More Summer Fun and a birthday bash

Homemade pizza night, which the kids have been begging for!  They each had a personal pan sized pizza that they could make however they wanted.  We don't do this often enough.

Our back porch is rotting and falling apart, but the stairs were in the worst shape.  We've had several kids fall down the stairs and get hurt, and the bottom two steps just rotten away completely and you had to jump to get down into the yard.  It was a lawsuit waiting to happen.  Finally Grandpa Lawlor came over and helped us rip down the old steps and rebuild new ones.  Ben got to help with the project, which he enjoyed. Three generations of Lawlor boys playing with plywood and power tools.  It was a moment.
(view from the top of the stairs, Grandpa at the bottom)

Tonight was a combined birthday bash at Peter Piper Pizza, to celebrate Grace turning six and Ben turning nine (which won't actually be until July 19)  We have three summer birthdays, and the parties don't always coincide with their actual date of birth.  We also often combine parties because it's just too much for me to handle three kids between June 6 and July 19.  Grace and Ben each got to invite just a few friends, and we let Ember invite a couple just so she wouldn't be bored.  The total bill was WAY less than planning parties at home, and I didn't have to decorate, entertain, cook, or clean up.  It was the best party EVER!  We still need to do something for Ember later this summer, and I have some ideas about that, but I got two out of three done.  Whew.

That big pile of purple tulle next to Grace is the most beautiful tutu ever made.  Seriously, it's so amazing and sooo well made.  My friend Janalynn makes and sells them, with 100% of the proceeds going towards the medical fund for her son Adam, who has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  To follow Adam's progress go to Adam's Hope on Facebook or visit http://www.dreamweaverhairdesign.com/ to contribute to his medical fund or to order one of your own amazing tutu's.  

Then at the end of a busy and stressful day, I saw this.  Wow.

I love Arizona sunsets.

So there's more of our summer so far, and we're not even halfway done yet!