California visit, part1

So excited to see our plane getting ready.  They kept asking when we could get on.  I had forgotten how much waiting was involved with going somewhere.  

 Finally on the plane!!! 

 I brought plenty of things to keep them busy on the plane, but found that I didn't need as much as I brought.  They were great travelers.  (Minus a minor melt down during our layover)

Lunch and a frostee on our layover

 And some activities 

(because we were all tired and cranky at that time)

A little deliriousness on our second flight 

 Thankful for technology at times like these

And we made it!

We were so happy to see everyone and explore everything in CA! 

Roar and Snore

The Boy Scouts went on a sleepover at our zoo, called Roar and Snore.  

I was fairly apprehensive about how it would all work out, and about sleeping at the zoo with a bunch of boys, but it was such a fun and memorable experience.  

After eating pizza, they brought out several different animals to tell the boys about and let them touch. 

 They brought out an opossum, fox, snake, baby alligator, a few different owls, and a huge lizard type animal.  The staff was so knowledgeable and great with the kids.  I loved how they told about and shared their bond with the animals just like the bond we have with our household pets. 

 Once it was dark we went on a "night safari" through the zoo.  We used our flashlights to see all of the animals.  It was so fun (and HOT!!!)

After the safari, we settled down on air mattresses, cots, and sleeping bags for a midnight snack and Star Wars.  (We finally got all the boys to sleep by about 12:30am...

The next morning we were able to walk around the zoo before it opened to see all of the animals waking up, getting their breakfasts, and taking their morning baths!  We love the Tiger at the zoo, and got to see her taking a bath and having fun playing with a cardboard box (just like out cats at home do!)

 They took the boys on the boat ride through the zoo, again before the zoo was open, and it was not too hot yet thankfully!

My little monkey! 

We finished off the Roar and Snore with a visit to the splash pad.  

This was such a great experience, and I hope we do it again next year!

More Summer Fun

We found a little frog on our doorstep one afternoon.  Usually they come out at night, so we were surprised to find one in the day.  They boys had fun catching it, and then watching it swim in our pool.

 We learned about the "B-attitudes" at church.  H said it means "having a good attitude for God." 

We are blessed!

I asked C what his face was for in the picture and he said "Mama, I was blowing you a kiss!"

Fathers Day! 

We love this man!  

He continues to take good care of us and loves us up good! 

We've enjoyed a couple good movies this summer:

Finding Dory (it was good, but nearly brought me to tears)

and Secret Life of Pets (we've been waiting so long for it to come out, and it was so good!)

This silly dog.  He knows he's not supposed to be on the couch....

The boys had salad with their supper, and C told me he needed more Ranch....

He poured it himself.

Summer fun

After playing in the rain and hose for a couple hours, it results in crazy hair and extreme giddiness!

 Hanging out with the cool kids! 

Our animals are fairly tolerant of the boys crazy ideas...

 What is it about cats and sinks...?

 Poor teacher's kids... They do some "homework" each morning and then we are all learning to play the ukulele.  They are doing a little better than I thought and actually seem to be enjoying it.

They would not be convinced that their koozies were not sleeping bags for their Beanie Boos.  I guess it is just the right size....

We are loving summer time swimming!  

I thought they would have to re-learn how to swim this summer, but they just picked it right back up.  They love it, and it is so fun, but it wears all of us out.

Friday night sleepovers on the air mattress in Mama's room are becoming a thing that we must do every Friday now! 

Snapshots

These two love each other! 

Horton has adopted the new tray I got to be his bed. 

 He likes to be close when we are working at the table.

We've enjoyed a lot of just being at home and playing at our house this summer.  

Sometimes when we go some place, they say that they just want to stay home... 

One morning I "made" them go the the park, and they had fun for a few minutes, 

but then after a bit it was just this:

 and this:

FIVE!!!!

I just can't believe how this sweet boy is five years old!  

 We kept it low key this year, just had a couple of friends over to play and let them have fun decorating their own cupcakes! 

One of C's favorite gifts was the "slipper slide."

We've had so much fun playing and imagining, and sliding around. 

 Another fun present was a super hero decorate and dress up 

C is an imaginative, strong willed, smart little guy!  

He likes the color green, loves to eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches (would happily eat it three meals a day), likes to be home, lives in an imaginary world much of the time, likes to wrestle, and has decided that he wants to be a pizza worker and live in the jungle when he gets bigger. 

I can't wait to see what his future has in store.