Barefoot Summer Days?

The heat wave is not cooperating with our routine.  I think we spend a good amount of time outdoors, year-round.  And aren't summers supposed to be spent barefoot, running around in the backyard?  But lately we have been spending most of our time finding things to do indoors: storytime at the library, the dinosaur museum, even hitting up the air-conditioned mall playground.  So we were thrilled when we woke up this morning and it was "only" 91 degrees out.  I don't know when 91 and humid became my idea of a balmy summer day, but here we are.

 

The Doodle asked to take his "new" tricycle to the park.  He has only ridden it around the kitchen, so he was itching to take that baby out on the road and see what it could do.  He toted the sippy cups around in his "trunk" for us.

 Ladybug on the slide.  Isn't she a handful beautiful?

2 kids + 105 degrees =

Have I mentioned how much we love the splash pad?  

1. It's a fun way to cool off.
2. It's free.
3. When you have two toddlers, letting them run around and splash is MUCH less stressful than trying to take them to the pool.

 

 

For some reason, the Doodlebug enjoys running around the perimeter as fast as he can on the hot concrete.  He'll get another kid to run with him, and then tell me, "We raced, and raced, and raced..."

 

Franny Girl jumps right in there with the big kids.  When she gets splashed in the face, she flaps her arms wildly.

 

Has anyone noticed how HOT it is?

I mean, seriously. This year, Oklahoma has had a year's worth of 100+ days, and it's only the beginning of July. Last year, New York had a week of temperatures in the mid-nineties, and the "heat wave" made national news. I don't want to hear it.

We've been having fun while trying to stay cool. I've been home for a week now on what may be the last "summer vacation" of my life, and it has been great fun. Tonight, Craig and I are heading to Shakespeare in the Park, something we have done every summer for the past four years at least. It doesn't start until 8pm, so hopefully we won't melt.



The Doodle lounging in his folding chair. He got a real tent from my grandparents for his birthday, and we set it up yesterday. He immediately began camping out in there with his favorite toys.



We typically go for walks in the evening after dinner, or we go to a park and let the kids play while Craig and I toss a baseball. But it has been so hot that the kids get flushed after 20 minutes at the park, so last week we stripped them down after dinner and let them splash around in the backyard instead. We have an actual kiddie pool, but this little tub is easy to fill up and let them splash around in.



A few more pictures from the Doodle's birthday. I love this picture of Atticus. He's eating the cake that Grandma made him and looking quite contemplative. Lady Frances looks all partied out, but she still has a grip on that balloon. Atticus told her to hold it "tight" and she took him at his word.



This great hand-me-down tricycle was at Nana and Papa's house, and it is almost like new. The Doodle has decided to keep it in our laundry room, otherwise known as his "garage."



And...at this very moment my most awesome husband ever is putting up a clothesline for me in the backyard. Ever since we moved, I have been missing our deck at our old house, which I adored. It was my birthday present from him the year we bought the house:



We hung a clothesline across the deck, and I loved it. I have been yearning for a clothesline at this house and have been asking for one about once a week since we moved in. It is being put up right now, so I'm off to hang some laundry...

Happy Birthday Doodlebug!

The Doodlebug turned three years old this past week. His birthday party was today. We had some family and a few friends over, and it was a lot of fun. This year he knew what a birthday party was all about, so he had opinions on who we should invite and what we should do, which was fun.

Here is a flashback photo of the Doodle on his first birthday:



And today:



I can't believe how big my sweet boy is getting. He is still so funny and smart and polite. He really looks after Franny and talks to her like a little parent. Today at his party, someone told him to come eat, and he said, "I need to clean up first, but I'll join you in a minute." I have no idea where he gets some of the things he says, but it is hilarious. I didn't get many birthday pictures, but my mom did so I'll try to post them soon.

In other news, Franny-girl is growing up like crazy. I came home from work the other day and she ran out to meet me wearing this:



She loooves these boots. She also gets up in the morning and puts them on with her pajamas while she's still half-asleep and bleary-eyed.



She's starting to talk more and more. Just in the past few days, she's transitioned to putting two words together more often than just using single words.



I walk in the door and kick off my dress shoes. I thought this was cute. My bag is bigger than she is.



I finished my internship, so I have some time off before school starts again. I love that I'm going to have some substantial summer time with the family. There is a lot we are looking forward to.