Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Ice Cream and Swimming

We've been doing more than eating ice cream and swimming lately, but I've been only getting my camera out lately when we've been doing those lovely summer activities!

Like today, when this little monkey was enjoying licks off Mommy's Orange and Vanilla twist.

Elliott and Cheyenne were getting into their Chocolate and Vanilla Twists.

She's getting so adept at this-- no drips today!

Tori delicately licking her Orange and Vanilla twist.

While we had been waiting in line, I had told the kids they could ride the horses. I had even ponied up (get it?) quarters for them so the horses actually moved!

Cheyenne got on and said, "I feel like I'm too big for this." I'm not sure if she meant physically or emotionally, but it made me realize what a long-legged girl I have!

Hmm, doesn't want to work. At that point, I was waiting in a loooong, hot line and holding a wiggly toddler, and I REALLY didn't know why the horses weren't working, and I was deeply regretting my decision to bring the kids to the Ice Cream Place. Cheyenne had only been asking to go here for three years (literally), why did I cave in today? Thankfully, when I got to the front of the line, the guy apologized and said he hadn't had time to put to "Out of Order" sign out on the horses yet.

So, with our refunded quarters, we had rides on the carousel horses.




Since it was moving, Rilla, felt obligated to make motor noises.


Elliott liked it!

Tori and her neice. All in all, I think the kids enjoyed our $7 outing. If you're a mean mommy most of the time and don't take them places or spend money, they react like they're going to Disneyland on a chartered jet when you tell them "We're going to get ice cream!"

Now for the swimming portion...

We went out to Dana and Marilyn's Thursday, and the kids enjoyed swimming in their cousins' pool. These pictures are from Saturday night, when we cooled off from workday.

Evan and Elliott enjoying swimming together.

This was the scene most of the time, though-- Elliott swimming by himself. Of course, he has three inflatable objects keeping him up, but he was pretty proud of himself! He actually was quite impressive, kicking his legs to get him in the right direction, and taking water in the mouth in stride.

Marilla hanging out with Auntie.

The Red Head with Aunt Tori.

Elliott kicking towards Grandma.

The little ham, pajama-ed, but still wanting to jump in. She was putting on the most hilarious show, with dance moves and facial expressions.

(Did anyone ever notice how she looks like singing sensation Susan Boyle?)

Other new things in our lives as of late...


A whole chunk of the house, FINISHED! Well, probably there's some soffit, or J-channel or F-channel or some such thing I've never heard of that still needs to be finished, but it sure looks good.

New summer sandals on EDIBLE feet!

Daddy finally got the wagon out for the tricycle.

Elliott had first turn being proud chaffeur.

Then Cheyenne took a turn.

Wahoo!

Rilla enjoying company. Cody, Owen, Ashley and Philip were here last week for a few hours.

Rilla feeding herself cereal for the first time. Well, the first sanctioned time. I've got up from the breakfast table before for a brief minute, and come back to find cereal everywhere.

Okay, Cheyenne's weird.

Remember back in January, when I packed the new Little People away and brought the old style out, and the kids were ecstatic and engrossed for hours on end? Well, I did it in reverse last week.

Yup, I had to fight with Elliott to get him to eat that day, he was so excited about having a "new" toy.

This is a little photographer's request-- "Take a picture of my eye, Mommy!" So I did. And I love it. And him. And summer.

Oh, and since I haven't been busy at all, I've started a new blog-- Clover's Recipe Box, at http://cloversrecipebox.blogspot.com/. I started it because I'm sick of being somewhere, and not having my favorite recipes with me. Now, they'll always be available on the internet. I only put up recipes I've actually cooked. Feel free to click over for your chance at indigestion!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Enjoying Being Home!

Nothing much is happening around here, which is rather nice! We're gearing up for work days and, in the not too distant future, conventions, so I'm just enjoying being home and not having too much of a schedule.

Things are still happening on the house. Here's the one wall Evan has partially sided, and the front of the house, where he's wrapping on of our newly installed windows. I LOVE our new windows!

(Take note of the little girl with boots in hand-- you'll be seeing more of her.)

This blue siding is going to be much nicer than our tannish-pink!

My talented and handsome husband. This scaffolding is rather handy-- this evening, while he was wrapping windows and I was tucking kids in, we could chat face to face! The kids got goodnight kisses through the open window, which they thought was hilarious!

This is a terrible picture, taken at night, but this is the new, slightly bigger window in our family room. It's much more open and bright now, which the family room (a.k.a. The Cave) desperately needs.

Okay, that Boots girl... Lily passed these down, last time we were up North. They are Rilla's constant companions.

This is a pose I see about ninety-three times a day-- a wordless plea for, "Please, Mommy, put my boots on again?"

Ah, they're on again. All is right with the world. Today, she's alternated wearing them with chewing with the loop handle on the top. Mayhap she's teething again?

Speaking of our last trip up North, it was lots of fun. I never got my camera out the whole week. Livie finally got my camera out on Sunday for pictures of the kids playing. It was union Sunday at Mom and Dad's, so Katherine and Nathan were there, and Katy Jo was up visiting, too!

Cheyenne found a worm.

Katy Jo and Nathan are checking out the wheelbarrow.

Girls in dirt.

Cheyenne, unaware that she is on her way to an epic sunburn-- the shoulders of that dress slipped down and she got badly burned on the top of her shoulders. Why do her parents not think?

Katy Jo.

Investigating the dirt...

and its inhabitants.

Katy Jo and Cheyenne are just a few months apart, it was fun for Cheyenne to have another big girl to play with.

The Barkley squirts, cute as usual.


Nathan. Unfortunately, Livie didn't get a picture of his room-lighting grin.

We've had rain almost every day for the last month. Literally. I thought maybe I was just exaggerating in my head, but the newspaper confirmed that it was the truth. Here's kids playing meeting on a newly washed deck. When it rains that much, you stop worrying that they'll get wet and just appreciate that they can be outside for a while.

Cheyenne singing loud and strong. She's sitting on the tallest stool, which makes her look that much taller than Elliott.

Rilla dropped her hymnbook...

Just a little proud of herself when she got back up.

I took Mom's "tractor" camera when I was up home. (Tyler White called it that because it was big and tough. Even when Tyler was deleting 200 irreplaceable pictures off it.) It was quite the camera in it's day, but since it primarily works with a 3.5 inch floppy, it's pretty antiquated now.

Which doesn't stop Cheyenne having a great time with it.


She even gets to mentor Elliott in learning how to use it.

The funny thing is, they're this engrossed in it, and it actually doesn't even turn on anymore!

Anyway, I'm loving my kids and our summer! And the high today was 74 °-- what wonderful weather for July!