I love coming home to this...

The best part about Davis being old enough to babysit is that the kids get creative when I'm gone and do something really sweet to surprise me. I left the 3 boys home and took Sadie to swimming. This sign was waiting for me in the kitchen upon my return. (We love you, Mom! Look on back)

Yep, that says we cleaned and vacuumed the house! They were hiding behind the island in the kitchen and jumped out to yell surprise once I read their note...I loved it!!!! It was very sweet because, man, we have had a long week with Carter gone on back-to-back business trips. I felt guilty, because more than once this week I had thought about selling one of those boys at a garage sale :) I will keep all 3 of them for sure now...

Their creativity goes up a notch when Sadie joins in the fun. This is what Carter and I pulled up to after a date the other night:


I'm not sure if you can read it clearly, but they wrote Beach Party! in sidewalk chalk on the driveway. They also filled up a bucket full of water balloons that they were planning to launch at us, but we were able to convince them to war w/ the bathing suit wearers only. Ffffewwwww!

Their water balloon fight turned into a car washing of the van, which was definitely needed. I had kind of forgotten how much fun washing the car can be for these guys, especially when it is their idea and not mine...

They were having so much fun with the car wash that Carter and I had a second to sneak in a badminton game. I had secretly been training during the day with Mason and Davis, so Carter was completely bewildered when I schooled him repeatedly :) I came away with several titles including, "Champion of the Swift Family", "Champion of Kirkwood Avenue", "Champion of Minnesota", and "Champion of the World". However, Carter still maintained the coveted title "Champion of the Dreaded Point of Doom". Don't ask!!!!