Shaving Cream and Finger Paint

There are days when motherhood flies in the face of everything I might prefer...Including my preference for orderliness and cleanliness. But, some days I don't fight that desire to keep things neat and clean and we just go ahead and make a big mess. Those days usually end up being the best days in the end because the kids have such a great time getting dirty! The conclusion I've come to in the last few months is that this is just going to be a season in my life where the house may not be as neat as I would like it to be and the shelves may not be dusted every Thursday (like they used to be), but that's okay...I want to cherish this time. Anyways, before I know it they'll be old enough to do the dusting for me. (Right, Mom?) ;)

I'd Hate to See the Other Guy!

I got Sam up from a nap once this summer only to find him covered in blood. At first, I assumed that he and Nathan had had a knock-down, drag-out fight. Turned out, he'd just scratched open a scab and had somehow smeared the blood all over his face. Although Nathan might've helped a little...

Look What I Can Do

Sam's newest trick (3 months ago) was climbing onto the toybox that's at the end of our couch and then doing a somersault over the arm of the couch and crawling to the other end. These pictures must've also been right after Brad had given him his second haircut. His hair is so short!

4th of July

While waiting for the fireworks to begin at the park, the girls did their best poses for the camera. (Emilie's really been into trying to look fancy for the camera lately).

Pre FireWorks

Sam trying to keep his foot off the grass
Wow. Didn't realize her face was so dirty in this one!

Hoping to get in on the real action.
Nathan trying to blow out the fireworks.

Just so I don't feel so far behind, let's pretend that the city of Beloit had their Fourth of July celebration in October (or maybe even September) this year. :)

We started out the evening by lighting off some fireworks at Brad's parents' house and then walked over near the college to watch the big event.

All I Can Say Is BRRRR!

On a day when the farthest thing from my mind would be pulling out the pool, filling it up with (ice cold) water and jumping in (it's only about 50 degrees with a brisk breeze), I'm blogging on doing just such a thing. I guess I fell behind again!

One of Sam's birthday presents was an inflatable firetruck pool. Everyone loved it -- except Sam. I think most of the problem was that his feet were touching the bottom while he was in the floatie, which made it feel like the floatie was going to tip over and dump him in the water at any moment! He did warm up to being in a pool by later in the summer -- but it had to be a bigger pool! :)