Fun in the Country!

Christy and the kiddos came to town to visit at the end of August. We were so lucky to get a couple of really great visits in....one girls night and one all-day playdate!

Girls Night Out!
Her parents live about an hour from me, so we went to spend the day at their house out in the country. I know my kids are city-boys, but it's times like this that I reminded of it. Mitch called it "the place where there aren't so many houses". And the horses at her parents house...I couldn't get him to understand that they weren't "wild horses" just because they weren't in a zoo! They both loved it, though!

We first went to each lunch and play at McDonalds (okay...it's not so far out in the country that there isn't a McD's).

The kdis had a great time playing on the playground!

Christy and I tried to get a picture of all 5 kids...but this was all we got! Kendyl is hiding behind Ronald McDonald and Luke wasn't wanting any part of it! Hmmm...I think we had about this much luck when we tried to get a picture of the 5 of them when we visited them in Michigan!

Then we went back to her house and put Jake and Luke down for naps. We put Mitch, Kendyl, and Kaitlyn outside playing with a cooler full of water, plastic cups, and paint brushes. You can't even begin to imagine how much fun they had with just those three things! It was one of those times that I really wondered why on earth we buy them toys!

Jake came out and played, too, after he woke up from his nap. He loved it just as much (maybe more) than the other three. Luke missed out on the party, though. He's one of those kids who takes 3-4 hour naps everyday! Ahh...I remember what that was like (Mitch was one of those kids)...now I am lucky to get an hour and a half to two hours out of Jake!

Redneck Swimming Pool!

Jake "painting" the deck with water
After a while, Mitch kept saying he wanted to see the horses, so went to let him pet them. Let's just say that Mitch was being very literal when he said he wanted "see" the horses. I did finally get him to pet her once (okay...maybe I didn't "get" him to...maybe I "made" him!) Jake was a little more willing...
Jake also enjoyed feeding her long pieces of grass.

Oh yeah! And remember this picture from a previous post? It was taken on this day, too! I LOVE this picture! Thanks, Christy, for getting it!

We had such a wonderful time and we can't wait until they come visit again....maybe we'll be invited back to her parents' house! The kids really need to get out of the city occassionally! (Hint Hint, Christy)

It's Always Something With Us...

Everytime we take Lindsay to the lake with us (which isn't really that often), something ALWAYS goes wrong!

Last year, we decided to make a couples day of it out on the lake, and Gabe got sick. We were able to go anyway, but Lindsay and Neal were worried about him the whole time.

Earlier in the summer this year, we decided we had so much fun last year, that we needed to do it again. This time, Lindsay and Neal almost had to back out at the last minute because of baby sitter issues. We were lucky to find someone wonderful (or crazy) enough to keep all 5 of our kids at once and we got to go! We had another wonderful, relaxing day on the lake...just adults!

Well, late in the summer, Neal was out of town so Gary suggested that we invite Lindsay and her 3 boys to come out on the lake with us. Yes, that is 5 kids ages 6 and under (all boys) on one pontoon boat! Mitch was so excited to finally get to take some of his friends out with us! We had a fantastic time! That is...until Jake decided to vomit in the boat...and not just once! We never did really figure out what was wrong with him, but he went to sleep and slept for most of the day on the boat. When he woke up, he was pretty pitiful, but I did get some good cuddle time in! The rest of boys just kept playing and we ended up having a great day anyway. But...it seems like it is always something with us!

We took lots of pictures, but here are some of my favorites!

Gabe, Sam, and Mitch waiting patiently to get this boat moving!

A VERY rare photo of Luke and Jake sitting still!

Gary is so incredibly patient with the kids. He let each of the "big boys" (as we call Mitch, Sam and Gabe) take a turn driving the boat...alone!

Me and Jake on the ride out to the cove...before he got sick!

Mitch and his "Cee-Cee" (aka Lindsay)...he LOVES her!
Me and Jake on the ride back in to the BoatHouse...after he got sick! It just breaks my heart to see this little bundle of energy laying still like this....you know he doesn't feel good if he is being still!

In spite of everything, we always have a great time! I'm sure we'll try again next year...and maybe we'll have better luck!

Ahhh....Puerto Rico!

Gary and I have been so incredibly fortunate to get to go on vacations without kiddos over the last several years. The company he works for runs contests every couple of years or so and the winners get to go on trips to wonderful places! So far we have been to San Diego and Laguna Beach, a cruise to Bahamas/St.Thomas/and St.Martin, Hawaii, and now Puerto Rico! It's times like these I am actually grateful for all of the time that Gary puts in working! :) And speaking of grateful... even though Gary qualified for the trips, we would never be able to go if it wasn't for my mom keeping the kids! Thanks, Mimi! I very literally couldn't do it without you! I know there aren't too many couples with very young kids who get to go off on tropical vacations!



Puerto Rico was wonderful! The resort was gorgeous! We didn't venture off much, but that just isn't my style of vacation. We went snorkeling one day and Gary played golf one day, and the rest of our time was spent by the pool or on the beach! We absolutely loved our time together, and we also loved getting to hang out with our friends in the company that live all over the country and we don't get to see but once a year or so! Gary also had several people from his team that qualified, and it was great to get to hang out with all of them and their spouses outside of the office!


Enough words, though...I know you really want to see the pictures....Speaking of pictures, I'm not sure when I last posted pictures of Gary, but prepare to be shocked! He is my new and improved...skinny hubby! Gary has lost 50 pounds this year!!!! I am soooooo proud of him!

