Today was the ice cream party for summer reading. There was also a barrel of fun at the pirate show. My big guy got to help out.

Insects

In one of the few quiet moments yesterday the little guy and I looked out the window and saw this butterfly being eaten.

TCM

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis was busy today.
We had a good visit.

Last week

Husband and big kids went to church camp. Number 2 daughter

spent the week with my parents in Michigan at Camp "Wiggins". The little guy and I went to North Manchester to visit one of my college friends. Another friend brought over 5 more girls so the little guy got to spend the day playing with 8 older girls.

Top pictures - little guy with a frog and the girls

Bottom pictures - big kids ready to get on the bus for camp.

Friday night everyone was back home. It seems the campers brought more than dirty laundry home. As soon as he got home son #1 was sick. Saturday daughter #1 got sick. Sunday afternoon husband #1 got sick. Thankfully the sickness seems to be gone now and the dirty laundry has all been washed (of course more has been made this week - it never ends).

The Help

I just finished this novel. It's set in Jackson, Mississippi - 1962. It made me laugh and cry and think. Good book.

Play-Doh

#2 girl had a Wal-mart gift card (she got it from her great aunt for her birthday). This week she got a new play-doh set and the three younger kids have been playing and playing with it.

TEAMWORK

My husband recently got this t-shirt for himself.
He's going to be a counselor at kids camp this week.
Our older two are going to church camp for the first time.
I think I'd be a bit more nervous if their dad wasn't going to be there with them.

Red Hair

My red head got her hair cut the other day. The stylist said she could be a hair model.

The green computer

The kids uncle gave them this XO-1 subnotebook computer. It was developed by OLPC (the One Laptop per Child non-profit organization). The kids have had a lot of fun with it.
To find out more about the XO-1 see the
OLPC website http://laptop.org/en/
or wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLPC_XO-1

Camping

Friday night and Saturday we were out at Raccoon State Recreation Area (Cecil M. Harden Lake). Indiana has some beautiful state parks.

The red head didn't feel very good.

Doesn't the campsite look peaceful?

The only thing with state parks is you have to share them with hundreds of other people.

I grew up on 6.5 acres situated next to a big corn field. We used to set up the tent in the back yard. It's quiet out there. I guess I got spoiled. I like being out in nature where I don't hear other people's conversations or see people walking around with very little covering their bodies.

I also like sleeping in a bed so I came home Friday night and Saturday night (some of the kids came with me).

Life with my husband is an adventure.

I watched "UP" last night. It made me cry.

Summer Reading

Once again the kids participated in the summer reading program at our public library.

One of the "prizes" was a free meal at Cracker Barrel. The above picture is of my four kids before our meal. (We have to go back again to use their coupons because a very generous gentleman who was also having dinner at the restaurant paid for our meal.)

Upon completion of the reading program the kids received these great red t-shirts and a free book.

We love our library.

CapriSun Bag

My red head had an overnight with her grandma and they made this CapriSun bag. The bag is made from 39 CapriSun pouches. They were sewn together with grandma's sewing machine.
My girl likes bags and purses so this was a fun project for her.

My family

Family Photo taken on Father's Day (June 2010) by my sister-in-law.
The kids are now 10, 8, 6, and 3.
School starts August 10th and the older kids will be in 5th, 4th, 1st grades.
The little guy will be going to a pre-school phonology class one day a week.

Curb Diving

Curb diving... one man's trash is another man's treasure.

While walking her dog, my mother-in-law made a great discovery.

A playhouse that retails for $250-$300 was at the curb.

The owner was getting rid of it because the kids weren't playing with it any more.

My kids are now enjoying it! The doorbell even works.