Last Summer Playdate!

I am truly blessed to work with some of the most amazing friends!  It's not everywhere that you can get 7 mommies and 12 little ones together for playdates every Thursday; we were even missing Shelley and her girls.  It was my week to plan a playdate, so I decided we venture to the Hastings Splash Pad.  The water was a tad chilly but the kids didn't seem to mind.  It was fun watching them all run around and play together.  They are definitely turning into a group of best friends!  After playing at the park we headed to Burger King for lunch to celebrate Hayley's birthday.  They even had an indoor playground that the kids could play on which was perfect!  

We had the entire splash pad to ourselves!

Will spraying Landon!

All seven of the "big" kids! 

While the kids play the mommies chit chat (90% of our conversations are usually about motherhood or school)

Landon and his bud Hayden!  

The birthday girl and her sweet little one!

I wish I would have gotten us all sitting at the table together. I could only imagine what others were thinking seeing us all there together.  Eating lunch with that many little ones was quite an adventure.  Jackie and I held down the fort and watched the three babies, Landon, Will and Monroe while the other moms went to order the food.  It's a good thing our kids are comfortable with all the moms; it makes things so much easier as we all help with each other's kiddos.  Luckily the play area was there for when they were done eating.

Our Kids!

Lily, Hudson, Addysen, Hayden, Jadyn

Jacob, Landon, Paisley, Monroe, Braxton, Aubree and Will

Ahhhhh, I can't wait to spend time with these ladies during the school year.  Hopefully we can continue our play dates throughout the year and even get the husbands involved too!  

July Phone Dump

Wow, I can't believe July is already over.  What an awesome month we had!

Landon loves his little horse he got from my parents' neighbor.

Kurtis had five days off from work which never happens.  He actually had clean hands.

Eating lunch at Pizza Hut with Uncle Scott.

Ice cream at Valentino's!

Landon and I went to watch Talon perform at Art in the Park.  He will be getting his black belt this fall and he's only going to be a 2nd grader.  One of our Newell students was also there.

Tackling a sub sandwich!

I have figured out how to climb up my slide.

Bubbles at a Library Lapsit!

Landon loving on baby Delaney!  

Bird watching

Whenever Landon and Daddy are together in the backyard someone is bound to get wet.

Long ways to go to fill Daddy's big shoes.

Watching the train go by at Kid's Kingdom.

He actually really enjoyed riding the train!

One Sunday afternoon we went to the Hastings water park.  Landon loved it!  He kept going through the sprayer over and over again.

This week we went to visit my friend Angie and her little girl Reagan in Omaha.  Landon and Reagan are five days apart.  Landon looks so big!  They enjoyed their snacks together.  Landon also enjoyed playing with all her toys.

Especially her pink guitar. 

Hanging out with Uncle Scotty at Aunt Carissa's school.

Landon is still in love with fish.  We visited my aunt and uncle in Lincoln and my cousin had a tank upstairs in her bathroom.  He spent the majority of his time up there with her.

Ok this happened on August 1st but had to add it.  Landon hung out with Megan (Jadyn was still sleeping) while I went to the eye doctor.  When I got back the two of them ventured outside together without us.  As soon as Megan and I got out there Landon was already in the water.  It was funny to listen to Jadyn explaining it was all his idea.  :)  Which I am sure it was; he loves swimming!

VBS

This week I have been helping at church in one of the craft rooms. I have loved being able to help all ages 5's to 5th grade. I have also enjoyed working with the other ladies! Our theme tis year is The Cross Games which ties to the Olympics; however our rings stood for purpose, power, practice, persevere, and perfection.

It has been an amazing week watching God work through these children's lives!

My favorite night's craft was Wednesdays. We made a torch to represent the man who keeps on going when times get hard. James 1:12

The site of seeing them all light up together and hearing the kids singing brought goosebumps and tears to my eyes. I posted the videos on Facebook. It is amazing how strong and powerful God's love is.

Phillips Family Weekend!

Every year my dad's side of the family tries to get together and this year my dad's brother was also able to join us.  We were just missing Kienda and her fiancé Scott and my other cousin Gus.  We are all spread out over Nebraska, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Texas so we don't see each other as often.  My dad's side of the family all met in Kansas at my parents' house.

Friday we headed downtown to the BBQ, Blue and Bargains.  There were around 30 different vendors that smoked and bbq various things.  We had chicken, ribs, pork sandwiches and it was all amazing!  Landon just kept eating and eating.

It was extremely hot so we only stayed down there for about an hour and a half then headed home. That evening we went swimming with the girls at their hotel; however, it was very cholrinated so we didn't stay long.

On Saturday we headed downtown to shop at all the sales then met up with the guys at Gellas Brewery for lunch.  AMAZING!!  That afternoon we headed to the Aquatic Park to go swimming and of course Landon had a blast.  

He was so excited his lunch came in a car!

The rest of the weekend we just hung out, played games and relaxed.  The girls went to a movie and I caught up with a high school friend as well.  We were even able to Skype with Kienda who wasn't there and we also watched the Bachelorette Finale together thanks to the one tv in my parent's house.  It was just nice to spend time with each other.  I look forward to next year's visit!  

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend!

Swimming Lessons!

The last two weeks we did Parent and Child swimming lessons with some friends.  Megan and Jadyn, Erin and Monroe, Ashley and Paisley and Landon and I all did it together which was fun!  All of the husbands even joined on various nights, but Kurtis had church camps to play at so he never made it.  Zach filled in here and there and Landon loved it!  I kept joking around that we were going to fail the course because we missed so many nights but we didn't!  Landon had fun exploring the water.  He went under water, splashed, blew bubbles, jumped in off the side (more like fell in) and started to learn how to kick.  I have a feeling we have a little fish on our hands.  

 Landon smiling at Monroe and Jadyn and Megan swimming in the background.  (Thanks Megan for the pic; I never did have anyone to take any so I stole hers)

Landon's Achievement Card

He did very well for his first time!  

Thanks mommies for doing the class with us!  

We the Verb

On Friday night Kurtis' band, We the Verb, played at Recovery in the Park in Hastings.  In addition to the band they had a BBQ, free ice cream and raffles!  This event was put on the Horizon Recovery Program.  It is a drug and alcohol rehab program designed to offer addiction treatment in a variety of forms to meet spiritual, physical and psychological needs of individuals.  Definitely a great cause!  The two hours of christian music they played was very uplifting!  Landon and I along with other members of our church headed that direction to support them!  

 We the Verb

 Who is that good looking drummer?  

Let's just say it was really really hot out there.  I believe when we got there the temperature was 97 degrees. Thank heavens they had some shade trees.  We stayed up towards the top until the shade hit further down.  Landon knew where his daddy was; the entire time he was pointing saying, "Daddy."  He even supported the band with a few of his dance moves.  Once again Landon is with "his girls" in the above pictures.  Our good friends Johnna and McKenna were there to play with him.  

I also had the opportunity to hang out with Amber and Becky.  Oh and we can't forget Eli and Issac!  

Landon and I when we first got there!  Getting ready to eat ice cream!

What an awesome night of music and fellowship!