Random August: Picture Overload

Here we go people. Buckle up and prepare yourself for picture and story overload. Some of these stories should have gotten their own posts but I'm tired and it was easier to lump them all together. This is the end of a long line of other posts so make sure you keep scrolling through older posts to see all that you have missed. A lot of the pictures are in a random order and I'm sorry about that. Enjoy!

Hugh, Hazel and Elsie in the coral reef exhibit at the Akron Zoo during a playgroup outing.

Pepper and Morgan marching and making music at the library story time one Thursday morning.

The story time theme was birds and here was Pepper's mask creation.

Hazel feeding her baby at the library.

Time for a change and nap.

One Thursday we were there for story time it also happened to be a kindergarten expo. Some characters were walking around. Pepper loved that.

They also served free pizza and had all sorts of freebies, including a new children's book for each kid. 

Not a big moment but one I liked to capture.
This is a typical scene when Cody gets home from work and we are just hanging out before bedtime.
I love how Hazel is just chillin on the couch with her ankles crossed singing along to the music.

She was excitedly pointing out things to Cody. Love them!

We tend to eat out on Friday nights, usually pizza but not always. This time we let Morgan pick and of course we ended up at 5 Guys burgers. We have to swing through McD's first to get the girls chicken nuggets but everyone loves the fries.

Can you believe the amount of lettuce on my burger?! I'm pretty sure that is the entire head of lettuce! I basically had a salad with my meat.

And it was worth every delicious bite! Even if I wasn't on a diet, I think I might always order my burgers this way from now on. It is so crisp and refreshing. Yum, yum, yum!

While I was in Utah, Robin told me that on Sunday the 11th Andie was going to be baptized and they wanted to know if I would be willing to give one of the talks. I was very happy to be a small part of Andie's special day. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and I must say it was a great experience for me to look at all of it from an 8 yr old's perspective and think about what I would have wanted to hear at that age. We drove over early Saturday morning to spend the weekend together. It was so nice to have one last summer trip to Cousin Robin's house!

As soon as we arrived, we headed over to their friend's house to play in their pool. Hazel missed her nap that day but we all had a fantastic time. Beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

Cris tossing a fearless Pepper in the air.

On Sunday, we went to church and then had the baptism right after. Lots of friends members and non-members were able to come and Khan and his entire family made it as well. It was so nice to see Theron and Karissa before they both headed out west. We have such a great family!

Pepper and Andie with matching braids and ribbons.
Photobomb by Aaron.
Robin hugging Theron in the background, too.

Theron photobomb this time.

So proud of this little lady!

Morgan and Pepper's summer gymnastics classes came to an end on Monday, August 12th. We drove home very late Sunday night so that we could make gymnastics and Cody could go to work Monday morning. Well, Monday morning the kids and I get all settled into the van, all ready to go to the last gymnastics class when I discover that the van is dead. Someone who was driving the night before forgot to turn the inside lights off when HE was emptying the van. But I won't mention any names, cough cough, wink wink. Luckily, Bekah is an AWESOME friend and lives very close by. She put her kids in her big truck and came right over and picked us up. Not only did she drive us there but stayed for the whole hour and took us home. Later, Gary came over and jumped the van. I love them!

Anywhoo, we have done gymnastics every summer since we moved to Ohio and I really like this family tradition.

Everyone getting ready for the kids to show off their skills and get their medals.

I apologize for how blurry these all are!
Here's Morgan doing a fantastic back bend.

Cartwheel time.
This summer he mastered landing on his feet. He was very proud of himself.

Morgan has had Teacher Randy every class he's taken at WestSide Gymnastics and I think he is an awesome teacher!

So proud of himself!

Pepper working on her cartwheel. 

Right as Pepper was doing her somersault another girl came and hugged the teacher.
I was pretty annoyed that she stole her thunder.
Yep, I'm already "that" mom:)

Yay, for Pepper!

That night, Bekah and I had planned to have a combined FHE activity at a bowling alley in Akron that was having a 50 cent night. Some how we got the information wrong and ended up arriving just after the 50 cent deal ended. Luckily, they had another family deal and we were all able to have a fun evening of bowling, pizza and games.

Gary helping Ammon while Pepper gets lined up.

Morgan decided he didn't need the ramp.
He did a pretty good job. I was impressed.

Love how Emma is just hanging out while her brother bowls.

Pizza time!

Because we were running later than planned, Cody was able to join us for most of the fun.

Someone didn't want to share!

About a quarter way through the second game all the boys lost interest in the bowling because the arcade was right next to us.
The parents and babies took over.

Blurry, preggo, Bekah getting in on the action.

Yelling at the ball helps!

Yep, this is where we lost the boys...all of the boys!

And the girls eventually.

Despite the frustration that the bowling alley was further and more expensive than we had planned, we all had a fun time and it was great to be together as families.

Trying to take a family photo while we were all together after the baptism.
Kegan's face cracks me up.

Not quite all of us, I seem to remember Morgan was having a fit somewhere and Khan is taking the picture, but we tried our best for a group shot.
The woman in blue is Joanna's mom.

Getting dinner at Friendly's. Pepper looks thrilled.

Actually, she was. She just can't take a normal picture these days!

So close!
But still a little crazy in the eyes!

Even crazier when you put it all together!

Morgan has now entered the world of Pokemon cards...heaven, help us!

Spending an afternoon in Bekah's backyard.
These two are already the best of friends and bug the heck out of each other!

I love the way Emma smiles at Hazel!

Up on her dancer toes, just like her momma!

Such cuties!

Who knows what Pepper is trying to do?!

Showing off the flower she drew. So glad they live so close!

Waiting for some haircuts on a Saturday morning.

Morgan wanted to keep it long but he hates to comb it and fusses if it takes to long to wash it.
Solution: shorter hair!

Pepper was up next and had no problem sitting still.
Such a good little baby, when she wants to be!

It's hard to tell in this picture but it was a great haircut. Also, Morgan had a white tan line around the edge of his face where his hair had covered the skin. This kid can really tan! 

Yellow sucker for the yellow-haired girl dressed all in yellow!

She was pretty happy with her hair and her sucker.

The great, big boy's turn!

On the morning of Morgan's first day of school, I set up a play date with Pepper's old classmate, Grace. The girls had a great time playing and dressing up. Here Pepper is sporting a full Jasmine costume or "Jazz-Man" as she calls her.

Her poses crack me up! And check out those shoes!

This photo was taken by Josette Ellebruch. She and her husband, Joe (pictured here surrounded by our kids,) took care of the kids and house while Cody and I went out of town Labor Day weekend. More about that weekend later. But I love this picture, especially little Hazel snuggling with Joe. 

As we were heading upstairs for bath time, I realized Pepper and Hazel had dressed as twins that day completely by accident. I of course made them take a picture to capture the moment. Morgan wanted to be included.

Hazel has such a great smile!
And she looks so big in these pictures!

The kids attempting to all ride a tire swing at Copley Community Park.
Two seconds before I took the picture, Hazel was happily sitting on the swing. Oops.

This was Monday morning, August 26th and Morgan's last summer playground outing with the Momsclub.
Such a great group of moms! So lucky to be apart of this group!