Picnic

With the kitchen complete now the kids are finally allowed back in it.  Unfortunately, we still haven't moved all of our stuff back in - including the kitchen table.  Still, they have enjoyed exploring the new-ness of it and decided we should have a picnic dinner on the floor tonight.

Horse Show

The grand finale of horse camp?  A horse show!  Complete with ribbons for first, second, and third place.  Kyrie was so impressive.  She got on her horse, Dylan, and walked him around the ring, then turned him around, walked him back in the other direction, then trotted, and switched directions again, and then had to bring Dylan back to the center of the ring.  All on her own!  She did so great.  It is amazing how much they can learn in one week of riding!

Daddy, Declan, Lari, Grandma, Auntie Cathy, Amelia, and Elizabeth all came to see Kyrie in her Horse Show.  They enjoyed meeting her horse and some of the others at the stable when Kyrie gave them a tour following the show.

Horsey Fun

Kyrie got her face painted at horse camp today.  I made her scrub her face before going to bed, so she insisted we take a picture of the work upon her face.

We have also had VBS every evening this week, but I have not remembered to take my camera.  Bummer.  The kids have had a great time, and our neighbor, Delaney, has joined us almost every night.

Kitchen Remodel

I know that I have a ton of updating to do on this here blog, but I can't help it...I have to post pictures of the new kitchen.  Work was supposed to be completeted last week, but they ran into a few snags (to say the least) and so while it is mostly complete, there are still a few small things that need to be finished...hopefully they will not show up in these photos!  All are before and after photos.

 I really love the new color.  It is so much richer and warmer - and I am so tired of the honey oak everywhere in the house.  Change is good.  Our absolute favorite - no more hanging cabinets over the peninsula!

 The wall between the family room and the kitchen came down!  So much more open now!

 We moved the dishwasher from the peninsula to next to the sink.

 No more faux brick walls!  Hello, french door refrigerator.  I think I love you.

Copied, sister-in-law Cathy, and went for the double oven range.  (Missing: the trim to the right of the stove.  Coming soon, we hope!)

First Day of Horse Camp

Can you believe that Kyrie is going to horse camp this summer?  I cannot...mostly, because I am entirely jealous.  I want to go!  There is a stable just a few miles down the road from us that offers a day camp for kids Kyrie's age (the same stable Kyrie went to for a lesson when she turned six) and she knows a couple other girls who will be attending as well.  Here is Kyrie preparing for her first day.  I had to force her to wear the jeans, but thought it was hilarious that she insisted on the hat (which happens to be Declan's).

Weekend Fun

While I was away for the weekend with some of my girlfriends, Matt took the kids to the Lodge to help Mike and Linda put down new carpet in the lower level.  It sounds like the kids had a wonderful time.  Here are the photos to prove it:

Grandma bought matching jammies for Kyrie and Molly and Lariska and Baby Sarah.

The girls slept in tents in the mudroom over the weekend.

Did you know that Declan loves puppies?  He is fascinated with this other little boy sitting next to his puppy.  It is nice that they made room for him.

And, here are the photos from my weekend to prove what an awesome time I had!  I love my family and I miss them when I am gone, but it is good to go away now and again to be reminded of this.

Grocery shopping for the weekend.

You can see we purchased some very healthy items.

This may be one of my most favorite pictures ever.

Declan in the Buff

In the first of what will be several in a series over the next couple of months, here is a photo of Declan after he climbed into our laundry basket.  He is naked because we are attempting to potty train him, and therefore he is naked a lot lately.  If he has a diaper on, he will use it.  If he has no diaper on, he will, generally (thank goodness), use the potty.

In the Morning

Sleepover

Amelia and Elizabeth came over to our house this evening, we headed to the St. John Vianney Festival and then they spent the night.  It was an interesting endeavor.  Lari and Amelia shared a bed, but because Amelia sleeps with a light and Lariska does not there was a difference of opinion as to how the night should go.  When I heard Lari awake in the middle of the night, I went in to turn the nightlight off, but as soon as I did Amelia woke up!  Go figure.  All in all, the girls did great and we would definitely do it again...once we solve the nightlight riddle!

 I have never seen a little girl with more zeal for cotton candy (Elizabeth)

 Kyrie found Breanna at the festival.  The big girls went through the fun house together...and had a lot of fun.

 Amelia preferred the tamer rides, so I went on the train with her.  It was a good bonding ride.

Before bedtime, being silly.

T-ball

Our summer begins with T-ball for Lariska.  All these years, and activities and sports have mostly revolved around Kyrie.  It is nice that Lari is getting her chance to do something on her own - that something is t-ball in a local church three to six year old league.  The games are very short, very non-competitive, and possibly not all that instructional.  Still...they have hot dogs afterward and the season ends with a trophy.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Bolts Season Ends

Kyrie's last soccer game was this weekend.  Unfortunately, it did not end with a win, but the kids did a great job all season.  More importantly, these guys have really become good friends and a great support to one another.  I have been extremely impressed with how good the boys on the team are to Kyrie and constantly encourage her to work hard out on the field.  Not only that, but Matt has made some great new friends in the dads of these kids.  That makes for a very successful season!