August

I had a friend in college who had a car that didn't drive in reverse at all. She had to find parking spots that she could pull through or else get help in pushing the car out of the spot. We both decided to make this a motto for life. Forward! No turning back. If you want to get somewhere, you have to move forward!

So...

Just got back from a month... I mean a week... at girls camp. I've got a couple birthday parties this week to navigate, back to school prep, a couple of Primary events to work on... more girls camp paperwork to do. When I put it that way it doesn't sound too bad.(I'm being serious. No Bazinga here.)

I'm guess I'm just not ready to let go of summer. I like being free. Once the kids are in school, I'll have some free hours in the morning off to myself, but once they come home in the afternoons, everything kicks into overdrive. Emergency cards in duplicate to fill out, homework to navigate, carpools to configure, and high flying emotions that always accompany the great amount of change that a new school year brings. I'm not sure If I'm ready to tackle it.

I guess I don't really have a choice.

Forward!

A Little Alone Time

Sometimes, for a kid, it's all about the quiet moments...

Fourth of July

A visit to Nana and Papa's on the fourth means:


...a trip to the hardware store (Papa about had a heart attack when I staged this shot. He was afraid he would go home with 3 ride-on lawn mowers. How fun would that be, Papa?!)


... a visit to Larry's produce to get all the fresh fixins for the family BBQ.


(was it easier to carry Ty in the wheelbarrow along with 50 watermelons and 90 ears of corn? Maybe yes. Maybe no.)



... UNO with Aunt Lynn.


... and always some kind of craft with the cousins (not to mention one killer water fight started by the dads that didn't quite make it on my camera roll).




Thanks, Mom and Dad for all of the hard work you put into this tradition.

Ty and His Friend

Maybe it's her blond curls that bring out the best in Ty, but these two sure get along well.

Maybe we've hit on the key to taming Ty:

A pretty face!

Camping

This was the year I decided I was going to brave a camping trip with the kids. The idea of camping with a baby or a toddler was one I was not willing to wrap by head around.

So my baby is 4 and I decided it was time to take the plunge.

Well. More like dip my toe in.

So we chose a campground that was 20 minutes away and stayed for only two nights. but the car was still packed to the brim! I've realized that whether you are going for one day or a week, you still need to pack a whole kitchens worth of supplies!

(Duh, Kate...)



So we had a fun time and learned alot.

We learned that, at this particular campground, we were sorely lacking in the Boobs, Beer and Boombox department.

You get what I mean?

Not exactly a lets-get-back-to-nature kind of experience. More like where's-the-next-kegger?

But we decided, all night parties or not, we were going to enjoy ourselves (despite the 2 inches of brown water backing up from the drains in the bathroom that people were still wading through!)





We played UNO, read books, drank hot chocolate, went for a little hike, and even enjoyed an afternoon and the lake.



At night we were gently lulled to sleep by monotonous Mariachi music and awoke to the great smell of bacon cooking in the outdoors.

We had a good time and are looking forward to choosing a more rural campground in the future!

Cupcake Stand

Do your kids beg you about every five minutes to hold a lemonade stand?

Mine do.

One day I finally relented, but decided if we were going to do it, we were going all the way.

That means cupcakes and cute signs.



It took a good portion of the morning, but Ashlynn and I had fun making little things to cutenize the stand. The cupcakes were nothing fancy. Just box mix with pre-made frosting. But it really spruces up the cupcake when you use a pastry tip and top it with a Jelly Belly.



We communicated with walky talkies back and forth from the house to the street...

"Cupcake to Momma Bear. Do you read me, Momma Bear. We are out of chocolate cupcakes. Repeat - we are out of chocolate. Please bring more. Over and out"

It kept them safe and entertained.

By the end of the day, those kids were left with $30 in their pockets and a mild sunburn.

Not a bad day for Making Lemonade...

Library Time with Ty

My kids and I love going to the library. When we go, they always beg me to park at the very top of the parking structure.

Because there is an awesome view of San Luis from the very top.

(this is not the actual view from the top, but very close.)

And it makes the ride in the elevator longer...