August randoms...

This cute toddler with her morning sippy.  (Aug. 9, 2012)

Candace LOVES to feed herself.  Some things (like yogurt) are harder than others. (Aug. 9)

We had Shad's fam and Carrie over to celebrate my bday on Aug. 12 after church.  I made my favorite, white chocolate raspberry cake.

My girls have been setting up chair forts/trains/buses all over the house.  Here is one from Aug. 13.

Candace's cute ponytail on Aug. 18

Megan with yogurt fingers on Aug. 18.

Brooke getting yogurt off her arm (Aug. 18).  Maybe my big girls still need bibs too!

Megan continues to be VERY shy in new situations.  Since we aren't doing a formal preschool for her, I wanted her to have some sort of classroom experience that was away from home (and the homes of friends).  So I signed her up for a combo tap and ballet class in Kingwood.  She was SO excited.  So was I :).  This was before her first class on Aug. 20.

She was pretty nervous walking in, but she took the helper's hand and was off!

I brought coloring books and a few toys to keep my other girls busy during the class.  Thankfully there is a bench with a one-way mirror just outside so I could keep an eye on Megan and on the other girls.  I really like this studio so far.

My cute girls in the backyard on Aug. 22.  I love watching them play together.

Like her sisters before her, Candace LOVES my tupperware cupboard.  We find her climbing in it all the time.  This was on Aug. 23.

3 little beauties after baths on Aug. 24.

Grandpa and Tyler are back!  Also on Aug. 24

Before church on Aug. 26...

Candace was chilling with her afternoon milk on Aug. 27

We got to go to Jumpalooza on Aug. 30.  My girls were in heaven.  Candace was too little to do much, but she liked wandering around watching the big kids.  We brought lunches and stayed all the way until naptime.  I think I'm going to enjoy this last year of having no kids in school.  It's nice to have so much freedom.  I have a lot of fun with these girls.

Surfside

I had been meaning to get to the beach all summer, and I finally convinced my friends to go with me!  Me, Ashley, Jenebie, and Shelly headed on down to the coast.  Ashley and I piled into my van with our 6 girls and Jenebie and Shelly caravaned behind us.  It should have taken us only an hour and 20 minutes to get there, but thanks to some bad traffic it took almost 2 hours.  And poor Shelly lost sight of the caravan at one point and it took her an extra half an hour to make it!

But we all eventually arrived, safe and sound.  4 moms and 11 kids.  We slathered the kids in sunscreen, attempted to get ourselves too, set up blankets in the sand, and did our best to keep close eyes on the kids!  Surfside is one of my favorite beaches.  It's usually more quiet than Galveston and has nice waves.  I was shocked that my friend Jenebie had never been to the beaches near us...until she reminded me that she grew up in Hawaii and really, Galveston and Surfside just can't compare!  But she was a good sport and had fun with us.

 Adorable Tanner...

My girls enjoying lunch on our blanket--it seems like we brought enough stuff for a week at least...

Megan and Cassidy...

Jenebie and her kiddos...

Cute Candy with cute little sand footprints...

The Megans and Cassidy having fun in the waves...

Shelly and her kiddos and a few photobombers...

Ashley and her kiddos...

Me and my girls...

Mermaid tails thanks to Ms. Shelly and Ms. Ashley.  My girls talked about these for WEEKS!

Mermaid Megan (and Audrey)

2-8

So we got home from Utah just a few days before my 28th birthday.  We spent the first week of August playing at the pool, taking the kids to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Natural Science Museum, and going to library story time.  My birthday itself fell on Wednesday, so we hit up the pool for playgroup in the morning and then met up with friends at a barbecue restaurant at noon.  It was so hot, but with our crew of kids we decided to sit outside anyway and let the kids melt on the playground at the restaurant. 

My life is blessed by good friends to share this crazy journey of motherhood with.  These ladies are the best!  It is especially fun to share my birthday with my good friend Nicole.  So this little shin-dig was for both of us!  We celebrated Ashley's birthday with some frozen custard the week before on Jul. 31.  Fun times taking over restaurants with hordes of children. 

Ariel and Lauren...

My girlies...

Jenebie, Nicole, Shelly, and Colette

This is Colette again, and of course, Ashley (not pictured, but her kids are!)

Candy enjoyed the stage...

Drew, Kate, Brooke, Maddie, Mason & Candace on my lap, Megan, Kate, Megan, Audrey, Cassidy, Damon, and Nicole (my birthday buddy) with Mia on her lap

 Megan and Kenzie--rosy, rosy cheeks in that August heat

A little show by the girls...

 My childhood best friend Jenn and her hubby Chris stopped by for a quick birthday visit.  We laughed and laughed and had a great time.

Me, 28 and Dan, 32 (for now)

We didn't have a party with my side of the family because Dad and Ty were in the last week of their around the world trip.  It was originally planned for the summer of 2011 and originally planned for 3 people.  But when Mom's prognosis worsened in May, the trip was cancelled.
So Dad and Ty got to go on it a year later.  They have been having quite the adventure.  It's hard to keep track of where exactly they are, but my Dad has been facebooking and blogging their progress almost every day.  It's been fun to follow their progress!