The fairs in town!

The annual CPA picnic is in town this week. Don't ask me why it's called the CPA picnic? It just is. I've only lived here 6 years.. give me 4 more and I'll be able to tell you! But it's Eudora's town carnival. Main Street is filled with games, rides, and Carnies! The games cost a fortune, the food is unhealthy and greasy, it's hot out... but you just gotta love it!

Eric and the kids looking at the games and rides
We met up with the cousins for the parade and enjoyed a nice evening. Dinner time, so we enjoyed grilled hamburgers from the Methodist Church. We look forward to these every year!

We got by without eating one snow cone, bag of cotton candy, or corn dog.

But we got 3 big bags of candy from the parade!

The Project is Complete!

I seem to have inherited my mom's need for change! I so wish I was someone who could leave stuff alone... but I can't... and I love it!

So a few months ago we put in new carpet. I loved the carpet we chose for the stairs, but as soon as it was done, Eric mentioned that our spindles needed changed. I'm not one who ever wants to let my man down... so I abliged! This week the crew came to take out the old (white) and put in the new (wrought iron).

I think it turned out FANTASTIC!!!

Amazing Memories and Sad Times

My wonderful, amazing, and perfect Aunt Carol (in the middle) passed away this last week. It was unexpected and unbelieveable. She was loved and adored by all!

Carol was a family person, and loved to have family gatherings. My family is a HUGE family. With 13 siblings, our family gatherings get quite large. Unfortunatly in the last several years, with everyone growing up and moving on... we haven't had very many gatherings where everyone comes together. But with Carol's passing, everyone made it back!

It was amazing to see all my aunts and uncles in one place. My Uncle Jack above, I haven't seen for many, many years!

Tons of my cousins were back that I haven't seen in ages. I have 49 first cousins on this side of the family. Most of which are married and have kids of thier own.

And the kids loved getting to meet and play with them.

It was a sad day, but a day that made some great memories. Leave it to my Aunt Carol to get us all together one last time!

We love you Aunt Carol!

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There's something new happening at the Votaw household! Can you guess what it is?

Another Rash

About a month ago we noticed a rash on Maci's legs. I put some medicine on it and forgot all about it. A couple weeks later she mentioned it again. So I put more medicine on it and started watching it. When it started to spread I took her to the Dr. They gave us an antibiotic cream, and we started it, but the next day it was worse. We visited the Dr again and this time got an oral antibiotic. Thing were looking good when on day 9 of her 10 day antibiotic she woke up looking like this.

Yes they are shorts she just has pulled up
The poor girl is covered- head to toe. Her eyes and lips are swollen. Her whole body is puffy. It looks miserable. We did round 3 of the Dr today and hopefully the new meds mixed with some steroids will put an end to the lovely new shade of red she has become. She's been amazing thru the whole ordeal. However, the Dr did warn me that the steroids can make her moody, cranky, irritable, hyper, and overly emotional. Looks like a fun week ahead! ha

Updated: 2 hrs later... the tears have begun! This may be a REALLY LONG week!

Swimming with a crew

I love to be home with my kids, and I love to have their friends come over every day to play with them. I also love to get out and about and enjoy the finer points of summer...like the swimming pool.
I've had a lot of people question how you take 6 kids (5 of them 5 and under) to the pool. So I've decided to show you my secret...

Floaties!

The poor littlest ones have to have on a life jacket, arm floaties, and a swimming ring. I have to laugh because when my mom is with me, she's always worrying about the little ones. I have told her many times that there would be no humanly way to push them under! It does kind of ruin the kodak moments... but atleast they are safe (what I like) and swimming on their own (what they like)!

The big boys have graduated up to the arm floaties only. At the beginning of the summer they had to have the tube around thier waist, but they have taken off on the swimming.

It helps to have papa and mimi along also! They like to cool down, and I like how they take charge! As soon as the kids see them, they could care less that I'm around!


And you always have to have good food! As long as you have food, drinks, and floaties, your day in the sun is PERFECT!

Air Show

If I was to predict my kids future... I see Lincoln joining the air force. The kid is totally transfixed to military jets and aircraft. When Eric saw that they were having an air show in Gardner, we knew he would be one happy camper.

As soon as we parked, he took off to this plane. He just walked from plane to plane taking it all it.

After Maci just spending the evening with George Washington, we were shocked to go back in time again and run into President Truman and General MacArthur.

It was a hot hot day and the kids had no idea why we wanted them to stand here, but we got a shot... maybe not a good one, but atleast they are all in it!

Good Friends

As I've mentioned before, my kids are extremely lucky to be growing up with some good friends. When I was little I grew up with the kids across the street. We lived at each others houses, and were always together. We were more like siblings then just friends. To this day we are still best friends, and they are as much family to me as my brothers are.

When Eric and I first decided to build our house out in the country I worried that my kids wouldn't have that experience. No one close to grow up with. No one person to try new experiences with. But I'm so glad to see I was wrong.

5 years ago I started watching a new baby. He was a distant relative to Eric, but I didn't know the family. I didn't know how long I would have him since my house wasn't that convenient for his parents work, but knew it would be an adventure I was willing to start.

Little did I know then what that relationship would turn into. Both of my boys have best friends. Friends that they spend the days with. Friends that they have been growing up with and enjoying everything with. Friends that have turned into brothers.

Tonight Maddox went over to spend the night with Camden. Camden's mom sent pictures of the evening and it was so fun to see the smiles on their faces. They've been together since 8:00 this morning, (not to mention all day every day this summer) and still have stuff to talk about!

