The Boyer News and N'At

This was the most "celebratory" vacation that I have ever taken. Although quite ambitious, it was lovely to celebrate my parent's 40th anniversary with a big suprirse party-attended by many of their friends.  A cool part for my kids was the "tour" my parents took them on before the party (a way to divert them from the SUPRISE-if you will)

My kids got to see the house my Mom and Dad grew up in, repsectively, and the high school they both attended. 

Here is a little of that:

Then they were suprised at the church they attended (part of the tour) by their friends-some who traveled far....

My parents had to participate in the "Newlywed Game" designed for them (they lost )

And a fun skit performed by most of the grandchildren-where the kids sang about different activities my parents like to do...

Nate got a lot of laughs with "An Organizer I would be, This goes here, This goes there, Jane put away your underwear!"  Nate was happy to say underwear :) and those who know my Dad-would say that characterization fits him well..

My parents also introduced all of us kids to everyone-and I have never in my life seen them happier to have us all together-celebrating them.

Happy Anniversary

This year we did a big trip with my whole extended family (all 23 of us)-but to get to the trip, we had to do what all parents have to do....1000 loads of laundry, clean up the house, organize clothes for 5 people (love my husband-don't pack for him), and make sure that we can somehow all fit in the van together (debatable this year)

We are always amazed in a 6 hour trip how many time we have to stop at the bathroom, and how many things get spilled in the car.  This year it was orange juice, Mom's coffee (don't ask), chex mix, and a couple of plum pits.

I will write more about our very fun trip later, but I first wanted to show a rest area stop where we all got out and after doing the necessary business-played tag!

We must of made a spectacle-all 6 of us running, because a couple of the ladies who worked there came out to check us out---What I love about this memory is how a typically boring rest area stop is full of giggles-esp from the boys, who always want to run.  I want to remember the fun (the rest stops) and try to forget the spilling, and the crying, and the poking of siblings :)

I am one of those Moms that often struggles with summer. Although I love the warm weather, and the ability to do different activities, and the lack of pressure for kids to get on the school bus, I have struggled with all the kids being home, at their various stages of development, and sharing with me (and with each other) their various, divergent needs.

The summer that Sam was born, for instance, I thought that I would truly never make it through!  Not just because of the obvious post-partum and sleeplessness, but for me the real (and I know ongoing question)-how do I help met the needs of four different kids who are all at differing stages of development, interests, and all who really seem to need me and Tom?  I just never thought that I could do it.  Alot of people (trying to be encouraging) would tell me-"just wait until they all get older-it will be so much better."  Although I found that helpful, my other thought was-Am I going to enjoy anything about parenting all of them at the same time (which you have to do more in the summer) or am I just going to be waiting, waiting for the magic "get older phase?"

I am thankful to reflect that this summer some of that enjoyment has come for me.  I have found myself saying to random people  "this has been the best summer I can ever remember."  And I really don't think that has been that we have gone to New York City (although that was fun). I think it is because I wake up each day glad for what all four kids might bring to the day.  I like that there are different needs, I like watching them all together playing, I don't competely freak out about the fighting (it is there-believe me) and I don't see each day as one "to get through"-but more as joy.

What has changed?   I think (honestly) that God is changing me.  I really do, because there is no way two years ago I could have foreseen this.  And I don't at all mean to say my days are without stress, or that people refrain from talking mean to one another, or I think "how many times have I told him or her not to do that?'  It's just the overarching joy, the feeling of the privledge to be here-the realization that it won't last long, and that I will be someday old and long for the chaos.  I am just grateful that even someone like me has the hope of changing--------

Today I was not feeling so well-had a low level cold which gave me NO energy.  I gave the "mom does not feel so great speech" to the three older kids.  About 1/2 hour in to the morning.  I saw them playing their favorite game called "Family."  Nate is the brother (he is called Luke) Grace is the sister (called Susie)  Sam is the brother Sam :) and Eden is the Mom of all (surprised?) called "London".  Family seems to mostly involve sitting around with lots of stuffed animals and babies and taking "naps" on as many blankets as you can find.  But today the family took a trip to the "Statue of Liberty"-using our tickets from the trip.  According to Luke (nate) they also made a trip to California, but instead of getting out the "car"-everyone just decided to take a "nap"  Doesn't sound like a real adventurous family to me!  All I know is that I had to pull them away from their game to go to swimming lessons!

Playing Family

  The other fun thing about "Playing Family" is how much Nate at 9 , Eden at 7, Grace at 3 and Sam at 2 loved it.  The kids do come up with things they can all do together.  Nate, who got to go swimming, had a fun friend over in the afternoon-said playing family was his favorite part of the day-

Tonight took a few shots trying to get a "normal" picture of Sam and Nate (almost impossible).

