SPACESHIP SPACESHIP SPACESHIP!!!

We may have watched The Lego Movie one too many times this weekend...

OBEDIENCE SCHOOL GRADUATE!

Jay spent 6 Sundays at obedience school with Buster, where he learned "sit, stay, wait, down, leave it, heel, come", how to properly interact with other humans and dogs, navigate stairs and slides, and other miscellaneous things. He was already a great dog when we got him last November, but we've definitely seen an improvement (especially with not pulling on his leash or being so quick to run off) having gone through the course. It was as much a course for us as it was for him, as we needed to learn the proper terms to help him understand our requests better. Buster is a great dog and we're very proud of him!

SWELTERING SAFARI AND SPLASHING

This year it was daddy's turn to take the kids on the hot, stinky wagon ride through the nearby safari park for their annual field trip. He started the day by putting Cora's hair in a pony tail (not for the first time, but it's rare that he does her hair, so he had to text me a photo - I approved!)

 First stop on the tour was the petting zoo area, with llamas and goats and even a baby cow.

 Poor little calf was rescued from a coyote attack. I heard all about it from the kids later in the day.

 Then came the wagon ride, where they saw the giraffe, donkeys, zebras, bison (who stole food cups), ostrich, antelope, deer, and other random safari fauna.

 They got home and napped, and when I got off work I switched out with Jay so he could go into the office, and I took the kids downtown to Catfish Row. They played on the playground until their new "best friend" (James makes a best friend EVERYWHERE he goes - I wish I had his social skills!) had to leave, then they put on their swimsuits and splashed until it was time for us to head up the hill to meet Jay, the Kennedys, and ALEX (in town for work for the week) for dinner at Rusty's. Busy day, tired kids, good food, lots of fun!

Yes, they wore matching shirts today!

 James is quite proud of his strength these days. Here he was showing off for his new friend.

 Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the splashing. They mostly chased butterflies around the splash pad, but were also busy making more friends, and I always feel weird taking photos of other people's kids in swimsuits, so I just keep the camera tucked away.

MARBLING

Cora got a marbling kit from her Gramma for her birthday, so Jay busted it out this afternoon and the kids enjoyed making crafts and painting in a new way. Jay said it was surprisingly easy to do and clean up, so that's a bonus!

BARLEY'S ANGELS: MIDWEST

This month Barley's Angels visited the Midwest. We avoided the powerhouse breweries and sampled some microbrews instead (Angry Cedar Brewing Co. and Bell's Brewery). Amber (and Iowa native) led the discussion and provided some typical midwestern pub fare, such as meats (corned beef and similar), farmer's cheese, rye bread, and mustard. Bet my dad would have liked this pairing!

 (We added an Imperial ESB from Tallgrass Brewing Co. to the lineup from Lisa's bar fridge...)

I was highly amused by the side label on the Angry Cedar bottle...

Sorry I don't post these monthly meetings here regularly, for those of you who are interested in the goings on of the Angels, it's just that I get so distracted by the opportunity to be out of the house for an evening without the kids to enjoy food and drink while talking with a bunch of fun ladies that I forget the camera... in fact, I snapped these photos with my phone just so I could show Jay what we were up to. Next month the pairing is CALIFORNIA and I'll be hosting! Time to read my chapter and decide which of the many appetizers/entrees I'm going to make... and hopefully I can find room in my suitcase smuggle a few choice microbrews home after our west coast vacation!

STORM SPLASHERS

As we drove to the pool this afternoon, after stopping for $0.25 Icees, it started to sprinkle. James said "Oh no! Not RAIN! I want to swim!! Mama, pull over and check the map!" And so I did. And it was a tiny blip of a storm, so we proceeded to the pool. By the time we parked and walked in, the rain had stopped. Just in case, I stashed our stuff under the awning. After 15-20 minutes of swimming, the rain returned and the lifeguards blew their whistles and called the daycamp kids out of the pool (as it was time for them to return to the gym, not because it was raining). The rain caused all the lounging mamas to gather their bags and children and go huddle under the awning. We continued swimming, because, well, there was no thunder (and the lifeguards were still on duty, allowing us access to the now empty water) and because WE WERE ALREADY WET FROM THE POOL. The kids thought it was awesome that we had the pool to ourselves for a few minutes. Then there was a small rumble of thunder and the lifeguards blew their whistles again to call everyone us out of the pool, so we made our own way under the awning that was now overflowing with people standing around with their arms crossed. The kids drank their Icees and had a snack, then quickly got bored (and overwhelmed by the lack of elbow room). Cora pointed at the puddles just outside the awning and asked me "Eh?", and since there was no further thunder (or lightening), I told her to knock herself out. I didn't even bother counting the number of disapproving looks I got from other mamas for letting my kids go splash in the dirty puddles...

Seriously though, is a little bit of dirty water not worth that look of PURE JOY?

Entertaining themselves by the trash can... Whatever. I bet it was extra dirty in that spot.

