few weeks. 

My parents came to visit the end of June, so we put together 50 kits with them. Doing it like an assembly line made it go by fast.

My friend Kenda Millet came over with her three kids and we did the rest and then had some brownies and ice cream to celebrate. I forgot to take a picture of our group, but got one of the finished product.

Audrey is 9 months old!

Nine months people! 3/4 of a year! I haven't finished posting her 8 month post, but it's August 11th and I want to make sure I write this before I forget what is from her 9th month. It all kind of blurs together. I'll add her stats when we go to her appt this week. We accidentally no showed for her last appt near her birthday. Oops! Stats in: 16 lbs 2 oz (6%), 27.5 in (37%), 18 in head (90%) She has to hold her big brains.

Little Miss has eight teeth, the better to bite us with. (gently of course) She has started pulling up on things, which has made nap time a challenge. We usually have to put her down twice. She can get to a sitting position from crawling. She can wave. She knows who her family is and greets all of us with a toothy grin when we see her. She loves to play peek-a-boo with her siblings, especially when she can hide around a corner. She likes to play "tag" and crawls away whenever she gets the chance. Getting her dressed is like dressing Mosey. ;)

 

For her 9 month pictures we borrowed our neighbor Kathleen's cat bed. Yes, this adorable lounge is a cat bed. Audrey is all over the place, so it was a challenge to get her to sit still. Thankfully action shots are just as cute. Mike told me I'd taken "enough" pictures, so I took a few more. I have 70 pictures to choose from. I guess I'll have to look through them and pick my favorite...dozen. ;)

These first ones are what I posted on Instagram/Facebook. (I don't want to be one of those people that posts 50 pictures of the same thing)

And some extra cuteness.

It is now 8/27 and I haven't posted this, so it's time. We love our little princess and are forever grateful for the joy she brings us all.