3rd week of July, 2016

Update on the garden front:  I'm getting lots of tomato fruit and the cucumbers are finally growing (after I helped pollinate them).   Nothing else has made it.

Problem:  I had tomatoes finally turning red and then I went out to check on them and see this - - something else is eating them!!! :(  I was so upset because I still have yet to eat a tomato from my plant with all the fruit!

Look at that cucumber I found!!

Cousin time in the pool

I have commenced Operation Protect the Tomatoes.  I am hoping with the chicken wire and soccer goal (don't laugh, I'm doing whatever I can to save my tomatoes) that the birds won't be able to get in there.  Notice how the cucumber vines have taken over?  They have loved the chicken wire.

Apparently this is a topless pool

My first cucumber.  Look at that size!!  I am so excited.  I've never grown cucumbers before and this cucumber looks exactly like what you would buy at the grocery store.  (Although, it's spiky - did you know that cucumbers grow with little prickly spikes on them?  I didn't.)

Sweetly sleeping

Getting my nightly walk in even in the dark.  It may be hot out there but I'm still walking 4-5 nights a week.

More carnage.  How is this happening, even with all the protection I added???

Next step on the protection - a pin wheel to scare away the birds.

Swim time at the Ray's summer sweets.  Emmalyn loves Ozzy.

Happiness= Watermelon in one hand and pizza in the other

The kids swam for awhile and then hopped out for more watermelon (and gatorade for Maxwell - he loves going next door because they always have gatorade for him and that's something he doesn't get at home).

Trying to put out the torch with the water gun.  Once it got dark Maxwell did his magic and said "Abracadabra" to turn on the lights.

Maxwell and Preston yukking it up on the soccer field.

Because these two don't see each other during the week at school all the time, it's been awesome for them to get to see each other at soccer on the weekend.  They are BFF's.

Mr Chris and Mrs Mary Ann came to watch Maxwell play soccer.  We have the best next door neighbors!

My Crepe Myrtle is infested with something.  Ugh.  Something else to figure out. :(  

Weekend fun at the library.  I took the kids by myself and we got some books and then I let them play on the computers for a few minutes.

We stopped at the eye glass store so Maxwell could get his glass adjusted so they would stop falling down on his nose all the time.  They stayed entertained with the new library books.  Maxwell is really loving reading a few chapter book series - Captain Awesome and Heidi Heckelbeck

After glasses, we stopped for slurpees to enjoy while my car got washed.  Emmalyn put her sucker in her straw.  The kids certainly were rewarded for being good sports during our afternoon of many errands - Suckers AND Slurpees.

Sucking on her slurpee?  Nope, her sucker.

Watching the cars get washed

Maxwell spraying the cars as they go through the wash

The next day we took the kids bowling.  Our local alley has a "Kids bowl free" program in the summer so it's pretty cheap for us to go, especially on Sunday morning when there are deals for Peter and I.

After bowling?  Costco of course for our usual Sunday visit.

These kids are fish and can't get enough of swimming so a neighborhood party at the community pool was the perfect thing for a Sunday afternoon.

Watching the ants

Trying to lick the pizza sauce off his face

Root beer float

Nighttime selfie with Maxwell during our bedtime cuddles

Second week of June

Sweet girl fell back asleep after waking up early to nurse.  I love it when she falls back asleep.  :) (Cuz momma can sleep more!)

At the pool!

Brittany and all the kids at the neighborhood pool.  She took them there in the afternoon and I joined them after work.

Peeling his own orange

Rocking some shades and a backpack

Look!  I kid you not - I GREW A TOMATO!!!!!!!!  I was super happy.

This year I bought some plants at the grocery store that already had a few small tomatoes already started and lots of flowers.  I put them in pots on the patio.  So far, I would say it's working.  :)

Enjoying the tomatoes on a salad

lego fun with cousins

Ready for his soccer game with an awesome hair style

The Mejia's came to watch Maxwell's game.  He was really excited about it.

That evening we had another birthday party for a kid in Max's class.  Peter Piper Pizza

Max had fun with the games but did NOT like the merry-go-round.

Emmalyn, however, LOVED it

Max has kept asking to go bowling so Peter let Maxwell play it on the wii and he loved it and caught on really quick and now he wants to play the "pee wii" every night in place of his typical iPad time.

We also signed up for a summer promotion at the local bowling place where Maxwell bowls free.  He is very excited!

Look - I got two strikes in a row!!!!!!  That's a BIG deal for me!

Daddy and Maxwell tied for first place

Glowing toes and socks

We wrapped up our weekend by gong swimming next door.  I swam with both kids while Peter watched.  Maxwell is doing such a great job swimming that he mostly swims by himself but I'm not ready to let him be in the pool without someone in there with him.

We are so lucky to be able to use our neighbor's gorgeous pool.

All 3 of us under the waterfall

Maxwell swimming like a fish...

Summer is so awesome.  We get to do things like having a family water gun fight while the baby splashes in the water table.

Maxwell has been whining about "who is going to play with me" quite a bit and doesn't want to play alone.

Emmalyn is doing better at walking every day.  She walks fast with more balance.  She's so cute. BUT has been a picky eater lately.  :(