Australian Rules Football

Tom has been on this kick (no pun intended) lately to have 'cultural' night. First, we watched a rugby game, then we watched an Australian Rules Football game, and he really wants us to see cricket next. The girls and I say, "Yippee. Sounds like oh-so-much fun." (All that is said in a monotone voice!) The boys weren't even too excited at first. Then, their 'boyness' kicked in and they thought the football thing was the greatest. So much so that they started playing it in our backyard (which is barely big enough for the 4 of them to share, let alone kick a football!!). The walls of our house and garage and the roof are all screaming at the boys to STOP hitting them (the parents of the boys are also scr...um, gently reminding them to quit hitting the house with the football because they could very easily break something that would cost a certain 4 boys quite a bit of money!) (Kelly, if you're reading this, that explanation was added for your benefit!)

Anyway, I think I'm getting bogged down in parentheses. I'm not sure where I am anymore. I did take some pictures of them playing last week--in the hot heat (can heat be cool?). Here they are :)

I think I can, I think I can....

Let's see...it's 12:30am and I definitely don't want to be up much longer. I don't have a lot of pictures left from July. OK, I'll try to finish them up. Here goes!

I'm not sure what he's doing or why or who took the picture, but it's kinda cute of Andrew!

Haven in a denim jumper!

During one of the recent rain storms, *Tom* decided that it would be fun for the kids to go outside and play. They did have a great time. It was fun to watch. (However, the laundry afterward was not so much fun!!)

Boys playing soccer in the rain

Rachel jumping in the puddles
Sarah and Ethan
Dad and Haven on the porch during the storm

Ethan standing in the rain

Sarah fishing??

Ethan in the puddle

Ewww, gross! Whose kids are these?!?!

Andrew in the puddles after the rain

Andrew, Ethan, and Rachel--hmm, a waterbed??!!

Sarah and Rachel drip drying before coming in to clean up

He had a great time!

I didn't even recognize him :)

I took some pictures of my flowers during the rain storm

Just a cute little fat girl :)

Ethan is doing this weird thing now--he doesn't like to sleep in his own bed. So, with much complaining, Tom has reluctantly given in and lain down with Ethan! (For the record #1, I just looked up the correct form of 'lie, lay, has lain.') (For the record #2, the complaining and reluctance just don't exist!)

Nap time

Ethan fell asleep--this time at night--holding Tom's hand :)
By the way, he doesn't sleep here all night. Tom carries him back to his own bed and he stays there until the morning. We're working on getting him to start in his own bed, too. We're not exactly sure why this is happening right now, but we're also not too concerned :)

I was able to get a Bumbo seat on craigslist for Haven. I've never used one before. She seems to like it so far!

YEAH!! I did it!! The next post should be of August--unless I overlooked something!! Enjoy the nice weather for one more day. It looks the temps are going right back up starting on Sunday :( I'm actually looking forward to Fall--I like Fall anyway, but usually Summer is enjoyable, too. This Summer has been brutally hot, though. I don't like to stick to everything I touch!

Random July pictures

In my attempt to get caught up... here are some assorted and sundry pictures :)

Sarah and Rachel

Haven in her flip-flop outfit

Ethan with his "baby." (You should see the other pictures I took of him trying to nurse this baby! I think I'll keep them for his graduation open house!!!!)

Cute Haven

Haven and Ethan taking a nap together :)

Ethan and his namesake (at least, partly), Ethan Champlin

Ethan at the Koski's house--with a super soaker

Grandpa Koski filling up the super soaker--Ethan turned on him and soaked him :)

Ethan with a sparkler

Bethany and Ethan

It's not often that all 7 kids (yes, we have 8, but Haven doesn't really do too much right now except eat, sleep, cry, get held, get changed, etc) actually play together. So, when I saw them playing together--and doing it nicely (ie no arguing or screaming)--I ran to get my camera. They were playing soccer in the backyard. It was fun to watch them. Even the girls have started playing soccer with each other this summer. They come in all sweaty and say, "I won 8-7" and then proceed to tell me about the game. The other day, they even did an instant replay for me when I went out to watch them :) Maybe someday they can play on a team. We'll see how it goes with Nathan and Daniel first this Fall. Here are some pictures of them playing.

Well, that's it for tonight. There are a few more from July. I think I'm doing pretty well--it's only Tuesday. I still have 4 days before the week is over. (For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I wanted to be caught up with July pictures by the end of this week.)

Dad and Ethan

Tom had the day after the 4th (which is the 5th, in case you were wondering!) off from work. Ethan woke up while Tom was doing his devotions in the morning. I thought they were cute together and took some pictures. Tom decided to be funny--imagine that :)

Tom's pious pose

He read so much, he fell asleep.

I thought this one was cute of Ethan.

4th of July!

I know, I know. It's August 1st, not the 4th of July. But, remember, I have a new baby, 7 other kids, a Tom (!), cleaning, cooking, etc, etc. "Man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done." So, in another attempt to catch up on pictures, here are some from the 4th. I will try my very best to finish the July pictures this week. There are some cute ones coming.

Oh, by the way, I woke Haven up this morning (Saturday) at 9:15!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!! She slept for 10 hours straight :) I don't know how long she would have gone, but I was wanting to wake her up and feed her. I am so thankful that the Lord has given us such a wonderful sleeper. I whole-heartedly support scheduling your baby, too :)

Well, here are some pictures. I didn't take a whole lot during the day--it was very hot and I spent most of the time inside with Haven.

Sarah

Rachel and Andrew

Peter

Daniel and Haven (it's obviously time to go home!)

Ethan

Balloon !

Haven--I made that dress for Sarah's first 4th of July :)

Andrew

Nathan

More to come soon--this week, I hope!! Have a great week, stay cool :)