Sun---> Good for the Soul!!

Several times throughout the summer, I have had all five of my babysitting kids. Most definitely a little chaotic at times--like lunch and any errands that I have to run. But to be honest, its actually a bit easier for most of the day. They play and entertain each other and I only see them when there are issues or they are hungry.  (Side note: The four older ones are old enough that I don't have to keep my eye on them every second of the day!)  Lyvia and I kind of do our own thing or play right along with the big kids.  To say the least, they always have a lot of fun.  I snapped some pictures of our last week of summer.

 Anything can be done in your suit!

 Is the sandbox supposed to be filled with water?! :-)

 Snack time!

 The sprinkler under the trampoline makes for a grand time!

 Everyone jump and say, "We love summer!!"

 Take 2!

 Do they come any cuter?!?!

 2 kids in the tub, rub-a-dub-dub!

 How many of us can fit in this tub?!

 Pretty full with 4 kiddos!

Cami!  We think you can fit too!!

 Thats right!  All five kids in the tub!

 Everyone yell, "We love Kylie!!!"

 How about, "Kylie is AWESOME!"

 How many pictures does it take to get them all looking?

--Never got one--

Back to the tramp to do some flips!

I love summer and everything it entails, including all of my munchkins!!

A Little One on One

As the summer neared the final weeks, I thought it would be fun to do something one-on-one with my babysitting kiddos. I let each of them pick out something they wanted to do and just the two of us went.

Jace loves anything to do with motors or engines or cars or tractors.  You name it and he probably knows the make and model and quite possibly the year!  Lucky for him, the Bremer County fair was going on and that means red neck entertainment at its finest.  I absolutely love county fairs and grew up attending them and showing cattle at them.  The grandstand events are rare and often hard to find anywhere else. Jace chose to go to the combine derbies and I was all in!!  He had a blast. I had a blast. And we saw some combines crash and smash and hit until they didn't run!

 Sat by our buddy Ty!

 Had to be pulled off of the course!

 Crash!

 They couldn't get enough and LOVED when the combines took a run for it!

All smiles! AND we caught a hat that the fair board was throwing out--winner!

Macy went a completely different route and wanted to get her nails done. What girl doesn't like a little pampering?!  I was excited about this choice as well! Two good picks by these kiddos. She had only been to a salon one other time so she was pretty excited.  She paints her nails, my nails, and anyone else that is willing on a weekly basis so it was a treat for her to get them done.

They even had a little chair for her!

One more day and back to reality for me.....
Good thing I'm ready!!

Books for Charley Drop Off #1

I was so excited to be apart of this year's Books for Charley book drive!  In late April, I contacted Kristin, Charley's mom, and asked if I could join in on this great cause.  It was my mission to pay-it-forward to other kiddos that are in the hospital for any reason.

A little background:

Much like my sister Taylor, Charley earned her angel wings much too early because of a similar congenital heart defect.  They both were supposed to go through the same 3 surgeries and live as normal little girlies but God had other plans although they are hard to understand.  Her family and story hold a place near and dear to my heart although I have never met them nor actually talked to them.  I like to call myself a blog creeper!  :-)  If you want to learn more about Charley's story and her little brother, Harrison, blog hop right over to littlemissritchie.blogspot.com.

During the month of May, I collected as many books and donations as I could from people near and far.    Click here if you want to read how I got it all started off.  The turn out was amazing!!  I am excited to be donating 213 books!!  I dropped half of them off at the Sumner Hospital yesterday and will be dropping off the other half at the Waverly hospital in the next couple of days!

Hopefully, these books will give lots of kids a reason to smile when they aren't feeling the best!