First attempt with Sam

I love my bubba

Then, an attempt with Sam and Nate-

Silly Boys

Then, I GOT THEM!-

Gotcha Boys

We are having a good week all back together.  Swim lessons in the morning, and some swimming at night.Our neighborhood pool is cheap-and many of the kids' friends (and their fun Moms)-hang out there, too.

I have been thankful for simple joys this week.  I am reminded of that when I see my kids together.  Although they fight (they surely do)-they enjoy one another, too.  This week I am especially thankful for Sam.  He had an audiology appointment today to check his hearing, and it looks Ok.  I was glad to hear that.  The audiologist that he does have some continual fluid in his ears, and thought it might be contributing to his speech delay.  I have heard him say some new words-this week, though-one being "Pool"  and "Shoes-Pool"-in other words, "Let's Go!"

Here are some snapshots-all the way from Mother's Day-but I finally got them together!

That sweet boy: (how do I turn this picture?)

Yeah Smile Sam!!

Aren't these guys also so sweet?

Nate grace and eden

Candid 4 kids 2

Good pic 6

We have some other good family pics-but you can see why we were excited about Sam smiling in the first picture! He was so grumpy this day-but when he saw dogs at the park-he smiled from ear to ear.

We had a fun-filled, HOT, HOT, busy, walking, subway-riding, new food-tasting, new experiences week.

We took the "Big Kids"-Nate and Eden to experience the Big Apple for the first time.  (In retrospect, we were beyond glad that Grace and Sam stayed with their grandparents).  We missed our little ones a lot, and thought of them throughout the week-but they would have never made it through all the activities and walking and walking.  (We barely did some days :)

We enjoyed the one one one time with Nate and Eden, but were also amazed how our family did not feel "complete" on the trip-a testimony to God as we need those cute little ones around to feel like our whole family.

Some highlights......

The Brooklyn Bridge and true NY pizza (we waited in line a long time!)

We got to stay with some dear friends-Ryan and Jessica Smith-we enjoyed their kids and learning about their life in Brooklyn.  They got us to where we needed to go-we never got lost thanks to them.  They also gave up their big bedroom for us, had a cookout with us, and recommended fun things to do.  Thank you Smiths!

We had a fun Chinatown day with them-and walked through Little Italy as well. Nate wants you to know that he is eating  (and enjoying)squid in the picture below in the hopes that his "picky eater" reputation might be recinded :)

We did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island-which we thought was totally cool except for the incredibly long lines and hot weather.-

Some numbers-we climbed 156 steps to get to the place where we could see out (about 1/4 of the way up the statue)-one of the guides told us that until 2001 -you could climb to the top, in a single file line, taking you about 2 1/2 hours and it would be about 110 degrees at the top and the window to see out would be the size of your hand, with no view-NO THANKS!

We also did the Museum of Natural History  with the Smiths (totally cool) and took a trip to the East Village for dinner followed by Times Square.

Eden's favorties:Subway rides (we took 17 trains!), the Statue of Liberty, Sea Lion feeding at the Central Park Zoo, and the babies and piano at FAO Schwartz

Flower Stall in the East Village

Nate's favorites:  the ocean exhibit at the musuem, the rainforest at the Zoo, the hackey sack guy at FAO Schwartz, the drummer in Central Park. Here is Nate and Eden jumping on the fake lily pads at the zoo..

Lilly Pad Jumpin'

.On our last day after the zoo, and some rock climbing in Central Park-we walked to FAO Schwartz.  I (for obvious reasons) am not a fan of crowded toy stores, but that place was a blast....there were giant Lego people, hackey sack demos and a nursey full of "newborn babies"- and the giant piano to play, both kids smiled the entire time we were in there. (and never asked for a toy-except some candy-amazing?)

Thank you (again) to the Smiths-our lovely hosts, Tom for having a conference in NY, and the kids awesome grandparents, who organized our house, (Pop Pop Dave!) took great care of Sam and Grace, and had Sam working on his colors (way to go Grandpa Bud!) We are so grateful!

Gelati

When we asked Eden what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said "Have my friends over and make Chinese food"-We thought that sounded complicated (and it was a little)-We also thought it sounded fun.  Since it was 90 degrees on the day of her party, we talked Eden into adding "water sports."  (You know-the Olympics are in Beijing and that was all connected to our theme)

So, we did start the afternoon off with this....

Tom thought of many water-related activties and then we moved in side for dumpling making, cooking, eating, presents and cake.  We were a bit ambitious having all these kids help cook and do so in a timely manner, but we all still had fun.  Dumplings and fried rice are being created here....

