Amy's Scope, House Projects and a Family Day

Amy has been having a few stomach issues so we took her to a gastro doctor and the Dr wanted to do a scope. Amy has such a good attitude. She was so funny that morning. She looked at cute puppy pictures for a long time. I didn't think much of it until they were about to wheel her off and I said, "Don't be nervous." She said, " I'm not. That's why I looked at puppy pictures. So I could just remember them and smile."

Then when they told her she could draw on the sheets (we were at Vanderbilt) she said, "Draw me having thought bubbles!"

She's been reading Little House on the Prairie. She's loving it!

All her tests came back normal. The doctor thinks she has anxiety caused IBS. We are still figuring things out but she has been feeling a bit better.

I've been doing a little organizing. I created drawer dividers for the kitchen. Those have been awesome! It went from this:

To this:

Will's new tactic for staying up a bit later is to read a chapter book. I have to say, it sways me most every time!

Amy is the slime making master. She makes it all the time.

I wanted to put small pots of plants on her windowsill, only it wasn't wide enough. So I made a shelf extender. It works really well!

Mom tagged along on a trip to Chicago with Nancy and Vanessa Futral. They stopped by here on their way up and going home. It was great to see them for a little while! The kids loved Vanessa! (Will is learning chess and was therefore teaching Vanessa.)

I added some lights to Amy's ceiling.

Hung curtains and added the plants. (Finished pictures are coming!) 

The kids LOVE this breakfast. They call it a Wave Pancake (because it looks like an ocean wave) but I've also heard it called a german pancake. Seeing what it looks like when it comes out of the oven is always fun.

We are planning a Road Rally (which is a scavenger hunt) for friends. Today we took a tour of the area I thought would be fun. Part of that area has a park named Old Stone Fort. It was fun to get some energy out and explore a little. We even found 2 geocaches!

Will was hysterical going down this hill. He was so scared. He went down on his bottom. Held onto trees. Tyler hopped down it like it was nothing. It's so funny to see how different the boys are!

There is always a defector. Someone who adamantly refuses to walk any further. This time is was Amy. We hardly walked at all- which was the funny thing.

Our travels took us to a lake where everyone declared they were done. We didn't go in the lake, we just looked at it and headed home. I thought it was fun to spend the day together, but we may have had enough "family" time this summer. School starts in a week. We are all looking forward to it!

Amy's Room Redo

This is only part one. I have realized that I move really slowly. Of course, I do have 3 children that are constantly interrupting me, but aside from that, I'm just slow with projects. Oh well. It all gets done eventually!

Here is the before. It was boring and blah. It definitely needed a makeover!

First up was to paint her room. The entire house was painted in the same basic gray before we moved in. She chose a very light blue called Crystalline by Valspar.

I spent a day and a half painting that. Yep, crazy hair (thanks to Amy) and all.

It was already looking better.

Once that was done, I rearranged her room. Which meant I had to take apart her entire bed and move ALL the food storage boxes that sit under it. Which is not a fun task. The good thing about it is a) she can't shove things under her bed and b) it keeps the food stage nice and cool! I was also able to make a chart so I know what food is where. So while a pain, it was something that needed to be done.

Then I got to work on her new desk. My theme for this new house is minimalist, modern and color. So her old desk had to go. It was bulky, she never used it. It was basically a place to store junk.

I saw plans for a murphy desk online and I knew that was what I was going to build. Luckily she loved it as well. It folds up so nicely and having it off the floor makes it feel roomier. She opted for a chalk board on the front and she loves drawing on it. (I used chalk board spray paint which I was nervous about. But it actually works really well!) 

There are a few shelves to store a few things and then it closes away to cleanliness. It's perfect!

And that is as far as I've gotten thus far. Now is mostly small stuff. We need to move the bookcase and desk out of her room (currently they are shoved to the side.) All her books are going upstairs (eventually.) Then we need curtains, some fun prints (already picked out, just have to buy off etsy and frame) and a few fun pillows. Decorating is kind of fun! (Even if it does take me forever!) 

Plugging Through the Summer

I took screens away from the kids because they were being crazy. It's like the moment they turned them off they became little demons. It's funny b/c I've talked to several other parents and they all say the same thing. These screens- I'm not a fan. 

With that means I have to help them find things to do. Sometimes that's hard. And true be told, it is SO hot that last week I reinstated screens. They couldn't play outside without sweating profusely, it just wasn't safe. But I only let them have one movie a day, in the late afternoon, and I got to choose it. We went through all the Harry Potter movies. :)

But aside from that, here are some of the things they've come up with.It's like the technology fog is finally releasing from their brains.

Lee taught Amy and Will how to play Rummy.

Tyler LOVES Sorry!

Yes, Tyler actually wore this to church. This is how I know he's the baby. As long as he's dressed, I no longer care.

The kids cut up cherries for me. I made plain cherry and cherry almond jam. They are both delicious! I also made peach from peaches I bought from a farmer. To say it's perfection isn't even the right description.

Tyler and the neighbor made "recipes."

We looked through old photo albums

Chick Fil A has a dress like a cow day. When you do, you get a free entree. We went for breakfast and then again at lunch. :) Amy helped me make shirts that I saved for next time.

Amy and Tyler made brownies

They have played with water in the yard more times than I can count!

Goggles in the bathtub? Sure, why not.

Amy has realized she is quote the contortionist

Will wanted money so he decided to sell some of his toys for $12 each. I can't imagine why no one bought them. He finally lowered the price to $1 but was mad when I told the neighbor boy he could buy two things for a dollar. They were just junk toys. They weren't even anything worth $.50!

Amy has been getting into hairstyling. She loves to make me look as ridiculous as possible.

 She is getting good at braids though!

Lee signed us up for a tour of the Nashville Weather Station. It was really interesting. I had no idea that big ball was the radar!

It was fun to look at all the radars.

At the end they released a weather balloon. They release 2 a day in normal weather. If it's bad, or bad nearby they will release more. The balloon will grow to be the size of a small house in the atmosphere before it pops!

We go to the MTSU pool as much as we can. The outdoor pool is my favorite. But they love this indoor water slide. 

Lee is teaching Will how to mow!

All the kids were invited to a party for a little girl who was in Tyler's class. They had this cool slip n' slide bounce house thing.

Sweet Jolene. Her voice is as small as she is. She is precious!

Amy's cheek collided with a 6 yrs olds forehead. The 6 yr old got up and walked away without any problem. Amy landed a huge bruised face. It swelled pretty badly. It's now in bruise stage and extends from the inside corner of her eye down to her chin. She hit it pretty hard!!

And last but not least.... Mini Sarah- literally covered in mud. Yes, on purpose. Look at that smile!