End of Summer

Well, Summer 2011 is officially ending, and I couldn't be happier!  I like Summer, but I really love the fall!  I look so forward to the hayrides, pumpkin patches, and all of the family activities that fall brings.  Here's what we've been up to lately:

We spent a lot of time at Kings Island's water park .  Ben was so excited for Aidan to go with us, so we took him the last time we went.  

 My friend Casey went to Mexico with her family, so I was hired to pet-sit for them while they were gone.  All of the animals (5 dogs and 3 cats) are very sweet and I did have fun-besides being woken up at 3:30am to feed them!  Casey warned me of that before she left; I told her it was like having a newborn baby again!

Aiden (with his typical expression of disapproval)

Chester, Nubbs, and Louie (so sweet!)

It was nice to have some time to myself at night.  I would put the kids to bed and drive over in my PJ's to spend the night.  Here's what bedtime looked like:

Yes, there are FOUR dogs in the bed!

When Casey got back, she announced that her and Jimmy were engaged!  I am so excited for them!  I am honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, and am enjoying hearing all of the wedding plans!  The wedding will be on February 4th, 2012.  Here's a look at what my dress will look like (it will be Navy blue)!

Yeah, I'll look like this in it!!

Ben has started 4th grade and is doing well so far.  He likes his teacher(s) and was thrilled that his friend, Will, is in his class.  That is good and bad; that probably means he will get in trouble for talking too much.

First day of school-no cute bus pictures this year (thanks to the school levy failing)

Lauren has become quite the fashionista in the White house.  All of a sudden, she has begun changing into absurd outfits right before we leave to go somewhere.  Here are some of her best:

Chad Johnson jersey, pink tights with hearts, and white dress shoes

Purple shirt w/butterfly, yellow skirt with Hawaiian dancers, my belt (wrapped around twice), and soccer cleats 

This week, she wore snow boots to the babysitter's house every day.  She is so darn proud of herself that I don't have the heart to tell her to go change.  I'm sure I'll have many more opportunities for that when she's a teenager!  So, if you see us out, and Lauren is wearing a bathing suit, socks pulled up to her knees, and a feather boa around her neck, just humor us.

The Ides of March is set to debut on October 7th.  Everyone keeps asking us if Mark knows for sure if he's in it; we won't know until we see it with everyone else!