Happy 4th of July 2010

Autumn & I got up early this morning to let the 3 dogs out so they could go potty. Then we got ready for church and went over to Mom & Dad’s. The A/C is still broken (and won’t be fixed until tomorrow) and it was HUMID in the house, so we went outside to play for a little bit. This picture makes me laugh b/c of Andrew’s face since it was bright outside.

Even though it was super hot and humid inside, the kids didn’t care and wanted their usual Sunday morning waffles w/ Papa.

I love these pictures of Mou & Andrew. Andrew wanted to watch a movie and couldn’t decide which one to pick. I love Andrew standing there in his underwear and then Mou helping him up on the shelf so he could pick.

Andrew says he isn’t Peter Parker/Spiderman anymore. Now he says his name is Diego and my name is Alyseea (Dora’s older sister). He’s such a funny kid and always has us laughing.

Autumn & I brought Mou over to our house so he and Nick could watch anima movies together. Autumn & I went to church, and the lesson I taught today was about Gideon (Judges Chapter 6 & 7) and how the Lord narrowed his army down from 32,000 to 300 men and how important it is to be exactly obedient to the commandments of the Lord even when we may not understand why sometimes. After church, we came home and got some stuff ready for dinner tonight. I LOVE this 4th of July dress I found for Autumn at Kid to Kid for only $5! The three chihuahuas LOVED sitting on Mou and spent most of the afternoon there.

Lexie & Jon & Andrew came over after church to hang out before we ate. We watched Princess & The Frog and thought it was so cute that the two kids sat in their little chairs to watch it.

Autumn was leaning over to tell Andrew something and for some random reason decided to put her hand on the side of his face like they were a cute old married couple! LOL!

While Lexie & I made a cake and frosting for dessert tonight, Jon & Mou decided to take a little afternoon snooze, which is always something good to do on a Sunday afternoon.

The kids wanted to come in and see what Lexie & I were doing and “help” us make the frosting. They were both so excited when we let them each lick the beater, and then got REALLY excited when we let them dip the beater back into the frosting a second time to get more!

Lexie & I decided we looked cute today and took a self portrait. (Not the most flattering angle for me, but oh well).

Mom & Dad came over after their church got out and we sat down to a dinner of salad, garlic bread, and chicken w/ wild rice. It was super tasty and I still can’t express how much joy and happiness and fulfillment I get from having my dining room table surrounded by people I love and care about, and that we are all happy and safe and have good food to eat and get to sit and talk and laugh and spend quality time together. Definitely one of the simple, but powerful and important, blessings in my life.

After dinner, Jon & Lexie were saying good bye b/c Jon had to leave so he can be at work tomorrow. I put on the song, “Love That Will Last” and they were slow dancing. I told them to kiss and Jon went for a full tongue open mouthed kiss and caught Lexie by surprise. It was SO FUNNY!

Then they did another one that was sweet. After Jon left, we just hung around at my house and watched movies and talked and took little cat naps while the kids ran around and played and made a HUGE mess in the living room. But, isn’t that what Sunday afternoons are for? For relaxing and for kids to be kids?

After playing for a while, the kids were getting too loud and crazy, so Lexie & I decided to brave the humidity and take them on a walk around the duck ponds. They LOVED being outside!

I think we’re going to have to put both of them in track when they’re in high school b/c those little kids are fast runners! Lexie & I even got in on the action and had fun chasing them around and running with them. I love how Autumn’s hair is always blowing in the breeze when she runs. In the picture on the right, I told Lexie & Andrew to run towards me so I could try and get an action shot. When they got close Lexie started roaring at me like a lion. We were laughing so hard and had such a good time on our walk.

Today didn’t feel like the 4th of July for me, b/c we didn’t see any fireworks or BBQ or swim since it was Sunday. But, I’m eternally thankful for all of the brave men & women who founded and have defended this country so that my sweet little girl and her cousin could sit and enjoy watching the ducks swim around the pond.

We only went around the duck ponds once b/c it was so humid. We spent the rest of the evening just watching movies and relaxing (we do that a lot around here). After Mom & Lexie & Andrew went home, I put Autumn to bed and watched Army Wives while Nick & Mou watched anima movies. Then I went in to watch the movies w/ them but I don’t like anima at all, so I fell asleep in the recliner w/ a chihuahua on my lap. Mou woke me up at 11:00 so I could take him back to Mom & Dad’s to spend the night. I am thankful to have family so close and that the A/C went out so we could spend the day together and eat dinner at my house!