Did I Really?

On Sunday it had been hovering near 100 degrees, which is balmy if you live in Laredo, but is beastly when you live in D.C. So when I looked out and saw that it was raining, I told the boys that they could go stand on the front step and watch the rain.

They must have misunderstood me and thought I said, "Go stand out in the rain like fools and soak it all up!", because that's just what they did.

As I have proven before, some moms would stop them, but I'm not that mom. I am the mom who grabs her camera and documents it. Then they were in the driveway showing off their splashing skills. They have some pretty decent skillz in that department too. Jackson even said, "It's like the Splash Park in our driveway!" He was right, except that we weren't in bathing suits!
Here are some from before we got completely soaked. I may lack judgement and let my kids play in the rain, but I do want to keep my lovely camera safe!



Sometimes I like to think of myself as a fun mom, but lately I have been a more of a grouchy mom. This time I am glad I let the fun mom in me come out and play a little bit, even if she did get completely soaked!

What's Blooming Now

This week has been Hot as blazes, but I did manage to get out one morning and get some pictures of how great everything looks now before it fries.

One day I will want to look back at these things.


Can you tell which plant I am most partial to? Remember last year?

What's blooming where you live?

Big Boys Get to

Last Friday I had a big old headache and needed a nap.  The problem is that J no longer takes a nap.  So I had to bribe him.  I told him that if he took a nap he could stay up late and catch lightening bugs.  By the way...I don't regularly bribe my child. That would be wrong. I regularly provide positive reinforcement for good behavior.

The nap was great for all of us, my mood was improved and Jackson had the BEST time catching lightening bugs.

From Fireflies2010

From Fireflies2010

From Fireflies2010

From Fireflies2010

Time to let them go.

From Fireflies2010

From Fireflies2010

So thankful that we got to share the wonder of a simple summer night with our almost 4 year old boy.

Ahoy Mates!

A few weeks ago, Allen and Jackson tackled a project that I have been imagining since Winter.  Way back when we had all that snow, I was dreaming of being outside again.  About that time a catalogue came in the mail with the neatest pirate ship sandbox.  We HAD to have it.    It was ordered, it came and was promptly stored in the basement for the rest of the winter!
Now that we can actually enjoy being otside, it was time to enjoy it.
Allen and Jackson did a great job putting it together. 

From Pirate Sanbox

From Pirate Sanbox

From Pirate Sanbox

From Pirate Sanbox

Immediately after it was assembled, the skies opened up and they had to wait 3 days to play with it. Now they use it almost every day.

From Pirate Sanbox

From Pirate Sanbox

One thing that I didn't dream last winter was the boys bringing sand in the house every day.   Every day I think I've gotten all the sand off them before we come in the house, and every day I realize how many crevices boys have for collecting and hiding sand!

This post needs no words

Gone Country

Seems like the other day I was telling you that it was my sister's 40th birthday, but what I didn't tell you was that we were going down to surprise her.  We drove down and had the worst drive ever on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.  Traffic, rain.   Rain, traffic.  Ugh!  Apparently Jackson CAN watch DVDs for 12 hours straight.

So we eventually got there and she was surprised and then she cried (no surprise there!).

As we were driving (and driving) Allen asked me if I wanted to stay longer.  Hmm, sounded good to me.  We had very little on our upcoming weekly calendar.  So he ended up renting a car and driving back solo while the boys and I stayed in SC and enjoyed being with my family.

My sister lives in a lovely spot.  It's not really on the map.  Ever heard of Campobello?  Didn't think so.  Ever heard of Inman?  Didn't think so.  But in case you have heard of those two "one stoplight towns", don't worry because she lives about 10 minutes from both of those "towns".  She lives in the Country.    There are all kinds of Jeff Foxworthy jokes I could make, but I will just say this, if you have to tell people you turn off of Jug Factory Road to get to your road, you might be....

In the Country!

Before Allen left he "taught" the boys to fish.  No fish were actually caught using a fishing pole, but it's all about the experience, right?

First you have to put the worm on the hook.

Then you have to throw the hook into the middle of the pond while not hooking your mom AGAIN!

Then you wait...

Miller demanded a turn.  He always gets his way!

Until Jackson realizes that HIS fishing pole is being used by Miller and he put an end to that nonsense.

Miller managed to recover- and scare away all the fish by practicing his new move- jumping and getting both feet off the ground!

Monday we were driving and Jackson heard that song on the radio called "That's How a Country Boy Rolls", or something like that, and he says, "We not countwee boys mama, we city boys."  Yep, that's right, you are city boys.  Because country boys don't wear monogrammed shirts and madras shorts while fishing.

A few days later we moved up from catching minnows with a plastic grocery bag, and a plastic pitcher--hey this is the country-- and we got ourselves to the Wal-Marts for some nets and buckets. 

Once they had proper equipment, the boys were in fish minnow heaven.

Minnows are just their speed!

"No Jackson you can't put the net on Miller's head again."

                                 

Holding a minnow is pretty neat if you are an almost 4 year old city boy.

 

Then the inevitable happened and Miller threw the net in the pond and I had to go in after it!

Looks like Mama needs to come back from the country and get some high lights.

Thanks Chele for letting them practice being country boys, we have a LOT of ground to cover in that area, we will be back soon!