Kashann and Clan

I hate to post that it was the worst summer ever because I know life can be so much worse than feeling great and just sitting around relaxing but. . . . I  had so many mountains I wanted to climb, festivals to attend, places to explore, lakes to swim in with my kids, and the list goes on. This is such a summer paradise up here. 

We barely got a chance to relax last summer with starting the practice and moving in, and I was really looking forward to being a new house organizing it and doing fun stuff with my sister. All that other stuff is still on my to do list. Luckily, Peter got the job and they will be back next summer and give us another chance to show them it's a great place. 

My poor kids. I don't even think they can remember that I used to be sort of fun. Now I am just that lazy mom on the couch that bosses everyone around and she can't actually do much of anything herself. Luckily we splurged on our first above ground pool that was big enough to keep them entertained at home all summer. 

It was perfect for Caroline. It was just up to her shoulders so without any supervision she finally learned how to swim. 

Camille even thought it was deep enough for practicing her dives. 

 

And though we ain't fancy with this wimpy new pool, rickety bottom of the line trampoline, and free swing set from the neighbors . . somehow it was enough to earn us best backyard hangout on the block.

 There are 6 girls on our street that are all either 2nd graders or 4th graders. And for some reason the mother on bed rest house is the place to be.

 They especially like playing with my new wheelchair. I mean my very old very ugly wheelchair that Savannah insisted on buying for $5 bucks at a end of summer yard sale so we could hit up all the stores that didn't have motorized scooters. So far it has just been traveling all over our backyard with children and has yet to go along on all the trips Savannah planned to outlet malls and TJMaxx.

 All the girls are playing a sport this fall. Unfortunately that means I am headed in all sorts of directions and have to choose which daughter I will support each evening. Here is Savannah at her first field hockey game. I think #4 (the one with the pink shoelaces) was just looking for an excuse to get to wear a short skirt and hang out more with her best friend, Natalie #5. 


Camille and Caroline are our first soccer girls and they are loving it. Kennon is once again on the cross country team. I have to decide every game not only which one to attend but also should I even attend since my Dr. recently told me that my bed rest was intended to by spent "Laying down" not "sitting down"?


Luckily I just found that out and was at least good for something this summer. Like cooking and washing dishes sitting on a stool for hours.

 And burning office confidential papers with my children in our driveway. They all want to help me with this task. It's a lot more fun than using a shredder. 
We have a very organized neighborhood with a president, secretary and treasury. They held their summer block party last weekend.

I guess they used to get together for progressive dinners once a month and finally just scaled back to two parties a year for summer and Christmas. We have felt very welcome and definitely notice that this neighborhood doesn't fit the New England stereotype. 

Marcus has two older boys that live next door and it is pretty hard to keep him from crossing the street at all times to see how they are doing and what toys he might be able to play with today. Despite the 8 year age gap these two get along very well. They let Marcus run their remote control cars and send him home with something every day to add to his growing toy collection. Caroline also seems to prefer the boys. When she wants a friend to come over to play she asks to invite "the boys next door" rather than the two 7 year old girls down the street. 

The other night I went to a Relief Society Meeting with Kennon and Savannah and was upset to come home and find dishes still waiting for Mom to wash next to my kitchen stool. However it turned out that Camille had a chunk of tooth fall out of her mouth right before I left so Brent took the three younger kids to the office with him for an emergency appointment. Marcus and Caroline sat in the corner and watched while Camille and Dr. Casper got down to business and fixed the tooth. I guess if I can't have a maid, I should be grateful for an in house dentist.


There has been a lack of pictures documenting this pregnancy. I guess it's hard to remember to do photo shoots when you're never up and about.