"Hey mama, let's have a BBQ!" (Cue more disapproving looks... and I had to tell him not to touch the grill. Good thing he still had his goggles on for safety, eh?)

"How much longer do we have to sit out? It's not even raining anymore!"

 When the rain stopped, everyone made a mad dash for their cars. Except for us. And one other family. James quickly became best friends with their little boy (who was also 5-years-old) and within 5 minutes or so we were allowed back in the pool (they have to wait a certain amount of time after the last clap of thunder before they can reopen). What was an overcrowded mess when we arrived was now an entire pool just for 3 kids and 3 parents. Score! James hung out in the shallow end with his new buddy (and the boy's parents - James made best friends with the dad too, of course) while I took Cora over to the slides, then the diving board. Eventually one more family showed up to play, so Cora and I took turns diving with that family's 3 boys, and I intermittently checked in with James who was happily fetching diving rings with his new friend.

 

 

 

Sometimes you just have to have a little patience (and snacks!), check the radar map, and let your kids get dirty to entertain themselves in the meantime. Our summer swimming days are numbered, so I'm sure glad we had this great afternoon together!

GOODNIGHT RAPUNZEL

TABLE UPGRADE

After seeing James sit and work so comfortably at Cora's new tea table, we decided it was time to upgrade his train table / Duplo table (which he either uncomfortably bends over or uncomfortably kneels on his toes at). After getting the OK from him to sell it, we ordered him a table similar to Cora's (not pink, slightly taller, different brand). We love that it fits at the end of his bed without hanging out and taking over that entire side of his room (I can reach his dresser so much more easily now). He helped Jay put it together and is very proud of it (both of his handiwork, and the fact that he now has a "big boy desk"). Jay has plans to make him a small(ish) Lego board by gluing a couple of the regular building plates to a portable board, and the whole table switcheroo gave us the perfect excuse to buy some plastic bins and get the thousands of Legos now inhabiting James' room separated by color and stored out of the way (which also benefits us by keeping Buster from going under James' bed, because as clean as we keep him, he's still a dog and he still kinda smells sometimes, and we were sick of James' room smelling like dirty little boy AND dirty little dog).

The orange thing on the table is perfect for holding Lego instructions

His other Lego storage is still nearby

And we've started storing his creations on top of his dresser (though a few are in other places around the house)

 Cora saw me taking pictures of James' room and requested some of hers as well, so here ya go.

The queen is bowing for you...

"WELCOME TO MY WIGGLES HOUSE!"

We had TWO birthday parties to attend today, so after Lauren's party and a family nap, we headed out to Grady's THIRD birthday party! He apparently planned his own party theme down to many of the details, and it was quite apparent as he stood holding the porch door open, greeting his guests as they arrived with a "Welcome to my Wiggles house. Come in and DANCE!" Oh is he ever just the most proper little gentlemen!! And another extremely smart little kid!



Grady led the kids in a jam session back in his "music room"

These 4 should totally put a band together...

Jello wigglers - James was in HEAVEN, especially considering the free reign over the Jello plate... When I told him to stop eating them, he just asked someone else if he could have another...

Fishing for candy with the birthday boy

Front yard hill rolling

And Front Porch sitting (a common pastime at L&O's house!)

These kids were ready for cake! (Jello layer cake in 4 colors and flavors - it was great!)

Our friend Michelle (Tom the ultramarathoner's wife) with her little thumb-sucking princesses. Darcy is about the same age as Cora and takes dance with her. Flora also takes dance, in the mommy and me class, but as you can see is a bit more sassy than her older sister. We'll call that second child syndrome, eh? Though maybe it's middle child syndrome, since Michelle is due with #3 sometime in December.

 Happy Birthday handsome Grady!

LAUREN CLAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Little Lauren turned TWO yesterday, can you believe it?! We can - she's one extremely smart and adorable (and she knows it) just-turned-two-year-old, and we sure love her! We attended her birthday splash party this morning and the weather was absolutely perfect (actually cool enough for July that the kids had blue lips from playing in the cold water after a while...) We visited, the kids played, we all ate too much. It was a very nice way to spend the morning with most of our local friends!

James and Coltin on the slip-n-slide, Will and Ava in the pool

Cora joins the biggest boys on the slip-n-slide

There is just no denying that these two are the very best of friends, always, no matter where they are or what they're doing. We couldn't be more pleased about that!

A couple more buddies. Coffee buddies. True supervisor stances.

Snack man! Did we mention we buzzed his hair this weekend?...

Oooooh - bubbles!

The birthday girl!

 Sorry I didn't grab more photos - I was too busy talking...

Happy Birthday precious Lauren!

SPONTANEOUS SPLASHERS

Daddy took the kids and Buster on a farmers market, playground, splash pad adventure after school. The splashing was a spontaneous decision following much time at the playground, hence the lack of swimsuits. There was some Mississippi River toe-dipping after the splashing, I hear...

