Been gone awhile....

The kids and I have been battling the flu the last few days. We're on day four of our five day quarantine and we're all about to go stir crazy! There's only so much cleaning we can do....

And only so many naps we can take... (well, Momma could take naps all day... the kids, however, missed that memo)
After so many days spent with just the three of us, our goofiness has risen to a whole new level. :)

GREAT-grandparents

Gigi and Papa Sammie came to visit us the other day.

Regan and Grant were pleased.

How to have a happy heart.

Look at this picture 17 times a day.

Things I love about this picture:

• Grant's little rolls on his legs
• The way Regan's feet are curled up
• That Grant is trying to escape the cuddle
• Grant's hand on Regan's knee
• Regan's head on Grant's shoulder
• Regan's crazy hair
• Grant's double chin

Reading Rainbow

Did y'all watch that growing up? We did. Sometimes I turn it on just long enough to hear the theme song. (sigh)

Last week I took the kids to the library at the perfect time. We were honestly the only people in the kid section. It was great. It was also when most moms have their kids at home eating a healthy, home cooked lunch, but we had already eaten lunch with Daddy. And it was Fazoli's. Yum.

Anyway, here's Eric reading a nighttime story to the kiddos.

Grant was very interested.
How stinking cute are they????

Meet Regan.

She likes to wear heels.

She also likes her brother. His name is Grant. Regan likes her brother Grant to wear heels too.
Grant is happy to oblige.... for now.
Thanks for that, Regan.

FIrst Day of School

The kids started Mother's Day Out 2 weeks ago. Regan really likes her teachers and is enjoying being with her friends, especially Emma. Grant..... well, he didn't cry as loud when I dropped him off today, so maybe we're making progress??

Here they are on their first day with their new nap mats and school bags. Aren't they so stinking cute in their sunglasses and hat!?

One of the nice things about this school year is that I will have every other Tuesday off from cleaning houses. I'm looking forward to actually having some time to myself, especially during the fall when Eric works long hours and I don't get a break all that often.

Farmington

The first week of August, as if we hadn't been in the car enough, Sarah and I packed up our minivan (making the decision as to whose minivan to take is an entire story in itself) and drove out to visit Brandi and her brood. Overall, the drive wasn't too bad. Having four tv's for the kids to watch didn't hurt things....

We made quite a scene when we stopped. Which we did. A lot.

Here are three of the five kiddos eating at the non play area at McDonald's in Bernalillo.

Once we got to Brandi's, though, we had a great time! I didn't take as many pictures as I thought I did. Oops. Just believe me when I say having seven kids plus the two that Brandi babysits is.... well..... it's a lot of kids. And they're cute. And loud. And there's a lot of them.

Here's Regan swimming in Aunt Brandi's new pool. She is quite the fish.

Kyle, Regan and Grant enjoying their pudding.

Grant and the twins playing in the tent.

Grant liked Maggie.
Regan, Kylie and Aubrey enjoying their healthy lunch of pigs-in-a-blanket, cheetos and green beans. :)
Grant and Shyann liked sitting in the Diego lawn chairs.
Aunt Sarah and her babies. Harlee is on the left, Shyann on the right.
Brandi and her baby.
We had a small campfire one night and made smores. Regan was a fan.
The Sensational Seven before we went to the Aquatic Center. That place was awesome. Regan loved going off the small slide. Grant seems to have taken after his daddy and after about 5 minutes of splashing around, he looked at me and showed me the sign for "all done".
We didn't like being away from Daddy for so long, so we checked in with him every night.

And now that we're home, we're back to our usual antics.....

Grant somehow unplugged the salt shaker and within seconds, had its entire contents spilled out all over the table, himself and the floor. I love the look on his face. It must not taste the way he was expecting it to taste. :)

I put a smiley face now because I was certainly not smiling that day.

I took this picture with my phone, so it isn't the best quality, but Regan built a train for her animals (not Grant) and was reading to them.

Trip to Tulsa

So, waaaayyy back at the beginning of July (the 5th through the 8th, to be exact), we took a trip to Tulsa for a Rath family reunion. It was also our sneaky way of celebrating Richard's upcoming 65th birthday (and subsequent retirement). I don't know what subsequent means. I hope I used it right.

Anyway, because this post is already a month overdue, here are a bunch of pictures to give you an idea of what we did:

Sparklers. This would be before the "incident" involving Regan, her right eyebrow, and a twirling sparkler. Oops.

One day, Grammy and I took the girls to the library. It was the coolest library I've ever seen and the children's area was so neat. Here are the girls playing follow the leader in the story hour room.
And hanging out in the "trees".
Then we went to the Incredible Pizza something or other. The kids loved all the rides. Right, Leah?
And Lindsey.
And Grant (who wasn't as scared as he looks).
And Regan.
Baby Caleb enjoyed the lights. And his bottle.
Regan enjoyed holding Baby Caleb.
Here's Grampa looking through a piece we had commissioned for him. I don't remember the name of it. Something about Heaven. Karen and I made that cake all by ourselves. Don't be too impressed.
We swam a lot. Isn't that the cutest little pot belly ever!?
Regan went off the diving board just like the big girls.
She landed in front of me. Leah landed on my head.
Grant thought it was funny.
The kids liked sitting on the "not timeout bench".
The 5 happy Rathkins.
Leah, Caleb and Lindsey.
Grant and Regan.

We're pooped.

After spending most of the last 5 weeks in the van, we will resume our non-regular posting schedule in the near future.

After the laundry is done, the kids are bathed, the house is cleaned and Momma remembers where exactly she put her brain.

Happy July!!

I would say Happy Fourth of July, but I kind of missed that mark.... Anyhoo, here are some pictures from the parade we went to in Canyon.

Doesn't this picture just scream "all American" to it!?

They had a block party thing on the town square so we walked around there for a bit before the parade started. Here is Regan enjoying her time in the bounce house. I love the way her ponytail is flying behind her! :)

The kids, gearing up to watch the parade.
My husband is so stinking handsome!
Where else but Canyon, Texas, would you find an old tractor as the main attraction in the Fourth of July parade!?
Hope you had a happy Independence Day..... straight from Texas!!