Hot Summer Days...

This blog has been a little quiet lately...for 2 reasons...first being that we have been spending everyday outside enjoying the summer weather and Jon has been working in town this week...so rather than blog at night we have been enjoying some extra family time! Meanwhile my "to blog" pictures are piling up...
These pictures are from a couple weeks ago...for 2 days we had some super hot weather (like in the very high 90'!!)...put hot weather and kids together and you get lots of fun water play!

The kids were having fun playing with all the bubbles in the little swimming pool...but they needed a mirror to see where to put the bubbles in just the right the places. So my Mom went in the house, took the big mirror off the wall in the dining room and hung it up in the tree! And then she wonders why her house is a "free-for-all"!?

A little Dawn dish soap can make everything a little more fun...a few squirts in the little pool, lots of bubbles...tons of fun!

Bubbly smiles...

My new favorite hair style for Elsie...2 french braids! Love that she is into letting me fix her hair!

When the weather gets hot I guess nothing is quite as good as cooling off by sitting in a bucket of freezing cold water...these two are crazy...

When simply sitting in the bucket is not quite enough...just dump it over your head...

We are lovin' this summer weather...The kids both have major tan lines going on...and perpetual dirt between the toes...2 signs of kids fully embracing summer!

Link...

A facebook friend of mine shared this link yesterday...and it was so good I wanted to share it here also. Click here...

Jolly Green Giant...

On our way home we had to stop at the Jolly Green Giant...We have to stop here every time we come to Blue Earth...it is a very big deal to Elsie! Last time we were in B.E. Jon and Elsie tried to climb the ladder to see the giant...but it was too cold outside and Elsie wanted to go back to the car!
In our town we have a big statue of a Deer...and we always laugh at all the people who stop to take their picture in front of the Deer...so it is always in the back of my head wondering if the people of Blue Earth laugh at us!

Laura rode home with us...so she was our photographer...

I am happy to say that the road home went extremely good! Both the kids were so tired that they both slept for quite awhile. Elsie never sleeps in the car...but I know she was tired because she fell asleep while colouring...she was still holding the crayon even! After they woke up we stopped at Taco John's for dinner again...then Laura drove so I could be in the back to entertain the little man! After another melt-down from James he fell back to sleep...as did Elsie...so it was a pretty good ride home. Almost makes me think we could do it again...I said Almost!!

Brandon's Bike...

Brandon has a new bike for the summer...and we all had to try it out. It is an adorable little bike...I love the colour...so fun!
Elsie longingly watched everyone take turns riding the bike...finally Auntie Laura volunteered to bring her on a little ride! She was one happy girl...she still talks about riding on Brandon's bike with Laura! Little things are so important!

I love how the dresses match the bike...if only we had more time I would have wanted to do a little photo shoot!

Because the bike was so adorable I talked Laura into bringing ME on a ride! I felt so wild as we whizzed around the old guy in the motorized scooter with our hair flying in the wind (an no helmets! oops!)...and down right bad ass when we came zooming around the corner and met the COP!! I think Laura and I both were stunned and a bit afraid he would stop us...maybe even arrest us and haul us off to jail! (okay maybe I am dramatic!?) Anyway...the cop simply did a little head nod and wave and drove off...I am pretty sure he must see 2 girls in short dresses driving a cute motorbike with no helmets every day! As soon as the cop passed Laura and I let out a sigh of relief and lots of laughter! We got away from the cop...what a couple of badass girls! (Maybe I need to get out more!)

Love that bike...so cute! Maybe someday I will work up the courage to drive a bike by myself!

A bike for 2! Ted and Brandon...don't they look so darn cute? This might be the only kind of bike Ted will be driving for a while now! A week and half ago Ted had a terrible crash while racing his dirt bike and fractured his back...not fun...and a bit scary to watch such a terrible crash! We were just glad he didn't do more damage than he did! I am re-thinking my dream of James racing dirt bikes...maybe he should just stick to quads...four wheels and better than two!

Humor...

When the kids are all together they get along pretty good...
... Until one decides to strangle the other!

These pictures made me laugh...I am sure they were not really fighting...just a picture taken at the wrong moment!

Party...

After little Gus's Baptism we headed back to Ana and Brandon's house for a little party...the weather was perfect...warm and sunny! Perfect for an outside party! Ana had lots of yummy food...I think my favorite must have been the rice crispy popsicles...at least I took enough pictures of them!
All of our family and most of Brandon's family were there...a nice size party. I am sorry to say that simply because of the number in our family we have a tendency to monopolize the party...I don't think I muttered more than 3 words to anyone in Brandon's family...not because I am rude...simply because we are a big crowd and kinda self-entertaining! so...sorry, Brandon's family!

Babies, babies, babies...there is never quite enough babies to go around. Everyone in our family is simply goo-goo over babies! Gus really is an adorable little guy...and so perfectly happy! My little guy is adorable, too...and super busy!

