We celebrated 4th of July with the Lopez's at their "Annual Wells Branch" festivity. Lots of fun! The kids ran around outside, swam and (Jack) "played" with Pa Earl's little dog, Abby.
We left before the big neighborhood firework show began, but still got in a few sparklers at our house before bed.
The are far less Purple Coneflowers in our backyard this year, and they're a faded purple- not the usual dark purple of years past. Guess we should have fertilized...or done something to the dirt. The butterflies are still flocking to what we have though. Here's a couple of pictures I liked from this afternoon.
I remember the feeling of fear I had when I realized that I would be having a second child, when my first was only 17 months old. So close together! How would I handle two babies? I wasn't sure. Even strangers were concerned for me, Samantha and my pregnant belly. I had comments like "wow, how old is she?" and "I know that wasn't on purpose!" from people standing next to me in the grocery store check out line.
The months after Jack's birth are a blurry fog. But, thankfully, Jack was an "easy" baby, sleeping through the night early-ish and being content with sitting in a bouncer or swing more often- as long as he was in the midst of the crowd.
Two and a half years later I watch my close kids play together for hours, talk to each other, fight with each other, love on each other and not have any idea what life would be like without each other. And I feel really blessed.
While I was getting ready in my bathroom, Samantha was getting ready in hers...with the little green craft scissors. That's right. Summertime bangs. Some of her friends already have their own set of bangs, also courtesy craft scissors. Seeing that, I tried to "nip this event in the bud," having the "never cut your own hair" conversation. It went well, huh?
She went a too far over on the sides, producing a nice little mullet.
Oh, I know it could be much worse. It's just hair, it grows back. But still, I hate it.
And Miss Samantha is having second thoughts of her own. Several times today she's told me she wants that hair back. If only.
Oh well, summer is a good time for a ponytail.
A nice, new, warm ball of dough.
Getting a little color
Becoming a rocket....VROOOM!
Eyed by The Predator.
Attacked!
Digestion.
My favorite recipe (again)
for this three year old, is the tire swing hanging under
the big oak trees in her grandparent's backyard.
Samantha can't get enough of this swing.
She even stayed on it in the pouring rain.
It is pretty excellent.
Especially you have a Pa who will "push you up to the moon."
Samantha's preschool had their end of the year party this morning.
Lots of fun...complete with water slide, car wash area, pizza and snow cones!
Samantha went down the water slide until she started turning blue from cold.
Jack washed cars with shaving cream and then drove them through the "car wash."
And then it was time for snow cones...
Samantha had lemon,
and Jack -cherry (It took some scrubbing to get that red off).
