What a summer

I can't believe it's been since July that I posted anything. Perhaps it's because I speak to most of you in some form, or that ideas get so jumbled in my head I get overwhelmed and just write nothing! ...I'm going with the latter here! :)

We had a wonderful summer full of all sorts of activities. In August, Elijah...my sweet baby, turned 6!!! He invited a few friends over to the house for an art party complete with making tie-dyed shirts. Amanda came up for this party and proved to be completely indispensable! She practically ran the whole show. Sure, I might have come up with WHAT we were actually doing it, but she wrangled all the kids and kept it going so smoothly!

We also celebrated Harrison's 8th birthday a little early. We took 2 of his buddies to do two of his favorite things: bowl and eat pizza!

Also in August, Zachary was able to attend a week long gymnastics camp up in Pennsylvania. He had over 5 hours of gym time a day PLUS all the other fun stuff that comes along with summer camp. He got to meet and train a little with Raj Bhavsar - an Olympian on the 2008 team that won the Bronze!

So as August was only halfway through, we began an almost 3 week vacation because of Brian's awesome planning and super-duper deal finding. If he could only figure out how to make money off of his deals! Seriously, if you knew how cheaply we went to Disney, you'd be disgusted! We were able to visit 4 of the Disney Parks and also went back for a second day at Epcot and magic Kingdom. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

Since Brian is such a great planner, we were able to ride some of our favorite rides multiple times. SO, we began 'posing' for the pictures. :)

Below is Elijah standing in a greater-than-lifesize foosball table with a huge Mickey phone in the background. These over-sized displays were everywhere on the grounds of our hotel.

While waiting for the Indiana Jones stunt show, BOTH Elijah and Zachary lost teeth! ..and yes, the Tooth Fairy did in fact visit them in Florida.

Here are all of my men on a boat ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom
You know I couldn't go this whole trip and not get a picture with Goofy. None of the boys would wait in line with me for this one, but I didn't mind!

Going to Disney was an amazing family trip, but I think the best part was being able to see our friends, the O'Neils. (They live only 20 minutes from Disney!) We knew them from our church in Arizona - but they had moved to FL a few years ago. To me, it felt as though we had never been separated by time! :)

Elijah really enjoyed having a tea party with Ella in her room.

Here are all of the children one morning for breakfast. Starting with the boy in white and going clockwise, they are Samuel, Jacob, Harrison, Elijah, Ella, and Zachary. It was a lively few days, but they all seemed to play like we still lived close together!

During our vacation we also got to visit Brian's parents in Sumter, SC. We were with them on Harrison's actual birthday, so that was kind of cool.

For Harrison's birthday dessert, I made him a dirt cake with tapioca pudding and extra gummy worms! I know we had already given him a small party, but I just can't let the actual day go unnoticed!
We then got to visit the wonderful Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of the Teers. Kay and Stewart Teer are the parents of one of Brian's best friends since elementary school. It is their family beach house that we used in Litchfield, SC. We had lunch with them before we headed to the beach.

Here we all are (minus me) at dinner at the beach house. Brian has been friends with these guys for many years. I kid him, but I think it's awesome that they still take time each year to get together.
All three boys just loved being in the water. The Atlantic Ocean is one thing I definitely missed during our time in Arizona.

After we got back from traveling, Zachary turned 11!!! We went to a restaurant of his hoosing, and he chose Panda Express. mmmmmmm! Mark had never experienced their orange chicken, but he enjoyed it with Zachary!

Mark and Zachary experimenting with some slime Zachary got for his birthday!
Zachary showing off a new outfit....and his current enjoyment of making goofy poses! :)