A Two Piece!

Payton SO wanted a two piece bathing suit this summer. Her Daddy has ALWAYS said she won't be allowed to wear a two piece. Together we convinced him to let her get a tankini. Barely shows her belly so it still looks like a one piece but technically it has 2 pieces which makes our little girl very happy. And doesn't she look darling?

First Beach Trip for Summer 09

We couldn't have picked a better day for our first beach outing of 09. Glorious skies, not too hot, perfect breeze.

Wyatt took right to the water and spent the majority of the time with Daddy hanging out and riding the "waves".

Payton, much like her mom has decided that waves aren't her thing. Neither is sand in the butt.......so after a trip to the shower to rinse off and a little pep talk (not everyone has to like the water to have fun at the beach I tried to explain) she stopped complaining and moved onto "aren't shells just beautiful, I love the beach" She found her niche filling her bucket full of those beautiful shells to add to her growing collection at home and finding rare ladybugs. And I tried to document it all while still soaking it all in. Everyone had a great day in their own way.

Water Day

Payti had a water day at school and I was able to tag along and watch all the action.

Her favorite was the giant catepillar. The best part was when the PE coach crawled in and scared the kids as they were going through! It instantly became the most popular!


She climbed up the obstacle course like a champ.




And of course no water day would be complete without getting a little, or alot wet!

After informing me her legs were shaky (the celebration went right through snack time) we sat and waited for the grand finale - sno cones!

Splash Pad

We visited the Butterfly House and splash pad over Memorial Day weekend. Much to Payton's disappointment the Butterfly House was closed, however we still managed to have a great time between the splash pad, beach and playground right next door.

Wyatt wanted (and did until I snatched him up) to chase the ducks roaming around the Butterfly House. "here ducky ducky"


Both the kids had a blast playing in the water.

Payton meandered over to the beach. She would have stayed the whole day there in the sand, making new friends and creating (not sure what that is but she was having fun). Such an awesome place, I only wish it were closer.

Hose Play

There was a little hose play the other afternoon. Both children had that same twinkle in their eyes......get Daddy! Yes, that is a bare bottom you see. I have many other shots I will refrain from posting, Wyatt will thank me when he is older.

Dog Cut

Prince (our dog) received his own summer cut in the drive way the other day. Seeing this Wyatt looks at me and says - "Princey get lollipop?"

Happy Memorial Day

Backpack

Yes Dad protested.....but I swear it is the only backpack his size. I vow to order him a masculine backpack for preschool.............

Frogs

That tiny little speck below is a baby frog. Tons of them, hanging around our drive and around the house. A certain member of the family was not as excited as the rest. But since we were scolded the other night for "not respecting nature" after killing a spider I kept my feelings to myself.

Fire Parties

The fire parties are back.....thanks to Daddy's birthday present. I'm looking forward to many marshmellow roasts this summer.

Sushi

Wyatt LOVES sushi - who knew? In fact he was so taken with the smoked salmon on top of Mike's rolls, I'm not sure Daddy got any!

A bit of laughter

Last night was one of "those" nights. Filled with fighting, hitting, lots of time spent in the naughty corner. My patience was seriously running out. To top it off Wyatt has a booboo on his sucking thumb which has made naptime and bedtime a true challenge. In the midst of trying to get them off to bed (Mike was at school) Wyatt requested his sister to rock him. The thought did cross my mind that he could very well be manipulating and stalling but these requests for togetherness are so few and far between that I had to oblige. And of course I had to capture it on film! The camera flash in the dark bedroom soon led to giggles which turned into....

pure laughter - so I continued to snap away just to hear more of the belly laughs. I needed a bit of laughter...............

Comic Relief

I was helping Payton with her homework when Wyatt races over with a handful of toilet paper - "Big bug in Taytons room" he tell us. "Come here, I show you" follows. So Payton and I come to see this bug. Wyatt has The Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle open to this page: He says "See, big bug!" and proceeds to attempt to wipe up the click beetle with his toilet paper! And I still don't know if he really thought it was a bug or he knew how funny that was.

