July fun

July was a fun and busy month at our house!  Tennis and swim lessons were over so we had plenty of time to relax and do the things we love to do in the summer!

For Claire that means lots of dress up time!

and water fun with Daddy.

Emmerson is so excited that Claire finally knows how to play Go Fish with her.  (So is Mommy)

Lots of time to just play at home.  Audrey gets in on the action now too.  

Time with friends!

Jack was over playing and I overheard the conversation taking place at the time of this picture.  "Let's pretend we are on a date.  I am the mom and you are the dad and our kids are with a babysitter."  A few minutes later Jack said, "WOW this is a long date."  

Claire for some reason has been wanting to dress like a rockstar.  I am not sure what she thinks that means.  The other night we were meeting Daddy for dinner and this is what she insisted on wearing.  Her rockstar glasses, mitten and headband.  

She even slept in the mitten that night. 

These 3 have so much fun together.  I was getting things ready for bedtime and walked out to find a train of girls brushing their teeth.  

Dinnertime fun!

Their first sleep over in Mom and Dads room. 

These two have been buddies since they were 5 months old and started daycare together.  We had one last fun day before they started kindergarten at two different schools.  Park time and ice cream!

We have spent lots of time at parks this summer.  

Camp Birthday

Our friends bought over 30 acres of land in Bloommington to build their future home on.  It was a summer camp so all the cabins and buildings are still standing.   They had their sons 1st and 3rd birthday party on the land.  It was so fun to look around and see all the land. 

Camp Birthday!

Unfortunately the weather didn't allow us to be outside as planned. 

Thankfully they have a huge dining hall so they just brought the party inside during the rain.

Claire found a stage and LOVED it.  She wanted everyone to watch her.  She kept asking for her "rockstar clothes". 

Nash and Zane had a great birthday at Camp Birthday!  We can't wait to spend more time there!

Keeping VERY busy!

While Daddy was away we kept very busy.  We had a quick visit from Nana and Pop Pop, went to play at different parks, had a sleep over with Mom in our sleeping bags, and the best part was we got to visit Marin's grandparents in Libertyville, IL for a couple nights. 

The girls were so excited to spend the night with Marin for two nights!

These girls are best buddies!  It is so fun to watch them grow up together.

Crazy girls!  Audrey even got in on the silly faces!

Emmerson loved all the flowers in Marin's grandparents yard.  Marin's Grandpa let them pick plenty of them!

Aunt Lizzie playing Duck Duck Goose with all the kids. 

Audrey just watching the action. 

They have a fishing pond so the girls got to try fishing for the first time.  

Claire caught a tiny fish.   She thought it was so cute!

Emmerson caught one too.

She liked it from a little farther away. 

Oh Claire....goggles, Audrey's hat, and a little purse!

Nothing better than a tree swing!

Aunt Lizzie's closet brought hours of dress up fun!

We went to a great park called Independence Grove!  It was so much FUN!

These little girls love to watch their big sisters!

We also did lots of swimming!

These sweet babies have known each other since hours after Quinn was born.  (they are 8 weeks apart) Brigid has been home for the last 9 months so we have been able to spend lots of time with them.  It is fun to watch them get to know each other.  We never go anywhere that someone doesn't comment on all the hair the two of them have! 

They always want what they other one has!

We did a little photo shoot to try to capture these 5 together!  Of course easier said than done!

We have had such a fun summer with these 5 sweet girls that it is sad to see it come to an end, but this trip was a fun way to wrap it up!  The big girls always play so well together and the babies keep each other entertained too.   So it is fun and easy....well, as easy as 5 girls 5 or under can be!

Aunt Lizzie was a BIG hit!

The girls were SO excited about a sleepover with Marin!

Silly girls!

When I came down to go to bed this is what I found!  Such sweet sisters!

We also got to visit our cousins Cole and Will at their new house!

GG Surber's two youngest great grandchildren (Audrey and Will) got to meet. 

On the way home we decided to stop at Fair Oaks Farm to break up the trip.  We had 5 VERY tired girls so it was a quick stop.

But of course there was time for ice cream!

Daddy's week following the Tour de France

Daddy went on a trip to follow the Tour de France with a few friends.  We were excited for him though we knew he was going to be missed!

We took him to the airport.  Claire kept asking if we were almost to France while we were driving.  

Having coffee and croissants atop the Col du Tourmalet.

Daddy and his friends waiting for the riders to go by.   (Daddy in polka dots)

This is a picture from the TV.  That is the camper (with the IU flag) that Daddy traveled in for the week.

Another picture from the TV of Daddy.  He is right behind his friend in the banana suit (wearing the red and white striped pants).

I learned a few things while Daddy was gone... I am not as fun at bedtime because:

1. I don't lift/throw them into bed.

2. Daddy lets them lay on him while he reads bedtime books.

3. Daddy gives more than 1 drink before bed

4. Daddy NEVER says you have to be still AND quiet for me to check on you.

And the list could go on.  Bottom line is Daddy was missed and there were 4 very happy girls waiting to pick him up at the airport.