Chris and Gary at the airport in Puerto Rico...and no, Chris is not walking ahead of Gary, he is just that tall!

Yes, it really is a picture of me and Gary together...and no, I didn't have to Photoshop us into the same picture! :) Are you ready for the real shocker...there are more to come later in this post!

This is the resort from the Ferry that took us to and from the private island that the resort owns. The beach was on the island.

This is the beach....gorgeous isn't it? It was my favorite place!

There were few different pools on the resort, but this is one where we hung out our first day there...with Tom A., Chris and Ann, and Tom and D'Linda L.

Ann, Chris, and Gary sipping fruity cocktails in the pool...Ahhhh...this really is the life! Ann's, of course, was non-alcoholic, since she's pregnant! Ferry ride photos....D'Linda, Ann, and me on the ferry to the island while our hubbies were playing golf!

Gary and David...David doesn't look too pleased about Gary's driving! :)

I love this picture of Gary golfing!

Gary and me going to dinnerGary and me on the ferry to the island
....and us again, eating lunch on the island ....with Tambry, David, Matt R. and Matt S.

(Did I mention that Gary's brother is working with him now, and he got to go on the trip also?...that would be Matt R.) And...the whole crew...

Tom A., Tom L., D'Linda, Tony, Gail, me, Gary, Matt R., Matt S., Tambry, David, Ann, and Chris

In the airport waiting on our flight out of Puerto Rico...yes...Gary is already working again! Oh well...I wonder where that hard work will take us next time?

I have a High-Schooler? Really?

Of course, I knew Jack was going to start High School this year, but when I went to pick him up from Band Camp (okay...go ahead and laugh...we all do...that movie ruined it for every kids who ever goes to band camp again), it really hit home...I mean, I have a High-Schooler! How did that happen? And you know what? It really isn't bad! He's a really great kid! Of course, he's a kid that is already taller than me...and his dad, but he's still a kid, right?

He has known for as long as I can remember that he wanted to play drums, so this is his chance! He started in the on the drumline in his school's marching band this year, and I couldn't be prouder of him! He has worked so hard, and they are really good! Here are some pics from the day I picked him up from Band Camp (okay...laugh again).

Hmmmm...maybe I'll have to figure out how to load some video and start taking the video camera. Kind of hard to capture a marching band in still pictures. Anyway, in case you couldn't tell...he's the one with the blonde hair and white t-shirt!

"Spray-Ground" Fun!

Okay...here we go....the first of many updates from August... (Yes...I'm very aware that is November! We've been so busy making memories, I haven't had time to record them!)

For our last playdate of the summer with Mitch's 3-year Pre-K classmates, we went to a "sprayground". Amazing what you find that you didn't even know you had! It was a great little park downtown that had lots of different little sprinklers and water features...and the kids loved it! It was such fun to watch them all just being kids...so carefree and loud and rowdy! :)

It was a little bitter-sweet, though...We learned that Mitch's best friend from school, Tyner, would be moving to Mississippi in just a couple of weeks. For any of you reading this that don't know...Mitch LOVES Tyner! They were completely inseparable at school, and any time the two of them got together. It is just so sweet to watch! So, we made sure to get some great pictures!

Here are some of Mitch and Jake playing in the sprinklers...

When we got through playing, we told the kids that it would be Tyner's last playdate with us because he was moving. This what we saw immediately after...no prompting, I promise!

(Judah, Tyner, and Mitch...saying their "goodbyes")

This took some prompting...Judah, Tyner, Mitch, and Ella A....They were the four that were able to come to this playdate...we were missing Parker, Ella O. and Lilly.

Oh...and this one....took A LOT of prompting! Amazing enough, Mitch and all of his friends above have sibling within about a year of each other, so they had a ready-made playgroup, too! Here are Jake, Shiloh (Judah's sister), Noah (Ella A's brother), and Maggie (Tyner's sister).

Whew...I'm tired just thinking about it...

August was an incredibly busy month for the Roberts Family! We had our last t-ball game of the season and our end-of-the-season-party. We had our last summer playdate with Mitch's 3 year Pre-K class. Jack's band practices and band camp got into full swing. Alex football got under way. Gary and I went to Puerto Rico. Titans' football season started (preseason anyway), and this is our first year with season tickets. We spent lots of time on the boat while we still could, before school and all the fall activities got into full swing. Christy and her kiddos came to town, and we had a Girls Night Out then me and the boys spent a day at her parents' house. Mitch's soccer season started. And to round out the month, Gary's family came to spend the weekend with us!

Hmmm...no wonder I'm behind on this blog, huh? Well, I got July done tonight.... How long do you think it will be before I get August done? Any bets? I can tell you this, it won't be tonight! I'm done for the day, but maybe I'll get started on August tomorrow...check back and see!

Oh...and just because I feel like every post is more excited with a picture of cute kiddos...here ya go!

Jack's 14th Birthday Party!

Yeah...Yeah...I know, that was way back in July, but hey....better late than never, right?

Last year's party went so well, that Jack decided he wanted another party on the lake. This time, it was co-ed! :) Mitch got to join the festivities, but Jake was not invited (by me or Jack!).

Tubing...Roberts Family Style

Group Shot! (no wonder Mitch thinks he's 14)
Another Group Shot...just hanging out in the water...

Birthday Boy!

Yep...he's cool!

....and so is he!