Let the Summer Begin!

There is one awesome thing to not having our backyard fenced in :
NEIGHBORHOOD POOL PARTY!

My "backyard neighbor" as I'll call her and friend had her pool out the other day and of course when my kids saw it they just had to ask if they could come play too! Plus I had just bought a slip 'n' slide a couple days before and they were dying to try it out. So we joined the fun along with the next-door neighbor family and some other friends from the neighborhood.

A couple of the "cool" moms got in on the fun and let the kids totally hammer them with water. I have to say this summer I am probably less fun than usual (me and the other pregnant mom only got a little wet) but we all had a good time.

So glad that it is warming up and the kids can play in the water!

NOSY NEIGHBORS ?

Do your neighbors spy on you? Do you often catch them peeking from their window and putting their nose in your business? Does it creep you out? Or do you find yourself wondering about the poor children behind those walls always on the inside looking out?

From Garrett's 2nd story bedroom window he can see into our neighbor's yard and driveway. They are awesome neighbors and friends, they have 2 cute kids one of which is Garrett's age. There have been a few times (maybe more) that Garrett "spies" on them from his window while he is in his hour of 'quiet time' in his room. Sometimes it is not 'quiet time' but he simply hears them outside and wants to know what he is missing. It is a bit of a running joke. My friend even has a picture that she took of Garrett asleep with his face pressed against his window. He actually fell asleep watching them! This is cute and funny but I have to say in a small way embarrassing for me. It just always looks like I keep him locked in his room or something, I PROMISE THIS IS NOT THE CASE! Sometimes he knocks on the window and talks to them through it. On this particular night they'd been outside playing with the neighbor kids and when it was time for us to go in and get ready for bed Garrett and Embrie both went upstairs to watch them from the window instead. So I thought I would capture the moment for myself.

I must say that if you are going to have your neighbors stalking you wouldn't you want it to be these two? They are pretty cute little spies aren't they?

Love a Good Parade

This is a local event we go to every year, along with a carnival and this year fireworks. The kids are always so excited to go to the parade. This year we did it all with friends too, even better!

one particularly entertaining show in the parade!

Stuck on You

It was so quiet in Embrie's room the other day that I was sure she was asleep. But no. She had just found her church bag which I had neglected to empty out after last Sunday.

When Garrett was her age he got into the stickers during 'nap/quiet time' too but his ended up all over the walls. Embrie decided to decorate herself.

The training wheels are off

Garrett is officially in training to ride a bike without the extra help! We still have some practice to be done. But he is on his way! Movin' on Up!

Happy Birthday

This year for his 5th birthday Garrett decided on a "Tractor Birthday Party".

He invited his friends to a party and this is what they did:

We talked about where you might find a tratcor what they are used for.
Garrett told them all that his Grandpa Blaine has two tractors and plants hay on his ranch to feed the cows and horses.
1st - one job of a tractor is to plow the field on farms, where things are planted to grow food.
So each kid filled a cup with dirt, and chose a seed to plant

then they watered their seed

and put it in the sun

then the kids lined up to play a game of "Pin the Wheel on the Tractor"

When all was said and done this is what our tractor looked like.

Then everyone ate lunch, Garrett chose to serve Pizza and then some cake and ice cream!

blow out the candles and make a wish!

Then after a little bit more playing like crazy and opening some presents we got down to one of Garrett's favorite activities. Lets unleash these bad boys. What takes a long time to fill only takes a few minutes to empty!

The very next day he had a family birthday party! We all ate yummy lunch and did the usual birthday stuff and the cousins played until exhausted.

Uncle Jim even got in on the Pin the Wheel fun!

Jaxon too!

Sunday June 5th was Garrett's actual birthday. We saved a couple of presents for him to open that morning. What a spoiled but happy boy!

Happy 5th birthday my sweet, wonderful boy! I can't believe you've grown up so fast! We love you sooooooo much!

Now please don't be too blown away by the impressiveness of the talent in our family. Poor Garrett may have thought this was the strangest birthday song he'd ever heard, and most likely it is!

Owwwy

If you ask Embrie what happened to her nose she would say "Garrett and *friend* chased me."

At the on this particular day she was being chased and then fell nose planting on the cement. She may or may not have been given a little nudging by her brother.

This was a pretty big facial "owwy" which was very much a big deal for her.

Not that 'Owwies" are cute or funny in anyway, but each time Embrie gets hurt she cries for her Daddy. Of course daddy is usually at work and this makes her sad. So we've taken to making phone calls whenever she gets hurt. She calls and tells dad about her troubles and then she's good until the next time.

I just thought that this was very sweet. She has gone through her time a few months back when she only wanted mommy and didn't want anything to do with dad to needing him now to comfort her.

This is what the nose and cheek look like a few days later. Poor girl.