July!

They are finally playing together!

 July has been no slower than June.  My sister is still here from Thailand, so she hangs out with us a lot.  My other sister is waiting for her new husband to arrive, and we are waiting to meet him and for the reception.  B're keeps informing everyone that she is going to get to go to a wedding 'eception.

He is one cool dude!

My garden is actually pretty weed free, and I just picked an ice cream bucket full of green beans.  Noah fixed my lawnmower, so now the grass is actually cut as well.

A new beard!

Baseball and Tee ball are still going on, VBS is coming.  We've been playing Settlers of Catan and Pandemic with my sister.

Lincoln rocking a Mohawk

I started working on photobooks again tonight, I have 6 weeks to finish about 20 of them- which was my goal to have done before school resumes.  I don't think I can make it, but I can try!

 Backyard pool!

The Idea That Has Changed My Life

I really can't stand mosquitoes.  I know a lot of people don't like mosquitoes, even hate them, perhaps, but they still hang out in the great outdoors.

I would rather miss my kid's baseball games, fireworks, camping- any evening outdoor activity, really, then have to deal with those pesky little blood suckers.

And I also do not like bug spray.  I just don't.  It creeps me out.

So, by the time the weeds are in full swing, the bugs are too- and my garden gets neglected.

The problem became very severe this week because my strawberries ripened.

Now I have to go pick strawberries but there are so many mosquitoes I can hardly stand to be out there long enough to get all of the ripe ones.

Enter the fabulous idea: a large fan.

Don't laugh.

It is kind of embarrassing really.

I feel  like a big wimp- a suburban mom who can't stand to be inconvenienced by a few bites.

But mostly,  I just feel really smart.

I take my big old fan out to the garden with me, connected to an extension cord. 

Then I pick strawberries and week my garden, all in a nice breeze and a mosquito-free environment.

This is the life.

Another Summer Adventure!

  I know that I keep saying that we are having a great summer, but we really are :)

I could post about how my 3 year old had taken a strong dislike to going to bed,

or how my 9 year old boy is saying things like, "Mom, have you seen my necklace?"

My life is changing. 

But, parenting is about being ok with things being fluid, with change.

Next week B're will probably love going to bed and Deacon will not incessently be dancing "gangnam style".

Maybe next week I will miss the chats that B're and I have been having late at night, maybe one day I will wish that Deke was hopping back and forth next to me as we tour the zoo.

Tomorrow, next week, it will be something new.

Some problems will resolve.

Some good things will come to an end.

More problems will come.

Good times will still happen.

I almost cried last week at the park.  A little boy was there, clinging to a little car character from "Cars".  He left it in the swing, then came back for it.  Soon his Mom took it for safe keeping.  I pointed it out to Roman.  He looked a little embarassed as I reminded him that when he was little, he was never without his "Cars" cars.  I could tell he liked the memory.  

How many hours I looked for missing cars.

Now it is shoes, uniforms and
"Mom, where is my necklace?"

"Necklace?  Seriously?"

"You know, the baseball one- the one like all the kids have."

Peer pressure.

Style.

Friends.

Those are the new things.

In some respects potty training and sippy cups were easier.

My kids are not babies any more.  We are in a new stage, a fun stage.

I am not saying there will not be a #6, but there are definite perks of this life we are in right now.  Here are the pictures to prove it :)

The boys love their sisters and are always willing to chase down a little escapee

Tree branches that hold your weight are super cool finds!

Look at that smile!

She is a lot more adventurous than her sister ever was- she keeps us on our toes!

Waterfall!  You can actually climb behind the top falls

Gangnam Style on the rock

And more Gangnam style...just slightly obsessed, even though he is a year behind

Behind the falls!  You could actually crawl behind it from one side to the other.

Little Linc

Brothers!

At the falls! 

It is so fun to spend the day exploring, adventuring and enjoying the sunshine!  The girls did great, and we were all really glad that Daddy was with us this time- the .4miles up a very steep hill was better managed with 2 adults carrying babies and gear!