On the same night at dinner Payton says to me, "Mom you promised Daddy you wouldn't make anything with mushrooms in it again!" (Daddy was at school to be fair) I said you are right. She then says "I have a joke, what kind of room can't Daddy go in? A mushroom, get it?" My kids, true comedians!

Handprints

I just read a quote:
It will be gone before you know it.
The fingerprints on the wall appear higher and higher.
Then suddenly they disappear.
(Dorothy Evslin)

This brought a little perspective today. On a day that I planned to spend cleaning. Instead I took photos of those hand prints and cherished their existence. Thank you God for those little hands.

Happy Birthday/Welcome Home

Mike got stuck on a cross country yet again. Thankfully only for an extra day. He made it home on his birthday. So we had a Happy Birthday/Welcome Home celebration.

Payton creating the welcome home sign while Wyatt played on the extra paper. Made for a great road.
There was a sign and presents.

Samore fixings for his new outside fireplace.

Wyatt liked the singing, and went ahead and helped Daddy out with the candles.

Everyone missed him. I am so thankful that his trips are short, at least for the next 2 years.

Snails

My daughter, as girly as she is seems to love all things slimy. She found what we thought were pretty shells on a bike ride. However when one of those shells was crawling up my kitchen counter the next morning we discovered they were more than pretty shells! Of course she was thrilled, since the slugs had "escaped".
I did some research and after school we made a real habitat for her new pets.

She is infatuated with these little creatures. I hope that her curiosity never fades.

Big Kid

This morning Wyatt wanted a "packpack" of this own. He also wanted to go to school with sissy. Slow down little man your time is coming!

Watching

Construction has begun on what will be the house next door. I bet the crew never thought they would have such an eager audience!

Brown Box

One big brown box, so many possibilities. It stayed in the front yard while Mike put the patio furniture together. It now sits in the back yard because Payton just couldn't part with it yet. Oh to be a kid again.......

Mothers Day

Although being a mother is sometimes filled with frustration it is also the best job in the world. I love both my kids but this year I was so proud of my little girl - she made me a card all on her own, no help from Daddy. I love it - the best present ever! Right down to the backwards s's and the misspellings. Can't wait to hang it on my wall!

Construction Crew

Building is beginning in our neighborhood. This couldn't make Wyatt happier, as he loves anything to do with construction - all those big trucks and tractors are a little boys dream! The other day Mike brought Wyatt over to look at this bulldozer. The nice man offered Wyatt a ride! I ran home to get my camera and when I came back Mike informed me that HE would be giving the ride! So both my boys were in heaven.

Confession

After washing Payton's hair tonight I said to her "now turn off the water and get out please"

She replied "but you said I could have extra time"

I said "no I did not now please get out"

Payton sighed "I must confess, I didn't wash my entire body"

With that reply she bought herself a few more minutes!

Art

I was inspired by a Family Fun magazine to create a Cinco De Mayo "bark" painting. There version you use a paper bag (we didn't have one so I substituted a piece of construction paper). You wet the paper, crumple it up and squeeze the excess water off. Then you flatten it back out and press it with an iron set on low. Draw a picture with a black marker and then paint. Voila! I showed Payton the picture in the magazine and she created her version. She mixed her colors like a "real artist".

Of course Wyatt had to get in on the action too. He stayed fairly clean and mostly on the paper!

Our newest additions

Payton has been begging for what seems like months now for a pet worm - thank you Curious George. Well I finally relented yesterday after a good rain. So off we went with a glad container and a shovel but alas, no worms were to be found. So again this morning before school....to no avail. Just in case Daddy brought the container along on the walk to school. He came home with slugs.....yes, slugs. Every fiber in my being wanted to throw them away but I know my daughter. So I indulged her when she got home this afternoon.

She was so excited to create a "habitat" for her new pets. A little dirt, water and leaves along with some flowering weeds for them to eat.

She is quite proud of herself and would not stop hovering over them. I drew the line at letting them come in. If I hadn't she would be sleeping with them right now.....