And I'm assuming at about 10:00 tonight I 'll get the phone call that he wants to come home.... doing just what I did all those years ago when I was spending the night with Beth. And just like my mom did, I'll go get him in a second.

But they will just pick up tomorrow, and the fun and laughter will start all over again.

What would we do without friends?

Date night

It's been a hectic week. Not one that I want to do over anytime soon. To many "surprise" expenses, and multiple trips to repair shops and doctor offices. After Maci and Eric had their date night to see George Washington, I decided it was Maddox and my turn. Maddox had a free dinner at Applebee's from school, so we were off.

As we set at Applebees it was fun to talk to my rapidly growing little boy! He was so excited to order his own meal and pay his own bill. We just sat and talked about everything. From school starting shortly and him being a big kindergartener, to his girlfriend (he's had her since he was 4... is what he tells people) and how their dates will be some day.

After dinner I let him choose what he wanted for dessert and he wanted ice cream. When asked where he wanted to go he replied..."somewhere I've never been before." So off we went to find an ice cream shop that the Votaw family hadn't conquered yet.

We ended up at Sylas and Maddys and enjoyed ourselves some frozen yumminess. When I asked him what he wanted, he would only reply that he wanted the same thing I was getting. I told him there was so many choices, why did he want what I was getting... "because I love you!" was his response. Wow... the boy knows how to talk to this lady! I'm smitten!

As we were walking back to the car he grabbed my hand and my heart melted just like it did all those years back when his daddy did that for the first time. It's amazing to see the little man we are raising. He's perfect in absolutely EVERY way!

Thanks for the date Mad dog!

Maci Meets George

Maci loves spending time with her daddy, and when he asked if she wanted to go meet George Washington, she was thrilled! I don't know if it was just getting to spend the one on one time with her daddy... or if she was really interested in our nations history... but off they went, and she even returned with a smile!

At the Dole Institute at KU they had George Washington in town for the evening. They had a session of him talking, a question/answer period, and a meet and great. My little shy girl who usually refuses to talk to people, was eager to talk to him. Eric was surprised she wanted to go meet him. These pictures were taken by the Lawrence Journal World and sent to us to see if they could submit them to the paper. Some day soon she may be in print!

Grillin time

We decided after a wonderful dinner at grandpa and grandma's, that the next night we needed some more.

Getting ready to go grill us some food! Is that enough hot dogs for a family of 5? You betcha- we'll be eating them all week!

Learning from daddy-

Yummy!

Don't be alarmed- he can't eat this much... he just thinks he can. What he ate is what you see missing!

Spoon Feed

Need any more spoons?

*and yes- he has pants on... I promise!

Baby Lovin!

We spent the day cuddling with a good friends little one! Krayton is just a doll! My kiddo's just couldn't get enough! It was hard to share and to let him go home, but his momma wasn't willing to leave him!

Church's 4th Celebration

Sunday evening we decided to head back to church to enjoy the fun festivities they had prepared for the evening.

We got there a little late so we were upstairs in the "standing room only" section

It was great to see the gym full, and there was wonderful music. My favorite part year after year is when they play the anthem to each section of the military and have all who have or are currently serving come forward. It is just amazing to see, and makes me cry every year!

After the music, and before we enjoyed their grilled specialties... we took part in the fun for the kids. This slide moved thru pretty quickly, except for when Linc was in the front like in this picture. He seemed to for quite a line!

All 3 kids coming down at the same time... note to self...next year don't put Maci in a skirt!

We need a big bounce house like this- the kids loved it.


and there's absolutely nothing better then wrestling with cousin Theron (Eric's cousin)

And we love to end the night with the ice cream truck! It taste even better when it's free!

The Church Festival was definitely a hit... and we'll be sure to make it back next year!

3rd Of July Party

We are very fortunate to have such a great extended family. We were invited over to the home of Eryn's parents (Eryn is who's boys I watch, who happens to be Eric's distant cousin.. related thru grandpa's being brothers. Caught up?) So we went to enjoy the 3rd of July with them, family, and friends.

The rain didn't slow down the kids. They were so excited to set off fireworks, and I've never seen so many fireworks in my life. I think they had more there then the firework stands we visited!

Lincoln and Trenton stood guard over the dessert table

Even my parents were invited to the event. It's nice to spend the holidays with both sides of the family all at once! Here's Eric's brother, his dad, Eric and my dad trying to solve the worlds problems.

The boys enjoyed a lot of water fun.. and it made it even better that it was raining at the time. That meant the parents left them alone staying inside and staying dry!


However Eryn got suckered into joining their fun by filling up water balloons... sucker!!!!


Lincoln seemed to be our only accident. He walked right into a punk and burnt the side of his face.

We had the best time! Thank you so much Verna and Clifford, and Eryn and Justin!

Lightening Bugs

My pictures are backwards here but I'm to lazy to rearrange them!

While we were at the Patriotic Concert the other night the kids found the lightening bugs. (I don't know their true names, but that is what I've always known them as.) The next night he decided to hunt the bugs with the kids. They had a blast.

Watching their catch survive in the plastic container. These poor bugs had no privacy!

Maci in charge of the loot. When one was captured it went in the plastic container and was left until a friend was thrown in with it.

The journey begins! Time to start watching. They seemed to like the trees the best, so most of the scouting was done in the tree line. Linc's pants always have trouble staying up... so excuse his appearance please!