halloween 2013

more summer memories- 2013

On the fourth, (or the twenty fourth?) of July, we got together at Grandma Jones' house for a BBQ and a some redneck slip and sliding.  The kids used about a gallon of dish soap on the plastic!  For a minute there, I didn't know if they were going to stop.  They had a blast!

Then, out of nowhere, the rain started.  It was the most amazing summer rainstorm!  

I loved it when I looked over to see the little's huddled under Uncle Nate's truck cover.  Smart kids!

One summer night, Sam went with Courtney and I on a hot date.  We ate out on the patio (my favorite) and had a few duck friends come to visit.  Of course, that was a hit with Sam!

Loved these next few pictures of Sam helping Grandma water her garden.  My kids are so lucky.

Our garden boxes this summer.  This year, each of the kids picked a box and picked out what they wanted to grow.  They planted it and cared for it all summer.  It was fun to see what they wanted to grow.  Kate and Emmy wanted to try watermelon and cantaloupe, which we grew for the first time.  Next year maybe we'll be able to grow them bigger?  :)  We did have a few possession issues when it came to sharing the produce!  I love learning how to garden alongside my kids.

Last but not least, our Brooklyn friends came for an afternoon visit.  Wish so much that they could move next door!  I'd even consider selling our pasture to them if they'd build a house there (and that's saying a lot!)  Love this family!

Another fun summer, my days are flying by too fast with this bunch!

five and nine

 Finally getting around to our August birthdays.  Let's see, if I remember right, Claire requested a hot date with mom and dad- topped off with a movie.  Traditional donuts and candles for breakfast.  The girls helped me decorate their cakes, hooray!  Presents, cake, and ice cream with grandma's and grandpa's.

Five and nine years already?  Time is a-flyin'.  I love these two girls.  They are both happy, creative, and kind.  I love their freckles!  And the missing teeth!  They are both so different but just what we need to make our family complete.

Love our August Birthday girls!!!

lake powell 2013

Another fun trip to Lake Powell last summer.  A few highlights:
1.  Ronnie and Nan's ski boat had mechanical problems, (which was maybe not a highlight?) but we still had a great campsite and a super fun time.  Spent a lot of time in the kayaks, jumping off the boat and cliffs, and swimming.
2.  The kids had a lot of fun fishing and even ate a few!  Claire got a big 'ol honkin' carp which she was super proud of but awful mad when her dad cut the line and let it go.  Awful mad.
3.  Throwing glow sticks off the top deck of the houseboat at dark and then jumping in after them  - always a favorite.
4.  My favorite memory from this trip will always be the kayak race Courtney and I and the girls had one afternoon.  He and I split up the girls between us, piled us all into the kayaks and raced back to the houseboat.  We were all sinking, and laughing so hard we could hardly paddle.  So much fun!  In the spirit of family history, I'll just add that my team won.)
5.  Sam came down with hand, foot, and mouth the first of the trip and was one miserable little guy.  No fun at all!

Hooray for Lake Powell memories!

sam and daddy's birthday

Sam and daddy celebrated their birthdays waaaaaay back in August (but who's counting?)  Sam scored with a toolset (which he still puts to use daily) and some cowboy boots.  He loves those boots.  

Man, I love these two boys.

"life's hard and that's just the way it is"

These two are quite the buddies.  I love to watch them interact and play together, something that is happening more all the time.  Yesterday I was trying to buckle Sam into his carseat and he wasn't wanting much to do with it.  I finally got the job done and we started driving away.  I had to smile at the conversation coming from the back seat. 

"Sam, I'm sorry but that's just the way it it.  You have to sit in a car seat 'til you're ten.  Well, maybe not ten, but eight.  Even when you're big like me, you have to sit in a seat.  'xept then you can sit in a booster.  We have to so we're safe and that's the rule.  See?    Sorry, but life's hard and that's just the way it is."


When I was growing up and upset about a bad hair day or something equally catastrophic, my dad would tell me, "Life's hard and then you die."  Obviously, we like to break it to 'em young around these parts.

Despite the cold, hard facts of life, my days are pretty fun with these two around.  Busy, because they are both quite the busy little bees- but fun.  One morning Sam and I were eating our breakfast at the table when Claire decided to put on a performance for the two of us.  I loved it.  (By the way, Mr. Sam was an excellent audience.  This kid must know he has a lot of years of dance recitals ahead!)

Sam isn't talking much yet (in fact, he just started speech therapy to help him along), but he loves to read books.  The three of us often cuddle up in the rocking chair with a pile of books.  Sam especially loves anything with tractors or trucks like daddy's.  He is boy all the way through, and loves anything that has to do with his daddy.

 

 

Although, I should be a little careful with that last statement, because the boy seems to have a fondness for tutu's- and I hate to make anyone think that his dad runs around in them.  This might have something to do with the fact that his sisters are quite often found in princess/ballerina attire.  We've tried to add a few boy articles to our dress up collection, although we obviously don't get too upset when we see him in a random tutu.  I had to laugh one day when I looked out the back window to see him running across the back lawn after Claire wearing a princess dress.  He was holding up the front of it so he didn't trip, and underneath it he was wearing some camouflage pants!  I think he'll be just fine, although we might have some pretty good blackmail material when he turns 16.

 

 

So there you go.  Life's hard and then you die.

 

Have a lovely day.  :)