What to do when it's 103 degrees...

...just sit...in the lake.

We spent a few days doing the lake thing last week with our friends from the Lion's Den.  Mamma lion had only been home from China for less than 24 hours when we left, so we did a great job keeping her awake during the day.

Tubing is a big hit for this age group...can't throw off these light weights from behind a barge, so all is well!

Garrett liked watching the kids being pulled behind the tube, and with a little bribery, he decided to try it too. Unfortunately, he flipped right out of the back...too light:)

Great fun!

We received a 7 minute video of our little man. I watched it about 8 or 9 times and noticed something new each time. He's looking more like a little boy and less like a baby. He's quite serious and very quiet compared to a couple of kids around here. Maybe, just maybe, he will have #2's reserved and more low maintenance personality! Oh well, we'll love him no matter what!

Hoy----YA!!!!

little fishy

Today is Abbott's bday! (my niece:)   We went to her house this afternoon for a swim party, and as always, the kids had a blast.  

Garrett SWAM without his float for the first time!  After a couple of "back and fourths", he swallowed half the pool, and kindly requested to put his floatie back on, but he is getting to the point that if he fell in, he could definitely get to the side.

Speaking of a "little fishy."  I was vacuuming the girls' room after the party when I noticed a pen mark that was oh probably 4-6 feet stretched out drawn across the carpet.  I assumed it was GARRETT, but no no...it was the 8.5 year old.  I was a BIT shocked and maybe a little dismayed.  After a 10 min interrogation, I decided to check on Garrett who was finishing up his bath. He decided to dump about 5 gallons of bath water on the floor during the altercation, so this was NOT going well....not at all.  Of course this only happens when there are not two parents at home, and this was the case.  

I waited for dad to arrive home, and after talking to her, we came up with a clever little consequence if I do say so myself. She had to come up with a long list of things she would NOT write on in the future.  It turned out pretty funny, so I had to blog about it because she will laugh some day when she reads it.

The funniest line...I will not write on my friends!

I went on about my business, and was about to go to bed, when I found another list on the table....written by her sweet daddy. I'm not even sure she read it, but I thought it was the kindest act. She was quite devastated by her poor judgement and took it very very hard.  What hubs did was an act of grace, and she will not forget that I'm sure.

Happy Birthday to my crazy boo!  We love you!

Pine Cove Family Camp 2011

The second week of July just happens to be one of my favorite weeks of the year.  Pine Cove is a CRAZY FUN place, and there is really just no way to explain it.  We had a great week.  The kid who surprised me the most?? Mary for sure!  She jumped off the high dive (which was actually pretty high), rode a horse for the first time (a big fear of hers in the past), and allegedly rode the banana boats, but I'm not sure we got a positive confirmation on that.   The point is, she really lit up last week. She's our timid one, but she LOVED her counselor. She just broke out in a huge grin when she saw her, and it was so SWEET! We LOVE you Whirl!  Garrett had a hard time keeping up and remained tired most of the week, but that's to be expected from a kid his age. Allie, well she just felt right at home I think. She'd rather be outside with the bugs and the dirt than anywhere else.  She told a little boy who revealed that he had a camp crush on her, that she was "gonna rip his hair out!" YIKES! Well....she's just no girly girl.  

Random

I'm thinking that "mothering" takes up a lot of my time...go figure.  We just spent a week at family camp, and I'd love to post some pics, but I'm too busy being a parent this week!  HA!

OH if only my parenting problems could stay this simple forever.....and only if writing sentences would solve every problem......

3 moms, 1 son, 1 candle

A year ago today a 6 pound 6 ounce baby boy measuring 19 inches long was born to a young  mom in the most unfortunate of circumstances.  He changed her life a year ago today.


Today a mom who has given so unselfishly of herself to caring for orphans for now 14 years, excitedly celebrates this year gone by.  In Korea, the first birthday celebration is called the dol. She has watched him roll, crawl, babble, and now take steps!  He changed her life a year ago today.


This morning, he was the first person on my mind.  I think about the three first birthdays gone by that I've experienced. I'm the first one to creep into the room and wake them up singing their very first happy birthday.  So this morning,  I wake up praying for my son who changed my life a year ago today.


We can't wait to meet you!! Happy Birthday to our son across the world. May this be the last candle we miss!

Staycation

Reality came crashing down this morning when I woke up, and had no one to serve me breakfast and my choice of flavored hot coffee. There is no pool in the backyard where my kids play all day with their friends without even a hint of squabbling.  No steak and fruit ka bobs will be served to me for supper, and I will likely go to bed without even a bite of delicious dessert. Do you feel sorry for me??

Our dear friends hosted us for a "staycation" this weekend as their kids called it.  They were the ones who stayed home, but it felt like a vacation for us!  Isn't that the coolest kids' room wall.  It's chalkboard paint with a frame. Can't wait to do that someday. (I deleted our friends last name from the board b/c it is too "google-able"...made that word up for sure)

Started off at the zoo. It's a "dry heat" there, and it felt tolerable! I had not idea how much humidity mattered.

Their zoo had a giraffe feeding bridge! Never had a giraffe picture from this angle. The video below is of Garrett feeding him.  

Hubs and Sne go way back to grad school days. They are hard to pin down at the same time, and I have no idea without planning that they both managed to be off on a full holiday weekend!  They played golf, basketball, pool, and yes words with friend. These two can't have enough competitions going.

UP, 

UP,

UP and AWAY!!

Oh not much has changed with Gman....still streaking around the back yard even if it's not ours.

They call each other cousins! They truly have a BALL together. 

We took them all to the movie and it happened to be a first for Garrett. He was LESS than STILL, and I probably won't take him back for a while.  Poor kid got a pitiful summer cold because we wore him out, so I think sitting with a stuffy nose for that long in combo with not a lot of sleep didn't help.

Happy 4th America!

There's my hostess with the mostest friend!  She's an awesome cook and has the best ideas.  I always have to take a few of them home with me right Rinal?  

WE love you guys! Can't wait to do it again...maybe next week?? Thanks for spoiling us rotten.  

Until next time!