Grant is 6!

Well he is 3.5 inches taller, tanner, leaner but still has the best smiles and soft spoken voice! We celebrated his birthday in multiple parts this year. It started with a trip to the golf course with Pops where all five of us played (Ima was with Megan Jo giving her cuddles!).  The big boys played more than the rest of us.  It was a beautiful night, a little warm, but perfect in the shade and there was a nice breeze.  I sat and had a drink and a snack with the kids while the guys played a few more holes.  We had so much fun laughing and giggling about the other golfers and watching the carts zig zag around looking for balls! We had a great dinner and then went to back to Pops' house.

Sunday was Father's Day and we spent most of the day reconstructing a fountain by our pool. Not exactly relaxing.  I will always remember Father's Day as the day I went into labor with Grant!

Monday was cake day.  Aunt Sandy shared her talents with us and Lego ninja cake pops and a Lego cake were on the agenda.  They were completed with perfection that only Sandy can offer! We finished the day with a dinner at "chips and salsa" (which is what the kids call any Mexican restaurant) and then we surprised Grant with letting him pick out a new bike. After much debate and seat adjustments he chose the one on the highest rack and the brightest neon yellow color. He was all smiles.

The real birthday started with swimming followed by birthday breakfast at Chik-Fil-A.  Finishing touches were put on the birthday treats and we started loading cars.  Grant had invited a few friends to play mini golf and then to Lou's for a float and a hot dog.  The golf course provided a lot of shade which we needed because it was pushing 90 degrees.

Brandon played the role of "ball catcher". He had lots of opportunities!

One of Grant's friends has an older sister that Elizabeth enjoys playing with.  

This was pretty much for scene for 18 holes.  Boys, balls and clubs everywhere! 

The mother hens helped put the putters away and sanitized hands!

Next we headed to a local hamburger and root beer stand.  The kids got to help make a batch of root beer and then they had hot dogs, root beer floats, Grant opened his presents, we sang and delivered the boys back home.  We had a swim meet to get to!

In case you any of my local readers are wondering what makes Lou's root beer so special, I'm pretty sure it is the amount of sugar they put in it!!

She helped him read all of his cards. He always had his Lizzie right by his side.

Grant had requested to sit this swim meet out, but was still ok with going.  A whole group of kids sat pool side and played games while their siblings cycled through their events.  We headed straight home for cake, ice cream and a few more gifts!

It was a big day, but we still had one more celebration. On Wednesday we invited the neighbor kids over to swim. So we did cake and ice cream again. The morning was very stormy and I wasn't sure a pool party was going to happen, but the sun came out just in time and it was a great afternoon.

That concludes this year's birthday celebration.  I think we all need a day of rest to catch up on some sleep...wait maybe that is just me!  Time to start planning for London! Our England adventure is just around the corner!

The annual birthday quiz...

1) WHAT IS YOUR NAME? G-R-A-N-T (yes he spelled it for me!)

2) HOW OLD ARE YOU? 6

3) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? I have 4, red, orange, green and yellow.

4) WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? Evan

5) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? A vet or a farmer

6) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Zootopia

7) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Nature Cat

8) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Farts Around the World (thank you so very much Auntie Amber!)

9) WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? When someone tickles me

10) WHAT MAKES YOU SAD? When I cry

11) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Hot Dogs 

12) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? Pot Pie (which is actually Taylor Swift's song, I Know Places)

13) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GAME TO PLAY? Pie in the Face and Bugs in the Kitchen

14) WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GIFT? Water Balloon bow and arrow

Father's Day

Our photography skills need some help or lenses need cleaned!  We went and played golf with Pops on Saturday.  The weather was perfect and we had such a good time!

The kids worked really hard on making these cardboard trophies for their #1 Dad! We had Pops over for steaks on Sunday.

One  thing is for sure we have some pretty awesome Dad's in our life!

Time out for Tea

Ever since Elizabeth went to this local tea room last summer I have wanted to take my mom and grandma.  We finally got it worked into our schedules!

Doesn't my grandma look like the Queen?! 

It's all about the hats! 

We had such an awesome day. Grandma was referred to as "Birthday Grandma"! I brought home a Pie Pops cookbook and Elizabeth got a new charm for her bracelet and of course a big pair of red wax lips to kiss a frog!

Summering in Illinois

The Campbell's came for a visit.  The past few years due to circumstance they have been in Illinois most of the summer. This year we had to adjust to only getting to spend a week with them. Amber and I gave ourselves a break and didn't plan any crafty projects, which made our nights much more relaxing!  We still packed in lots of fun though!  A trip to the farm, dance camp, ice cream, swimming, etc...It was a fun week and we were sad to see them go, but we have more trips coming up!

The dance camp is a serious highlight for these girls! 

Dear Future Husband was the song this year. 

Checking our pumpkins! 

Later we got to check everyone for tics! 

Thank goodness for a shower on the farm!  Can you believe not one of these kids fell asleep on the way home?! We even played a family game of kickball!

Grown-up night out...The Book of Mormon

We needed a selfie stick!

Splash pad fun! It was 95 degrees!

The kids treated us to lots of shows...dance, puppet, karate, singing!