Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Last Days of Summer

These are some of the last pictures I took of the kids during their summer vacation. We have obviously gone to the pool a lot and you've seen pictures of them swimming, but I never remember my camera at the zoo. The kids voted to go to the zoo on their last day of summer and we took more pictures than we have ever taken at the zoo.


Chelsea had to be on the rocks for this picture. She refused to be back with the kids. I would have had the others join her, but Chelsea tends to be a difficult photo subject so we go with what we get and don't try for perfection.

The next few pictures are of the kids with animal sculptures. There would have been a lot more if Lauren had it her way, but I decided three was enough. She is such a poser and loves to have her picture taken.


What is Chelsea doing? I have no idea. Like I said before, we don't go for perfection!
Devon with an eagle.



This is the baby elephant (and adults) getting a bath. It drew a huge crowd at the zoo so I figured it was worthy of being in our blog.

Devon, Carter and Lauren

Chelsea trying to figure out what that tall thing is. She wouldn't get too close at first.

Then we couldn't keep her off the railing.


I think my kids may be able to take on a full-grown gorilla. They would at least give him a run for his money.


Chelsea taking a break. She walked the whole time while Lauren and Carter took turns in the stroller.

Lauren, Carter and Devon with the hippo

The kids insisted that we get a picture with the zebra. We just barely caught him before he went behind the trees. No time to get Chelsea to turn around.

The kids with a warthog. Carter says that the warthogs have the coolest enclosure (he probably didn't actually use the word enclosure) because they are the ugliest animal and the zoo keepers want them to feel better and make people want to look at them.



Lauren was jumping off the diving board last year at the end of summer, but it took her a while this summer to get up the nerve to do it again. Once she started we couldn't get her to stop. Now we need to teach her to jump in without plugging her nose. She even plugs her nose to dive.


Devon is a pro. He is fun to watch flip. He has no real form, but he is pretty fearless. I didn't catch a good picture of him flipping yet. There are still a few weeks of pool season left so I'll have to keep trying.

Devon and Carter at the zoo

Chelsea, Devon and Carter. This was one of the times when Lauren was in the stroller taking a rest.

Devon found this bamboo for Chelsea and she carried it around the zoo the rest of the time (along with her burpcloth that she takes everywhere)


I think we have worn Chelsea out this summer. She fell asleep while I was doing her hair. I tried to get video of it, but she kept falling over so this picture is all the evidence I could get.



Lauren and I went to get a pedicure. I took my camera with us and forgot to get a picture of her in the chair. This is her enjoying her milkshake on our way home from our girls' night out. At least I got a picture of her beautiful toes. I've never had so much fun getting a pedicure. I think she entertained everyone there. (except maybe the lady trying to take a nap in the chair next to her :))

These two pictures show Chelsea in her prime posing for a picture. You might think she is in the witness protection plan she is so good at hiding her face from the camera. You can see her smiling through the keys. She knows exactly what she is doing, the little stinker.


Carter learned how to run and dive off the diving board instead of just standing.


We had a great summer, but it was nice to post these pictures in record time because I didn't have an interruption every few minutes. All the kids are in school today and it is very quiet around here.



Sunday, August 10, 2008

7 Hours of Peace and Quiet

School is starting on Tuesday. Devon, Carter and Lauren will all be gone from 8:45am until 3:45pm. What is Chelsea going to do without Lauren around to dress her up? Maybe she'll actually stay in her clothes for an entire day. Only time will tell if she misses the older kids or if she is happy to have Mom to herself. I think by the time hour number seven rolls around Chlesea will be ready for some entertainment other than me.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Happy 35th Birthday Bruce!!!

Bruce turned 35 today! The kids decided that 35 candles wouldn't fit on a cake so we had to get a 3 and a 5 instead. The kids just got out of the shower and are in their pjs for anyone who is concerned that we dress them in Spongebob shirts. Don't worry, Kentucky hasn't gotten to us that badly yet. Just enough to allow them to dress in Spongebob to go to sleep.

Chelsea thought it was her birthday again. She saw us with a cake and the camera and ran into her room to get her birthday balloon. She blew out Bruce's candles before he even had a chance to take a breath.

The kids made a birthday banner for Bruce that they took to him at school. They walked through the halls of UofL carrying the banner to deliver it to him.
Half way to 70 and looking better every year!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Staying Cool in Louisville

Here we are at the pool and Kentucky Kingdom water park. I don't know of anywhere (in Kentucky) the kids would rather be.


Chelsea

Lauren

Chelsea

Devon and Carter

Chelsea, Lauren, Devon and Carter

Chelsea



Lauren, Devon and Carter

Chelsea

Devon, Chelsea, Tiffany, Lauren and Carter (sorry Bruce, we'll get you next time)

Chelsea (yes, she wears floaties that big, but she does not actually wear goggles that big)


This is what I woke up to the morning after our day at Kentucky Kingdom. The kids all woke up, but weren't actually ready to get out of bed so they decided to get cozy with me. I'm not even sure where I was squeezed in before I got up to take this picture.




Our little photographers

Here is a picture of the boys' favorite pets taken by Devon and Carter. They, of course, thought it was the coolest thing the snakes (DJ and Tiger) have ever done. I apologize if some of you are so freaked out by the image of snakes that you will never look at our blog again.

Lauren played "hair salon" with Chelsea and then took pictures of the finished product.

Lucky for Lauren, Chelsea is obviously thrilled to have a big sister do anything she wants to her.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Chelsea is 2!

Disclaimers: #1 - We went for taste not beauty for Chelsea's cake since she had a High School Musical cake on her actual birthday in Chicago. (yes, she chose High School Musical and she is only 2!) #2 - We are renting this house, for any of you that are looking beyond Chelsea at the beautiful wallpaper in our kitchen. We really didn't choose the ivy!
This picture really has nothing to do with Chelsea's birthday other than being taken on the same day. If you look closely you'll see a blue ball about to come shooting out of the salad spinner. This is how our kids entertain themselves while I am making dinner. This would make a much better video than still shot, but I still thought it was funny. You probably had to be there!

Chelsea blowing out her candles


Lauren, Chelsea, Carter and Devon



Chelsea and her doll from Grandma and Grandpa Wardell

I think Chelsea was sick of me telling her to smile so she decided to show me what she thought of all the pictures that were being taken.

Chelsea's new bike

Chelsea LOVED her card and $2 from Great Grandma and Grandpa Sonnenberg

Our traditional "set the timer and see what we get" birthday shot

Happy Birthday Chelsea! We love you! (eventhough you may never read this!)

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Chicago at Lake Holiday with Bruce's family. We also spent a little time at Bruce's uncle's farm playing with the big kid toys.



Lauren


Chelsea
Chelsea (and cousin Tyler and Carter)


Lauren and cousin Tyler

Devon fishing with Uncle Scott

Carter


Devon and Ryan



Carter and Devon

Carter fishing with his new fishing pole (thanks Grandpa and Grandma Bridges)

Devon and cousin Nathan

Tyler, Carter and Lauren



Cousin Natalie and Lauren

Devon

Carter

Tyler, Devon, Carter and Nathan

Carter and Bruce