BUG Tent

Sometimes it really is the simple things that are the most fun....

I wish I had a tent when I was little!

Pique-Nique

I don't know what it is but I am all set with hanging out in the backyard.  Last year it was pools out, swing set-set, ride on toys lined up in a row, and bounce house blown up.  This summer as much as I love the thought, I get so bored out there.  I LOVE playing with my kids, I guess its just the same ol' same ol'. So I try to get out of the house daily, or at least almost daily for a couple of hours.

Last night Hailey was sick and we were up most of the night (my poor baby bug getting her new teeth). So today we HAD to get out of the house. Even if it was just to guarantee I would stay awake. =)  I realized it was almost lunch time, and I didn't want to slow down all our mojo to eat SO the perfect solution: a picnic!

We are so blessed to have such a perfect place to spend the day and picnic so close to home. The kids were so excited to go on a picnic.  I am disappointed I never really thought of it before because they were so darn excited.

Kyle ate better than I had seen him eat in I couldn't tell you how long.  He ate all his sandwich, some apple, and all his pudding!  Yay Ky! Hailey, well she still wasn't 100% so it was a bite here and there, but overall she was in good spirits.

After lunch we got to explore, play (and most importantly) look for fish.

As I watched my babies play, and explore I could feel my heart beat, and I made sure I took a special mommy snapshot in my heart to hold onto.

 The day Kyle came home from the hospital Jason and I brought him here.  After being couped up in a hospital for just under a week we needed sun and air. It was our first FAMILY excursion.  I remember being so nervous: should we carry him or push him in the stroller?  Is he warm enough? Is he too warm?  Oh No!  We should feed him.  Umm, he needs a diaper, where do we change him?

Now look at him looking for fish and finding "buried treasure" (OK they were rocks, but treasures to him) and HER not missing a beat just behind him.

It was surreal.  Who knew a simple picnic could be so fun and so heart warming?

They really do grow up TOO FAST!!

We will be taking picnics more often =)

Southwick Zoo

It was yet another wonderful day for us at Southwick zoo. It was the first time I took the kids to the zoo without Jason, which was different.  I missed him being there with us. But we had plenty of company: family, friends, in-laws, cousins.  It was a hodge podge of people, and a whole lot of fun!

Today really pointed out to me how much Kyle is growing up.  Jay and I took first Kyle to Southwick when he was a newborn.  I remember  us having a whole conversation about how one day he is going to come here and want to go all the rides.  We talked about how much we enjoyed amusement rides when we were kids.

Today it happened!  The instant Kyle saw the rides he wanted to get on them.  I had to convince him to see all the animals first.  When he finally got on the rides all I could do was relish in the moment.  He was so happy.  He was having so much fun.  He was so grown up.  My baby is a little boy.

Thankfully and rather annoyingly in the moment Hailey had little interest in the rides and really only wanted me.  Which at the time was difficult and rather bothersome, but as I look back on the day makes me appreciate that at least she is still my little one.

Another GREAT day, and another small little Mommy moment for me =)

Stop, No, Shhhh

So Kyle has a few quirky "traits" that drive me NUTSO!!!

1.) He yells Sallap 100 times a day. It's supposed to be "ZAAAAP" like on "Super Why". Very annoying!

2.) Kyles other catch phrase "Awwww Man!" 1000 times a day. YELLING.

3.) He pretty much yells everything.  No, he does not have a hearing problem

4.) He throws EVERYTHING!!! I don't get it.  I tell him to "STOP" every 5 minutes.  It is very annoying. 

Hailey has her flaws to:

1.) She wants me to pick her up and carry her everywhere...not fun when its 100 degrees and you have a sunburn.

2.) She screams!

3.) She crawls all over me all the time.  yup, she is on me now =)

As annoying as they may be I love them.  AND I will TRY to cherish each and every moment.  Even the annoying, not so fun ones. Afterall, I'm not perfect either.


***** UPDATE: Today at the zoo I realized Kyle got "Awwww Man" from me.  I am not proud of it, but now I know.....darn it!!!! LOL*****

Where Does He Get This Stuff??

The other day Kyle was drinking from his sippy cup and when it got to be just about done you could hear the air slurp.  He looked at me and said "That's a sad sound".  Then a few days later he was drinking with a straw and when he heard the "done" sound again he said "Mom, that's a sad sound"

Where does he get this stuff?? He cracks me up!!!

She's IN!

Today was just a nice family day.  The four of us hanging and playing in the backyard.

My diva baby girl (note the tiara and sunglasses she had to wear)

Got IN the water!!!!  I guess the party at Nana's house yesterday, playing in the big in-ground pool opened her eyes to all the fun the pool has to offer =)



Happy 4th....AGAIN!

Today was my Father's annual 4th of July bash.  Its a celebration of the 4th/Family reunion.  Mix in a few friends, and friends of friends, a couple strangers, its a day!

For whatever reason Hailey was GLUED to my hip.. i couldn't hold her hand.  I couldn't just be near her I had to carry her everywhere!

Kyle was a water bug.  I played with him on the stairs of the pool, and helped him get used to wearing a life jacket...of course there are no photos of that!  Then Daddy went in with him; and then later in the day he was able to charm Auntie Kate into going in with him.

I could not believe how well he did in the water.  I was amazed by him!  This kid is FEARLESS......its a little scary for me!

See this slide:

It took me YEARS to get the guts to go down it.  I would climb the ladder, get to the top and freak out.  I think the first time I actually made it down was when my cousin John pushed me!  Kyle climbed the ladder (scaring the living daylight out of me) and flew down the slide.  Don't fret I stood on one side, and another adult watched the other side to catch him (just in case)......but still he went down; and flew into the arms of Auntie Kate.  He is THREE!!!!

I know she really made his day by getting in the water with him.  I just love that I was able to capture a few shots of him having so much fun!!!

The ONLY time Hailey left my side was to play in the bouncy house.  THANK YOU Auntie Karen for setting it up, my arms needed a break, even if it was for a few short bursts of time.

Of course there was wiffle ball too.  The teams weren't as big this year nor the game as exciting but it wouldn't have been the same without it.

Overall another fun celebration of the 4th =)