Snapshots of our Summer (so far)

Are you ready for a photo smorgasbord? A picture pile?  This is a little peak at our summer so far.

 My boys love playing with the water.  It makes me happy when they need a good bath at the end of the day.

We welcomed our new baby cousin a few weeks ago.  Fun to see a little preview of what is in store for us soon.   

 Still lots of fire truck love in our life.  Gabe's not upset.  That's his serious, I'm putting out fires, look.

Trying to vicariously live through Grandma D's facebook updates about her trip to Europe.  Cheerio mum.  We miss you!

 Sorting clothes for the new season and the new baby.  Gabe is rocking that girl's winter hat.

 Throwing giant tantrums over Otter Pops that melt too quickly.  Wow.  I just had to document this one.  If Sunny tells you the world is ending, chances are her pink Otter Pop just snapped in half.  

 Playing with cousins on the tramp!

 Snacks outside with Grandma Linda.  My kids have a lot of wonderful grandmas in their life.

 Trying to enjoy watermelon.  Except when you cut it open and it looks like this.  What the heck Maceys?  

 More fun with cousins.

 Watching the Pleasant Grove parade.  Terrified.  Fire trucks are fun until you see them with lights and sirens, 15 feet away.  Then, not so much.

 Playing with daddy after work.  Pumping up a well-loved ball!

 Trying to be smart about craving a candy bar at 9:30 at night.  Solution: Honey Nut Chex cereal with chocolate syrup.  Hit the spot!

 Garbage truck watching.  We really n,.eed to meet a sanitation worker one day.  He or she would  be a hero around here.

 Braving dinner out with the fam.  We've been out out to eat at a sit down restaurant a total of 4 times since the kids were born.  We were celebrating seeing a big, healthy, kicking baby at my 35 week ultrasound.  

When I say big, I mean it.  The estimates from the sonographer is that the baby is around 7 pounds.  SEVEN pounds.  The kids were 3 months old before they were 7 pounds.  This one is yet to be born!  I teared up.  I was suddenly overcome with gratitude.

I am going to be having a big, healthy baby.  Remember my post about not being able to erase the images of my tiny, sick babies?  I think this helped a little.  It was a nice reality check.  I won't have to worry about causing a brain bleed from lifting her legs too high when I change a diaper.  I can hold him whenever I want.  She will actually enjoy being held and touched.  (Notice the use of pronouns, STILL didn't find out what we are having!)

I also saw a little mouth moving--more tears.  There is this suck, swallow, breath reflex that babies develop in utero.  The trio never did and it caused serious distress for all 4 of us while they were learning how to eat.  But this one will arrive with that!  It was a happy little afternoon.

So that's been some of our summer goings on.  Also, it's hot.  I'm out of Dreyer's fruit bars.  Speaking of disasters,  the state of Utah is literally up in flames.  (I have two brothers fighting these fires.)

And soon, within weeks, I'm going to be hypnobirthing a chunky (in my book) little baby.

How is your summer so far?  

  

We Have Been Doing Other Things

Despite my constant posting and rambling on and on about running here and there, running everywhere, I will not eat green eggs and ham... oops. Sorry.

Despite all the running posts, we have been doing other things this summer besides working around a training plan.

Like going to a parade with cousins.


And watching it with Daddy.

And really liking the drums in the high school marching band.


And being so surprised to see Grandpa in the fire truck in the parade! He was just as surprised to see us as we were him.



Good thing Gabe has his brother to hold on to. He did not like the fire truck siren.


We've also headed out the door in matching pink get ups this summer. Well, we did it once. And it was an accident. But still cute, no?

We have also seen lots of dogs when we've been out and about. Sometimes one of us will even sit (Gabe) when the owner tells the dog to sit. The kids are REALLY into dogs.

Although I don't have pictures, we've also been to a BBQ where I fed the kids watermelon in the grass and loved watching the juice drip down their chins and on their shirt. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about how much we don't get out. (It's such a project! It's usually just me!) So that moment of juicy, watermelony stickiness made me feel good. It was a real summer moment.

We have also been to the pool! Once. They all hated it. Big sigh. We'll try that one again.

We are going to Rhode Island soon. Like, on a family vacation. I guess that is what you would call it. I'm mostly calling it a nightmare at 30,000 feet for 4 1/2 hours. But once we get there it will be great. In my head, it's going to be this light, lovely moment when my three little darling all see and touch and smell the ocean for the first time. But in reality, Gabe will probably hate how the sand feels on his hands, Christian will probably be scared the first time a little wave hits his feet and Sunny will cling to her daddy like a monkey. Her cute little legs will have a deadlock grip around his rib cage. But that is why God gave me a sense of humor and the ability to enjoy even the crazy, not so exciting moments. Sometimes it's even while the moment is happening. But retrospect has also been good to us.

Another thing we've been up to this summer-- practicing being kind. Hitting someone on the head then waiting for a reaction is a favorite activity as of late. So, lots of our family home evening lessons have been about being sweet to one another. I couldn't resist pulling out the camera on this one...

(Don't mind the fact that no one has clothes on. They are post bath / pre pajamas here. Also, don't worry about the land mine of a play room they have to play in. It does get straightened every once in a while.)

I know summer is waning, but we aren't done! More fun stuff to come.

Are you getting nervous summer is almost over? Any last minute plans to soak it all in before it's time to start buying trapper keepers?