Movin', movin', movin'...

We are in the midst of moving to the new house. Just had to share this photo of Brennan "helping" with the packing.

Surfside 2009

Our beach trip to Surfside was fun/exhausting/relaxing all rolled into one! 14 of the 15 kids

Marian, Conner

Marty Anne, Rachel, Aidan, Mark

Audrey, Seth, Jake, Addison

Noah, Sam, Jonah, Brennan

Emma had already left to go back home

Brennan wasn't thrilled with the waves the first day, especially after they knocked him down a few times. I thought he'd love the water in motion b/c he loves to run the water in the bath, sink and the hose outside. But he figured it out on the 2nd day and loved it!

Thomas was usually out with the bigger kids riding the waves. Aidan ended up either building industriously at the beach or trying to keep up with the big kids in waves (and actually managing it pretty well, despite not being able to swim). He had a system when he saw a big wave coming, he'd turn his back to it, hold a bubble of air in his mouth, and stick his arms out straight to either side. I wished I had a camera out in water.

Marian split her time between being out in the big waves, searching for seashells, or being a mother hen to the little ones.




Brennan decided he needed a nap, so he pulled up a package of diapers and fell asleep right in the middle of a raucuous craft time (brought on by an afternoon storm).

We have a very similar picture of Aidan from our beach trip 3 years ago.

Aidan helping to make limeade.

We broke out the kites on the last evening. Thanks to the changing weather, we had quite a strong wind coming off the Gulf that day. The kids had a great time seeing them all up in the sky.

Addison giving her daddy a mudbath

Mick had sunk himself at least a foot into the sand/mud and was having fun seeing what poses he could pull off with his feet so thoroughly stuck.

Aidan is 6!

Aidan had his birthday last week at a 3-D black-light miniature golf place. It was a little bit of craziness mixed with a lot of fun. Sometimes it looked more like a game of pool with the balls running into each other!

A Sewing Machine

Mom is having the kids make quilts this summer at her house. Aidan started his last week and can't get enough of it! It helps that her machine is super easy to use, so he does everything except pin the next block on. I'll try to get some of Marian doing hers next time.

A Few House Photos

Here are some photos of the outside of the new house. Nobody on either side of us yet, but they are expecting to have our section done in 6-9 months, so we should have neighbors soon.

The Big Sneak

I came out one morning last month to find that Brennan had made himself right at home, happily munching marshmallows and browsing the Sky Mall magazine. He knows how to keep himself busy!

When Marian and Aidan were little, if they were quiet, they were playing with something just fine. If Brennan is quiet, you better run and find out what he's gotten into, b/c he's usually up to no good!

New House Update

As most of you know, we've been house-hunting since May, looking for an extra bedroom and a study for Thomas to try to work from home sometimes. We found a great house last week, only to find out while signing the contract, that there is no gas hooked up to it yet. The gas company came out this week and determined that there are no lines laid for that section of the neighborhood yet (ours is the first 'finished' house). So, the plan is for them to drop off the equipment next week, get started the week after that, and it takes about 15 days, start to finish. No hurricanes/torrential rains allowed!! I know we need the rain, but not yet, please! :)

So, fingers crossed, closing will take place by July 31st! The link to the house on the real estate website is gone now that it's 'sold', so I need to remember to bring my camera over and take some pictures. I'll let everyone know our new info when it becomes official (we might have to change our phone number, too).

Off to do more repairs on the current house! Anyone know how to replace a cracked GFCI outlet without hurting yourself?