Summer Lovin' at the Zoo

Something that has been so wonderful this summer (literally this summer has been pretty close to perfect, but more about that later...or not), is how well The Girl and The Little Man have been getting along.  They are like two peas in a pod these days, and it melts my heart over and over again. 

Just so you know, it is not always like this.  Last summer, we were all having a hard time getting along. I blame it on the weather.

But this summer!  Oh, this summer!  It's a regular love fest.  I. Cannot. Get. Enough.

Tonight, The Hubs surprised them with allowing them to have a sleepover in The Little Man's room.  They were beyond happy.  Way more happy, in fact, than anyone should be about sleeping in a sleeping bag on a floor.  However, the giggles and squeals continued on.  The Little Man told The Girl, "Sister! I have a great idea.  Let's hold hands all night long!"  She agreed.  I am so checking on that in just a short while.  Pictures will follow if it is indeed true.

So with sibling love in mind, and the fact that we went to the zoo last week and I have made no effort yet to blog about our adventure, I will now attempt to cram both sibling love and the zoo together in one post...in pictures, of course!

After taking yet another picture on the Bear Statue, I wondered, how many of these pictures I could dig up?

In honor of siblings, we have the two BFF's just last week at the zoo:

That poor bear.  He has no idea what is covering his eyes.

Good thing.

Just last year:

Here, The Girl is 5 and The Little Man was only 3:

It must have been cold that day.  The Little Man looks so thrilled here, and The Girl is DONE with pictures.  Clearly, I wasn't thinking through the posing on this pic.  I was in survival mode.

The Girl at four and The Little Man at two:

How much do I love about that picture?  Let me tell you!  First, because the kids are so little you can actually tell that they are sitting on bears.  B) Do you see the chub on The Little Man's face?  I would suspect there is a sweet pacifier grin under those cute little cheeks somewhere. Last, The Girl.  Seriously.  She is so stinkin' cute here it hurts me.  This was the summer she decided to grow her bangs out.  OK, I decided, but she totally went along for the ride.  I remember looking at these pictures when they were first taken, and I thought she looked so old with her bangs pinned back.  Now I look at her and think she is just a baby here.  These were such hard days as a mom, especially compared to now, but ohmygoodness, those babies are so sweet.  I barely remember them this way. 

Sad.

OK.  Here we have The Girl with no bears and no brother.  She was three and the Baby Boy was one.  I don't think The Little Man was stable enough yet to sit on the bears yet, so we have The Girl, in the same area as the bears, but a little different scenery:



















Do you see the chubbiness in her little cheeks here? 

SMOOCH!

Ah!  Here he is!  Right were he should be!  Oh, the paci!  So cute.  Here in the safety of the double stroller, he is safe from eating something (poop) that he finds on the ground, he isn't killing my back from being held (he wasn't walking yet), and he still has a good view.   This last week at the zoo he actually asked if we could rent a stroller for him.

Some habits die hard.

 Lastly,   The Girl.

 









I think this is pre-brother.  My guess is based off of the hat alone.  Oh, and the mullet that was just starting to get a personality of it's own.  You can barely see the wisps hiding under the hat.  Love, love, LOVE her intense stare and curiosity at whatever she was taking in at the moment.  I still see that same look often when she is watching a movie for the first time, reading a book, listening closely to story or directions, collecting her bugs, or working on some sort of project.  The only thing that has changed are those sweet little cheeks.

Oh, and the mullet.

Thankfully, that has filled in.

Setting Me Straight

I love music.

I love it even more when it touches me, reminds me of a place and/or time, or makes me feel an emotion. I really love it when the words say something I've been wanting to say, but haven't been able to say it just right.
 
Blame it on having a deliciously lazy summer, if you will, one that DOESN'T include a formal Bible study (for the first time in a VERY long time), and I have found that I have some extra time during my quiet time in the morning, and through out the day even, to really think about what I want from my quiet/prayer time each day.  Admittedly, there have been days when I don't know.  I just pray and open His word.  Thankfully, He has been gracious enough to guide me on those days when I have no clue what I am doing.  Still, I have been frustrated with just going along without any sort of guidance.  No commentary, no questions, no one to bounce ideas off of or to chat about what they thought that last passage meant.

It's just been me and The Lord.

Which, I have realized, is the whole point.

Hello.

While frustrated one day, I heard this song.  After hearing the first verse, I instantly knew I would love it.  It was the words I had been desperately seeking to pray, but couldn't.  It has reminded me of what my focus for each and every day should be.  Whether in a formal Bible study chock full of guidance, commentary, and small group discussion, or if it's just me and The Lord, this is what I want to strive for each day.

To know Him more today than I did yesterday.

