Summer pics...

This is Asher as I was picking him up from his friend's Candyland birthday party.  As this was his very first friend party he was invited to, he had been sleeping with his invitation for about 5 days :)  His comment when I was loading him into the van to bring him home was, "Mom, I so SO happy!"

Look at my cute boy on 2nd :)  Zerin had a great baseball season this year.  His second to last game, he hit an amazing triple to the back of the field, and was even able to make it home on the next hit.  That boy was smiling from ear to ear, which he's a little self-conscious about his teeth, so that's saying something :)  At the end of that game, the guy in charge of the Allstar team commented on his great play, and invited him to fill in as alternate.  I don't know that he has ever gone to bed happier in his life.  We even let him retell the story about 5 times...and for me THAT'S saying something :)

This is my cute Liah with my cousins Kylie and Haley.  Bryan helped bury them in the sand, and then they worked hard to finish the job.  I love family reunions and how everyone, even the kids, pick up right where they left off.

The whole time we were at the reunion, Belen kept wanting her picture taken.  She'd tell Bryan, "Tee - Cheeeese!"  I think he took about 10 of these pictures with her in different trees.  This one looked the safest :)

Another cheese moment.  This dress of hers is one of my favorites, and I thought I'd have the summer to enjoy it since it is a 2T.  But her poor little arms were losing circulation, and it was struggling to cover her sweet "little" thighs, so this was probably it's last appearance.

Yesterday we went to the zoo while Bryan was at work.  There were some monkeys going a bit nuts in front of the kids while I was trying to get their picture.  I thought their different expressions were hilarious :)

It hasn't been all that often that we have seen the three elephants out and playing at eating at the same time.  The kids loved watching the big elephants use their trunks to eat, and then watching Zuri, the baby, trying to pick up a log with her nose.  Belen wasn't quite sure what to think :)

This is Bella BEFORE the merry-go-round started.  She was all smiles and loved it.  As soon as we started turning and she started with the up and down, she was began screaming, so I held her the rest of the time :)  Notice my hand sticking out ...I was nervous she was going to get bored and try to leave.  Asher got a tiger, Aeden got a Daddy Elephant, Liah got a baby elephant, and I should know what Zerin ended up on, but yeah, missed that moment.  It should be a rule that the animals your kids want to ride are all on the same side of the merry-go-round :)

Group picture attempt #1...apparently getting 5 kids and a large pregnant woman in frame by yourself is harder than it looks!  Speaking of  doing things by myself, I have to give a shout out to my two oldests for a minute.  There was one point I wasn't feeling too great, and without any asking, prodding or begging from me, Liah took the stroller to push Belen, and Zerin put my arm around his shoulder so I could lean on him.  When they aren't showing off, they really are the sweetest best kids in the whole wide world.  And even though it was embarrassing gimping up the hill like that, it was probably my favorite part of the whole day.

Group picture attempt #2:  SUCCESS!  Sweet lady from big day camp group must have thought we looked pretty funny so she offered to take our picture.  I want you to notice that yes, everyone is pretty much smiling!!!!  Amazing.

And the final pic from the zoo...our traditional Gorilla picture.  I don't know if we have ever left a zoo without a pic on this guy.  And why do boys always have to climb to get on the head.  Zerin's lucky the other boys haven't been able to figure it out yet, but I'm sure it's coming, and the battle for the head will be fierce when it does.

They also had an amazing dinosaur right next door, but wouldn't you know the camera died as I was taking the picture.  Probably just as well...I'm sure you would love to see Zerin hanging out of the mouth of a dinosaur :)