Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Today started out gorgeous. Daddy let me go for a run when we woke up while he and the boys played. Then as he did his back exercises, the boys & I enjoyed playing outside. We decided to get some food to grill out that evening. Eventually the boys napped and we finished the movie we had started the night before (which was actually kind of disturbing but good...called 'the machinist'). We had all sorts of plans for outdoor fun when the boys woke up!

But then the heavens let loose... the dark clouds loomed and then bolts of lightning lit up the entire sky and thunder shook our entire house. It was an all-out storm with the downpour to boot. :( :( :( Joshua was sad he couldn't go swimming with Daddy like we had said. We were also disappointed. We talked about what to do, and we decided that maybe a night at Chuck E Cheese would cure our weather blues.

Daddy printed out a coupon and we headed out during a break in the rain drops. Then it let loose again and the lightning bolts were amazing with the LOUD thunder and rain to the point you couldn't even see. Shawn said "no one in their right mind would go out in this" so we knew we'd be in luck for an empty night at Chuck E Cheese and we were right! (We obviously are not in our right minds.) There were maybe a couple other families in the entire place. The boys could ride or play with any game they wanted to with no wait or sharing.

The last time we were there, Caleb was in an infant carrier and Joshua was terrified of the moving cars. This time was a completely different story! Both boys LOVED the games and rides. And while most of the machines had been out of order last time, only one ate a token this time.

We ordered ham & pineapple pizza and drinks and played while we waited for the food. We ate an extremely quick dinner and then continued playing afterward.

Joshua all too quickly got the concept of "gimme money, Daddy!" He put the coins in the machines of his choosing and then would come back asking for more while Caleb required more help.

Shawn was very sweet to take us on this Memorial Day adventure. We had been bummed to miss our plans, but we decided to take the lemons dealt us and make lemonade.

Most of our pictures were fuzzy... some of that is the camera, some is the batteries, some is the lighting, some is the movement of our kids and some is just plain ol' user 'error.'

Daddy shot hoops with the Bean, the boys played on the phone, and both boys LOVED the ducky game as usual (where they try to knock the ducks off the track).

Joshua was able to climb the 'bigger' slide this time, while Caleb stuck with the smaller one. They both liked the 'feed the dog' game, too, and Joshua didn't even need any help with it.

We ended the night with Daddy & I playing the 'squirt-the-target-with- water' game (and he won) and the boys playing the cars racing game.

I loved Joshua's face in the above picture and Caleb's in the picture below.

It was a fun night! And hopefully the weather will be nicer later this week that we can swim again and grill out. Happy Memorial Day! Here's to a four-day work week and the last week of my 20s.

Memorial Day...Remembering

Today we remember and honor those who willingly serve in our armed forces so that we can live in a country with so many freedoms and opportunities. We are thankful!

Happy Memorial Day!

Water You Waiting For?

Daddy surprised us with a new pool this weekend. Kmart was having a sale on their 'baby' pools and we decided to go for it! Our next door neighbors have a huge in-ground 'neighborhood' pool that they invite us to, but I'm too nervous to take the boys by myself. This is something where we can cool off but it doesn't feel so dangerous.

Luckily, last year Daddy had bought an inflater-thingy on final clearance at Target. It came in handy to blow this thing up with all its pieces last night. And then he filled it with water. We let it warm up today as we went to church and the boys napped.

Daddy went golfing with Uncle Brian, but we decided to try the pool out anyway while he was gone since it was in the 80s, sunny and GORGEOUS out! The boys are saying 'let's dive in!' And that's exactly what they did!

I was nervous with Caleb. The pool says ages 3 and up. So, I got my suit on and was prepared just in case anything would happen. And, in typical Caleb-fashion, he dove head-first into the water and came up bewildered. He did that several times as we were out there. It's just deep enough to completely cover both of them. Please pray for their safety if you're reading this!

That didn't stop him, though. He LOVES to be wet! He loves to swim! He doesn't mind his head under water. He's an adventurer! Here he is steering the pirate ship.

