A couple of weeks ago I took the kids and invited a bunch of friends to go see David Chicken Live at the Levitt Pavilion here (if you have one in your area then you should definitely check it out – free outdoor concerts all summer long!).  Even though it was super hot, we still had a great time.   Throughout the concert David Chicken would have kids come up on stage to help sing and dance.  Rachel thought she wanted to do it and then chickened out (I couldn’t resist!).  But, with some prompting from Ethan, Brant & Kendall, she was all for it.  I thought I would be the mamarazzi and snap photos, but boy was I wrong.  So, Kelly decided to take pictures of all of us on stage making our big debut.  It actually was a lot of fun and the kids got a kick out of it so that’s all that matters. 

The kids and I have been loving the weather lately and have been trying to take full advantage of it.  I think we visited 5 different parks in 8 days and have now mapped out the quickest route to the restroom (or disgusting blue stall) at all of those parks.  Do any other 3 year olds out there hold it until the absolute last possible moment?  I keep reminding Rachel that she’s not a camel but she’s not getting it. 

Park with Lauryn & Allie 



Hard to believe all of these kids are old enough to just take off on their bikes

Park with church friends

After school play

Ethan wanted to invite Luke & Zachary over after school (a little tricky with a car that only holds 3 car seats), so we sent Rachel home with Luke’s sister and had a great afternoon full of boy adventures

Park with Brant & Lincoln


I love that five-year olds aren’t too old to skip through the parking lot holding hands

Botanic Garden with Luke & Olivia




E was very excited that a butterfly landed on him during the butterfly exhibit – Rachel, on the other hand, declared all the butterflies “big meanies” because they didn’t land on her

Post-outside

All that springtime pollen fun was bound to catch up with Ethan’s eyes!

A few years ago when we were house hunting one of the things at the top of our list was to find a house in an established neighborhood with lots of great trees.  We definitely found what we were looking for and every year I remind myself that a house with 20+ trees in the front yard is a blessing in the summer and a curse in the fall.  Well, it’s a curse in the fall for Clay and me because we have to rake and bag the leaves from 20+ trees, but it’s a fall wonderland for the kids.  Ethan had a friend come over last week and his friend asked if he could take some of our leaves home with him to play in.  It’s all about perspective…

Last week the kids and I stopped by the park on the absolute most beautiful day of the year and ended up spending most of the day there.  We typically just go and play on the playgrounds and swing and then leave.  But last week we explored the back side of the park and had a blast crossing the bridge, climbing on rocks, and the best part – playing on the 1970s exercise equipment.  It was hilarious hearing the kids try to come up with the uses for the different equipment pieces.  There are also some really random statues scattered throughout the park (like a boy laying on the groud using his feet to feed a dog a bottle – a little odd, right?) and that was an adventure by itself.  We made a quick McDonald’s run halfway through because I wasn’t prepared with lunch, and when we got back a boy from Ethan’s soccer team was there with his little sister so that doubled the excitement.  Looking forward to some more beautiful fall days around here.

In my little world, every day would have a list of things that have to get done, a list of things that probably should get done, and a list of things that sure would be fun to do.  Well, around May I started making a list of fun things we could do this summer and it wasn’t hard to fill it up.  So, in the spirit of embracing the summer, I ditched the lists of things that have to get done and probably should get done and we’re just focusing on the fun.  Lately we’ve been to The Tubes at Irving Bible Church (a great free activity if you live around here), to the splash park by ourselves (a completely different experience by yourselves than with a bunch of other people), Clay took the kids to a balloon festival which was really more of an aircraft show (check Nicole’s blog for pics), played in the front yard in the sprinklers, made some new friends (check Ashley’s blog for pics), went to the lake with some friends and let the kids go tubing, Ethan started t-ball practice, we’ve been to the park, and we’ve also been to the movies a couple of times.  Now if I can just get my back to start feeling better we’ll start exploring some other cool things on my list (anyone know of a black market that sells portable epidurals?  I’m thinking that’s the only way to go to get some relief at this point). 

At the park

Jack & E

At The Tubes

At the splash park

E & Sophia at the lake

Clay and Rachel tubing

Rachel dodging the sprinkler

E in the sprinkler

And as a side note, Rachel has been speaking another language for the past 2 days. 

Oh, glorious summer.  Last year I did not embrace summer.  In fact, I think I may have even cursed it a few times.  However, we’ve kicked off this summer with new attitudes, a general love of the water by all, no swim diapers or morning naps, and lots of fun to be had.  It’s week 2 and we already have a nice tan brewing…gonna be a great summer.

I really think God was laughing when He created Rachel.  She is unlike any other child I’ve known.  Of course I love that about her, but it really does keep me on my toes.  Today we were at the park with some friends and one of the moms said, “You must grin all day long at her.”  My response?  “I’m either grinning or gritting.” 

Grinning?  When I took Ethan to the bathroom at swim lessons this morning and I turn around to find her doing this:

Gritting?  When we’re at the splash park, she has to use the bathroom, and she can’t wait the 5 seconds it will take me to stand up so she just pulls her swimsuit to the side and goes to town right there in the grass…in front of everyone.  (Yes, Mom, I know I totally deserve that one)