Watermelon

This was Elise's first introduction to a watermelon.

She now knows...

it's just too heavy...

to lift.

But it looks cute...

in a summertime...

picture.

Wrestling

is

so

much

fun

First Days of Summer

Oh how we love summer at our house. It means warm summer nights with windows open and cool breezes coming in. (Hmm...for some reason I feel like belting out a little "Summer Nights" Olivia Netwon John style. Probably because I've been watching too much Glee lately and I'm beginning to think it's perfectly normal to burst out in song. But I digress). It also means endless hours outside playing in the water. We took advantage of one of the warm days in May (yep - still posting pictures from May) and stepped outside with the hose and the sprinkler.

Jack and Wes insisted on wearing their "fire man" boots. I guess they didn't want to get their feet wet.

Whenever we have the sprinkler out, the boys have to see how many vehicles they can get through the "car wash."

Elise spent the afternoon putting out fires, preferring to be behind the hose instead of in front of it.

She was more than willing to get in the water on her terms. She just couldn't be rushed.

Given that this was her first time playing in the water, I reserved the pool for Elise only. Wes was none too happy about that.

Though he did cheer up a bit when I let him refill the pool for Elise.

Once out of the pool, Elise wanted only to splash in...

and drink the water.

All while "smiling" for the camera.

Five Question Friday

Another round of questions from Mama M.



1. What is one food you could eat everyday?

Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. In any form. Candy, cookies, pudding, cake, ice cream. You name it, if it's got chocolate in it, I'll eat it.

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?

Uh...no. Not sure I know many people who are. When I was 18 I didn't even know what compensation was (probably because I wasn't getting much "compensation" of my own) let alone know that I could make a career out of it. And even if I had known that it was this whole mysterious discipline in the world of Human Resources, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have chosen it. You know, because of all the statistics involved. Now? I love it. And I realize how nerdy that makes me, but I'm okay with that. I'm nerdy in a lot of other ways too so this is really no different.

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

Thinking...thinking...thinking...still thinking... I can't think of anything. I guess it's good not to have regrets.

4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Latte. Really. That's the official Benjamin Moore name. Fitting for the kitchen, right? Too bad that's the color of all the walls in my house. When I found out that our builders would paint the walls for us I was delighted that I wouldn't have to live with white walls for over a year (until all the warranty work was done and we could add some color). About six months after we moved in, however, I realized that no matter the color, having walls that are all the same color is boring. Plain and simple. I can't wait to paint! Anyone know any designers looking for pro bono work?

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

The first song I can remember knowing all the words to, which I assume would make it my favorite, is Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All." I remember belting out my seven-year-old version of "I believe that children are our future" while riding around in the car with my dad. In case you're wondering, I can still sing the whole thing. In fact, my husband can verify this as I "blessed" him with my 30-something-year-old version just last weekend (we weren't getting good radio reception on our way "up north" so we had to improvise).

Zoo Zoo Oh Wonderful Zoo

We go to the zoo a lot. And by a lot I mean that we probably average three times per month. I guess maybe it doesn't seem like that much when I put it that way, but when we decide on a whim that it's zoo day it sure seems like a lot of work to keep the children amused while I pack lunches, clothe the children, remind them for the one-millionth time that the toys need to be cleaned up before we leave, pack the diaper bag, strap them in car seats, load the stroller and ensure we haven't left anything (or one) behind. But when we get there and they're giddy with excitement about seeing the bird show or touching the sting rays or watching the Komodo dragon, I'm reminded that it's worth all the effort.

Our own version of "monkeys" watching the Snow Monkeys - one of their most favorite places to stop.

Elise could stand and watch the fish in the big aquarium all day long.

Jack could climb on the ledge in front of the aquarium all day long.

Wesley? Couldn't care less about the aquarium. He'd actually prefer we didn't even bother, especially when the diver is feeding the fish. The combination of mask, flippers, bubbles and scary Darth Vader voice coming over the speaker is just too much for him.

He prefers the outside trails anyway, which we take advantage of as often as we can during the nice weather months because once it gets cold we're relegated to indoor trails only.

Near the end of one of the trails is the tiger lair where you often get an "up close and personal" experience with a tiger as it paces back and forth right on the other side of the glass. I mean, right on the other side...within inches if you so choose. Interesting enough for the kids, but apparently that type of experience with a living, breathing, moving, real live tiger pales in comparison to the bronzed tiger statues a few feet away. The ones that now all of our children insist on climbing on. This was Elise's first time climbing on the tigers and I'm sure it won't be her last.

Not Jack's first time.

