and we are off...

So we are home for 1 night and off to Branson tomorrow....this momma is WORN OUT!!!

Here are some more pics taken at Petit Jean...

reunion...

So we went to the beach which was awesome! (and I still haven't blogged all my pictures) then we had some recovery time and just got back from Petit Jean State Park.

Since 2005 Ben's Mom and Dad have had a get together at Petite Jean State Park. We very much look forward to it. It is so fun to see the cousins playing together, go on hikes, swim, and enjoy hanging out with people you wish you got to see more of.

sign

"IF MY HOUSE IS CLEAN...I HAVE NOT PLAYED WITH MY CHILDREN ENOUGH...PLEASE REMIND ME WHY I AM HOME"

I need a sign in my house that says the above. I am sure I can have 1 painted at a craft fair. I am not joking when I say I need this.

I have been a stay at home mom/homemaker for 11 years. Most of the time I love it. (most of the time)

I have no idea why I feel like the house needs to be spotless. Growing up our house was neat, but it wasn't like amazingly clean or anything. I have no idea if this is OCD kick'n in or just the kids getting bigger so I am redirecting energy...or the fear of someone ringing the door bell and seeing my house actually looks like someone lives in it. hahahaha I wish I could redirect all this energy that I put into cleaning into something else (like working out or learning guitar or something

So my goal for the summer....relax. When I hear the word relax it honestly stresses me out. It seems like in order for me to relax I would have get everything on my list done and then make a plan for how I should relax.

I think because I am a "homemaker" I feel like it is my job to keep the house clean. But that is a lie I have bought into. I am at home for my kids. My job is to answer the 1,000 questions they have a day about any random thing you can think of, encourage them to share and be kind to each other, hug and kiss them, harness in on what they are good at and encourage them in those areas, find out what they need to work on and encourage them in those areas, make memories that will not only last them a lifetime but that will bring smiles to their precious faces even when they are old and grey, allow the Holy Spirit to work through me to teach them the fruits of the spirit, and just to be "Mom." (yes that sentence is too long to be 1)

So if you come over and my house looks spotless please remind me...I didn't do my job that day...

The Squinting Family (both of em)

1 last hoo rah rah

Thursday we hung out at the beach almost all day. Saturday was soon approaching and we wanted to get even more water logged than we were already.

We wised up and bought a raft the last day on the beach. (we are smart like that hahaha) Since Grady couldn't get in the salt water with his cast Ben put him in the raft.

It was so relaxing.

I was so tempted to do something ornery to him while he was buried. But I was nice.

Amy is under those waves...her sunglasses are in the bottom of the ocean.

it's a bird, wait a plane, wait 6 planes

We went to the naval aviation museum...and as if that wasn't exciting enough...we also go to see the Blue Angels fly. Now....if someone had told me before vacation that we would have gotten to see them fly...I would have thought nothing of it. But...IT WAS AWESOME! They were setting off car alarms in the parking lot as they flew by. Seriously, awesome....

And so it begins....

The boys loved it!

Grady wouldn't get out of the driver's seat

hahah Benji is flying. He is so cute!

I was getting bored....

Then Ben showed me a George Bush plane...woohoo

I have no idea why he looks so serious. He either was getting bored, tired, trying to be funny? or I was probably on his nerves. I am going with I was on his nerves.