"You think you can do these things, Nemo and you JUST CAN'T!"
-Marlin from Disney's Finding Nemo

A quote that has been ringing in my ears over the past couple of weeks. Especially when it comes to thinking that I can blog every couple of days to keep you all posted on the Libby happenings. NOT HAPPENING!!! Things are pretty busy at home. I am just about finished with re-ordering our office to prepare for our upcoming homeschooling endeavor. I am trying to make space for Caleb's things and make our office space much more efficient. Watch out...mama is cleaning out!!! In addition to that, Josiah has been giving us a lovely time with his 3 year old self so we are working on some things with his behavior. Work has kept Dave and I both busy in the last couple of weeks and we are preparing to shift gears as school starts up again soon. In the midst of all this, I am just trying to find some balance so some things have been put on the back burner for a little while including Facebook and obviously keeping up on my blog. I do apologize but home is in much need of my attention right now and that certainly comes first. Wednesday, the boys went to Summer Camp and I stayed home with Hannah so that I could accomplish some errands and get some major stuff done at home. When Dave came home he went to the computer and couldn't believe that I hadn't even turned it all ALL DAY. It's amazing what you accomplish when you take out some distractions. So in continuing on with what I said I would do here are some pics from Caleb's birthday party with his friends at the house.

Caleb wanted a CARS party and Auntie Lauren delivered of course. This cake was awesome and quite yummy too!

A friend of mine was kind enough to let us borrow this jump bounce for the party. I felt so blessed because I really wanted to do some special for Caleb's party and he really loved this!

Hannah and Isaac.

We did a really fun obstacle course at the party. Each child had to make their own license plate and then do the obstacle course. Each station was named after one from the CARS movie. This is Caleb at "Luigi's Tire Barn" stacking up the tires.

Caleb at the car wash. The kids had to run through the sprinkler and then clean off a nasty muddy truck of their choice.

This was the pit stop. They had to change their tires (eat an oreo) and gas up (drink apple juice) in order to complete the race.

"Tow Mater's Impound". The kids had to pick up the matchbox cars with a clothespin and drop them in the bucket. This was the biggest challenge.

This image simply made me smile so I had to take a picture. It was taken just in the middle of a typical day. Amidst the busyness and hub bub of our day. It was a reminder that though these handprints are on every surface in my home right now, someday they won't be and someday I'll wish they were. So no, I didn't run for a wipe to get this off my door right away. Instead, I ran for my camera because these are the moments I want to remember. The fun that my kids had playing in the dirt, building towers, coloring me a picture of a cat for the upteenth time. The other day I went for a quick run to the grocery store with the 3 kids and they were fighting over who got to sit where and there was screaming and crying (and no, not from me!). The woman next to me in the aisle turned to me and smiled and said how much she missed that stage of life and how she wished she could go back. It's hard to believe you will miss the tantrums and the crying and fighting but I have heard it enough to know that I will. So for now, I have dirt on my front door, 3 piles of laundry in my living room that need folded, a kitchen floor that needs scrubbed, dishes in the sink that need washed and sleep that doesn't happen as often as I would like but I also know that I have 3 sleeping children upstairs that God has blessed me with and I get the privilege of taking care of them each and every day. I know I have blogged about this before but I guess sometimes I just need to remind myself that what I am doing is important no matter how difficult it can be.

Consider it a good thing that you haven't heard from us recently. We are busy having a GREAT summer. We have been blessed with many memories this summer and unbelievable weather...thank you Jesus!!!! Since I posted last, we have gone camping, celebrated Caleb's 5th birthday, had a visit from Dave's family, seen fireworks on the boat, gone to another VBS in our area and have had many fun days in our backyard. So there hasn't been much down time to update the blog. I guess I will just post some pictures a couple times of week until I get caught up! So here are some pics but you won't see anymore until after the weekend because we are heading out to go camping again tomorrow!! More fun for the Libbys!!!! But first, here are pics from our last camping trip.

It was not a pretty sight to get this baby packed. Yes, after this trip, we are getting a topper for the van for these trips.

Yup, that's Caleb's little head peeking out in the back.

We camped right on the river and Hannah is making her plan of how she is going to get down the little hill to play in the river.

She made her way down there with her dress and all! I think daddy helped her out a bit!

We camped with 2 other families and this is Donald playing in the river with the kids and of course that's Dave in the background helping to build the rock wall. I'm so glad my kids have such a fun dad! This river kept these kids busy for hours!!!

Caleb and me rafting down the river. Notice the water is a bit higher than in the picture above? Yeah, that's because the first night we got about 2-3 inches of hard rain! The rest of the time, the weather was pretty cooperative.

Josiah and some stick he found in the river which I am sure he turned into some sort of weapon because that is what he does. Look at the focus on this kid's face!

Hannah and her friend Naomi sneaking some play in with the cars and trucks while the boys were busy in the river. Hannah calls her "Nomi". They are just 2 days apart.

This is Hannah madder than a hornet after we took her out of the pool. Not a happy camper!

Love this one of them sitting by the fire in the morning.

Hannah did everything she could to get onto Donald's bike. She climbed up there all on her own after putting her helmet on of course!

I think this picture is precious. Just enjoying some downtime on the campsite.

I show this picture to you because that little boat was a last minute pack and Caleb played with it for like 2 hours straight with his friend who also packed his boat last minute. Amazing how one toy can keep them so busy for such a long time yet when they are home with a million toys, they get bored...go figure!

We were camping over Caleb's actual birthday so of course we had to celebrate...camping style with Hostess cupcakes!

Ok, I was totally sure if this picture was appropriate but you can't see any toukas'! This is the boys peeing on the official "pee tree". If we didn't give them a specific tree, they would have gone all over. Especially Josiah who was quite proud to be part of the "I can pee outside" club now.

The famous stairway that led the kids to the river. My kids absolutely adore Donald. Hannah was in the car singing the other day, "Pappy, Nonna, Donald, Pappy, Nonna, Donald". She asks for him all the time and he is so good with our kids. They get along so well.