Boys + Summer = MUD BALLS

The other day I looked out back to check on Tate and Ian and this is what I found. Two of the cutest boys in the world doing exactly what you would expect two boys to be doing....making mud/grass balls on my patio. I just laughed and grabbed my camera. I didn't even ask them where they got all of their ingredients, I figure I'll come across a big whole in my lawn at some point and when I do I'll just smile inside picturing these two darling little faces!

This is Brecken and Tate's latest great invention...the two man swing. Simply engineered with one of the baby swing hooks. They've actually hooked the bottom of the swings together and then sit facing each other. Now they can be synchronized while they swing, giggle, and talk

Boys will be Boys

AAAhhh... the good old "FATHER AND SON'S OUTING" tradition. Aaric and Tate went last weekend and had a blast...... nothing like being together, Stick throwing....

Hiking............and

....GOAT RIDING? ....... what the, hmmm I knew they'd have fun camping together but um I didn't know my four year old would end up on a bucking goat's back holding on for dear life! I laughed so hard when they got home and Aaric showed me the pictures. They had a blast and luckily made it home in one piece!

Happy Birthday!

The BIG 30.....Happy Birthday to the sweetest, hottest, most dedicated, giving, thoughtful, hard working, loving, man in the whole entire world. I love you SO much!! You're the best husband and father anyone could have, you do so much for our family and for everyone around you. We hope you have a great day!!

While Aaric was golfing with his friend the girls and I decided to make his cake. He requested yellow cake with chocolate frosting (a favorite around here) We decided to go with a golfing theme since Aaric is a little bit in love with that sport right now. However the chocolate frosting didn't look much like grass. So we decided it was a bran new golf coarse with just a little bit of grass (green sprinkles) popping up. There may not be beautiful grass on this coarse but we did manage to get a pond and a sand trap on there that looked awesome!!

We opened presents when Aaric got home and I gave him a stack of "30" letters that I had collected from various friends and family. Each letter was unique but all of them had their own way of telling Aaric how much they loved him. He loved reading through them all!

I bought him some golf lessons from the professional that works at a nearby coarse, and a new golf jacket and hat. I also snuck in a few new outfits for him (polos, tees, and shorts). After presents we went out for dinner. I had just had the flu the day before so we kept it simple and just went somewhere close, but it was nice to get away !

Whatsoever ye SOW, that shall ye also REAP.

Well I sure hope the saying is true because we've been sowing for awhile and I'm so excited to Reap!

Between running from practices, games, meetings, shopping, cleaning, errands, and carpools this is where you will usually find me... OUT IN THE YARD. I love summer and warm weather, but with it comes a lot more work! Yard work always seems to take so many more hours than I think it will, but I do enjoy it! This year we put in our first GARDEN... we are so excited to finally have one. The kids love checking it every day for anything new, especially their strawberries! p.s. ignore the fact that I hadn't gotten to my weed eating around the rock wall....another day another chore.

And of coarse tis the season for cleaning up and beautifying all the flower beds!! lots of time and work, but at least we are now finally to the easier maintenance stage! I love all the beautiful colors and life that is now all around us!

{Wrapping up spring sports}

Tate only has one more T-ball game left. The season actually went a lot quicker than I was anticipating. This year they played half the games with the "T" then started having the coach pitch to them. Tate actually hits a lot better with the coach throwing to him than he does hitting off the "T" so he liked the second half the season more. he is such a cute little athlete!

I guess Tate got tired of his perfect stance. After not getting a ball for about 10 batters he finally resorted to playing in the dirt!! Well at least he looked up once and awhile.

Here's Tate's awesome hitting form. I noticed in all my pictures that when he hits he pokes his tongue against the side of his cheek....SO CUTE!

He got on base and gave me the thumbs up! And there he goes running for 3rd.

This 3rd baseman is his cousin Davin, I loved these pictures of them on the field together.

Brecken just finished her first softball season and loved it. She played shortstop, but that didn't stop her from running as fast as she could all over the field to get the ball wherever it was hit. Yes even when it was hit to another teammate. Many times she would beat the outfielder to the ball when it was hit out past them. She has a lot of energy and we're putting it to good use.

I think she would get bored once and awhile waiting for a ball... I think I caught her singing in this picture. The open mouth and counting of the finger where a give away.

I'm not exactly how she can see to run to the base, or hit the ball...because it looks like she can't see out of that helmet, but hey I'm all for protection.

I loved this cute picture of her and her coach gearing up for the next play...

Avery always looked forward to meeting up with her cousin Skylar at each game. I think the first thing she said everytime we got a ball game was, "Where's Sky mom?"

The Annual Out of School Party

Kami held her traditional school's out swim party on the last day of school. The kids had a blast. We had over 50 kids there it was hilarious. The weather was great and the kids got to start the summer off with a splash!!

We had the swimming pool, the water slide, volleyball, trampoline and last but not least...

FOOD, FOOD, and more FOOD!!

Brecken is a shrimp, so her sweet team decided to help her out a little bit and give her a boost at the net.

Last day of school...a huge "FIRST"

I feel like I am a pretty "fair" mom. I choose my battles very carefully and me and the kids have a very good "give and take" relationship. I let them wear whatever they want and choose their own things whenever we are not going anywhere special. As long as they let me get them ready for school and church and special places they understand they will get their freedom of self expression the rest of the time.

On the last day of school Brecken woke up beaming. She was so excited for all that we had in store. She got dressed and said "Mom I really really want to do my own hair for the last day of school, I promise I'll do it SO cute!"

I did not want to ruin such a fun day.... so in my efforts of learning to "let go" a little I said "SURE" I knew this day would come sooner or later, I guess I just expected it to be LATER. I am learning that my little girl isn't so little anymore and is learning and growing. And although it's hard to accept, I wouldn't want to take that away from her even if it means sending her to school with her hair looking like this.......

She was so proud, and of course when she asked me what I thought I told her it was beautiful. But that didn't stop me from making sure I took a picture of it!!