Lynn Pettingill Reunion

It was decided very spontaneously to have a Lynn Pettingill reunion and with me having the baby so close to the reunion dates I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. Grandpa's health has really declined this year with multiple surgeries and hospital stays for various reasons so I really wanted to go. BUT I was only four weeks postpartum from a c-section and really wouldn't be able to physically handle the kids by myself. I was in a dilemma and knew I couldn't make it without Lance.

The sunday of that week after church was over the idea hit me to make the drive to Twin Falls in two days while Lance flew in to meet us later in the week. After a quick nap I loaded up our bags and the kids and was on the road by 5pm. We stopped in Pendleton, OR for the night, unbeknownst to me at a really shady hotel (I feared for our lives that night and slept with one eye open when I did sleep). The kids did really great although Kimball wasn't happy about sharing a bed with Cora. The next day we finished the drive and somehow we made it Mom's house.

 Girls night/bachelorette party for Makenzie

The reunion was at the Elba park which was perfect for everyone to pitch tents and camp together. We rode four wheelers and went horseback riding, there was fishing, shooting, marshmallow roasting, baseball, kickball, frisbee, swimming, and lots of visiting. It's been over 3.5 years since I've seen Scott! I absolutely LOVED having the whole family together, it has been such a long time since we've done that. Karen and Sally and all of their troops were there and Grandpa was able to make it out for lunch!

 The man of the hour - the oldest and the youngest.

Lance and I went shooting with Scott and Tim and while Lance was aiming for a clay pigeon with the .410 it completely fell apart in three pieces. I've never seen Scott laugh so hard in my life!

 ALL  SEVEN SIBLINGS!!!

After the reunion we were supposed to leave to go home the very next morning but Lance just slept and slept. So I decided I was going to make the most of that extra time. Christine and I went shopping for Father's Day and then went to Daisy's to treat the kids to a Volcano drink and a gumball. We didn't leave go to back home to Spokane until 5pm (we would have stayed longer if Lance didn't have to work in the morning).

 

 

Random Photos

A few Sundays ago it was quite warm and the kids wanted to play in the water but couldn't. So I filled some containers up with ice and let them smash ice cubes with hammers. It was a hit!

 Enjoying the warm weather

I taught the kids to play Hopscotch and Cora's still learning to jump on one foot so Kimball held her hand the whole time so she wouldn't fall. He's such a great big brother, at least when he's not incessantly teasing her.

Preschool Graduation

The preschool Kimball did this year was at the high school just a block away from our house. It's part of the early childhood development classes given there so there's an actual teacher and then the high school students are "buddies" to each child and are hands on in teaching them various kindergarten skills. Kimball has loved it and so have I although I'm glad it's over for a more relaxed summer! Here he is at the little graduation that was put on. The students introduced each child, they all sang Slippery Fish, and we had cookies and juice for a snack.

This was one of Kimball's buddies, Tammy, and Kimball LOVED her! She even gave him a gift at the end of the graduation program and gave us her phone number in case we ever needed a babysitter.

 First and last days of preschool!

Sibling Love

Morning snuggles with this girl

 Kimball had to teach Ezra how to work his tractors

Such A Sweet Babe!!

First Father/Son Campout

Rock Jar

 The kids have a jar in the kitchen that they put rocks in for either behaving really well or doing extra jobs around the house, things like that. When the jar gets full they can either pick something to do as a family (swimming, bowling, movie theater, jump house, etc.) or they can pick out a new toy. Kimball chose to go to a monster truck show in Coeur d'Alene with Lance.

Somehow Lance found these ear muffs for Kimball to use so the noise isn't quite so loud. He was so excited about going that the few days prior to the show Kimball would not put these ear muffs down. He even fell asleep in them.

 This monster truck they even got to go inside of.

Turns out this show took place during the Spring Festival so it was like a small carnival. There was a free petting zoo, free blow up village, fair food, souvenirs, etc.

While the boys were at the monster truck show I knew us girls needed a trip somewhere. It was my first time in public since having Ezra and mom was sick so we didn't do a whole lot. We went to the mall and window shopped for a while, Cora got to pick out the toy she earned, and we went to dinner at Chilis.

This was the toy Cora picked out, a Minion skateboard, haha.

Help!

Donna and John stayed with us for five nights and took care of the kids while Lance and I were at the hospital. They took the kids to preschool and therapy and made sure all their needs were met. Grandpa Cox did Five Monkeys Jumping on the Bed every single night and they still ask for it because they loved it so much!

Kimball is such a GREAT big brother! He's absolutely obsessed with Ezra and always asks to hold him or feed him or change his diaper. Yep, he wanted to learn to change his diaper so Grandma Julie showed him how to do it. He can't wait for us to go to church as a family so everybody can see Ezra and wanted to show him off at preschool.

 Everybody is smitten by this beautiful baby boy!

 The kids helping me give Ezra a spit bath since we're still waiting for his umbilical cord to fall off.

Cora and Grandma really hit it off and Grandma became her best friend. They were inseparable! Mom stayed with us for 10 days and although it was hard for me to just sit and watch her do all the work, I'm so grateful! I needed those extra days of rest and healing. She got up with Ezra every other night so I could sleep, Cora got her sick but she didn't skip a beat she kept right on working, she deep cleaned my house, and made yummy treats. She played and played with the kids!