Our "HOT" 4th of July Week

We spent the week of the 4th of July down in Missouri...and in a word, it was HOT...in fact, it was so hot that it seemed that the whole time we just kept saying, "IT IS SO HOT!!!!" (over 100 degrees every day!)  But that didn't stop us from having an absolutely wonderful time together....just to be away, to be with family, to not have the every day pressures, to not have the phone ring, to sleep in, to read, to wake up every day and know that there was very little that HAD to be done.  It was heavenly, and we all enjoyed it so much.

We were especially anxious to get to Missouri this time because of this girl....For the first time ever, she got to spend a few days alone with Grandma and Grandpa earlier in the week.  She had a GREAT time (this girl loves farm life!)...but we all missed her soooooo much.  Cole kept saying, "I wish Ashton hadn't moved away!"  We were so happy to see her again.

Given the weather, we had to adjust our usual farm routine a bit.  The only time it was cool enough to play outside was before 10 AM or after about 8 PM.  Even then it was warm.  Luckily for us, this is what saved us....the pool!!!!

We went swimming almost every afternoon at Jerimy and Megan's house, and it was perfect.  It was so fun to be with them, and I seriously don't know what we would have done without the pool.   They were such good sports about having us lounge around their house and eat all their food, too.

Uncle Mark was finally home from Afghanistan and he had new toys for everyone to enjoy.  The Ranger was a big hit.  He even taught Ashton to drive!  Of course, Cole could not get enough of it and all things that "go" at the farm.  We had to keep keys hidden to make sure he didn't try to make a get away!

Of course, there is always time for horse riding and the kids are just getting better and better.  Ashton and Jordan both got to ride by themselves, outside of the corral, without a rope.

Riding horses is also a great way to learn about taking turns...you have to be patient while you watch everyone else!

Spending time with cousins is always so much fun...especially since these kiddos get along so well!

These 2 little gals are just the best of friends and are only 1 month apart.  They wore their birthday dresses from Grandma to church on Sunday.

These 2 kiddos keep us laughing and can be very sneaky....

On the actual 4th of July, we bravely ventured off to St. Louis to go to the Cardinals game...and yes, it was extremely HOT.  But we made it and by 8:00 PM (5th inning) it had cooled off to a balmy 95 degrees and strangely enough felt very comfortable.  When the game ended, we had the perfect seats (top row of the stadium!) to watch the fireworks that are done right next to the Arch.  It was amazing and one of the best displays I have ever seen!

It was a wonderful week...and we will remember it as being very HOT but also being full of good memories at a place that we love and with people that we adore.

Regan's Birthday

Our little Regan Roo turned 6 a couple of weeks ago!  She is growing up fast and is quite the girl.  We love her so much!!!  Since life was especially busy around her birthday, we kept things simple with a party at the park.  Thankfully, Regan is very easy to please and likes everything!  Several of her friends were getting ready to move away, so it was so fun to have them come and celebrate one more time.
In keeping with tradition we played some fun water games at the park (even though it was a bit chilly!)

We are so thankful to have wonderful friends to celebrate with!

Regan wanted a doughnut cake just like her big sis. I love how she is grinning at her silly daddy and his friend.

On her actual birthday, we went to Chuck E. Cheese and celebrated together as a family. Regan always gets balloons on her day...it's another tradition for her.

Can you tell that this girl doesn't mind a bit posing for pictures? I love it.

The one thing Regan really wanted for her birthday was a bigger bike...and she was thrilled to finally get one...along with some other surprises. Cole had gotten her an umbrella and had told her about it several times! He was so glad when she finally opened it!

 We love our Regan Roo so much!  Some things to remember about her at this age:
-I never thought I would describe her as this, based on her first few years of life, but she is really easy going.  Some days I kind of forget about her because she just goes with the flow and is willing to do pretty much whatever.
- Another surprise given her babyhood...she is an excellent sleeper and eater!  When she gets tired, she says she is ready and goes right to bed.  She can sleep anywhere and has even taken some turns in the basement bedroom.  She will also eat about anything, except for veggies.
-She is finally ready for kindergarten...having her do another year of preschool turned out to be a great thing. Her confidence has increased as well as her academic level. 
-This girl is social!  Having always been surrounded by people, she loves to play with anyone- siblings, neighborhood friends, etc.
-Regan is good at all things involving body coordination- dancing, bike riding, soccer, etc.  She loves to run and be active.
-She is pretty spoiled around here and has her dad wrapped around her finger.
-This girl can be stubborn...you don't see it much, but when her stubborn streak comes out, watch out!   The other night I asked her to pick up a baseball bat before we came in and she decided she wasn't going to do it.  I put her in the garage and wasn't going to let her in until she did.  That girl waited me out for 30 minutes!  In the end, she did put the bat away, but I was seriously gearing up for a long night!

Happy Birthday Regan!  It's going to be a great year!