Random Summer Catch-Up

Just some random things I have been wanting to post:
-Spring soccer ended in early June...this is what spring soccer in Iowa always looks like...every year...gotta love it!

-We got so much rain during April, May and into June.  This is what Jordan's softball fields looked like: (love the ducks!)

-It did make for some beautiful, green grass and flowers which I have really enjoyed.

-I did snap a few soccer pics during the break in the rain.

-Jordan and Ashton have been teaching their summer preschool on Tuesday mornings.  It's a good opportunity for them to take care of kids and see how much work it can be!

-Cole has finally started going to bed in his own bed and staying there all night!!!  He's only 4, you know.  What it finally took?  Being bribed with trips to the Dollar Store.  One week he picked out some dress up stuff.

-Jordan and Ashton got to be ball girls at a soccer game for a semi-pro women's team.

-We've all been trying to do some extra summer chores and goals....like having your four year old put away the knives.

-Jordan has been putting a ton of practice in on her pitching.  We have a TON of these pictures- she and her dad are a little obsessed.

-She also had a piece of art work on display at the school district office.  The likeness was incredible!

 -And finally, whenever I upload my pictures, I am always surprised by some of them.  It seems Regan and Cole like to take my camera and have their own fun!  I always like to see what I end up with!!

(Love this last one!  Love the expression on Cole's face)

Luke @ 2 1/2 months

This little guy is growing up, and he is so much fun!!  He is such a good baby!!  And such a good sport to be in this crazy, busy family.  Some things to remember about him at this age:
-He is my first baby to sleep through the night at such a young age!!!  And I am ecstatic about it.  I think he understands that mama is old and tired.  Usually he goes to bed around 10 and wakes up to eat between 5:30- 7:00 and then goes back to sleep!  I can handle that.  He really only gets fussy when he's hungry or tired.
-Luke is just starting to give lots of smiles and we are over the moon about that.  In fact, we are all pretty much obsessed with getting him to smile and laugh.  Jordan and I are always trying to get pictures of smiles.

-Baby Luke has the craziest hair!  He hasn't lost any of it and it sticks out everywhere.  So cute!

-This baby has to be put up with a lot!  We are always saying "Oooh, let's try this and take a picture of it!"  When I look back on these pictures, his expression seems to so often be, "Help me!  Save me from these people!"

-He also has a pretty sweet gig with his siblings most of the time.  Always someone to entertain you and spoil you by holding you and cuddling you!

-It really is so much easier this time around having a baby because I do have so much help with him.  I am so thankful for that.

-I have found myself enjoying Luke so much- just taking it all in as I know this will be my last baby.  I love him so much and am so glad we get to have him in our family. One of my very favorite things right now...in the morning when he wakes up he doesn't really cry, just squirms around...I go in and crouch down in front of him and as soon as my face comes into focus, he breaks into a huge smile.  Now that is priceless!!!

Super Seven

Birthday month continued in the Snarr household with our celebrations last week for Regan!  We can't believe she is officially 7!  This girl knows how to party and she had informed us that we were going to celebrate for 3 days!!!  And that is just what we did.

We started on Saturday morning with a trip to the zoo.  It was so fun to be there as a whole family!  That hasn't happened for a long time.  It was a hot, humid Iowa summer day, but we loved it.

The highlights were of course, the train and the carousel.

On Sunday morning (her real b-day), she donned her traditional tiara, received her traditional balloon and feasted on traditional cinnamon rolls.

She made sure that everyone in the house knew that it was her special day.  It did happen be Father's Day, too....so she let Tod in on just a bit of the celebration.

Regan was SO excited for present time!  She finally got her own scooter and her own boombox!

You can't ever go wrong with cash!

We had to do a quick photo session before church.  This girl loves pictures!

And yes, she did wear the crown to church along with her new dress (she made it clear that she wanted a dress with a belt!).  After church, we had invited a few families over for birthday dinner.  Regan's menu choice was funeral potatoes with ham.  Very unique!

I love that on birthdays, you get to feel special.  We make sure that it is ALL about the birthday person because that hardly ever happens in our bustling household.
The next day brought beautiful weather (thankfully) and a pool party at our good friend's pool.  It was such a fun birthday party!  Regan knows lots of people and everyone likes Regan....it works out well because lots of Regan's friends have older sisters Jordan's age...so everyone was happy!

She wanted a cookie cake for this birthday bash!  Very yummy!

Tod stayed home with baby Luke so that I could really concentrate on watching all those swimmers!  It was such a fun afternoon and everyone came home tired!

Boy, we sure love our Regan Roo so much.  She is growing up so fast and is just the sweetest girl.  Most of the time she is so laid back and just happy with life.  She is in her own little world a lot of the time and it seems like a very joyful place!  She did so great at kindergarten this year and made leaps and bounds of progress academically.  She is one social girl and would love to have a friend over to play with all the time!  Regan loves to dance and twirl.  She is spoiled by her older sisters, adored by her little brother and probably my best helper with baby Luke.  She loves to help me with just about anything.  Regan is my little side kick and can usually be found right with me!  Happy Birthday Seven-Year-Old!!!