We Were a Swimmin' and a Jumpin'

A couple of weekends ago, we finally celebrated The Little Man's birthday.  Last year, I celebrated the fact that when hosting a little kid's party, you don't have to have the party perfectly decorated or even a theme.  Of course I probably already knew that, but it didn't stop me from practically killing myself trying to come up with all the perfect decorations, games, details, etc. anyway.  Then, when the winds kicked up so fiercely it was as though we were caught up in some sort of inland form of a hurricane, well there were no decorations, there were no thematic games, and all the thematic and well planned details went right out the window with all the wind.  Guess what?  We all had a great time, and quite frankly, NOT A SINGLE PERSON, SMALL OR BIG, EVEN NOTICED.
Well then.

This year, I remembered that lesson and added that to the fact that I suspected birthday parties didn't have to be on or even within a few days of the child's actual birthday.  No, I was starting to think that birthday parties are supposed to be fun, not stressful.  Imagine that!  So, since The Little Man wanted to have a pool party in the worst way, I knew we couldn't have his party AND have fun unless we celebrated it much later than his actual birthday.  The first part of June in these parts is pretty unpredictable weather wise.  This new found freedom from the rules I had placed on myself for timing of parties was only justified by the torrential downpour and downright chilly temps we experienced on the day we would have had his party.

At that point, I was feeling pretty darn smart.

Only a few weeks later, we had much better, much more predictable weather, and a party with little to no decoration, no real theme,  and absolutely no planned activities, outside of having so much fun we could not stop grinning, and then stuffing our faces full of cake and ice cream. 

Yes, we had a good time.

There was a lot of this:

Some of this:

And even more of these fun smiles:

After a ton of swimming and some bouncing (we also had a bounce house, which oddly enough, I have no pictures of), we headed off to stuff our faces full of cake and ice cream:

Yes, oh yes you can!  You CAN have a Star Wars cake at a pool party.  The Little Man was thrilled to no end with his Star Wars cake. 

See, it WAS all about the happiness.

OH! And here is some more happiness.  The Little Man surprised all of us with his mad swimming skilz.  You have to remember, that just a mere 8 weeks before this, he couldn't swim at all:

Sweet boy has been working so hard at swimming lessons. 

They have paid off!

And my lack of attention to detail and downright tardiness, it paid off too. 

Fun was had by all.

Riveting Information

I have some food updates for everyone. 

I know you are on the edge of your seat.

Me too.

First, the kids.  They both are now eating cereal WITH milk.  Actually, they started with this in about April, but I honestly thought it was a fluke and they would go back to their dry cereal eating ways within weeks.

Or, when I bought some cereal in bulk that they swore they loved.

However, as we approach July, they are both still going strong with their love for cereal.   Their favorites are Cheerios.  They'll take either chocolate, honey nut, frosted, or plain.  I know, I know.  They are sugar-y cereals, but honestly? I have gotten to a place where I can be at peace with the fact that my kids choose to eat a bowl of  sugar-y cereal for a snack everyday.  I mean, it is a snack.  I've tried to tell them they can have it for breakfast, and sometimes they will indeed have it in the morning hours, but just not for breakfast.  We recently turned their whole world upside down when we suggested one night that cereal would be their dinner. GASP! 

Other cereals they have tried: Granola (it goes over OK), Rice Chex (The Girl digs them), Raisin Bran (no takers there),  Honey Sunshines (again The Girl only), and something similar to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but organic and with a lot less sugar (only The Little Man will go for these). 

I'm telling you, it has opened up a whole new world in food land for us.  Also, The Little Man, he actually gets filled up with cereal, you know, as opposed to him asking for something else approximately thirty seconds after finishing his snack.

Good stuff!

Another new world in Food Land that might be creaking open it's door to us: Sandwiches.  Yes, my kids are five and seven and are just now eating sandwiches.  Here's the deal, there will be no PB&J served up in this homestead due to The Girl having a peanut allergy.  Secondly, I don't like lunch meat.  I have tried to make up some turkey and cheese sandwiches in the past for the kids, but when they didn't like it, it wasn't like I was going to say, "Well, here, look at Mommy!  She's eating her turkey sandwich.  MMMM! I sure love it!"  because that, my friends, would be a bold face lie.  Then, since I wouldn't eat any of the turkey, and they're not eating any of the turkey, I have to throw the turkey in the trash.  Shameful and wasteful.  So, the whole sandwich thing really never got off to a good start.

Recently, the kids have both started eating turkey sandwiches when they noticed friends at school were eating them in their lunches and loving them.  After The Girl declared she loved eating turkey sandwiches that a friend had brought for lunch, I thought I would give it a try again.   I am happy to say, they both devoured their sandwiches.

