The PERFECT evening (and homemade ice cream)

I'm a little behind on my blogging this week. We've been so busy and I just haven't had a moment to sit down on the computer and blog. 

Oh well! 

Summer is indeed flying by, but we are definitely making the most of every minute!

Sunday evening, we made an impromptu decision to head over to my parents house 

to hang out. 

My sister and her family met us there too! 

It's so much fun when we all get together.

If you read this Steve...know that we missed you and can't wait to see you next week xoxoxo;)

We picked up several pizza's on our way and enjoyed dinner and a sweet visit with my family.

We are ALL headed to the beach together soon, so most of our conversation revolved around planning our upcoming trip! 

Our family beach trip is the HIGHLIGHT of our entire summer!!!

We seriously CAN. NOT. WAIT!!!!!!!!!

After dinner, the kids helped me make homemade "coffee can" ice cream!

Find complete direction on the link above.

The kids had fun kicking,

shaking,

tossing,

passing,

and rolling our ice cream can around the yard!

After about ten minutes of kicking that can around, these two were ready for dessert!

Ice cream PLEASE!!!

All that hard work definitely paid off, and we enjoyed ice cream sundaes--poolside!

Good to the very last drop!

And what would a fun summer evening be with out tractor rides on Papa's tractor...

Uncle Matt graciously gave everyone several rides around the yard!

Hang on tight Hud!  

 Next summer you'll get to ride too Miss Brooklyn bear!

And a few games of baseball made our night complete!

Great hit Soph!

Check out the legs on that batter;)

Too cute!

Family, food and FUN...

I can't think of a better way to spend a summer evening!

"Hold You, Mommy"

Anytime my sweet Hudson wants me to pick him up, he extends his little arms up to me and says, "Hold YOU, mommy"!

I LOVE it!!!

I know that one day, all too soon, he'll figure out how to ask correctly, and I'll long to hear him say

"Hold YOU, mommy" again!!

I love the song "Hold you, mommy"
by Laurie Lovejoy Hilliard and Sharon Lovejoy Autry

I have it on cd and EVERY time I hear it I cry!

My heart is filled with joy, as I hold you in my arms, 

knowing all you want and all you need is truly found in me. 

God's precious gift of love is all wrapped up in you, 

I want to raise you up to love the Lord, the way he wants me too!

I'll cherish each and every time I hold you in my arms.

I know the days are passing much too fast. 

But when this time has come and gone I'll hold the memory, 

of you little arms extended up to me...

"Hold you, mommy"

"Hold you, mommy"

Safe within your arms of love is where I want to be.

"Hold you, mommy"

"Hold you, mommy"

Just like the Father up above, surround me with you perfect love...again

 When you fall and skin your knee and come running back to me,

I want to be the one to wipe your tears, kiss your hurts, and calm your fears.

When you wake up in the night and cry out in the dark

I want to hold you close, whisper in your ear 

"Everything will be alright"!!

I'll cherish each and every time I hold you in my arms. 

How I know the days are passing much too fast. 

But when this time has come and gone I'll hold the memory, of you little arms extended up to me...

 I know there will come a time when I won't hold you in my arms. 

You won't need my hugs or want them anymore. 

 Oh how I want my arms to always be a refuge in your eyes 

no matter where you roam, or the changes in your life!

"Hold you, mommy"

"Hold you, mommy"

Safe in your arms of love is where I want to be.

"Hold you, mommy"

"Hold you, mommy"

 Just like the Father up above, surround me with you perfect love...again

That's how we ROLL...

 Over the weekend, the Foster Parents Association hosted a fundraiser at the skating rink near our home. 

 Because of major county budget cuts, the association is always looking for ways to make up for some of our lost funding. 

 We use the money for many things, but it ALL goes back to the kids in care! 

The association has a fun fall festival planned for the kids in care in October, and the Christmas party details are already underway too!

It's gonna be fun and we can't wait!!!!

The kids had a blast skating!

 I was SHOCKED at how well the babies did! 

They scooted around the floor like little pro's!

 Once again I was reminded that they are not really "babies" anymore, but big kids;(

 My sweet sisters were gracious enough to come along too, and offered a helping hand wherever needed!

 We had a SUPER fun time...

and enjoyed hanging out with other foster families.

Poison Ivy;(

My sweet little Riley woke up on Friday morning with his legs covered in itchy red bumps! The itch was so AWFUL that  I immediately called the doctor and took the first available appointment. 

Our doctor confirmed what I thought all along...POISON IVY!!!! 

He and Corban had been playing in the woods behind a neighbors house the night before and that's where he picked it up.

His breakout was still in the early stages and unfortunately the doctor said the rash has the potential to get worse.  

 He was supposed to spend Friday evening at a friends house and camp out for the night. I decided that he shouldn't go.  He's not contagious, but I just thought it was a bad idea to send a itchy, irritable, little boy to a over night birthday party! 

So not only does he have poison ivy,

but then he also couldn't attend this much anticipated sleepover as well! 

Talk about being BUMMED!!!

Oh...my poor little guy!!!

The doctor gave us a steroid cream to put on the rash itself. We can also give him Benadryl to help with the maddening itch.

A friend of mine, who's a nurse, said oatmeal baths will help too!

Have any of you had or treated someone with poison ivy before?

Any tips for me?????

I was told this could last for a total of two weeks---UGH!!!!

!!!!yaD sdrawkcaB yppaH

 Today was backwards day in our house. 

Our slip read...It's backwards day and just for fun;

Our day will END before it BEGUN!

I thought about serving dinner foods for breakfast today, but I didn't think my kids would really eat it. I mean who really wants pizza or spaghetti for BREAKFAST right?!?! 

Anyway, I stuck with our usual breakfast foods, but served them in a backwards kind-of way;)

We enjoyed upside down blueberry muffins and sunny side DOWN eggs!

 And as an added treat, I let the kids eat upstairs in the bonus room instead of in the kitchen.

The babies didn't quite "get" the whole backwards theme, but they still sported their clothes backwards and gobbled up their yummy backwards breakfast!!

 The boys on the other hand took our backwards day to the next level. 

Here they are drinking their juice boxes upside down--of course!

They walked around backwards, tried talking backwards, called each other by different names,

 

 and even wore their shoes on the wrong feet!

 We picnicked by the pool this afternoon, and of course the kids got to eat their dessert before digging into their lunch;)

That may have been the most exciting part of the day for them!!

They then practiced their backstroke...

 and the babies showed me how they could float on their backs too;)

Tonight, we played a little game...

The boys had to decode several backward messages by reading them using the mirror.

Our backwards day was made complete when we sat down and enjoyed cinnamon pancakes, spinach and cheese scrambled eggs, and turkey sausages for dinner!
 I love having breakfast for dinner and the kids seemed to really enjoy it too!

 !!!!yaD sdrawkcaB yppaH