Beat the heat.

The dog is bored, the kid is wired, the grass is dead, and being indoors with not much to do but cook is leaving this little momma, well, not so little.

With the sun blazing and temperatures in the 100's for consecutive weeks, we have been indoors with the curtains closed trying to stay cool. We have had to fix the air conditioner in our house and my car. Needless to say, we are going stir crazy along with everyone else here in the Midwest. We try to do our jogs and errand running early in the morning. I've tried to keep Emma busy with finger painting and baking (we are still trying to cool our house off from that one!). She made an escape the other day when I turned away for two seconds with the door opened. She ran straight through the sprinkler fully clothed outback! Even wet, she was ready to find refuge back in the cool house after just a few minutes. We really wouldn't have made it a hundred years ago!

She simply went crazy at music class this morning with a chance to run around a large cool space with twenty other kids. Ms Debbie tried to do music with a lot of dancing so these children being held hostage in houses could use up all their extra energy supply. Thursday we are going to a toddler time at the pool early in the morning with friends before it gets too hot.

What is everyone else doing in this heat? We could definitely use some suggestions!

Emma got her own flour and water to mix up.  She had sooo much fun!

Little things.

We had a wonderful weekend of playtime and family.  Emma has been obsessed with her daddy's boots.  She had fun trying them on for about 1 1/2 minutes. 

This little girl is so fun!  For about a month now, she has been all about high fives and blowing kisses.  Her vocabulary is increasing at rapid speeds.  Uh-oh, ball, dog, mommy, daddy, baby, wow, and happy are her favorites.  Sometimes she will just start smiling and clapping saying happy over and over again.  I don't know if she really knows what it means, or if she just knows it makes us smile.  Either way, she knows that happy makes smiles.

She still loves to sing and dance.  Her coordination is amazing.  She uses her fingers to make a spider and makes out a distorted "itty bitty".  She will then raise her hands over her head to make a sun to dry up the rain.  She tries to do the teapot, but arms still just go straight back instead of on her hips.  It's the cutest.  She amazes me with The Wheels on the Bus.  She can really get those wheels going round and make the wipers swish.  This baby girl is fantastic!  I could just watch her every move everyday in wonder.  The moment you see things click for them, is just like magic!

We love to play outside.  If the door opens, Emma is making a run for it.  That's ok with us.

Saturday afternoon, we spent a little time out in Louisburg with Brett's Aunt Karen, Uncle Dan and cousin Alex.  Emma LOVES Alex.  From the moment he came through the door, she was all over him!

I think Alex gets his charm with kids from his dad.  Uncle Dan squeezed in a little cuddle time too.

Sunday afternoon was my sweet nephew James's 3rd birthday!  The sweetest boy ever!  A pirates paradise party.  Unfortunately, I forgot to get the camera out get snap a pic of the matey's, but here is a little pool time action with the cousins.

Having children is a second chance at childhood.  I have loved every little moment over the last 14 months.  Brett and I have both transformed since Emma arrived.  You really don't realize how precious life is until you have precious lives to help you appreciate all the little things.  

My weekend favorites?  Watching my husband help his daughter pack all her treasures in her purse before we left the house.  Oh, and seeing Emma hold her toes out for me to paint them after she watched me do mine.

My favorite words?  Messy, cuddle, family, play, love.

Have a great week everyone.  Enjoy the little things!

Summer fun.

Holy cow am I behind!  I have not done a very good job keeping up on things.  After all, the whole point of this little blog is to document our busy little lives so I can remember them for always.  We have been having A LOT of fun over here.  And, I have a lot of pictures to put with my memory page.

First, on June 24th, we were baptized!  It was such a beautiful moment!  It makes my heart so happy to be on this walk, and to know that my husband is on the same path. 

Then, we got to go on a double date with our best friends!  Sushi and bowling.  It can be hard to make time for dates and friends, but it is sooo important. 

Emma and I have had a lot of play dates with our friends lately too!  I love that our friends value quality time and family so much. 

Emma made her first art project in music class and picked up couponing!

I got to do the color run with a few other wonderful girls.  If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend this!  It is so much fun, you don't have to be a runner, and it raises money for the Ronald McDonald house :)

My nieces (Sam and Sara, 12, and Julie, 9) came to stay for a week!   We stayed so busy, but what a good feeling it is to be exhausted from having fun!  My nieces are the sweetest :)

We kicked off the week at the pool.  It is very important that everyone feels comfortable enough to be silly!

Fourth of July, we went to the zoo.  We were the most festive bunch there.  I think the animals enjoyed us :)

 

My brother came with his girlfriend and her two boys.

The zoo was hot, so we came home to cool off.

 

 

Thursday, we went to Kaleidoscope.  It's a place for kids to be creative and artistic.

 

 

Then, we did our ritual skate night.  It's tradition that we always go skating when my nieces are here.  With braids in our hair, and ponytails on the side, we rocked the rink!

 

On the last day, we went to a friends birthday party at Air Zone.  Clearly, the big kids had a blast :)

 

Today, my life long friend Carady and her beautiful family came to visit.  They are in Houston and came to town for the All Star games.  We get to see them again next month when we go to Galveston for our vacation.  

 

I found a sweet little note while cleaning today that my nieces left for me...

Melt my heart :)

Have a great week everyone!  I'm off to bed so I can energize for more summer fun!

P.S.  I don't know how many people actually read this.  I do this for me and my family.  However, if you are reading, I am taking prayer requests.  It has been found that I have scarring on my uterus from all of my miscarriages.  I will be having a surgery done soon to hopefully maintain fertility.  This may be simple and cure me (along with my other drugs for clotting and hormones) so that we may continue our family.  Of course, there are a lot of risks that could complicate things.  We are praying for simple and cured.  Thank you!