Saturday, June 25, 2011

Friday, June 24, 2011

Birthdays and summer

I forewarn the reader: These photos are horribly out of order, but that is kind of like life with two little kids- all helter sckelter. Lydia turned 5 last week. One of her gifts was a butterfly kite.
This windy day provided lots of entertainment for all of us. Colton chasing, Lydia flying, and myself snapping photos and trying not to get hit by the kamikaze butterfly.
My neighbor and I traded bikes. They got the little pink one and we got the little red one. It's amazing how much more interest Colton has taken in bikes since he now has a red one, "like Tylers" (The neighbor boy he follows like a shadow.)
A play date with Ivan. Goofy Gophers!
We have had several really awesome storms. I finally got my camera out and took some raindrop photos.

As mentioned, Lydia turned 5 and for the first time had a friend birthday party. It was nothing grand, but when you are 5, even having Tinker Bell Cups and Plates can seem grand.
Lydia's new bike from goodwill- thus freeing up the small pink bike so we could trade with the neighbor. (This is what the kids were doing the other day when I was on the phone with you Dad.)
I could just eat these two kids up! Seriously! They look even better than the birthday cake. So cute!
And here we are at the birthday cake. Lydia wanted a pink soccer ball cake, but it did not come easily. The night before her party, I baked and frosted the base pink layer to save myself stress on the day of her party. Having stayed up late to do Lydia's cake, the kids got up before me and made their way downstairs. They say it's always trouble when the kids are quiet. Well, it might be trouble, but that doesn't help the tired mom who is still snoozing because it is so quiet. Eventually I realized I should get myself up. I caught the kids red handed- or should I say pink handed. Colton and Lydia had snitched most of the frosting off the top of the cake and had just started nibbling the cake. Big Trouble! By cutting off part of the top layer and then putting the ok part on the bottom and putting the bottom layer on top and then refrosting everything, we were able to make it work. Sneaky little girl almost didn't a cake!
I know she isn't paying attention to her swim instructor, but I'm so glad she looked my way so I could get her little smile.
Colton and his awesome blue goggles he insisted on wearing. He was always easy to point out to the other mothers when they asked, "Which one is yours?"
Lydia and best friend Elsie at her party.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Camping

We went camping and swimming at France park over the weekend. It was loads of fun. Colton took one quick break from swimming to eat a cracker and then he was back out in the lake again.
Why does fire entrance all of us?
Colton was pouting when we started taking down the tent. Lydia, the good big sister that she is, went to console him.
Colton and Mike doing lots of splashing. The water felt SO good! It was humid.
Look at that strong man! He can lift the whole tent- at least the kids were amazed.
All the kiddo's on our adventure. For such a young bunch of kids, they did really well. They didn't fall asleep until 10, but that's alright. It's all part of the fun right?
Colton LOVED hanging out in the tent. I think it was largely in part to the new bouncy air mattress.
Lydia blowing bubbles in the lake.

I honestly didn't expect to sleep, but with a new air mattress, I found myself pleasantly surprised when I woke up and it was already daylight! Whoo Hoo!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Frank Lloyd Wright

The outside of Frank Lloyd Wright's "Samara House"
If you are not familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright, he is a very famous architect. The first photo is of one of his most famous designs, a house called "falling water" Frank Lloyd Wright actually designed a house in our town, so we went on a tour of it a few weeks back. It's called the Samara house. This is the dining room. None of the photos are great, but these chairs were really cool.

This is the family/sitting room. I loved the book shelves.
This fireplace was also cool.

I love summer!

There is something amazing about fresh cut grass, green leaves and the smell of rain. I love it! I love that I can go outside without shoes on! We have been enjoying the warm weather. Colton went on a father son camp out and ate it up! Here he is taking the essentials to the car- his blankie, his Cars sleeping bag and his Cars pillow.
The neighborhood kids racing their various modes of transportation.
Playing in an overgrown field.
Colton helping Mike put training wheels on Lydia's bike.
Lydia's field trip to the zoo and icecream after. Yum. Within minutes of this photo being taken, it poured cats and dogs! They actually had to stop Lydia's bus and get all the kids off and into a 'safe' bathroom because of the severe storm warning. Crazy.