Big Helpers!

Madison and Matthew Ray are becoming quite the big helpers these days. Not only do they do regular chores but they help out when we really need them around here! :) Here's two videos back to back...the first is of them helping with the paint project and the second is a clip of them washing dishes together. (Notice their conversation...Madison KNEW I was videoing and Matthew Ray did NOT know I was videoing). Madison asks soooo nicely, "Matthew can I have the sponge PLEASE?" Matthew Ray says, "Nah, I'm usin' it." I wish they acted like they were on video all of the time!:)

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Some Re-decorating at 10 PM!!!!

Meredith felt that she needed a "more grown up-ish" room (with a little help from Juliana and Ashli). As many know, I am a planner but I didn't marry a planner and I also have a sister who is not a planner! Matt and Juliana began the project of painting Meredith's room on Saturday afternoon. Matt, Juliana, Ashli and Meredith left our house at 8 pm to go buy paint and supplies. They returned at 9 pm and we began the "family project" at 10 PM!!! CRAZY! Anyway, everyone got involved and we had a great time!
We decided to paint her walls a sage-ish color and we have ordered pink polka dots to stick on her wall. Dada will be bringing us the polka dots so we don't have the finished product to show you but so far, it looks pretty good!

Future Mates???

Maybe we could pre-arrange these cuties for marriage one day!

Juliana's Photography

I really think Juliana has a future in photography. She has a gift of capturing moments. And she even does it with just a regular camera, no fancy equipment, and sometimes some uncooperative kids! Here's a slide show of some of her work:

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Red Sea Relaxation!

We took another trip to the Red Sea this year for a few days of relaxation. It was so much fun to get away from the city and just do NOTHING! Juliana and Ashli also got to go with us. They needed a break for sure!! We lived in the pool, played some on the beach, rode some jet ski's, ate and slept. It was great! Juliana took lots of pictures of us. She is a great photographer! I have so many to share. I will try to get a slide show posted in the next couple of days so you can see all of the fun! Here are a few until I can get some uploaded:

My BAAAAAABY!

Matthew Ray is LOVING the presence of Juliana in our home this summer! He no longer calls her Juliana...he calls her "my baaaaby!" It is the cutest thing ever but I am kind of sad that I have been replaced! :)
Here they are at the July 4th celebration dancing together:

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Funny Pharoah Land Moments...No. 5 on the 4th

Today we celebrated the 4th of July by going to the big celebration here in our city with all of the other Americans who live here! It was a great time of visiting with friends, games, dancing, door prizes, hamburgers and PORK hot dogs!! We told the kids last night that we were going to the 4th celebration today. Madison ran into the room to inform Ashli of what we were going to do:

"Ashli, Ashli!!! We are going to the big party tomorrow and there is going to be...be....be...WIRE FORKS!!!!" (well, we didn't get to see any WIRE FORKS or FIREWORKS tonight but it was still a grand time!:)

One more funny Madison moment:
At the end of the evening we were trying to gather everyone up to leave and we couldn't find Madison. I (Stacey) finally found her in the dark beside the trampoline/bungee jump. She was hysterically crying. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that a girl called her little and told her she was a baby. I told her not to worry about it and then we headed home. After she had been in bed tonight for at least 30 minutes she called me in her room and said, "That makes me sad about that girl calling me little and a baby!" I told her, "You don't need to worry about it. You are almost 6 and you really are big." She said, "If I see that girl again and she says that, can I just pinch her???!!" (I think we have our work cut out for us with this one!!)

FUN FUNFETTI!!

Can you believe this??? EIGHT boxes of funfetti cake and the icing to go with it!!! We have some dear people in Tulsa, OK who love us and love to see our kids smile! We had a friend from there come here for a visit and we opened a suitcase full of funfetti, cookie mixes, brownie mixes, and lots of fun spa stuff for me! (they knew I needed to be taking it easy, I guess!) So, I baked cupcakes tonight, just ate one, and now I am off to take a bubble bath!!

Thanks guys! We love you!