Let There Be Music!

I was very proud of scoring this little electric organ/piano on Freecycle this week. My mother-in-law has been on me to see if I could find something to encourage Benjamin's natural ability to remember music. He taught himself a tune on her piano 2 years ago and can still go to a piano and play it. So here we go!

A friend helped Ben bring this home and it was all done after the kids were in bed. So as soon as Benjamin got up and saw it, he came running into our room "Mom, Dad, we have a piano!" as if the piano fairies had delivered it in the middle of the night and we had no idea. It was cute:)

Jacob and Evan checking it out together.

Evan was proud to learn Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

It's such novelty that they are playing as much as possible right now it will be good to have in the long run.

Dave's Retirement Party

Our brother-in-law Dave recently retired from the Army after 24 years. We were fortunate to be able to attend the ceremony and really enjoyed his comments. Here he is receiving his final honors. The next day they had a big party to celebrate.

Stephanie got several awards

Dave giving a gift to his kids, Claudia and Ruben

Evan spots a bug on a tree

Jacob

Jacob was having his own personal watermelon eating contest

Benjamin trying out a chair

Hanging out and eating the yummy food (they had a pig roast)!

Matthew loved the wide open space!

Jacob with a paddle and ball

Jacob got creative with the horseshoe pits

Jeffery getting beat up by the girls:)

Jacob

Benjamin

Paris giving Elana a piggyback ride

Girl cousin power!
Paris, Claudia, Elana and Christian

Jacob pondering what trouble to get into next~

Jeffery carrying Jacob

Cousins having fun

Matthew snoozes with Grandma

Evan has been wanting to go fishing since he saw the Rocket Fishing Rod on an infomercial. Well, the party was right on a lake and some guys had been fishing so Evan spotted the poles and becamse curious. They asked if I would mind letting them take him down and letting him try it out and he was thrilled. And Benjamin wanted to join in of course!

Benjamin watching to see what he needs to do

Evan was so excited to be holding a real fishing pole

Benjamin and Evan getting a fishing lesson

Evan says "Did you see me?"

Benjamin reeling it in

Elana and Claudia

Matthew and Grandma Orchard

Jacob and Elana

Benjamin, Elana and Luke

Jacob, Ben, Dave, Esther and Cynthia

Luke and Elana

Evan Fishing

Benjamin Fishing

Jeffery's 15th Birthday

My nephew, Jeffery, came to spend some time with us this summer and turned 15 on July 5th.

He requested a carrot cake and I found a delicious recipe Ginger Carrot Cake in my Best of Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It was SOOOOOO good!

Ben and Evan lighting the candles

Jeffery with his panda that I made for him

Jacob and Jeffery hanging around

The Fourth of July

Here we are on the 4th of July in our fancy T-shirts. I made these from Family Fun and you can find the directions here: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12193

We went to the 4th of July pancake breakfast where Ben helped cook.
Here's Evan waiting for some pancakes.

Benjamin must have thought there was a contest because I seriously think he ate 10 pancakes!!!

Jeffery was with us and here he is entertaining Matthew.

Dad and Jacob eating a yummy breakfast.

In the afternoon, Benjamin got to attend a classmates birthday party. Here is the boys against girls water balloon fight.

Benjamin and friends enjoy the birthday cake.

This was a cool little contraption. It was a ball that you put a water balloon into and then when the timer went off, the balloon popped and the kid holding it was out. A twist on hot potato. Apparently they got it at Kohl's.

More water balloons!

In the evening, we hung out in the backyard. Here are Jeffery and Benjamin fighting with light sabers.

Here is Benjamin with some sparklers.

Evan thought he was pretty awesome with two!

Benjamin holding his. Jacob wouldn't touch them.

We set off some small fireworks and the kids had fun.

Here are the 4 of them anxiously watching what will happen. After the kids went to bed (except Benjamin), we sat on our deck and were able to see quite a few fireworks in the comfort of our own backyard. There is a military base a couple of miles down and we had a great view!


All in all, it was a good day!