Adam recently returned from a month-long National Guard training course in Texas. We missed him terribly and are glad that it's over! While he was gone, we tried to keep ourselves busy in an effort to pass the time quickly. Of course we did lots of packing, which we are thankfully almost through with, but we also had some fun outings and enjoyed our swimming lessons.
Uncle Brian (my brother) and cousin Andrew came for a visit over the 4th of July. Brian set off some fireworks, which was a first for our children. They really liked it, though I think the girls thought it was a little loud!
Joseph enjoyed the show from the safety of Grandma's arms.
A couple of shaggy boys got haircuts! Pardon the dirty face. He was about to take a bath, so I didn't bother to clean him up after dinner. :)
After the cut and ready for church!
We went to a childrens' museum with my parents and Uncle Brian and Andrew. I was excited because Bank of America customers get free admission to select museums on the first weekend of every month. What would normally cost us $70 for the whole family was going to be free! Well, come to find out, the children were not free because they are not card holders. I just assumed that they would be! They're not even old enough to be card holders, and it's a childrens' museum, for goodness sake! Can you tell I'm still a little annoyed? When I got home I did find the information on Bank of America's website in teeny print at the bottom of the page that says you have to be a card holder to get in free. So I guess it's really my fault, but I'm still miffed. :) We drove an hour to get there, and I wasn't going to turn around and go home, so I ended up having to pay $50 (at least I got the military discount!). It was fun, but I wouldn't pay that much to do it again. And I definitely won't take advantage of the Bank of America deal again unless Adam and I are going somewhere by ourselves.
My parents got some really good pictures (one of Noah, in particular), but I packed the CD that they gave me and don't have the slightest clue which box it is in! So I'll post my pictures for now.
Grandpa and Joseph doing the weather forecast.
Operating some sort of heavy machinery.
A 14 month-old's paradise!
Checking out the fire truck.
Hannah planting some carrots.
Esther checking out at the grocery store.
Abigail and Esther buying more groceries!
Noah filled his cart with meat. :)
Performing a little surgery with cousin Andrew.
Noah decided that it's much easier to pull things out with your hands than it is to use the instruments.
Abigail extracting a tooth.
Following in Papa's footsteps!
Posing in front of "Eddie" - the 40 ft. tall politically correct boy that was "created to represent the diversity of America in his physical appearance." Okay. He was quite an interesting creature. "You can climb his vertebrae to his brain, crawl through his heart, bounce around inside his stomach and slide out his intestines." Lovely!
Joshua seemed to really enjoy the intestine slide! :)
July in Pictures: Part 2 will be coming soon!