A trip to the zoo is not complete without a picnic lunch. I prefer the indoor accommodations because of the bug-free, bird-poop-free, wind-free eating. And the high chairs. The boys prefer a picnic table outside because of their "freedom" to roam while eating (I'm not sure when they assumed said freedom because it was never actually granted, but some things just aren't worth the battle so I go with it). Elise? She prefers to eat her lunch anywhere...

...instead of waiting for her mother to finish taking pictures of her.

 She's such a good sport.

Five Question Friday

Another round of questions from Mama M.




1. What is one thing you miss the most about childhood?

Summers. Summers free from responsibility. I'm sure I didn't appreciate it then. Now? I daydream often of free summers.

2. Are you still friends with your friends from high school?

Well, not all of them, but yes, some of my friends from high school are still my dearest friends today.

3. Is there a catch phrase, cliche, or word that just drives you bonkers every time you hear it?

"Green" as in environmentally friendly (not the color, of course). Just because it's associated with a big fat lie and scam that gets people to comply with the government stealing more of their money.

4. What is one thing that you think symbolizes America...besides "Old Glory"?

This is super corny, but you know that song, "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood? Yea, that. Though I think the lyrics are not as true today as they have been in the past (probably a topic for another time), I think it just embodies the intent of the framers when establishing our constitution and the commitment from soldiers and their families to continue to defend our freedom at home and abroad.

5. What are your 4th of July weekend plans?

Heading to the cabin! For as long as I can remember, 4th of July weekend has held a max-capacity cabin, days on the beach and in the water, boat parades, picnics, bonfires and fireworks. This year we're planning on taking the kids, well at least the boys, to see fireworks in Brainerd for the first time. They're very excited about it, although Wesley is a little concerned that the fireworks will be too loud and he won't be able to sleep. We eased his mind a little when we clarified that he wouldn't actually be trying to sleep while the fireworks were going on. I think he's still a little confused, though. I guess when you're two, fireworks are just something you have to experience to understand in full. Who knew?

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Five Question Friday

Check out Mama M at My Little Life to participate.







1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

Not as well as I would like to, but then again, this particular skill wouldn't get used much these days anyway. I used to play the flute. In junior high. Now the only thing I can do is put my fingers in the right place. I also play the piano a bit and would like to a lot more, but (1) I don't have much extra time to do it and (2) we don't have a piano, which is actually more inhibiting than the time thing.

2. What is your pet peeve while driving?

It used to be people that would zoom past a long line of cars waiting to get on or off some freeway and then cut in at the very last second. Now? I can honestly say I don't have any. I don't care anymore. In fact, I'm the annoying car that let's all those "zoomers" cut in front of me. What changed? I'm glad you asked.

The first time Wesley had breathing issues (asthma like, but only manifesting with every other virus he gets) we took him to the clinic and walked out with a nebulizer and a prescription for albuterol and a steroid. Being the novice that I was when it comes to such things, we left the clinic for lunch with Sean since Wes seemed to be doing better after his treatment at the clinic. By the time lunch was over Wesley was in desperate need of another dose of albuterol and we had a 20-minute drive ahead of us to pick it up at Target. If you've ever heard your child wheezing and crying and seen him retracting you can guess what kind of mental state I was in during the endless drive down 169. In order to make it through the stop light that was the last obstacle between us and the albuterol, I had to make a left hand turn from the left side of a two-lane turn lane. Then I needed to immediately turn right. I knew I wouldn't be popular trying to sneak back over into the right lane, but I never dreamed that someone would actually do everything in her power to prevent that from happening. Well she did. And I was mad. And I wanted to follow her into Target and tell her why I was being such a rude driver. I didn't. The prescription was more important. I scooped up Wesley and his new nebulizer, rushed to the prescription counter, opened the package and "nebbed" him right there in front of the Q-Tips. I learned a lot that day. First of all, don't wait to get help or treat your child when he can't breathe. Secondly, people do things they wouldn't normally do, i.e., drive rudely, when they are in crisis-mode. This second lesson has given me empathy for those "rude drivers" and, in turn, so much more patience. You never know what someone is dealing with at the moment and how that may influence their decisions and behavior. So I err on the side of compassion and driving is a much more pleasant experience now.

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services?

Housekeeper! I didn't even need to read what came after "or" because I would choose a housekeeper over almost anything else.

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?

I'm not completely sure what moment this question is referencing, but I think everyone has songs that remind them of events. And now that I'm sitting here trying to think of an example, I'm learning that the song must trigger the memory. The memory, most definitely, does not trigger the song.

5. What song best represents your life right now?

Is there a song about sweeping floors, wiping noses, reading stories, playing legos and feeding children? Because that's the one that represents my life.