Summer in review

(also known as the post where I play catch up!)
It's already September and summer is nearly officially over! We have had a fun filled summer, but I am looking forward to cooler days again. :)

We have done a lot this summer. And more than likely I won't get everything in the right order, but hey it's better than nothing! :)

(Happy 4th of July)






We did a lot of swimming this summer, as usual!Lexi and Robby could already swim, but this year, Haley hung up her floaties as well and joined the big kid swimmers! The are all little fish in the water, and have so much fun. You would think going almost everyday would get old, but they loved it! Here are some pictures at the pool!



Lexi and Robby learned to do cartwheels into the pool and thought that was great fun. It scared me every single time.


Haley learned how to do a handstand underwater. It is no easy feat for her. She is so light that she floats up to the top, so staying underwater long enough to get her legs up is a huge feat! But she can do it! :)



David is pretty independent in the water with his arm floaties. We did have one scare where he almost drowned, but it didn't phase him at all, and we were swimming the next day! He was maybe a little more careful to not forget his floaties tho...


Linds loves the water too, and starting to get the hang of using arm floaties all by herself. By next summer, I have no doubt she'll do well with them!

Cousins!!




We were able to go on a couple of day trips this summer as well. There is the big Museum of Aviation here locally, although we've been many times, there were new things added, and so we decided to go again. The kids always have fun here.






The other day trip we took was to Indian Springs State Park for some fishing and a picnic. The weather was gorgeous and the view really nice. There was a little playground for the kids to play on too (though I'll be honest, it could use an updating...) We didn't catch any fish that day (seems to be a running theme for us) but they have fun trying!









And then, not long before school started, my friend Erin and I took our kids to the Childrens Museum in Macon. Neither of us had been before, but we're always on the lookout for things to do that don't involve being in the horrible humidity! :) I didn't get many pictures of the day, but it was very fun. It is geared more towards the younger kids, and after a while, my older ones said they were bored. (Although, no one was happy when it was time to leave, so I'm not sure they were all THAT bored!)We've been again since then with just the littles and they loved it!



Rob's mom was scheduled for knee replacement surgery this summer, and so we went to visit before she had surgery. We also went to Jekyll Island and stayed at the beach for a night. It was a tad rainy, but we managed to get a good amount of time on the beach in the sun! The second day, we went to a Sea Turtle rehab hospital. The kids loved seeing all the turtles and learning about them.






And also while we were vising Rob's parents, we got to go to Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. So we dressed all the grandkids up as cows before going to chick-fil-a. Ppa sure was proud of his 7 little cows! :)


And then school started!! Before we knew it, we were buying school supplies and getting back into the routine. Lexi is in 3rd grade, Robby in 1st, and Haley is in Kindergarten. They all got really great teachers, and we're all thrilled about that! David was a little disappointed that he's not old enough to start, but we've been having a little school time together and that helps. He is very excited to go to preK next year.



So anyway, this is a glimpse of what we've done this summer. I am determined to do better about taking pictures of the things we're up to. :)

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!

My baby girl is eight!! How the heck did that happen!?
She turned 8 on 8/8...must be her lucky birthday! :) She was also baptized the same day. What a sweet, sweet day.








Happy eight years, sweet girl. I can't believe how big you are!
I love you so much!!

I love to see the temple...

I love to see the temple. I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray.

When Rob and I visited Utah in June, I was just amazed by the mere sight of so many temples in one area. I loved it! It was an amazing sight to stand in one spot and to be able to see 3 temples. (Especially coming from a state with one temple) We were fortunate enough to get to go to the Salt Lake Temple and the Jordan River Temple, as well as the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. Each temple has it own distinct differences, but it's amazing to go and feel the same, wonderful spirit in each. And what a treat to get to sit in on a sealing ceremony. It happened to be the same week we celebrated our 9th anniversary, so it was extra sweet to remember our own special day, 9 years ago when knelt across the alter and were sealed for time and all eternity.

I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday.I'll cov'nant with my Father; I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I've learned this truth; A fam'ly is forever.

I especially find comfort in these words. A family is forever. As I have gotten older, that simple statement has come to mean more and more to me. But even as a child, I remember the power it had on me. Losing a sister when I was very young, I remember making promises that I WOULD do the right things so that I could see her again one day. And now, as I get older, with my Dad passing away, and my grandparents getting older, I find myself going back to that promise I made long ago. Because I need my family....FOREVER.

The Atlanta Temple, the closest temple to us, is now closed for about 18 months. This makes it much more difficult to go to the temple. Rob and I used to go on a weekday while the kids were in school, since he rarely has Saturdays off of work. Now with the closest temple 4ish hours away, it's not possible to go on a whim. And I miss it. I struggle with the idea of not knowing when we can go to a temple again.