Marissa and baby Gus...Emma has labeled Marissa as a "baby hogger!"

Because at every party there must be at least one dork! What is it about eating pictures...I have yet to have seen a good eating picture! I just had to include it...makes me laugh...it was one good piece of cake for sure!

Poor James was tired...so tired...we were not letting him nap so he would sleep on the ride home! He was not a very happy camper for the last hour or so before we left...when he gets tired he gets into things way more than normal...and he wouldn't leave the garbage can alone...so I plopped him inside the garbage can! From the look on his face it didn't make him happy!

It was a very warm day outside...so Ana put the sprinkler up for the kids to run through...and they had a blast! love those matching swimsuits!

James fell in love with Oliver's little lawn mower! He pushed that thing all around the yard...it was so cute! Someone just might be getting their own little lawn mower for a first birthday coming up soon!

Water hose fun...

James doesn't quite know what to think about Gus...he is happy just to poke him a little then run off to play! These two will have lots of fun playing together when they get older...

Playing with our babies...love this picture!

All the sisters...and the brother! Don't be fooled and feel sorry for that one boy among all those sisters...I will just say that he can hold his own pretty darn good!

Bangs and Baptism...

The morning after our long car trip we got up early and put on our fancy clothes so we would be all spiffy looking for the baptism. Not sure how it happened but we were ahead of schedule...we were all ready and packed way before it was time to go. When you travel with a hairdresser, spare time means one thing...cutting hair! Elsie had been begging me to let her get bangs...I gave in and said yes...so wearing her good clothes, half an hour before the baptism, Elsie talked Ceara into giving her some bangs!
I love these pictures...Elsie was so thrilled! In her mind Auntie Ceara is a hero...Elsie has plans to go to Beauty School, too!

While Elsie was busy getting bangs...James was busy "fixing" the little fridge. For some reason he loves to take things apart...Just like his Daddy!

Bangs are all the rage now...so my girl had to keep up with the latest fashion! She does look cute...she loves her bangs! Thank you, Auntie Ceara!!

After the bang cutting we packed our bags in the car again and headed up town to the baptism...

James is still learning the importance of sitting quietly and still in church...we make it a point to not bring our children out of the service unless they are really disturbing to others. Jon has had to bring James out 3 times lately while in church...so I was a bit worried about James not sitting well! But both the kids did good...no one had to be brought out...James was contented with the little toys he found in my purse.

Little Gus did so good...he is a perfect baby who never cries! A beautiful ceremony...a lovely sacrament. A perfect day...

After the baptism we headed over to Ana and Brandon's house for a little party to celebrate.

Road Trip...

A couple weeks ago we packed our bags...(okay laundry basket!)...and headed out of town on a road trip! Jon was working out of town all weekend so it was just the kids and I. Our destination was was my sister's house...a 4-5 hour drive...to celebrate the baptism of baby Gus. We packed light...a little cooler, a bag of snacks and the laundry basket for clothes...and a little bucket of toys for the car ride. We have a DVD player...and I so wish I could pop a movie in and the kids would remain captivated for hours...it just isn't the case for my children! My kids simply do not get into watching tv...they play imaginary play with silly things like twisty-ties...markers and crayons...play with eachother...scream...oh I mean, sing at the top of their lungs! Elsie is a perfect little rider...James is getting better...slowly!
We made it the first couple hours alone...we then stopped along the way to pick up my sister, Ceara, so she could drive the rest of the way with me. Don't know what I would do without my sisters! While we were waiting for Ceara to get done at work the kids and I found a little park with with a splash pad. The perfect place to burn off some energy before getting back in the car a few more hours.

Since were not expecting to find a splash pad we didn't have swim suits on or even have a towel! I told the kids to get as wet as they wanted and we would figure the rest out later...but they were a little overwhelmed by all the people in the splash pad...so the playground provided lots of fun for them!

Love this picture...holding hands...everyone needs a friend in a new situation!

After an hour or so...and a quick trip to the mall to visit The Children's Place...my sister was done with work and we were back on the road. Soon hunger set in and we were forced to find a Taco John's (thank goodness for GPS!) We found a Taco John's with a table outside...perfect for a little picnic!

Taco, strawberries and grapes for the girl...Ole Lays, strawberries and grapes for the boy. Yum!

Elsie enjoyed having Auntie Ceara traveling with us...she even stayed at the hotel with us! We miss Ceara since she is away at school...can't wait till she moves back!

While were eating James had a "thing" with this big shrub! He would go walk over to the shrub, babble to it and hold onto a leaf for a minute...then walk away! Not sure why...but it kept him busy and happy!

It was a long car ride...but the kids did good. Maybe James had a little (or maybe big!) melt-down before falling asleep. We were thrilled to finally get to the hotel! Don't know if I mentioned this before or not...but it is a long car ride!

Love Food...

I have started a new blog...Food Love...a site full of our favorite gluten and dairy free recipes. I am still just starting this blog...so there are not many recipes yet. Soon there will be lots!