Lainey at 7 (overdue!)

Sweet, sweet Lainey!

Lainey is such a dear girl.

She is truly a big blessing to me!

She is a wonderful helper, kind, self motivated, honest, and responsible.

I'm really so thankful for her.  She's grown and matured a lot this year.

She had a wonderful first grade teacher last year and really enjoys school.

She reads well and over the summer has discovered the joy of chapter books!

She loves babies as much as I do and will fight me to hold any baby 

we get a chance to spend time with! 

She has many baby dolls and really loves them.

I bought her a weighted, lifelike doll for her birthday (6 lbs).

She carries her everywhere.

She takes a baby doll to every soccer session she dragged to (there are MANY) 

and often brings her back carrier or a carseat for her dolls.

I love seeing her be a little girl.

She's such a sweet, mature helper but still a little girl.

I'm glad to see her sense of pretend mature and develop.

She started piano lessons this year and is a natural.

She LOVES piano and never once have I had to remind her to practice.

She hates playing soccer (ha!) and sticks to climate controlled, non-running sports.

She loves both swimming and gymnastics.

She participated on our local swim team this summer and does about 1 hour 

of gymnastics a week, most of the year.

She is 49.5 inches tall and 53 pounds

She is STRONG and muscular!

She loves watching my crossfit classes and has a huge 

desire to be as strong as possible.

I must say, I'm quite proud to have my dear daughter watching me 

lift weights and fight for a healthy body.

She is much stronger than I am and can whip out pull-ups and 

do a legless rope climb with very little effort. :)

Lainey is a true blessing to me!

I am very thankful for her and hope she always knows how deeply she is loved!

Grandparent Camp

This is the first summer I haven't been back to Wisconsin since moving out east 9 years ago.  I really enjoy going home in the summer, but this year, our trip to KS/NE took place of that.   Mom and Dad pitched the idea of having Erik and Lainey come out on their own.  This meant they had to fly on their own!  Luckily, they love to fly and that idea didn't phase them at all.

They had a great week with Mom and Dad.  Here are a few photos from their week of fishing, go-carting, painting, swimming, baking, etc.  They had a wonderful time and weren't homesick at all!

The little boys and I had a nice time at home too.  It was fun to let Carson 'be in charge" for a little bit.  He is a homebody, so didn't want to anything too big.  He is just happy to stay home and play (my sweet boy!).  We went bowling, went out to eat, went to the pool, played at a local beach. 

It was a great week for all of us, I'm thankful for my kids loving grandparents! (Grandma Sandy too!)

Kansas/Nebraska

The kids and I spent 8 days traveling.  It was definitely work but the kids did really well!

We flew into Nebraska to spent a couple of days with my dad's family.  Three of my aunts and uncles, a number of cousins, and my almost-92 year old grandpa live  in Nebraska still.   It was really nice to see everyone!  I haven't had all four kids to KS/NE ever so it was a much needed trip!  In Nebraska we ate lots of yummy food, explored the Lincoln Zoo, Lainey went rock climbing, and I fit in a soggy 7 mile run.

The entire trip was inspired by my Grandma Baker's 90th birthday.  So after a couple days in Nebraska we headed to Kansas City.  We spent 4 full days in Kansas.  Lots of time with family and food.

The last full day the kids and I went to downtown Kansas City and explored there.  We went to Kaleidescope (Hallmark's kid place), ate at Fritz's (train delivers your food), met up with Aunt Barbara and head to the aquarium, then walked over to union station and explored the train display and a science museum (fun!).

Our flight home had a pit stop in Tennessee.  I am a very experienced flyer but phew was that ride bumpy.  There was a huge thunder and lightening storm over Kansas City the morning we flew out.  I thought our flight would be delayed.  It wasn't.  Instead it was rerouted south.  So so bumpy.  Poor Kyle yelled and hollered until he fell asleep.  Haha!  Erik and Lainey will be doing a solo flight soon - so they were sitting across the aisle.  I'm happy to say they handled it like champs.  Carson hated the turbulence as much as Kyle and I did but he just sat quietly while squeezing my hand to pieces. :)

I'm thankful for my family!  So blessed to have two living and healthy grandparents in their 90s! And thankful to be able to spend some time with them this summer!

 Grandpa Williams

 Grandma Baker

Lainey and Reid

My kids and my cousin Jill youngest two kids -

playing at Janet and Dennis' house and

exploring the zoo

 Travel day

 Grandpa Williams and four of many greatgrandkis

 Trains in Kansas

Lainey rock wall climbing with Alexa 

She made it to the top of a 42 foot wall twice

 Meeting up with my friend Diana from high school -
she lives in OH, I live in MD, we are from WI and met up inKS

 Grandma's party

Sparklers at Barbara's on the 4th of July

Grandma and her greatgrandbabies (minus Jake)
It was quite the party!
All of my cousins, siblings (including Feifei), Aunts and Uncles were there
Plus most of my Grandma's nieces and nephews came!
Can't hardly imagine what her 100th birthday party will be like. :)