Summer is Here

I picked up this little pool the other day (I don't want to admit where I got it). We have busted it out a few times now, but after today, it will probably make a daily appearance. The kids have such a great time playing in it, well, Lane enjoys playing around it.

We spent most of the afternoon playing outside, as usual. Boys can sure find random things to entertain themselves with outside. Why is it that nobody is every upset outside and if somebody is upset, you can take them outside and it suddenly fixes the problem? Why is it that adults sometimes forget that outside is so wonderful and that we can keep ourselves couped up inside, doing nothing, and be okay with it?

Kids are such a wonderful way to enjoy the Great Outdoors!

Peaches 'n' cream

This morning we headed out to Schnepf Farms for the Peach Festival. We started out having some delicious pancakes with peaches 'n' cream on top. Headed out to the train ride, followed by several other little carnival rides, a couple of meltdowns, the petting zoo, then QT and Papas Hardware Store. We really had a great time despite the heat and hungry kid combination. Believe it or not, one meltdown was over getting a Coke (really?). I didn't take very many photos however I finally took a picture of Lane's great new look. We are pretty sure it has a lot to do with the giant molars coming in. I know they are probably bugging him, but the face is so dang cute.

Here is another shot of Zackary and Aaron on the giant swings. Aaron said they were quite relaxing.

I'm pretty sure I would have been dizzy from the spinning.

Double Fisted

Can you ask for a better way to eat ice cream? Double fisted that is! We got ice cream and a berry smoothie at Costco today and I think we know who likes the ice cream. I actually got Lane the smoothie and he took right to Zackary's ice cream, double fisted.

He was completely covered and loved every minute of it!

Zackary was perfectly happy with the smoothie.

Trampoline Camping

Aaron decided to mention sleeping outside in front of Zackary last night. Look what ended up happening. Zackary couldn't get it out of his head, so they got their gear and headed out. They were going to set up the tent but I wasn't sure how long Zackary would last so I suggested sleeping on the trampoline (I figured it was easier than finding the tent and assembling it on a Monday night). They actually lasted until I decided to take pictures of them at about 11pm. They were both slipping into the center, Aaron was worried about squishing Zackary. I moved Zackary inside and he never knew it. I'm sure they will be trying it soon again before it gets to hot, but in the tent next time. I have a feeling sleeping outside will be happening a lot with boys.

That just means I get a quiet night inside.

Puddin'

Lane got his first puddin' dessert.  As you can see, he loved it!

Amazing Airplanes

I have been trying very hard to spend time "doing things" with my boys with out getting distracted and cleaning or checking emails.  Somewhat being unplugged.  I feel like it is so easy to get caught up in everyday life, like trying to keep the kitchen clean during the day, or clearing off the dining room table, or getting the sticky off the floor, answering the phone, and sometimes getting sucked into the computer while they play together.  So I told Zackary we would do anything he wanted after preschool on Thursday and of course he chose to go watch the airplanes take off and land.

After I picked him up we headed to get some lunch, stopped and visited Aaron at work, then off to the airport.  There is this little area right next to the river that is just across from the runways.  There is a great view of planes taking off and landing.  We sat in the back of the sweet ride, ate lunch, and enjoyed some relaxing family time. 

 

My goal is to do something special each week with just my boys, no distractions.

Mud Boggin'

So it is official.  I think we have participated in enough random events in the past 2 months.  For some reason we keep trying to find new things to do and experience as a family and end up doing totally random things.  This time, mud boggin' in... QueenTucky (this is what we call Queen Creek).  There is two long ditches bulldozed out, filled with water from a water truck and old trucks and jeeps raced though them, with bulldozer waiting to pull them out when they got stuck.  All of us go a kick out of it, we even were splashed with mud a few times.  Again, this was quite the crowd, but we had such a great time.  Aaron's siblings joined us for the fun...

mud, hot dogs, coke, loud engines, and tons of dust. 

WWII Airplanes

We headed out to Gateway Airport to see some old WWII bombers.  Zackary is really into airplanes and always wants to watch them take off and land.  We got to climb up into the airplanes, walk around them, and see everything about them.

Lane and Katelyn becoming best friends.  Well as long as they aren't fighting over the treat cup (which seems to be all the time lately.

My boys and I trying to take a picture.  It was amazing to see the planes so closely.  What a great picture with the American Flag and the painting on the bomber.

More Lane

I can't just help but to show off my sweet little baby, that isn't so little anymore.  He is turning into a big boy.  Why can't we slow time, just a little?  We were playing outside in the morning and I couldn't help but to take hundreds of pictures of him. 

He is delicious!

This is his crouch.  I like to crouch down to talk to him and see things from his level and the next thing he does is crouch down like me. 

It is so adorable.

 

This is his famous ut oh.  He is very dramatic with the oh part.  It took a few tries but I finally captured it.

Where's the banana?

Lane loves a good banana in the morning, doesn't everyone? However, we have this problem with thinking he has finished it, but then find it hiding in random places.

Like in the dog dish...

or playing with trains in the tunnel...

and riding with dolls in the stroller.

It is a little gross but it makes me laugh every time.

Before & After

Aaron and I have been talking about repainting our living room, again, and finally broke down and did it.  We have never liked to blue and have done everything to try and tone it down.  We had Debbie from rooms rearranged to come in and help with color and arrangement.  She worked with me for a couple of weeks then sent us away for a few hours, and this is what I came home to.  It turned out awesome and I love it.  It is so nice and cozy, it really feels like home now. 

 

County Fair

 

We spent a fun filled afternoon at Maricopa County Fair this year.  We are not much into fairs, Aaron and I, that is.  But let me tell you, the kids love them.  Aaron is always skeptical of the rides and the carnies that set them up.  Any ride that travels surely isn't safe?  Well, I go over it and took the kids.  Our friends met us there, which was nice because the little one's can't do the rides so Liz or I sat with the babies and the other took the boys on the ride. 

Check out those glasses.  They could actually ride some by themselves. 

Swings, still Z's favorite.  We shared some GIANT corn dogs and ice cream cones.

 

We actually decided to go to the fair because Jacob was showing PiggySmalls.  He has spent the last year raising him hoping to make some serious cash.  He did a good job and the kids loved seeing the pig show.