ROBOTS IN DISGUISE

Thank you, whomever drives the yellow Mustang in our town. You made the kids morning as we followed you to school. Apparently your black stripes sealed the deal in their debate as to whether you were the real Bumblebee or just pretend. They were on the edge of their seats waiting for you to transform (metaphorically, not literally, since their carseat harnesses would not allow for that). Mama, on the other hand, was happy there was no reason for the Autobot to wage his battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons.

A NEW TAKE ON PIGTAILS

We recently saw a little girl at the pool wearing her hair in braided pigtails and thought it was cute (and genius for swimming and keeping hair out of the eyes), so we decided to try it today. Cora was quite pleased with the result.

LOUD ANIMALS AND QUIET ALARMS

Jay got up at 4:25am to run in the amazing 60 degree weather (yes, I was jealous, but Wednesdays and Thursdays are his mornings), left the house at 4:40am, and Cora clashed and banged (hall door and stair gate) her way upstairs at 5:15am. Awake? Or just wanting snuggles? It took her nearly until my alarm went off to decide that she really was still tired. Shortly after that point Jude came bounding up the stairs like a herd of cattle (how can one fat cat make so much noise?) after having a screaming fit (at what I later learned to be Maxine, who had snuck into the house when Jay left, upsetting both Jude AND Buster - there was growling involved, but I cared not), meowed loudly and awoke Cora, who thankfully just grabbed her around the neck and wrestled her into submission, then promptly fell back asleep until James came upstairs and woke her up at 7:15am. Somehow we managed to get out the door late (surprised?) and in my hurry I apparently pushed the wrong button on the alarm key fob. My phone was on silent (as it always is overnight and most of the day while I'm at work), so I missed the call from the security company. As I pulled over on the side of the road halfway to I-20 to hand James a wet wipe (dude had a serious chocolate mess all over his face and hands due to his tendancy to inhale his breakfast bar and not caring how much actually gets into his mouth), I noticed my phone lighting up with a call from Christina. Unexpected at 8:00am... Turns out the alarm company called her because they couldn't get a hold of me (sometimes it can be quite the inconvenience to be friends with Team Lindsay, I apologize!), because I had set off the inaudible panic alarm (inaudible, thus I didn't realize I had done it) and they had dispatched police to our residence. Oh crap. So I turned around and high-tailed it home. Checked the house, reset the alarm (and pet a smiling and unconcerned Buster, who sadly thought I had returned just for him - oh the disappointment!), and called the alarm company, who was luckily able to cancel the dispatch (or is that unluckily, since it had now been exactly 15 minutes since my phone had received the voice message about the dispatch - good thing there wasn't a real emergency?...) Take two: get the kids to school. Arrive at work 45 minutes later than usual. Womp womp.

 

And that's the long story of my morning that you really didn't care to hear about, but, well, this is my journal, so...

NIGHTMARES AND THUNDERSTORMS

James has always been a great sleeper, but he seems to go through phases where he has bad dreams for a week (or weeks) that then cause him to then routinely wake up during those times and come looking for us even if he hasn't really had a nightmare. It's always hard to figure out what triggers his nightmares and how we can stop them (though we suspect it's usually something he's seen on TV or something he's recently read/heard about - he has a very active imagination during the day, so we can only imagine what he dreams up overnight). We don't mind him sneaking into our bed (or us having to go down and sleep with him), other than the fact that sometimes the dreams jar him enough that he's awake for a long time, anxious and fidgeting. Thunderstorms have the same effect on him (and occasionally Cora as well, though her Rockabye Baby music combined with the air purifier white noise set between their bedrooms prevent her from hearing them as often). Living in the Deep South, we have a lot of months with lots of rain, and as I've stated in the past, it rarely "just rains" here. If it's raining, it's usually storming - with thunder claps that shake the house and lightening shows so bright they light the bedroom to daylight status in pulses, over and over. If only we had a basement to sleep in during stormy nights...

T-MINUS 2 WEEKS!

Vacation is just around the corner and the kids are getting excited and asking a lot of questions, so we decided to make paper chains to count down the days to help them understand how long 2 weeks is.

 

We rounded up some colored construction paper and the kids set about cutting 14 strips (with the scary adult-sized scissors since I couldn't find the kid safety scissors... and I even walked up the driveway to take the trash out and left them unsupervised - thank goodness they were "super very careful" as promised)

Next was a quick lesson on how to tape the ends together and hook the rings.

I really loved their finished products. James took longer because he was so meticulous (AKA OCD) about cutting his strips in similar widths and carefully lining up edges to tape. Cora's chain was a bit more ecclectic, especially since she rushed to beat James (unnecessarily) because she always wants to "win" at everything lately, and we had to reattach some tape that was applied haphazardly with buttery homemade popcorn fingers (double craft afternoon! - we've been making homemade popcorn for a couple months and we'll never go back to pre-packaged again).

 

After I snapped their finish photo, we took the paper chains to their rooms so they could hang them up. We'll take one ring off each night before bed and before we know it we'll be heading west!