Papa and Gramma were here

My parents drove all the way from Ohio to come see us a few weekends ago. We were all so excited to have them! It was a weekend full of baseball and softball, so thankfully they were up for watching a lot of games!

Joey was so happy to have Papa and Gramma watching him.  

 

He especially loves having Papa watch because Papa coaches college baseball.

Look at these tough baseball guys.

They also got to see Kylah play softball! She made some great plays and hits, and was so excited to have Papa and Gramma in the stands!

In between all the baseball and softball we did manage some other activities too.

The girls went on a fun bike ride while the guys went golfing. Even my mom rode a bike! Before we started she told me she hadn't ridden a bike in like 20 years. I said, "It's ok; it's just like riding a bike!" Ha! She did great!

 

It was a leisurely bike ride with many stops to let the girls swim in the creeks. I think they could have spent all day in the creeks. And it was beautiful, so we weren't going to complain!

One of the nights the girls went out to get pedicures while the guys watched the College World Series and grilled steaks (don't worry, we got back just in time to eat the steaks!)

These girls love their Gramma!

Papa and Gramma brought birthday presents for Joey and Kylah since it was right in the middle of both of their birthdays.

Kylah loves the new real camera she got!

I think she had taken over 300 pictures in the first 2 days she had the camera.

How cute is this?! I was taking pictures of the boys batting during one of Joey's games. I caught her squatting down just like me and taking pictures of Joey too!

 

Joey got a real pocket knife (it even has a little flashlight in it!) He was so excited. 

 

This was actually his response when he opened the present and realized it was a pocket knife. So cute.

Norah enjoyed many cuddles with her Papa!

We had such a fun weekend. We so wish my parents lived closer, but we cherish the time we have with them and are so grateful they are willing to drive so far to see us!

Joey is NINE!!

It's hard to believe that our firstborn is NINE. Where has the time gone?! But I do love who this little boy is growing up to be. He is kind, compassionate, smart, bold, a leader and loves the Lord. I kind of love this stage he is in where he vascillates between still being a little boy but trying to also be a big boy. I hope he always wants to cuddle!

 

Since we are not doing big parties this year, each kid gets to pick a fun family activity for their birthday. Joey picked to go fishing.

 

It was so fun, and the kids loved it. There were not a lot of fish biting, but the birthday boy did get one!

Kylah was actually the expert fisherman (woman???) She managed to pull in about 5 fish all by herself. 

 

As is kind of normal, Norah was along for the ride. She did get to fish some too and looked like a pro. But she didn't catch any... Bummer. 

 

Per the birthday boy's request, we went to eat at Steak 'n Shake after fishing (yes, smelling like fish and all!) 

 

On Joey's actual birthday he got to a movie with the girls and their sitter, Karissa (oh, and by the way, their summer nanny was the flower girl in our wedding 12 years ago! We are old!) :) 

 

Joey had baseball practice later that night, and Kylah had a softball game. I brought his birthday cake out to his scrimmage so all the boys could have some!

 

He got to have Connor spend the night (in the fort he built in his room!).

 

What a fun birthday celebration!

Some entertainment

Sometimes my kids fight like cats and dogs, but sometimes they make up awesome games and play so well together. As a whole they are pretty creative (way more than I am!!), and it's fun to see what games they come up with.

This day it was indoor baseball with a balloon. That's Norah playing catcher in the back.

And then it was Kylah's turn to be the catcher.

 

The other day Joey and Kylah played "hockey" in the driveway with a basketball, paint buckets, broom handles, batting helmets and catcher's gear. Love it!

We went on a long family bike ride on Memorial Day and ended up exploring in many of the streams along the way. Our kids could literally play in streams and explore for hours on end.

Lawn mower

Now that Joey is getting older, he gets to have a few more responsibilities around the house. The other day, Joe started teaching him how to mow the lawn.

It was pretty cute to watch him and how serious he was.

I'm wondering how long it will last that he actually wants to do things like this?? :)

He'll have to practice a little more, though, before we let him loose on his own! :)

Joe's birthday!

Joe had a recent birthday as well. His birthday celebration started off a few days before his birthday with us having dinner with the Adair's. It's always a fun (and maybe a little crazy...) time when we all get together. And we wouldn't trade it for anything!

 

Norah given some birthday cuddles to her daddy.

This picture depicts a little of the craziness that occurs, movement and all! We were singing Happy Birthday to Joe here before he ate his birthday dessert of strawberry shortcake.

 

 

For Joe's actual birthday, both he and I took the day off of work. First we headed to Joey and Kylah's school for their field day. They LOVED having their daddy there!

 

 

 

And apparently I was having too much fun the rest of the day to actually take more pictures! After field day, Joe and I headed (alone!!) to golf 9 holes. It was so fun. I don't think we've been golfing together for a few years. Then we grabbed some late lunch (where else...Chipotle!). Then we got the kids and headed home to give Joe his presents. He got some new golf shoes and a Chipotle gift card.

Then we headed to Kylah's softball game. She had a good win, just for daddy on his birthday. :)

Here are the Mandair kiddos after the game. I love all these kids!

Happy Birthday Joe! I love you!

Kylah turns SEVEN

I'm not sure how it happened, but our little Kylah turned 7!

We had a fun time celebrating her. Since we have decided not to do big birthday parties this year, we went as a family to the trampoline park here in town. None of us have ever been (because it is fairly outrageously priced!!), so it was a fun treat!

Here's the sweet birthday girl.

The kids thought it was so fun that Daddy and Mommy were jumping with them too! Dodgeball was really a fun one together on the trampolines!

We headed to ChikFilA after jumping, per the birthday girl's request.

 

And then it was present time at home!

One of the things she had asked for was a scooter. We found a perfect pink one for her!

Joe even got to test it out! :)

Kylah decided not to do birthday cake that night since we had shakes at ChikFilA and she had a lot of birthday treats at school that day.

 

So it worked out perfectly that our friends, the Foxes, came over for dinner the next night. They got to have cake and even brought a gift for Kylah.

Kylah requested a cake that had fruit on the top and was shaped like a flower. I love when the kids request a type of cake that I can do! I made a jello cake with whip cream and the fruit on top. Kylah loved it!

Lighting the candles...

...and blowing them out.

Happy Birthday sweet Kylah Sue! We love you!

Last day of school

Today is the last day of school for my big kids. They have worked so hard this year, and we are so proud of them.

I love comparing to see how much they've grown! (this was the first day of school...)

 

They are very excited for a fun summer ahead!