Local Fire Heros

Our local firefighters have been working hard today putting out fires in backyard tree houses. Check out the action:

"Calling All Rescue Heros"

Got to get the hose up there.

"Too heavy!!!"

His helmet flies away..

A job well done!

Summer At It's Best

Today was another great day at the pool. It was nice to get away from the house for 3 hours of fun in the hot sun. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Relaxing in the zero depth pool.

Ryan and his friend getting use to the water.

Claiming what is his from the kids who thought it was theirs...lol

Break time...

Braving the slide.

Surprising mom in front of the camera.

Before & After The Storm

This is what happens when you let 8 neighborhood kids (including your own) take a break from the summer heat and play in the basement for awhile.

Pretty bad, huh?

Not much better from a different angle.

This is what happens when you tell them that if they clean up the mess they'll be local celebrities when I feature them on my blog...

Impressive, isn't it? I'd say they look pretty exhausted.

These are the kids (disguised for their protection) that can be easily tricked into cleaning up after themselves - however the 2 smart boys (from yesterday's 4-wheeling escapade hightailed it out of here when they heard the words "clean up".

Maybe next week I can get them to do windows...lol

I Knew They'd Do It Eventually!!!

Our neighborhood is a newly developed one, and everyone has been busy landscaping their homes. In the past couple of weeks, our neighbors to the right of us they have built up a section in their backyard along our property and have started to landscape it.

Exhibit A: The Hill

This picture was taken from up on our deck (which is about 5ft off the ground) and is a lot bigger and taller when standing down there next to it. Now keep in mind that Ryan and his other little friend that live behind us both have battery rechargable 4 wheelers that they ride around on pretty much all hours of the day looking for the next best thing that they can do with them. (Can you see where I am going with this yet?) Just yesterday I was talking to my neighbor that landscaped this hill in the above picture and I jokingly asked her, "So how long do you think it will take for the boys to take on your hill?" Uh-huh.

Exhibit B: Culprit #1 (my so very busted son)

As I walk to the patio door to check on the boys, I see them AND their 4 wheelers on top of the neighbor's hill! Stuck! Trying to push them over to the other side! Ughh! I only wish I had thought to grab my camera (is that bad?) to snap a picture before I ran out and yelled at them. I've never seen two little boys move faster in my life.

Exhibit C: Sweet little innocent boys?

You'd never know they did anything wrong, would you?

Child Labor

Ashley was surprised to find out that the strawberry's, grapes and green beans she requested from the grocery store were going to be her responsibility to cut up. She informed me that child labor was against the law (ha) so I gave her 5 bucks when she was done to quiet her down (ha ha). And then she goofs off on the job deciding she couldn't wait any longer for the grapes. (Should have paid her less...lol)

Going a great job...

Guess she got tired of waiting.

Child Abuse II

Guess who's turn it was for her 5th grade shot today? Yep - Ashley. She was pretty nervous all the way up until the nurse came near her with the needle. And then she says, "Is that it? That wasn't bad at all!" However she spoke too soon because about ten minutes later her arm got really sore and stiff. Oh well, it gave her something to be dramatic about all day...LOL.

Puppy Love II

Ryan proudly gave his homemade bracelet to his little friend at tonight's softball game. She loved it and he was very proud. Then, like any typical woman, after the newness wore off she was only interested in his snacks. LOL. Ryan didn't seem to mind (even when she was sneaking candy out of his pants pocket) since he loves to share.

Puppy Love

Getting ready for the upcoming girls softball game tonight, Ryan (with Ashley's help) makes his little friend a cute little bracelet. How sweet. Hope she likes it.

Don't worry, Ryan. We won't tell Daddy you were playing with beads in Ashley's room today. LOL.

"I will get that bead on there if it's the last thing I do!!!"

Always Prepared

Ryan was super prepared during today's early morning thunderstorm after the electricity flickered a few times with his flashlight.

Fun In The Sun

The kids had a great time during another play date at a friend's house on another water slide today. (Yes - with water this time.) It was gorgeous hot and sunny day today. Mom even went down a few times - you know, to make sure it was safe. :-) Check out their adventures below...

Ryan's Water Slide Experience

Ryan's trip down...

Ready... Set...

Go!!!

Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

Mommmyyyyyy!!!!!!!

Whew, I made it.

Ashley's Water Slide Experience

Ashley's trip down:

Weeeeee.......

Going faster than she thought she would....

She gets turned around...

Tries to stop herself....


And then plummets over the edge!!! (However the camera and I missed that one.)

Slacker

Yes, I know I've been slacking off, but I swear - I've been busy!!! Here's a picture of Ashley working on her pitching skills to tide all of you over.

Also, during Ryan's swim lessons today he was able to float on his back on his own quite a few times and swam some more by himself with his face in the water. It's amazing how calm and at home he is in the water - until the instructor had him dive in from a sitting position on the side of the pool. Let me tell you - Ryan had no idea it was coming - but he took it like a champ and did great. Grandma got pictures of all of that with her camera phone since I had forgotten my camera (gasp!)

Hard Day's Play In The Sun

"I am NOT tired!!!" Of course you're not...LOL.

