Happy Fathers Day/Happy Birthday(s)!

We enjoyed a Fathers Day celebration with both sets of our parents and Julie and Molly at our house.  The kids were able to enjoy the slip & slide, and entertain us by setting up a "cafe" in the basement, where we ordered food and were served promptly, with a view of a sunset (wall hangings that hadn't yet gotten hung in the house).

Jeff's birthday was celebrated the evening before his actual birthday, with his parents at our house.  We left the house before the sunrise on his actual birthday, to head south for a few nights (more on that in a different post).

Mel ready for the action at Charlie's & Sammie's birthday party!

The Doan cousins plotting at Molly's birthday party

Joey enjoying one of the activities at Molly's pool party

Charlie & Sammie enjoying their guests at their gymnastics party

Molly turned five on July 13, and Sammie followed on July 31.  With Charlie's 7th (!!) birthday on August 11, we got to celebrate all of the cousins' birthdays during the month of July.

Girls' time

Dinner out with Laura & Ali

Headed to the Matchbox 20 concert - along with our VIP passes!

Amanda and me at the Train concert - many of the people in the above photo were also with us!

Girls' weekend in Indy - Shelly, Gretchen, Kate

At Crackers Comedy Club

In between all of the kids' activities, I've also managed to have some fun girls nights out!  A couple of concerts, two nights downtown with my college friends, among other activities - have kept me balanced :)

Movies, Games, County Fair

This was Joey's first movie in the cinema - "Monsters U."  The top picture is of Mel sleeping on Gigi - the bottom is Joey on my lap.

Mel & Molly going to see "Turbo"

The first time Melanie got the "big chute" on Chutes and Ladders

The first time she won Chutes & Ladders.

Mel & Molly at the Clinton County fair

Carousel - county fair

Motorcycle girls - County Fair

This was the summer Melanie discovered board games.  We have played endless games of Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Uno (adapted by her from the Candyland cards), etc.  It was definitely worth a mention in the blog because of the role of it in her summer :)  We also went to several movies, and Aunt Julie took the girls to the fair the night of Melanie's sleepover at her house.

Fun with Friends

Mel with the Casterlines (Kaitlyn, Grace)

At Grace C's fifth birthday party - with Lily and Courtney.  "Mommy, don't sit by me."  And so it begins.

With the Casterlines and Gesses

Just a few shots of fun with friends over the summer.  There wasn't a week that went by we didn't have at least one play date.  It's gotten to the point where Melanie feels deprived when she doesn't see friends in the evening.  Mama needs a break :)  It's great to have such good adult friends that the play dates are about adult conversation as much as the kids playing!

Vacation Bible School

At the entrance to VBS

Mel performing with Grace & Stella

After last year's "failure" with VBS (Mel went one night, I had to stay with her the second night, and then we dropped out), we tried a different tactic this year.  I worked at VBS, at the registration desk (rather than working with the kids directly :)  That way, Mel always knew where to find me.  I was amazed by the change a year can bring.  We started out the week waiting for Grace to be dropped off, so the girls could go into the sanctuary and find their groups together.  By the end of the week, Mel would just march right in without Grace.  We have listened to VBS songs continuously the rest of the summer, and Melanie is excited that Joey will be old enough to go next year.

Happy Fourth of July!

Melanie, Joey, Molly, and Charli O'Donnell - running the streets their parents did 30+ years ago!                                         

The first of two parades - in Frankfort!

Ready to cruise in the second parade - our Fieldstone neighborhood!

Fieldstone parade

Just warming up

Our neighborhood throws quite a party!  There were all kinds of "swag" with this logo on it - golf balls, etc....

Mel jamming at the neighborhood party

Our Fourth of July was full of fun - we started the day in Frankfort in my parents' neighborhood kids parade.  The kids didn't really get into it, so we watched our friends do the multiple laps around the neighborhood.  Heading back to Zionsville, we participated in our own neighborhood parade, and then headed to the big party at the school's playground.  It was catered, with music, and games for adults and kids.