One more month...

One more month until Big has his first day of Kindergarten.
One more month until Little and Ms. Pink start preschool.
One more month until I get to hear silence.
One more month until I get to work part-time again.
One more month until I get a little bit of "me" time.

Until then...we will continue hammering away, swimming like fish, bargaining for naps, and living on the go!

Cheese Please

My kids LOVE shredded cheese. Something about it beats out cubed, sliced, and even stringed at our house. The other day they asked "How does cheese get this shape?" It immediately brought back those wonderful memories of Finland, the land where you can't buy shredded cheese. You have to shred it yourself (oh, the conveniences I missed). Since our return, I have yet to shred my own cheese.

This evening I let them shred away as I prepared a yummy quiche for dinner. They enjoyed the job but ate more then they saved!

Successful Swimming!

We just finished our 2 weeks of swimming lessons up at the city pool. The boys graduated to the next level and actually can pull off a stroke or 2. Underwater swimming may be a thing in the past.

My Plan...

I Took His Hand and Followed
By Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Pudd'n Pies

Looking for easy ways to avoid TV and take a break from the heat, we decided to let the boys make dessert for tonight. Grab the mini graham crusts, instant pudding, and some whip in a can...voila! Pudd'n Pies for everyone.

Stars & Stripes

A great and BUSY 4th of July...a neighborhood parade, 2 pool parties, and a sunset cruise with front row seats to every firework show in the metroplex. Happy Birthday America!

Polka Dot Princesses

Something every mother-daughter has to do eventually...wear matching outfits. But who would have thought my mom and grandmother would have decided on polka dots too! To 4 generations of matching outfits...

Back to a Routine!

This weekend, we had 85 of our relatives join us in Grapevine for a wonderful family reunion. With a weekend full of swimming, playing, HOT weather, shopping, eating, and good old conversation everyone was off schedule. Once we got home yesterday, the kids were cranky around 3:00...maybe because I just then realized I forgot to feed them lunch! We were so caught up in all the family fun, we were lucky enough to get some sleep here and there. To a full week of recovery...

100

Today's High: 100
Heat Index: 104
Pool Temperature: 93
Happy Kids: 3

Smart Summer

Summertime is always a challenge for keeping kids in learning mode. You can only join so many reading clubs (Half Price Books has a great one going), visit so many museums, and practice writing so many ways. I am always looking for creative ways to keep their juices flowing. Fruit kabobs are a great way to practice patterns and repetition, while you have help preparing those play-date snacks at the same time!

Big's Turn!

We knew it would take no time at all, with the pressure of seeing Little cruise the streets. After Daddy found this bike for sale on our neighborhood message board for only $5 (I would have easily paid $50) and in PERFECT condition, Big was riding his bike without training wheels in less than 30 minutes!

Up Close and Personal

As another mom said "We picked the hottest day of the year to ride in the back of a pickup truck!" But looking back it was well worth it. Another fabulous road trip to Fossil Rim. Kids over 2 showed their bravery and rode in the back of the truck, not afraid to hand-feed the animals. We were hot, sweaty, and smiling!

More up close and personal photos!

Splish Splash

Trying to stay cool from this Texas heat, we headed out to the neighborhood mini-version water park. It was Ms. Pink's first visit...definitely love at first sight for this water bug. The boys were a big help holding her hand and pushing her down the slides. After 3 hours of fun, we were all ready for a quick dinner and bed.

Pate Museum

If you know me at all, I cannot pass a museum that is open, missing the opportunity to expose my children to some type of learning experience. The Pate Museum is about an hour west of DFW. Full of planes, cars, boats and thing that go, it brought back wonderful memories of a museum we visited in Helsinki. Admission is "donation only" and per my husband, the museum has lost many attractions he remembers 28 years ago. Still worth the stop!

For 50+ photos of the entire weekend...click here!

Family, Farm, Fun

We headed towards west Texas this weekend so the kids could meet a set of great-grandparents we have only known through Christmas cards. They had the best of times riding their 4-wheeler, feeding the long-tailed sheep, and climbing on the tractor. A perfect weekend for just getting dirty, one of our favorite things to do. We are so grateful to finally meet them and for the quality time with another set of grandparents from Ohio.