Future Mailman

During Ashley's softball game this morning, Ryan threw the bag from the lawn chair over his shoulder and proceeded to pretend he was a mailman. Impressive and very creative, I say. He definitely gets his imagination from me...LOL.

Family Fun Night

You know you're officially getting old when you take your kids to the carnival and you scream in terror louder than your ten year old daughter does on one of the rides. I'm getting to old for this stuff...

I'm thinking that this stuff may be more my speed now. Very sad.

Welcome Home

This is what happens when you send your daughter to camp and put her in charge of doing her own hair.

Starfish

Ryan swam his little heart out today during his Starfish Swimming Lesson. He's only been taking lessons for 2 weeks and he's already able to float on his back and submerge his whole head under water. Today he swam from his instructor to the edge of the pool with his face in the water without the instructor holding on to him (and without plugging his nose!). Which was why I ended up signing him up for next month's session as we were leaving today. One of the mom's said that the instructor has been nicknamed "The Kid Whisperer". Too funny - but he is awesome.

"Is That What You Do All Day?"

Hubby comes home for lunch today and proceeds to sit down on the couch and watch TV. (Side note: he did occupy Ryan with some playtime which was greatly appreciated). I decided to take advantage of hubby being home so I jumped into the shower, got dressed and gave myself a quick manicure. (I think all mom's know that these are impossible things to do when the kids are home).

Then, are you ready for this (???) - hubby looks over and asks, "Is this what you do all day?"

???????

!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm sure he was kidding but just to clear things up, here's a rundown of my day:

6:40 am

• woke up self and kids
• got self and kids dressed
• fed self and kids (did not dial neighbor's phone number on microwave this am)
• drove kids and friends to bus stop for camp

7:50am

• stopped at Walmart for thread and break & bake cookies (yum)
• made beds
• altered Ashley's softball jersey so it would fit
• unloaded and reloaded dishwasher
• baked cookies
• swivel swept kitchen floor
• picked up toys
• 3 loads of laundry
• packed up for post lunch trip to pool
• picked up toys
• straightened up the bathrooms
• straightened up the kids rooms
• made Ryan a snack
• picked up toys
• cleaned up Ryan's snack mess
• re-swivel swept the kitchen floor
• unpacked for trip to pool because not sunny out and feels too cold
• picked up toys
• posted on blog
• changed the battery in Ryan's 4-wheeler
• swivel swept grass tracked in by Ryan
• took the garbage out
• answered "What?" to "Moommmyyyyy!!!" 300 times

Noon

• Surprise! Bret's home for lunch
• eat lunch
• shower and dress
• give self quick manincure
• Bret heads back to work

1pm

• Head over to neighbor's house with kids (yes with daiquiris & earlier baked cookies - I'm sure you can see where this is going)
• Hang out/Chase after each other's kids
• Neighbor and I play a rematch of our basketball game of HORSE but changed it to PIG because we've been drinking and are just no good
• Kids ditch us for the backyard
• Give up on looonnngggg game and get the giggles

3pm

• Head home from neighbor's house, zig-zagging through backyard home
• Pop in a Disney movie
• Lay down on couch

5:30pm

• Hubby's home....Lynda's passed out....Ryan's in the leftover cookies.....Ooops - no dinner ready! Sorry, honey!

HA- The morning sounds right, but if only my afternoons could really involve alcohol and a nap.

I'm off to go start that dinner...

Update: For those of you who have called or emailed me calling me a lush - the afternoon section of this post was just a joke...LOL. (We don't crack open the daiquiri bucket until after the kids go to bed at night...

Cannot Live Without

I am the queen of household appliances that can make my life so much easier.

I cannot live without my new Shark Swivel Sweeper. I swear I use this thing at least 5 times a day to clean up the messes that my sweet adorable children leave behind on my kitchen floor.

Example: See how clean my kitchen floor is - until monkey man here has at it.
Just don't look at my windows until they invent a household appliance that does it for you.

So, be sure to go out and get yours today! Only $29.99 at Target.

Stay tuned for a review on the bathroom shower cleaner spinny thingy once i know whether it gets the job done. Like I said - if it makes my life easier - I have it!

Child Abuse

Ryan is not very happy with me right now. Had to take him to get 3!!! shots for kindergarten. Guess who get's her 5th grade shot - oops I mean physical next week?

Hello???

We all know that a morning person, I am not - but I took it to a whole new level this morning while fixing my daughter breakfast before taking her to camp. I put the phone up to my ear and dialed my neighbor's phone number on the microwave. Yeeeaaaa. Enough said.

Attention: Missing Mom

Ashley got to pitch the end of her softball game tonight and I missed it! The one time I wasn't there with my camera! Took Ryan home so he could get to bed since we all have to get up so early every day this week because of Ashley going to Girl Scout camp. And I missed it! :-(

Lego Land

Ryan's favorite past time at Grandma & Grandpa's is the huge Lego Train set up that Grandpa has been working on in the basement. The set up is huge and takes up a good portion of their basement. It consists of many trains, tunnels, buildings, etc. The kids would spend hours down there if they could. However, I do sometimes have one question. Grandpa, who has more fun with these legos, you or the grandkids? LOL.