Something Interesting, eh?

I'm all by my lonesome right now, and I'm trying to find fun things to do around town. I wish I had seen this before it happened. I think the season is now over, but maybe I'll check it out next year.

-Michael

Summer Days

Just a warning - we have been on vacation for about a week, and won't be returning home until the 30th of July. Soooo... no promises for updated posts. We are having a WONDERFUL time visiting cousins and enjoying the sunshine!

Jake-o-licious!

I inherited a cake decorating book (circa 1987) from my mother-in-law ages ago. My boys love looking through it.

This afternoon Jake asked me to get it down for him. After browsing it's pages he brought this picture over to me:

 

"Mom! This is the one I want for my birthday! Still foxy at 50!"

"Ha! I think that cake is for a 50 year old, Jacob." (not wanting to explain foxy to him.)

"It's okay. We'll just write 'Still foxy at 7!"

"Mmmhmm, how 'bout you look for a second choice, too!"

Here's the second choice. Kids kill me.

 

**Don't think I'm not SERIOUSLY tempted to make the fox cake -saying and all. What a hilarious memory! I just wonder if he would hate me as a teenager looking back at photos, or if I would spend half my time at a party trying to quietly explain the cake to parents. I'll get back to you if it happens (:

Hamilton Pool

A few girlfriends and I got our kids together and went out for a day of fun at a natural swimming hole. There was a hike in, and we were super prepared (read: packed tons of stuff), and suffered the consequences. Large cooler filled to the top with drinks, water toys, towels, sunblock, babies on hips, kids in flip flops...large boulders and roots to traverse...

When we got there I said, "I don't know how long you ladies were planning on staying, but after THAT, we're staying all day - or until the food and drinks run out!" And stay we did. All of us, all day. We had so much fun! (there were also pretty regular refrains of, "Leah, don't let me see you again until that Gatorade is gone," and "Kids - have all the water and cantaloupe you want, please!"

The water was cool and refreshing and there was a trail that led all the way around that the kids would explore when they took breaks from the water.

 

Amelia loves the water!

 

 

Jake and friends goofing off.





We were so pleased that we went through all the food and all but two of the water bottles! Success! And a much easier time climbing out of there! (:

Busy, Busy, Building Boys!

Well, sure enough... the 26th came and Jake and Poppy had plans. (refer to previous post.)

The boys began with some practice. Putting in nails and pulling them out. Hammering the tree was a favorite.

 

Jake begins sawing all the steps for the ladder.

 

Assembly begins...
(notice the cousin's attire. Yes, it hit 100 degrees that day! I was laughing - but they all really were protected better with the long pants, and in his case, long sleeves.)

 

 

Finishing touches... while Poppy assembles frame.




Love the moment caught with Jake and Poppy deep in consultation.



Poppy was such a good sport! 4, 5, and 6 year old boys running around with hammers and high hopes can get a little hairy, but he stuck with it! Andrew amused Poppy with his constant measuring of everything: the saw horses, the uncut wood, the wood scraps... everything. He had a tendency to slip in the way occasionally (surprise!), but was very intent on the "importance" of his job. All the boys stuck with it to the end - hammered thumbs and profuse sweating were nothing to these troopers!