Beach Trip 2009

We had a fabulous time at the beach again this year. The kids were super on the way to and from WV to SC....only a few little outbreaks which is always to be expected. We spent our days at the beach or in the pool depending on what the kids wanted, which was usually the pool. The weather was great....hot and it only rained a few times in the evening. I'll go ahead and cut to the chase and show off some of our pictures.

Nolan on the beach.
















Nathan looking extremely COOL in his shades.













These two loved playing in the sand.

Nathan saying, "Oh Mom-my,"

Nicholas sitting on Matt's shoulders....he had been trying to sink his teeth into Matt's head.

Enjoying some pink ice cream.

Nolan's bright ice cream turned his lips blue.

Nathan is really into the Build-A-Bear scene.

Natalie anxiously awaiting her turn to stuff her Hello Kitty.

Natalie and Nathan taking a ride.

Matt and me at the amusement park.

The kids loved this ride as it whipped them around the corners. Nolan and Nathan rode in a car together, and Natalie and Abby in another car (you can see them in the back).

Riding the little Ferris wheel.

Pops and Nicholas.

My blue-eyed boys.

Makayla and Natalie in the pool.

Nicholas fell asleep while Hannah floated him around the pool.

Mom-o and Nolan.

Matt and Natalie.

All of Mom-o and Pops' grand kids.

Cousins.

Mommy and daughter...the sun was really in our eyes.

Our happy family.

Matt and me.

Just our babies.
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The entire crew.

Doctor Day & Family Night

Today was Nicholas' 6 month check-up (one month behind schedule). I had to take all the kids with me, but thankfully Matt was able to meet me at the office and keep the older 3 kids in the waiting room while Nicholas was in the exam room. He is as healthy (and as big) as a horse. He is in the 90th percentile on both height and weight....definitely our biggest baby at this point. He handled his shots as well as could be expected. He had quit crying before we left the exam room, though probably because I brought a bottle for him.....I'm aiming for the 100th percentile in weight, LOL!

Nolan suggested that after the appointment we eat dinner at Ruby Tuesday since it was Tuesday, naturally. But, Matt suggested we go to Chick-Fil-A for Family Night (held every Tuesday), and hands down the kids all chose Chick-Fil-A. We have only been to Family Night once, sometime last year I believe, but I think we should really start going more often. For every adult meal one buys, one gets a free kid's meal....so it's pretty cost efficient. There are door prizes every 15 minutes, games to play to win coupons (free fries, drinks, ice cream, etc...), the play room, and a clown named Miss Tea Cup who paints the children's' faces. Nolan had his face painted the first time we went to Family Night, but Natalie did not. But this time Nolan, Natalie, and even Nathan all got their faces painted. They just looked too cute for words.

So what started out as just a typical trip to the doctor's office, turned into a really fun evening for the kids....especially since it had been raining and they had been couped up during the day.


Natalie the cat. A lot of her paint had come off by the time we made it home.














Nathan....AKA Spider-man.

Nolan got a spider and web on his cheek.

Preschool Graduation!

Nolan's last day of preschool was June 4th. I was able to attend his graduation with the kids and I'm so glad I could make it. All the preschoolers wore makeshift caps and received diplomas. They entertained us with several songs that they sing daily at school. Nolan was singing and smiling the whole time....it was so wonderful!!! Here are some pictures.

Here's Nolan right after they marched in. I think he's pretty happy to see his family :) I wish Matt could have come too, but work had other plans for him.

This was a super cute song. It involved a lot of body parts....at this point they have their "bottoms up."

Nolan receiving his diploma from Miss Lu and shaking hands with Miss Aimee.

Some boys from the class.

This is a picture I took of the slide show....a picture of Nolan with his diploma. Miss Aimee said the class had been practicing for some time to get ready for the big day. I also learned this is where Nolan picked up on "alphabetical order," as the kids received their diplomas in that way. And yes, he totally gets the concept and now uses it quite frequently.

Another picture from the slide show.

Nathan just couldn't resist having his picture made too. He's certainly saying, "CHEEEEESE!"

Our New Pool

We put up our new pool yesterday. It's almost identical to the one we had for the past two years. Nolan had a t-ball game last night, but I stayed home with Natalie and Nicholas while Matt took Nolan and Nathan. Natalie was more than ready to get in the pool, so after I gave Nicholas a bath, we headed to the back yard so she could swim.

Natalie doing a "trick."

Doing the crab walk.

Nicholas was very content to hang out in the walker.

Nolan got in the pool after his game

Nathan was only in the pool for a split second. The water was much too cold for him :)