Water logged...

Yesterday we went over to Nicole's house for a fun day playing on their new water slide.  The boys had a great time and came home exhausted!  Sweet!  And since the kids were all busy, us moms were actually able to talk.  How unusual and nice.

Austin and Pete checking the slide out before the big kids join...

Most of the big kids...

James, Sean, and Wyatt...

Shelby and Riley...

I think the boys would've gone right to bed when we got home but they had grass and chocolate cup cake all over them, so I made them take a bath.  Here's a clean Henry in one of Daddy's t-shirts...

And here's Pete... we'll assume his ears were water-logged since he didn't get any of my questions right!  Funny...

The boys and I are anxiously awaiting our friends', the Palazinnis, arrival!  They are driving in from Kansas and should be here around dinnertime tonight.  We can't wait to be neighbors with them again!

Suuuuumertiiiiimee...

and the living's easy... 


Well, let's not get carried away.  Nothing around here is ever "easy" but today was a big day.  It was the last day of school and the first night of summer vacation!!  WOOT WOOT!

The boys and I went to Lake Rim Park for an official "school's out" party!  Our good friend, Meagan, joined us with her 3 kids and our neighbor, Tatiana, joined us with the boys' best buddies, Christian and Jonathan.  The kids had a bunch of fun.

You know Henry talked that clown's ear off...

Henry balancing a spinning top-like disc...

James's turn...

That's a real owl behind James!

Pete attempting to say "bird" over and over again...

I don't know who enjoyed coloring butterfly paper cut outs more-- 

Henry or that woman with the red hat...

"Spray painting" with paint-filled water bottles... cool idea, huh?

The biggest bounce house I've ever seen...

James, Christian, Henry, and Jonathan...

These boys are inseparable!

Sweet Jayme and Peter...

Mean Mommy finally took "wandering Pete" out
so he could get in on the fun...

There were several animal exhibits the boys loved, including this one...

Don't you love how James is shoving Henry's
face ever so lovingly into that mask?!

It was a nice night!  But now I pray that I have enough patience, creativity, and kindness stored within me to last the next 3 months.  Because really, as a parent, summer vacation has taken on an entirely new meaning.  But I am excited about being together.  I know... I know.  That's crazy talk.  Fitting for crazy town.  So check back next week.  Right now, as in tonight, this first night of summer vacation, I am excited about being together.  At home.  All day.  All night.  Without Chris.  It's gonna be great!

....Right?!

Ain't it the truth...

In the couple of months that Chris has been gone, nearly every major appliance of ours has broken.  First the oven broke.  Now, Chris was technically still home when this occurred but he left before the repair man fixed it so I'm counting it.  Then the treadmill broke.  Then the air conditioning unit broke.  That was particularly fun because it was right in the middle of a heat wave.  Every single day was in the high 90's when it was broken.  Then the lawn mower broke.  Then James's new bike broke not once, but twice.  Last week... the washing machine broke.  So I found it particularly funny and true when I saw this bumper sticker the other day...

ARMY WIFE
You try doing this shit.

Can I get a... Amen, sister!

Phelps we aren't...

The boys started swim lessons two days ago at the HealthPlex.  Unfortunately due to the times the lessons start, both boys are in groups one level above where they should be.  James appears determined to succeed and is trying his hardest (although it mostly looks like he's drowning).  Henry, on the other hand, basically just shouts to me during his entire lesson.  He talks loud normally I think but because of the activity, the water noise, the radio, the instructor... well, it's taken up a notch.  Today the pressing conversation consisted of him asking me... 1) DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!  after every single move.  2) CAN YOU START CALLING ME ANOTHER NAME, LIKE JAMES?!  And the most important question, because he asked every 30 seconds... 3) WHEN AM I ALLOWED TO TAKE A SHOWER IN THE GYM SHOWER LIKE THAT WOMAN DID?

In case you need a visual, it went something like this...

Ahhh, yes... $90 well spent (seriously...whadya think of that entrance into the pool?  Ha ha).  I even gave him my "stern" voice but nothing changed.  That kid is too much.  It's a good thing I find him funny!

You get what you get...

and you don't pitch a fit.  I think Allison Campion said this to the boys several years ago and for some reason, it stuck with James.  Every so often he'll say it and it makes me laugh.  Today, he said it and he was right.  So... we were invited over to a new friend's house for a pool party.  Great, I told the mom, what can we bring?  We came over as planned, with our bathing suits on, towels/ floaties/ swim googles/ life preserver/ water toys/ sunscreen all packed, and a roasted black bean and corn salad, chips, and popsicles in hand.

We walked in and found this...

OOoooh...ahhhh... oh, that's rich.  That's funny.  I cannot BE-lieve the mom didn't say KIDDIE pool when she invited our entire Little Gym class over!  Oh my gosh.  There were about 8 moms.  And dads!  And tons of kids.... for 2 kiddie pools.  Oooooh....ahhhh.  That's funny, right?  Thankfully the boys didn't mention the discrepancy until we were in the car on our way home!

She bought tons of cans of shaving cream for the kids to play with... and, yes.  That would be Henry.

We actually had a lot of fun and even though the swim suit I was wearing was completely unnecessary (I mean, really... I laugh out loud when I imagine all of us adults piling into those pools!), I enjoyed getting a chance to talk with the other moms I have gotten to know in Henry's class.  Hey!  You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit.

Lemonade stand...

I think moms will understand what I mean when I say this image of the boys selling lemonade makes me sad.  There is something so sweet and innocent and fleeting about it, it pulls at my heart.  But I am happy for them because it is a sure sign summer is here and childhood is good.  They've sold 6 "big" cups of lemonade now (at a $1 a pop!) which is shocking considering we live at the end of a quiet street in a cul-de-sac.  Of course Henry is drinking most of the product but James doesn't seem to mind.

Cheers to summer!


**Update:  The boys' total was $13.52 at their first lemonade stand!  And only 52 cents was from their mama.  ;)  50 cents for a small cup and a penny tip for both workers!  Not too shabby for an afternoon worth of work... not to mention, they were completely occupied and happy for 3 hours doing it!**

A big morning...

Today Henry, Pete and I went to James's school to check out the 1st graders' Austrailia exhibits.  Each child had to tell 8 facts about a particular aspect of Austrailia that interests him or her.  James chose the tell the class and parents about the kangaroo.  Did you know kangaroos can only hop forward?  Hmmm… you learn something new everyday!  James did a great job!

(That's right…Day 5 on the pjs!)

 Colt, James and Henry...

James and some of his classmates having fun...

James and his buddy, Shamir...

Today was also James's last awards ceremony but unfortunately we had to leave early because this morning was also Henry's grand finale show at The Little Gym.  Parents and family members were invited inside the gym today to watch some of the skills the kids have learned.

It takes a village...

Henry receiving his certificate and medal from one of his teachers, Miss Tara…

We've met several good friends in Henry's Little Gym class and he's excited about going to a couple of day camps over the summer.  It was a great morning for the two big boys but Pete is definitely still under the weather.  He's napping now so hopefully he'll feel better again this afternoon.  We're looking forward to a good weekend and hope you are too!