Oh thank heaven for 7-11

Every year 7-11 gives away a free slurpee on July 11th.  It has been so hot so it was a great cool treat.  The kids couldn't remember what 7-11 is but once we got in there they said loudly...Oh I remember this place. Yup, last year when we got a free one. I guess we don't hang out there very much!  When Brett got home we piled all the kids in and headed over for him and us to get one but I didn't realize it ended at 7pm and we got there at 7:15. So sad! Next year we will make sure to get Daddy there BEFORE 7pm!

Genevieve gets an early birthday present!

Aunt Laura got her a new book series that she has been DYING for. Kingdom Keepers. It's a fun story about some kids that are chosen to be tour guides at Disney World. 

 As many of you know Genna is a HUGE Harry Potter fan so you can imagine the excitement when she opened her very own Time Turner necklace. She loves it. She also got a sweet shirt that says Seeker.

She loves trying new things and one adventure she has been wanting to try out is a skateboard.  She really likes it but wants knee and elbow pads to feel super confident. For now she will enjoy having daddy teach her the ropes!

Happy early birthday Genevieve. This was a fun birthday in Virginia with all your cousins and Grandparents. I can't wait for you to turn 10 in August!!!

Playgroup at the splash pad!

Our ward ( church group) tries to meet up once a week but in the summer it can be more like every other week. This week was suggested to meet at a splash pad. It is free and a great idea for all these super hot days. We brought lunch and made an afternoon of it.  I was nervous my big girls would be bored but they ended up having tons of fun too.  Jacob is very curious about pipes and where everything goes so it was no surprise to find him over by them. Giselle loved standing right over the water and seeing her skirt fly up.  Jillian had a blast shooting all the boys in her class.  It was a fun afternoon and everyone was tired after..win win for sure!

Dive's, Dip's and Dunks!

Brett in the middle of  a flip..or was it a flop?

                                          Uncle Erik.... CANNON BALL!!!

 Jacob LOVES the diving board. He jumped right off..no hesitation. Little fish!

Brett and Erik...the one's who started it all!

Aunt Mindy's turn!

Aunt Laura jumps in!

Aunt Jennifer finally took the plunge!

Uncle Larry flipped out on us!

Aunt Nichole dive's in on the fun!

Uncle Erik always having a ball!

All the kids were so cute sitting and cheering for their mom's and dad's.

Fly away little bird...fly away!

Genna conqured her fear and jumped...and jumped and jumped!

Look at that form!

Jolie gracefully jumped in the water!!

 Grandpa Fox was there but he didn't go on the diving board...even if we did BEG and BEG!

                                                             Jillian had a ball on the board!

Going to the pool isn't always that fun for mom and dad. It can be a lot of work and really wear you out.  This time was no exception to that...except for one thing. We had so much fun too. During break time kids have to stay out of the pool but adults are allowed to swim and jump off the diving board.  One by one all the adults decided to go for it.  Once we started we didn't want to stop.  All the kids lined up on the sides cheering and clapping. It was so cute and fun to see.  Uncle Larry did some fun flips and Brett did HUGE splashes...all were much loved and appreciated by the kids.  Grandpa Fox was so nice to sit on the side and make sure a couple little ones didn't try to jump in as well.   I love taking pictures of our beautiful children but I am so glad we got to get some pictures of the grown ups too!

Washington D.C. Temple

                                           Ignore my crooked smile, I just had a crown put in and I am still numb!

 

I love going to the Temple. I love the instant feeling of peace, love, comfort and home! I still remember the first time going into the temple when I was 12. I knew that this was a special place and that it was more than important it was who I am.  I didn't grow up with a temple close by. It was always a big trip. So I feel especially blessed to live close by a temple here in Chicago and also to have lived close to a temple in Virginia.  The Washington D.C. temple is very special to me because it is where Brett and I were married.  I also love taking our children there. I want them to feel the spirit and to feel comfortable with the temple. So we piled all the kids in the car and Larry and Mindy and Laura came too and we took a drive up to Maryland since that is where the temple is.  Coming up that windy drive and seeing the Temple up high, gives me goosebumps every time.  The song I love to see the temple is a favorite and I am so glad my children love it.

more summer fun with fox cousins!

The kids had so much fun playing outside...Grandma has the best toys.  A giant water slide...GIANT balls that you fit inside and roll down.   It's always fun when you have a crowd cheering. Cousins are the BEST!!

Grandkids!

Ok, so trying to get 11 kids 11 and under to sit still and LOOK at the camera is no easy thing. We made two seperate attempts and both were comical to say the least.  Cute, for sure though!

The 4th of July!

It was SO hott. There poor little faces were constantly red and just dripping but they were such troopers and just loved every minute of it all!

 Poor Giselle was so terrified of the fireworks.  She hid behind the chair below for a little while and then ran screaming for Grandma's house when she just couldn't handle it anymore. It really surprised me since she is so adventurous and carefree but I guess everyone has to be scared of something at some point!

                                                 She peeked through the chair for a little bit..but not for long!

After we did the fireworks and sparklers at Grandma's we raced to Fairfax high school to watch some of the big boomer ones.  Giselle stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa Fox we were sad to leave her but she was not sad to miss it!  Thank you Aunt Nichole and Uncle Erik for providing all the yummy treats. No thank you to all the crazy bugs hopping and jumping ALL over us. The kids loved it though and it was just what we hoped for!