We were surprised how these girls loved the food and that they all could use chopsticks-:)

Happy 7th Eden-We hope your party was "Chinese" (being that we have only one Chinese family member and she is not exactly an authority on Chinese birthdays :)

This week would have qualified for our family as one of the most unrelaxing in recent memory.  We know, summer is supposed to be fun-and we had a lot of it this week-and at times too much getting everyone where they needed to go.

Our big kids participated in music and drama camp every morning.  Nate got better on the piano and had fun with drums while Eden learned a little guitar and partipated in something she loved-gospel mime.  She got so into it. Friday night was their performance.  It was so cool to see so many kids from all different churches and backgrounds attend this neighborhood camp.  Every day that I picked them up, I felt like I saw all our neighbors and all of my kids buddies.

Here are a few shots from the performance (a little dark). Nate and his buddy Ian did drums and both learned piano.  This was fun as both of these boys love sports and more sports-so a little music does their brain good...

Eden doing her mime-she loved this so much-and here with one of her teachers, Anna.

Grace and Sam spent mornings at the playground, helping me get ready for Eden's party (in the post to come)- or hanging out together.  We went to a fun playground this week.  To top it all off, Eden and Grace went to VBS at our church (no pics-too crazy to even get there) and Nate had baseball almost every night -WHEW!   Having Fun is a lot of work (well- at least for the parents).

 When Tom said that he was going to let Nate try out for a Little League Tournament team- I spouted , "haven't we had enough baseball this May and June-now all of July?"  and "we have 3 other kids you know...." and "this team wants us to put our life on hold."  And other such rantings (true rantings, but rantings nontheless)

They won their first game 15-1-not very exciting, then they played a really good team and lost by 1.  But the cool part was- the kid who was named the MVP of the game:

Look Mom I did it!

Ok, that smile was totally worth it for me.  And watching last night's game-where they won by 1.  They still are in the tournament-the finals are on Saturday.

It was great that Gi Gi and Pop Pop got to be there for Nate's big game.

MVP with Pop Pop

So, tune in for final results if it is of interest to you.  I am not totally sold on having our life's taken over by baseball, but that smile sure is worth seeing.

July 6th was Eden's 7th Birthday!  We thought many years ago that she would come on July 4th, but she waited until the 6th. She has been our "firecracker"-spicy in personality, but also interesting and tons of fun.

She had her favorite breakfast and presents for her birthday-crepes with fruit and more fruit.

She also got two presents that she loved-a pet mouse from Nate (I know-her parents are crazy) and a knock off American Girl doll (found at most Target stores near you:)-

Eden's 7th B-day 006

Traditional to birthdays in our family-we all shared reasons that we love Eden:

Here are some:

1).  She thinks of creative things to play-like Kings and Queens-  (Nate)

2).  She loves animals and they seem to love her (Gi Gi)

3).  She helps people when they are sad (Mom)

4).  She is really good with little kids and babies (Mom and Dad)

5).  She greets me always with a hug and a smile (Pop Pop)

6).  She is a BIG helper (Pop Pop)

 7).  She produces most of the plays and shows in our family (all the kids)

We love you Eden-Happy Birthday!

7 Candles

We have had a busy and Happy 4th.  Not quite like the giant parades and huge homemade floats from my youth-(remember Mom and Dad when you dressed Pete and I up like Rosalyn and Jimmy Carter, put us on top of our dressed up wagon, and had us throw peanuts???)- but I digress...:)

We did have a fun weekend:  Here are some of the highlights:

A bike parade up at the fountain at Highland Park-lot of kids with decorated bikes and wagons, and games.  The kids loved it, but at the end Tom did say that Sam almost got run over by big kids gone wild on their bikes... Oh well...

A picnic with Renee, Don, and their friends from their international school in Nepal.  It was so interesting to talk with folks who live overseas, and get a different perspective.  Teaching for a year at their school in Nepal sounds cool, I woudn't be surprised if we tried it out....

Saturday-we went to Nate's tournament game-they won 15 to 1 (it was a short game-and more games to come) Sam is also "practicing" baseball any chance he gets.  He rarely swings the bat, but just holds it and runs.  Below is rare picture of him swinging.

And what better way to end a Saturday then with some good old Slip N Slide? (Note Grace crawling across the slide, that was the most effort she could put in).  We did a little of that and then I took Eden to see Kung Fu Panda for her b-day. 

We ended the night with a picnic with Pop Pop and GiGi and an impromptu ice cream and Wii party with our neighbors and some extra kids.  No wonder at the end of Saturday-We felt like this- (actually Grace-sleeping this week completely snoring, totally off the bed:) 

Weird sleeping