The primary song "I love to see the temple" has long been one of my favorites. I remember singing it when I was young. And now, as I hear my own children singing it, I love it even more.
"For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty."
While I can't find an immediate solution, maybe simply being prepared for any opportunity to go to the temple is what I'm supposed to do for now. Being able and willing to go when the opportunity arises. I am determined to do just that!

sewing projects!

Every so often I get in a sewing mood and I want to sew everything. I have a huge list of things I've bookmarked or saved to try *eventually*. Well I finally got around to a couple of the thing I wanted to try!

I wish I had taken a before picture, but this dress started out as a man's long sleeve shirt. I found the tutorial here:http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-shirt-dress.html
LOVE it!! I want to make a hundred more. Ok, but I'd need a lot more mens shirts first. I actually went to good will and bought 2 to start with. :)

And my little bug-a-boo modeling it for you all! :)


This dress also started out as a man's shirt. I followed the same patter, but ended up changing it up a little. I think it's cute too!


I've drooled over a couple of oven mit tutorials that I found online, and have had some scraps that I just didn't know what to do with. So this afternoon, I decided to make an oven mit! Granted, I only had enough scraps in these colors for one, so it'll have to be a solo mit. I love how it turned out and now want to make them for everyone I know!
Front view..

and the back..


Next up, I think I'm going to work on an apron and maybe some pot holders! :) I need to sew more often! I always love when I find the time to!

dear mom,

I'm so sorry for all the grief I gave you over clothing when I was younger. I've had a brief view at what lies ahead for me, and well it's not pretty. I hope my kids are kinder to me than I was to you.
I love you. You have great taste (and I actually mean it this time! :D).

Sincerely,
Erin

Lets just say school clothes shopping was a long drawn out process today. *sigh* She's not even a teenager yet!!! AH!

A much needed update

I know, I should probably win some kind of prize when it comes to neglecting my blog. It's not that I don't have any ideas of things to write about, it just seems like anytime I come to sit and actually write, I get sidetracked.

At any rate, if I have ANY readers left, you'll be happy to know that this post includes pictures!! :)



Alexis is 7, almost 8! She is going to be in 3rd grade this year and is so excited. She also was accepted into the focus program and is really excited about that! Her favorite thing about summer is going swimming. (needless to say, we've been doing a LOT of that!)



Robby is 6 (almost 7!) He is going into first grade this year. He loves to read books, play on the computer, and play wii. He also loves swimming, and is a fast little fish! He always wants to race me, and just about catches me most times!



Haley turned 5 in May! I cannot believe it either! She is excited to go to Kindergarten, although says she's going to miss me. She is excited about learning to read (we've also spent a lot of time at the library this summer)! She loves going to the pool as well, and figured out she can swim without floaties!! I bet before the summer is over, she'll be able to swim the whole length of the pool! (She can already go about halfway!)




David is 3! He is busy as ever, keeping me always on my toes. He is a total momma's boy, and would love nothing more than to sit in my lap and snuggle me all day. He wishes he could go to school (he wished last year as well) like his older siblings, but has another year home with me. I've just got to think of things to keep him busy! :)




And my "baby" Linds is now just about 20 months. She is flying fast towards 2 and I'm not ready! She is clearly NOT a baby anymore though. (wah!) She is talking up a storm, and says the cutest things. She's also partial to her momma, which I'm eating up. It's amazing how fast they grow. I love seeing her play with the older kids, yet still needing me. :)


So there's a little update from our house. I promise it will not be as long before I post again. I have plans to maybe even add another tonight (*gasp*) :) I know, scary huh!?

It's that season again...

The one I visit several times a year where I try to get a good picture of the kids all together, as well as one with the family. (You may or may not recall this post)
But this year, I think we have SUCCESS!!! Maybe it's a fluke, but there was minimal photoshopping happening around here. :) That makes for one happy momma!

So without further ado, here are this year's Easter pictures! :)

The Howe Family 2009


The munchkins


The girlsies--Lexi, Haley and Linds


My little men--Robby and David


I'm in love with Hobby Lobby. I think I love every section in the store. Ok maybe not EVERY section, but I could wander in there for hours (and I have!). I found the fabric for the girls' dresses there and fell in love. Actually I had a horrible time picking out which fabrics to use! I already have a few more million ideas in my head of sewing projects. :D Now if I can just squeeze more time out of each day, I'll get there eventually. :)

Maybe next year, I'll make the boys matching ties. Maybe I should start now. :D