Ropes Course and New Park

I've been wanting to do this CSI ropes course for a while now, so I made a last minute trip to Twin to tackle it with Angela! So much fun, and so high! I may have let out a slight yell when I had to slide off the edge for the zip line, and jumping off the structure... what a rush!

This was the most difficult of the challenges, and left my hands quite sore. I love a good challenge!

Came back home that night and took the kids over to the new Discovery Park that opened that morning. It was a hit!

They loved the sand and water area. Pumping water and guiding it where they wanted with the sand. Or just walking around in it.

Super small splash pad, but big enough to get them fully soaked, and thankfully wash off all the sand!

Lucas's new favorite slide!

And it has zip lines! Emma and Jake spent a majority of the time on them.

July 2019

Miss Abby

Well, the kids did it again. Roped their dad into promising to try a cat again, if it lived outside and in the garage. We took a trip to the Humane Society and Jake walked right up to this cat and asked to hold her. She immediately snuggled into him and started purring. He didn't want to look at any other cats, he was convinced this was THE cat. Luckily, the other two kids liked her too. Her name at the shelter was Abby, and the kids liked it, so we kept the name. She's a tortoiseshell calico, not quite a year old yet. 

 These kids are smitten with this kitten. 

She's super snugly and purrs ALL the time. And she licks our noses or clothes when she's super happy to see us. It's weird... I've never had a cat lick like this...

 And of course, just like every other cat that has ever been in our house, they all gravitate towards Brad -- the only allergic one. She doesn't anymore luckily, but that first week -- she would follow him around and snuggle up to him when she could. 

Her previous owners had her as an indoor cat and couldn't keep her because their new apartment didn't allow pets. Based on her reaction when we brought her home and into the backyard, I don't think she had ever stepped a foot outside. She was freaking out, staying as low to the ground as she could, and running back to the house or to hide behind a bush. It took a bit of an adjustment period, but now she loves the outdoors and has become a mighty huntress of moths, bugs, and occasionally Lizzy. She only comes in every once in a while for an afternoon nap, when the kids want to pet her, or to play with Lizzy. They're total frienemies who like to pester and chase each other, then curl up on the couch together. They're a hoot to watch!

July 2019

Lucas is Five!

Lucas wanted an outdoor water party, so we went and grabbed a slip'n'slide, little pool, and some water balloons! It was a super-hot day -- perfect!

 We had Tyler and Zack Black, Christopher, and my kids. 

 The kids came up with the idea to fill water balloons with the slip'n'slide squirters -- it actually worked, and they had fun re-filling balloons and squirting each other. Then turning them into special eggs to throw down the slide.

This is my little ball of energy who has changed so much this year! He went from being pretty shy, to talking to everybody whether he knows them or not. He chats with the Dick's sporting goods workers about soccer and tells my vball friends about super heroes. He walks up to kids at the park and tells them all about himself, and our family. Names, ages, pets, etc...He loves to snuggle up with Brad and I, and when he's tired of being lovey he likes to pester anyone he's near. Excessive kisses, blowing in faces, repeatedly poking, getting right in your face... you get the idea. He's such a fun kid, comes up with the funniest things to say, loves potty humor and superheroes. 

We had brownies at his party because he doesn't really like cake, but we forgot to sing Happy birthday! He insisted that he needed a birthday cake, because that's what you have on birthdays. We talked him into a couple cupcakes, sang the song, and blew out the candles! ... and didn't eat the cupcake... That's Lucas! Happy Birthday crazy boy! We love this kid!

 Lucas Age 5

1. What is your favorite color? White

2. What is your favorite toy? Spiderman Car
3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
4. What is your favorite movie? Spiderman into the Spiderverse
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? My Favorite Pizza
6. What is your favorite outfit? My Batman Jacket

7. What is your favorite game? Disney Infinity Battlegrounds
8. What is your favorite snack? Cheetos I mean Cheeseballs
9. What is your favorite animal? Cats

10. What is your favorite song? Power of the Roar (From Lion Guard show)

11. What is your favorite book? Mother Bruce
12. Who is your best friend? Tyler Black

13. What is your favorite cereal? Reese’s Puffs
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump on the Trampoline and play warriors
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My whoopee cushion…..lol
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cinnamon toast
19. Where do you want to go for dinner on your birthday? Burger King
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Doctor

21. What is your favorite thing about school? Going to the Library

22. Favorite sport? Soccer

23. Favorite treat?  Brownies

Added per Lucas – What do you want to toot on? A whoopee cushion!! (We may be going through a whoopee cushion phase right now… lol).

July 2019

Most of July 2019

A trip to Urban Air! The kids tried a few obstacles on the ninja course, played in the balls, battled, dodge-ball, and lots of trampoline jumping!

Lizzy's got a birthday bone. Luke picked out a toy for her -- one of those really loud and annoying squeaking pigs. She didn't like it, so now it's Luke's -- and it remains hidden 99% of the time. My poor ears. 

 Fireworks in Meridian did not disappoint! The finale was absolutely amazing! Tried to grab a family picture -- Jake apparently wanted to include an uncrustable, and Lucas wanted nothing to do with it. Until he became Batman, that is...

We took the family to the new Spider-man movie -- we love our super hero movies!

It's been a hot summer, mostly spent at Roaring Springs, but we took a break and went to Lucky Peak park for some REALLY cold water. The kids kept trying to make their hot mud tub deeper, but it pretty much stayed the same. Perfect for Lucas to soak in though :). 

Emma's been doing a volleyball clinic once a week at Settler's Park. She's improved a ton, and I'm looking forward to having a volleyball partner! And there's a splash pad at the park, so sometimes the boys tag along too!

Luke's decided it's cool to get water dumped on his head.

Another season of Brayge Basketball -- Both kids got some buckets and had fun!

 Emma was unfortunate to get placed on a pretty terrible team, and they got pummeled every game. She maintained a good attitude despite breaking her glasses twice... and had some pretty good pump fakes resulting in some points!

 Jake took one round of swimming lessons, and is finally getting the hang of it! Spending so much time in the water this summer has been great for adjusting to going under water without plugging his nose, so he can actually use his arms for swimming! 

 We made a few trips to the sno-shack for snow cones with friends!

July 2019