Again, another small step into making my life just that much easier.  It is still pretty delicate, though, and at any moment (read: if I buy turkey that costs more than $2.50) they will stop eating it all together. 

Now you know why I have been hesitant in sharing this news.

Lastly, on the "kids and food front", since The Little Man turned five, we have told him he is now allowed to chew gum.  He can only chew it if he keeps his mouth closed while chewing.  DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS HAS EFFECTED TRAVELING IN THE CAR AND SHOPPING?  It's big, people.  I sometimes forget he is with me, what, with all the silence.  Brilliant.

OK, I too have a new love affair with food.  It's Greek yogurt.  I know, it's not a new product, but it's new to me.  I had been desperate for something to curb all my after four o'clock snacking.  I knew I needed protein, but wasn't sure how to get it with out cooking up a big ol' chicken breast (OK, that's a bit dramatic, but you know what I am saying, right?)  Anywho,  Greek yogurt fits the bill perfectly. So yummy, so smooth, so fat free, so full of protein.  Perfect.  I just slice me up some fresh fruit or put in some organic fruit spread, mix it all up, and enjoy!  If I really want to splurge, I go for this one here.  The peach flavor just does it for me like no other.  It, however, is not fat free.  Bummer.  The 0% ones are good too, though.  Plus, right on the container, they tell you how to say the brand name.  Brilliant...because I'm not.

OK. 

I'm starving now.

Aren't you so glad you are all caught up?

Enjoying Summer {Project Two Times Twelve}

I took the kids out earlier this month for what was supposed to be a Birthday Re-shoot for The Little Man.  Since that session started off with a BANG, I mostly got photos of The Girl and then the two of them together...don't go thinking I went Girl crazy and forgot all about The Little Man.   Remember, he was a bit upset on the sidelines.

I do love the pics I got of The Girl, though.

Not because they are perfect, but because they are perfectly her.  Doing what she love the most in the summer time:

Yes, there she is scanning fields in order to catch bugs.  That's my girl.

After some time spent bug catching, her brother caught his breath long enough to join her for some pics.  He wasn't the happiest camper, but after awhile, we were able to coax some smiles out of him.

They aren't the best smiles, but smiles none-the-less:
(Love the natural interaction in this one, but too much flare on The Little Man and the balloon caused a mighty red cast around their faces.  Dern.  I am still totally drawn to it, though)

Still feeling pretty protective over that balloon...I think it would have been easier on us all if it would have popped like the rest:

Com'on Bro!  Let's just take a picture for mom so we can go home:

It doesn't look too forced does it?

Next month, as hard as it will be, I am going to try to break away from sun flare and back lighting...unless there is a really beautiful night with a gorgeous sunset, then all bets are off.

Seriously though, it's time to start experimenting more with different styles.  Being in a rut is what started this whole project in the first place.  I am trying hard not to put myself into a different rut.

All Sorts of Random

I can't tie all of what I am going to write about into one single theme, or even pretend like they go together.  It's all totally random, no theme, no reason, just crazy and melded all together.

It's my life.

Just go with it.

Father's Day this year was low-key, but nice.  I had envisioned this weekend where we all did whatever The Hubs wanted to do, without complaint.  Even if he wanted to be alone, or take us all do to something we would rather not, no one was going to complain.  Of course, we did have some weekend chores that needed to be attended to, but I had also planned on doing the lion's share of those for him as well.

Until.

Until the doorbell rang.

Apparently, I had a photo shoot on Saturday morning.  I had no clue.  None.  So that was an awesome way to get the day started.  This left poor hubs scrambling to get The Little Man, The Girl, and himself to baseball with all that was needed to play, re-hydrated, and be properly dressed/equipped.  As if that wasn't bad enough, after he got there, he realized that this particular Saturday was also picture day.  Sorry, to all the parents out there that got the team portrait.  The ONE AND ONLY child without the proper uniform is mine.  It's not his fault or his father's fault.  It's mine.  Oops, and sorry.

On Sunday we all headed to the movies to take in Toy Story 3 in 3-D. (What is up with everything being in 3-D these days?  I mean really, some movies I get, others I don't, and frankly, those glasses?  Not the coolest or most comfortable.)  It's just like The Hubs to go see something that the kids were dying to see on a day when he could have done/seen anything he wanted.  The movie, by the way, was really, really good.  Save your dollars and bypass the 3-D thing, though.  It's totally unnecessary.

I had some small surgery done on Tuesday.  A few weeks back the doctors found some skin cancer.  While I shouldn't have been surprised in the least, I was a little shocked.  Thankfully, it wasn't Melanoma, but instead a Basal Cell.  This means that they had to cut it out and suture it back together after making sure they got all of it out.  Unfortunately, it was on my face.  So for the rest of the week I am sporting a pretty cute band aid  and a fat lip.  The doctor also said it was a pretty aggressive type of Basal Cell, and while he thought I was pretty young to have such a spot, he also said he was happy that we caught it very early.