Joshua also LOVED it! He would jump in on his knees, splash water all around and giggle. Soon, he asked Momma to come in and join them. At first I didn't, but then I decided, 'why not?'

Of course I didn't bring the camera in with me, but we had a blast. We'd float on our bellies, then we'd float on our backs. Then we sang the ABC song and tapped the water with every letter. We splashed and played and sang the afternoon away.

The pool is just big enough to be fun without being so big that it terrifies me to have in the back yard with the kids. It made me realize that the boys probably won't fear water like they have in the past. They thoroughly enjoyed swimming and getting wet today.

The only way to get them out of the water was to promise them a snack on the deck. Daddy also bought a cheap umbrella for our outdoor table. So, while they sat at their little plastic picnic table, I sat in the shade and we enjoyed fresh strawberries, grapes and blackberries. Yum!

I made sure to take lots of pictures for Daddy (who I'm sure will get to experience the fun tomorrow!). After the boys were done, I took them for a walk around the neighborhood to continue enjoying the sunshine.

Then Daddy called to say he was done with golfing and wanted to treat us to the airport restaurant to watch the planes and enjoy the sun some more. We agreed! The boys & I were excited to be outside even longer. It was the most beautiful day ever!

Hope you enjoyed the pool pictures! More to come...

Park-y Pooper

The title of this post is based on the geese droppings that are all over my stroller tires. I even stepped in some on our walk around Long's Park. But, our time at the park was truly fun.

I woke up early Thursday morning, as I had done all week, to go for a jog before it got too hot. Then I got ready and we took a meal to a friend. Then we arrived at Long's Park about 9:15 am to play on the smaller playground.

Joshua started to climb up the side, and Caleb followed right behind him. They have both grown so much since they were last at this park, and this wall was now easy for them both.

Then they started to slide. Soon enough our friends arrived - Becca brought Alayna & Kyla to the park to meet us! Joshua ran to greet Alayna, who followed him back to the playground area.

The kids had a blast together! Here are Joshua & Alayna taking it easy on the slides. :)

And here's Caleb coming down next! Becca & I sat on the 'reclining' wooden benches to watch them play. One other little girl came in the time that we were there. We all commented on how these benches have definitely sank backwards. But, there was at least one in the shade on this 90+ degree day! The picture below was taken by the Bean, of course.

Poor little Kyla desperately wanted to join in the fun, but she's not quite walking yet. How I remember Caleb in that stage last year. The older sibling gets to have most of the fun while the younger one wants to eat wood chips like they're Cheerios. Joshua took this picture of Kyla.

When Alayna had to go potty, Joshua wanted to follow her and told me he had to go. So, we went along and then headed to a different play area within Long's Park. I can't believe how big that place is!

Both boys immediately started climbing this wall. While Joshua went to do something else, Caleb persisted in this climbing and made it up the whole way several times with me spotting him just to be safe.

Meanwhile, Alayna & Joshua chose this rock climbing wall with the chain for leverage. It looked like fun!

Here comes Caleb through the tube! And Becca took Kyla on this playground (no wood chips here to eat) and she seemed to enjoy it more.

Then we moved on to the swings next to us. Us mommas talked about summer plans and vacation time, etc.

Caleb desperately wanted to go back to the slides, though, so we went back for a little while before I went and got my stroller and we walked around the pond to look at the geese and ducks.

As we walked, we chatted about growing closer to God and goals for our lives, etc. It was a good, meaningful conversation, which I truly enjoyed. It seems rare to have a moment to have a heart-to-heart with another momma when we're in this stage of entertaining kiddos. Our morning out was nice. And HOT! Did I mention it was 90+ degrees? I think we all left there soaked with sweat - at least the boys & I did!

As we walked, Joshua wanted to hold Alayna's hand. But, since they're both used to us adults grabbing their hands and holding them, they both wanted to be the 'under' hand and had a heck of a time figuring out how to comfortably hold onto one another. Finally, I think Alayna gave in. Haaa!!!

Thanks for the fun morning out, friends! We enjoyed it!