Fourth of July at the Lakehouse

Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday this year so we were able to head out to Lake LBJ on Wednesday morning and stay through the weekend. It was so fun to be out there for several days in a row and the kids just had a blast playing with their cousins. This year there is a new tube and Alivia LOVES riding on it. We can pull it with the jet ski or the boat and Alivia wanted to be out on the water all the time. It is fun to watch how much her confidence has grown since learning how to swim well.

Happy Birthday America!

We set up this pool for John John but all the kids enjoyed it. Note that Will and Alivia still has their life vests on! Their Mama is a little overzealous about safety at the lake. :-)

John John wants to be in on the action all the time

We celebrated Em's birthday 2 weeks early since we would be gone on the 15th. I think it is cute that the Alivia and Avery are blowing the candles with her.

Aunt Emily and her beautiful girls (Avery 5, Paige 3)

Blonde beauties!

My precious girl

Uncle Peyton and his girls

All the cousins (except Matthew) John 2, Avery 5, Alivia 6, Paige 3, Will 4

Attempt to get Mimi a photo with the grands. . . 

John was LONG gone at this point, but we at least got 4 of the 6

The Risingers - Mimi bought all the kids matching outfits - even Matthew had a matching shirt

Great shot of PT and Em

Proof that Matthew (4 1/2 months) was really there

Emily saw this cute idea for ice cream bars on a stick that you pressed in sprinkles - the kids loved them

Add caption

Emily braved the tube a time or two. . . I have yet to do it

Matt and Paige

Will loved riding on the jet ski with Matt and lowering and raising the lifts

Look Who's Talkin'!

Matthew is about 4 1/2 months in this video.

Special Bond

Will has a special bond with Matthew. I often catch Will down on the ground stroking Matthew's head and talking to him quietly. It has really surprised me how much Will notices Matthew and helps to care for him. I think a 4 year age difference makes it easier - there is less competition and Matthew can't stand up to Will yet! :-) I hope their relationship continues to grow through the years. I pray that all of my children will remain close into adulthood. I pray that God will help me to know how to foster that.

Attempt at Family Pictures

As if getting to church on time is not stressful enough, I thought this time in the morning would be a perfect time to try and get a family picture. I got all the kids dressed in coordinating outfits. I seriously turn into a crazy lady when we try to take pictures. And of course the more I push the children, the more they rebel. . .

Of course Will decides this is the perfect time to gag himself.

John, I was feeling the same way at this point

At this point we had given up on including John and had turned into a family of 5 again

John is still having a tantrum in the driveway during these shots

This is about as good as it gets - we took these after we got home from church

All the kids at 4 months

People always ask me who I think Matthew looks like. . . I'll let you decide.

Alivia

Will

John

Matthew

Matthew is 4 months old!

Matthew got a clean bill of health at his 4-month appointment. Here are his stats:
Height: 24.74 inches (30%)
Weight: 15.8 pounds (55%)
Head: 42.3 (97%)

He just rolled over for the first time a day or two ago! Yay! We are putting him down for the night between 7-8 pm. (YAY!) But now he is getting up every night around 3 am to nurse (BOO!) I was so hopeful he would continue sleeping through the night, but I think he will join the others and start that around 7-8 months.

He rewards any attention with beautiful smiles and gurgles.

This is one of my favorite outfits that he has worn.

Flashback to High School

Me (with Matthew 4 months), Christie, Clark and Wes

Christie Zatopek Harmon was in town, so we gathered the gang for some burgers at Clark and Meredith's house. It was fun to see everyone and catch up. It takes my breath away to see how old our kids have gotten. And I paused occasionally when I realized we all HAVE kids! I look back on my high school experience with such fond memories thanks to these friends. We never got into any trouble and had good, clean fun that revolved around Covenant Presbyterian Church and its youth group. Clark and Wes made me laugh so hard and Christie was (and is) such a precious friend. Everyone called us "Christy Squared" because we were always together.