Funny Stories

The kids have done some funny things the last couple of days. On Saturday we had Ross and Emily over for steak. With the steak we had potato wedges and bread. Apparently one slice of bread was not enough for Park. He was sitting next to me and saw me buttering a piece of bread. He said to me, "I wah some" (I want some). So I was about to rip a piece of bread off when he screamed, "No! Wait". So I just handed him the entire piece. Then I said, "can I have some back?" He looked at me like I was crazy. Then he looked down at his plate, picked up a piece of his steak and handed it to me as a peace offering. His look said, "huh, huh? This is totally worth your slice of bread, right?" As if the piece of steak was way better than the bread.
Then yesterday we were going to go over to Grandma Chamberlain's house. Annicka still had her dress on from church. We had asked her several times if she wanted to change into some shorts and a shirt, mostly so she wouldn't stain her dress while we were there. She politely declined every time. Scott made one final attempt once we were in the car, ready to go. "Annicka, are you sure you don't want to change? What if we go over to the park? You won't be able to play in your dress." Annicka replied, "I don't want to play at that park ever again!" Needless to say once we got to grandma's she asked, "can I go over to the park and play?"

Summertime...and the living is easy!

Most of our time is spent out of doors, at least for Park and Annicka. Park has a farmer tan you wouldn't believe. I can't keep that kid inside.

Indie's new trick this week is sitting up on his own.

Thursday nights are softball nights for Scott and if the game isn't too late we like to watch Daddy "hit" the ball. (It's negotiable how often he really hits it well. =)

This is me and our very pregnant next door neighbor. Our kids play together almost constantly.

Independence Day Weekend

Every year we have a family BBQ with one of Scott's uncles and their family (Paul is Ron's brother) sometime around the 4th. This time is was on the 3rd. We had a Texas themed reunion. Here are some of the highlights.

Texas sized Foosball. (Annicka took this picture. Scott and I were both playing. Not too shabby, huh?)

A jalapeno eating contest which actually included hot wasabi peas and flaming hot Cheetos.

Texas-sized bowling. Scott made it to the finals and then choked with a gutter ball.

And confetti filled eggs that we cracked on each others head and made a huge mess for Paul and Rosie to clean up.

The 4th was pretty low key. We had dinner with some of Scott's family and then headed over to his sister's house to light fire works and to watch the valley's displays from their back porch. They have a great view.

Zoo

My mom was in town a couple of weeks ago and we went to the zoo. Indie enjoyed the walk.

Annie and the rhino

Wow! eh-pants!

Cool kids with the awesome Asian hats...I think I need one of those for gardening in.

One hundred

Lately Annicka has been using numbers to gauge things. Things can be ranked anywhere from one to one hundred. Just today she informed me that, "Park is one hundred funny mom! He says silly things ALL the time!"

Vacation to Arkansas

We made a roadtrip to Scott's brother's in Bella Vista. We had a blast! Here is the recap.

Driving. Indie's first solid food. NY style hotdogs. Church. Tire swing. Games. Gokarts. Arcade games. Free mini golf. Boating and riding on tubes. Grilling. Taqueria Vega. Indie's first tooth! Swimming in lake. Rope swing? Rope swing build. Rope swing! Jumbalaya. Jump!Zone. More swimming. Golfing. Rope swing. Steak dinner date. Shopping. Laundry. Packing. Rope swing! Delicious food. Did I mention rope swing? Driving. Home sweet home!

And here are the pictures in no particular order:

Thanks, again, Jeff and Karla! We really enjoyed ourselves! We miss you already!

Tidbits

Last night for our post-FHE snack we made popcorn for the kids. After I gave them their bowls I didn't see them for a few minutes and it was quiet, we all know when it's quiet that something is usually up. So I looked into their room and saw this sweet little scene of Park and Annicka sitting next to each other on Annicka's bed munching on their popcorn and looking (I can't really say reading) at books. It's for these kinds of moments that I live.
Now this picture is another story entirely. This afternoon I was sitting on the couch reading while Indie was taking a nap and Park and Annicka were in and out of our house and the neighbor's house playing. I had left both the front and back doors open as it was nice and the kids were running around so I could hear if anything had gone awry. A thunder shower rolled in and it started to rain. I left both doors open because I love the smell of a warm rain. Annicka came in and asked if she could play with an umbrella outside and I told her no. She went back out. Then I heard crying a few minutes later, I was certain it was Park. So I went outside to see what was up and Annicka was crying to Summer that I had said "no" to her plea about an umbrella. I asked Summer if Park was crying and she said she didn't think so, just Annicka. I couldn't hear him anymore and so I went back in. A few minutes later I heard Park crying again. This time I decided to check out the back door and sure enough in the pouring rain along with the sprinklers Park was standing on Summer's trampoline crying because he was stuck and soaking wet and cold! The look on his face melted my heart! Can you imagine being 2 and 1/2 years old, stuck up really high on the trampoline when it starts to pour rain and then the sprinklers come on to boot! With no way down all the while getting soaked and shivering! Poor kid! Obviously I ran out and got him down and brought him in and got him in dry clothes. I held him in a warm towel for a few minutes and he fell asleep. I'm so glad that I can be home with my kids, so that I can be there for them when they need my help. Yet another thing that I live for.