Bathing in the kiddie pool!

Last week, when we had a few consecutive days of HEAT, we were pretty much forced out of our house in the evenings- SO HOT! I was so hot, in fact, that I got in the baby pool outside in fresh hose water at 7pm.

Yup, that's shampoo alright. Might as well throw everybody in and soap 'em down!

Toddler Activities in scorching hot weather.

Here was my weekend in a nutshell.

Friday afternoon we heard that distant sound that everybody knows so well... the ice cream truck! Dad ran out to flag him down, and I did what any good mom would do: Grabbed 2 dollars and my camera! This was Raegan's FIRST ice cream truck purchase afterall. (At least that I can remember) So, I come down the front steps and Raegan is racing back toward the house (with her helmet on) to tell me, " Mom! We need money!" And thus it begins.

Saturday morning: you know it's gonna be a doozy when you walk (stumble) downstairs to get your breakfast (coffee) at 7am (too early on a Saturday) and it's just plain hot. Ick. So... we got out and enjoyed the sunshine! We picked up Raegan's little friend for a trip to Jefferson Spray Park! Mornings are much better because the "big kids" aren't really out yet- it's water on cement with no yellow lines to keep traffic orderly, so big kids can be a problem when you're 3 feet tall!

(trusty iphone capturing the moment yet again)

Then we stopped into the new Sonic Burger for lunch! And we managed to escape without a single french fry consumed!! Victory for team Boley! This was especially important for me since I'd just had (stolen some of Raegan's) McDonald's fries the day prior...

Naps all in the same room, and an evening trip to frozen yogurt at the mall.

Sunday: was CARWASH day! It was over 90 degress and the sprinkler is starting to be fun about once a day at this point... I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner. Bubbles. Water. An important job that doesn't really need to be completed in any special way! Toddleriffic!

And here's the great news about the end of today: Church had AC!

What do you do to beat the heat?

Lightbulb

I haven't been whining about the weather because new babies don't like to be hot, and neither do nursing mamas. Hot babies don't sleep very well. So, I haven't really cared about the cloudy, cold, rainy, ridiculously strange summer we've been having here...

However,

I've been pondering: Why is my toddler going crazy? Why can't she just calm down a little bit? Why isn't she thankful that I just took her to the movie theater and let her pick out a BAG of candy and down the entire thing?

Yesterday a lightbulb went off.

We met a bunch of friends at the park, and the sun even came out. We stayed for hours. And presto! A much happier, calmer, easier to get along with little lady. DUH!?!? I'm not saying I've completely solved her "terrific twos" by merely going outside for a little while... but it helped tremendously!

So what did I do today? Packed a ton of snacks and hit the road. I googled Tacoma parks and picked one that she has never been to before. Three hours in the sun climbing, running, swinging, and she was pooped. Red cheeks. Snuggly. Agreeable that it what definitely nap time. And this evening? Total princess. Fun, obedient, and joyful.

Just in time for fall. :)

Rice Cereal, C.

I'm guessing the only people actually clicking on this THIRD post of my child's face with food smeared on it are related to me by blood, so "Hi Grandma, these are for you!"

Rice Cereal take two

She looks older already!?

Rice Cereal, Day 1

Yesterday at lunch time:

Last smile from my purely milk-consuming babe.

First taste.

Such a helper!

Sooo... when's dinner?

Girls Week!

Last week we went back to the beach. The soothing, sandy, quiet beach. Moms are the best! Each morning mine would be abruptly awoken from her slumber by my toddler, then scoot in to scoop up my baby. A gal could get used to that, eh? Playing in the sand, carousel rides, sweet treats, painting furniture, antique shopping, and girl topics for an entire week! Heaven.

I HAVE to point out that every single one of these pictures was taken with my PHONE! My iphone. My glorious iphone. It may be weird how quickly I text you back, or annoying how much I check my email, but look at what this puppy can do! Just imagine if I HADN'T had my phone last week... I know, it's a scary thought. Let's stick to happier things like babies in swimming suits and ice cream cones.

I love Belle's face in this one!

And her thighs. I am a big fan of baby chub.

Pioneer Woman

Well my friends, it's time to give a shout out to my latest inspiration. The Pioneer Woman. I'm probably the last person on the planet to hear about her, but my cool sister-in-law turned me on to her blog, and I haven't been the same since. I'm exaggerating, but I am reallly really inspired by her recipes, writings, and photography!

Tonight I cooked "Lettuce Wraps" from a recipe on her blog and it was one of the yummiest meals I think I've ever put together with my own hands. And so cool looking. I recommend them. And her. You won't regret it.

I totally skipped the ginger AND oyster sauce, substituted onion for shallots, and put in some asian noodles and peanut flavors, and it turned out wonderfully. Make it your way. But just make it!

Tasty Kitchen Lettuce Wraps

Signature piece

Rain boots.

Every toddler owns a pair.

Or two.

Look at that convenient handle for easy operation!

I love them.

Raegan has a yellow monkey pair and a flowery purple pair. So far. I like to call them her "signature piece" because she's rarely seen without them these days.

But it's summer!?

But it's cold.

Rainboots have so many uses... helping daddy with yardwork in your Dora PJ top and princess hat for one. Or here are the boots kicked back on a beach chair while their owner enjoys an evening cone from our favorite Sweet Shop on the OR coast.

60's

Mommy, where is the sunshine?

A couple of weeks ago when it was sunny I broke out the zebra bikini for a quick photo shoot- and I just had to share! So even if you wake up to an August morning and go about your day in 60 degree weather wondering if the world is coming to an end... at least you have these pictures to cheer you up!

Also, I must be honest. I'm pretty thankful for the mild summer we're having. Nursing, swaddling, and rocking a hot baby is just plain sticky in hot weather. So, while my skin is white and cold, my heart is happy and warm.

10 years later...

I absolutely positively cannot believe it's been ten years since I graduated from highschool. Sigh. I feel like the same fun-loving girl on the inside, just with a degree, a husband, and a couple kids... ok, maybe it IS possible that 10 years have gone by.

Reunion Family Picnic:

Look at our cute kids swinging together! Raegan's on the left side. She was self-appointed "swinger" for her new friends, and was taking her job seriously. No smiling when there's work to be done.

Oh how the memories flooded back.

I love these women.

And the official Reunion Dinner and "Dancing"...

Candace and I have made it through the years, and are still going strong. Got married within 9 months of each other, had baby #1 within 4 months, and baby #2 within 6 weeks! Not bad, eh?

And here we all are...

EHS Class of 2000.