Celebrating Four

Seemed like turning four might be a good enough reason to celebrate with a big party in our new yard.  As usual Eva was shy when it came time to sing to her, but what 4-year-old wouldn't love having all her best friends and their families over for Barbies and grilled hamburgers and candy hunts and football and tea parties and cake?  Four years sure went by fast. 

Blow-up Bats and Golf Cart Choo-Choos

 

We knew the company picnic wouldn't disappoint, and how great was it that we got to bring along a friend.  So grateful to have a couple of extra adults there to help me keep track of my wandering crew. So fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reunited and It Feels So Good

 

 

With crazy vacation schedules and new summer routines, it's been way too long since these BFFs saw each other.  SO nice to spend a morning at the farmers market and the library catching up and remembering how much we enjoy each other.

 

 

 

 

 

4th of July Weekend

 

 

Every year on the 4th of July weekend, I expect to feel sad and think about my dad a lot.  But every year the kids keep me so busy playing and having fun that the weekend flies by and I hardly have time to grieve.  This year's long 4 day weekend was no different.  The neighbors promised a big fireworks show which I thought couldn't possibly compete with the shows we'd had in Trempealeau, but it did not disappoint.  This show was even bigger and prettier and louder, and we all sat even closer.  We spent the early evening wandering from bonfire to bonfire, checking out the new kitties in the Murphys barn and bouncing on the trampolines and splashing in the creek and watching the boys run in packs.  And when the show started at 10pm Sam and Eva were ready to settle into my lap and cover their ears and open their mouths and ooh and ahh.  And that was just day one of 4 wonderful days of playing with friends and splashing in the creek and watching fireworks.  We are truly blessed to have found this neighborhood which sometimes feels like a little slice of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two and Two

The plan was for her to arrive at 10am Saturday morning, and when Sam found out she wouldn't be here when he got home from the Y on Friday he burst into tears.  "But you told me she was coming today.  You told me.  You lied to me!"

This happens a lot.

But when Kelly's Summerfest plans changed unexpectedly, she messaged that she'd be here Friday night instead, "but don't tell Sammy."  It was supposed to be a surprise.  And surprise it was as she walked up to the door moments after Sam and I fought over the placement of the couch on the hardwood floor.  Kelly walked into the chaos of the life we lead, one kid screaming and crying and demanding an ice pack for his scraped ankle while the other kid repeatedly tried to open the front door that is locked just above her reach.

Thankfully, after we took some deep breaths and realized how awesome it was to have her here, we all enjoyed an amazing weekend together that did not involve any more meltdowns.  (Or if it did I don't remember them.)  With adults and children in equal numbers, going to the aquatic center and the beach and a fundraiser for a colleague of mine were no longer terrifying undertakings but downright enjoyable adventures. Kelly and I tag-teamed through chicken Q's and dancing to live music and swimming with fish and chasing children in the pool and multiple sudden i-gotta-pee trips to port-a-potties.  Two adults and two kids.  A nice ratio.  And you have to know there was lots of good food.  And wine.  A lot of wine.  And when the only wine that was left was an old opened bottle of Menage a trois Cab, we dumped in some sugar and watermelon juice and oranges and peaches and fresh strawberries and declared it perfect sangria.  Turns out that when you go with the flow and let things fall where they may, things sometimes turn out perfectly... especially when it's two against two and one of the adults is Kelly.