Lesson learned:  GO TO YOUR DERMATOLOGIST.   Even if you are good about sunscreen, or have only a few moles.  Maybe no one in your entire family has ever had skin cancer.  SO WHAT!  Cancer doesn't care.  At least get a baseline assessment done, that way when you think something might be changing or looking a little different, you have something previous to base it off of.

Second lesson:  PUT ON SUNSCREEN ALL. THE. TIME.  If your a mommy, don't forget those babies.  Most of skin cancer comes from damage that has happened early in life.  Actually, I should say, if your a mommy, don't forget yourself!  Lots of times, and I am totally guilty of this, we slather up our babes and totally forget ourselves.

Lastly, my project of the week: cleaning closets.  Namely, my own.  It's bad, you guys.  However, I did come out on the other side of things.  WOW!  I am pretty good about going through my clothing about every 9 months or so, but the shelves (you know, where I shove stuff that I don't know what to do with) in my closet are another story.  Besides putting things there that I am not sure what to do with, I think I also put stuff there that I just wanted to pretend never happened.  Hello, several pairs of WHITE PANTYHOSE.

Mercy.

When and why?

Rest assured, they have been properly stored in the trash can.

Along with some horrible weird different choices in purses and hats.

I'm not even sure what the Goodwill will do with them.  I imagine they will find a home somewhere.

Next up:  Birthday Party Prep.  We convinced The Little Man to hold his birthday party a few weeks later than his actual birthday in attempts to be able to have more enjoyable weather.  June is just too quirky and hard to read in these parts.  One day it's close to 100 degrees, and the next we can barely get out of the fifties.  Thankfully, he agreed, and it looks like we will have some nice weather for his pool/bounce house party.

If I am not too busy applying and re-applying sunscreen, I may be able to take a few pics.

And You Thought The Last Update was Long

This is just getting ugly, isn't it? I mean the lapse in time between posts is really getting out of hand around here. I wish I could say it's going to get better, but I can't make that kind of promise. I will try this week, though.

SO.

Last week the kids were in camps all week. The Girl was in Science Camp and The Little Man was in Champ Camp. This is the first time in a long time where both children were so happy about where they were.

I was just happy that both camps ran on the same days and times.

Ahem.

I do have to say, The Girl's Science Camp? It totally ROCKED. I wish I would have been able to go. She brought home so many cool projects, and talked about all sorts of things that they did in class that sounded so fun. I guess that's why they named the camp "Science Rocks". Clever. Everyday, in her prayers, she thanked God for Science Camp. I truly have never seen her more excited for any activity I have ever signed her up for. Thrilled doesn't even sum up how I feel about this experience for her. I feel like we have tried for a long time to find something that was just "her" and we came close a few times, but this, this was good. You know I had a grin from ear to ear when she spotted the pool drain actively draining some water in the shallow end of the pool, and she announced "HOLY SMOKES! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT VORTEX!" Yup, they had worked on "Tornado Tubes" in camp that day. I can't wait to find all sorts of science camps for her.

Next summer of course.

The Little Man was quite content running like a wild horse and playing all sorts of games and sports in Champ Camp this past week as well. Everyday I picked him up all sweaty and red faced. Every day he had a smile on his face, happy about what had taken place.

It was a good week for the kids.

OH! There was that one day I tried to re-shoot The Little Man's birthday pictures. That wasn't such a good time. I'll just say, balloons, plus wind, plus spiky poky grass, equals this:


I know what you're thinking. I bet you can hardly wait for your own session with me.

While trying to calm him down after the first balloon popped, I used the logic of "Look, look! You still have four more balloons! There is nothing to cry about!" approximately a nano second after those words flew out of my mouth the wind and the grass claimed the lives of all but one lonely balloon.

WOW! The screaming and waterworks that ensued afterward, were like nothing I have ever seen. I couldn't even help it. I just sat and laughed.

I know.

That's very mean.

Seriously though, how funny is it that I was trying to sooth him, and make the loss of one balloon look like nothing because he had four others, when out of nowhere the rest of them pop.

Call it sick if you want, but I call it funny.

So,what was supposed to be a session for The Little Man, turned out to be a session with The Girl, who happened to not care so much that the balloons were totally annihilated by grass. He did eventually join her for a few snaps at the end.

With both camps out of the way, no looming vacations, and really, no plans in the near future, I am so hoping that this week feels like the beginning of our restful summer break...even though we are three weeks into it. However, after reviewing my "To-Do" list for this week, I highly doubt it.