What have we been doing all summer?

Swimming. Some swimming. And a little more swimming. I neglected to give adequate recognition to this when it happened but, about a month ago, Makena got her green band from the Y and Reese got her yellow. They wear them anytime they're within half a mile of water.

We've also had a weekly playdate/dinner date with the families who were in Reese's preschool class last year. It was a small class and the kids absolutely loved each other. It's actually a little head-turning how well they all get along...and the parents got to be good friends, too. So we've gathered at rotating houses once a week all summer and let the kids (and siblings) play. The grown ups are able to sit and chat and have a leisurly dinner once we stick the kids in front of a movie. Spouses show up at dinner time and we hardly ever break up until 9. It makes for late nights, but they're fun!

One of the families has a backyard pool and that, of course, is the favorite gathering place. Makena spends most of her time racing off the diving board (cannonballs are a favorite). Reese alternates her time between very fanciful jumps off the board and diving to the bottom for treasure.

Hope you're as waterlogged as we are!

Lunch

My list of sins is long. And grievous. And long. Did I mention long? One of my daily missteps is being a little too prideful in being a decent cook and almost always trying to feed my family all natural, garden grown, low sugar, organic, etc etc etc. Well...sometimes I don't succeed, sometimes I don't try and sometimes I put my foot down and do a 180.
Let me introduce you to one of the delicacies of my youth. Triscuit pizzas. This was today's summer-lunch-on-the-deck. There's nothing on these babies that isn't processed to within an inch of its life. Triscuits (which we do actually eat often), jarred spaghetti sauce- been making my own for years, Target-brand sliced mozzarella ("Target-brand" dairy?? I'm sure it's Sargento's scrap rejects from their factory), and full-fat peperoni. Broil for a few minutes, then enjoy the hot, salty, cheesy grease running down your fingers.
Then feel like you have a 3 pound rock in your belly for the next 4 hours...


Yum.

Jen's 4th pictures

These are our children at their best. Jen (obviously) took these great shots- you can see how giddy they get with her (and Chris). I love that their personalities come out in full force- Makena is the more serious one and Reese is just...well...lively!

Did I mention that Jen & Chris were voted Best of the Best Children's & Family photographers by Charlotte Magazine?

4th weekend

We drew out our 4th of July celebrations for a good four days this year. We started at the lake, moved on to Pops in the Park, dinner with friends and fireworks across the street, then dinner with more friends and a waterslide in the back yard. I'm worn out!

Underwater exploration was the theme of the lake trip this time. The water was down enough to give us more shallows where they could see the bottom. Who knows what they'll find down there.

Look...lake bottom schmutz!

We shared Pops with friends and family

In case you weren't sure, our kids think Jen (and Chris) Hunt hung the moon. They were absolutely glued to Jen's stories.

Some sparklers in the back yard are always fun. And an ER trip just waiting to happen.

Makena's party

I'm a little behind, here, but here are a few pictures from Makena's "pajama" party (translation: wear your pj's, bring your sleeping bag, watch a movie, then go home at 8...no, I'm not quite craxy enough yet to have 13 5-ish-year-olds spend the night at our house).

and the final resting place for Sleeping Beauty's top half. Rather unceremonious, don't you think?