A little gratitude goes a long way

There's Kyle drawn in yellow.  The yellow circle is his conference table because that's where they sit and eat lunch when we visit daddy at work.  We've been writing thank you pen pal letters and sending them all over the country to family and friends.  On this particular day one of the boys said "lets thank dad!" And the other brother said "and he will be proud because we are saving money by not having to send his note with a stamp" .  

Summer nap time

I look at this picture and notice how big she's grown to be.  Last summers mullets has turned into a beautiful mane of hair.  So far she will only allow me style her hair enough to sweep her bangs out of her face so that we do not need to cut bangs and deal with the grow out process.  Elise will be going to PM preschool in the fall which means these nap afternoons are coming to an end soon. Until that time come u continue to cherish her nestled in the nape of my neck as age drifts off to dreamland mid-day.  

Truck wash

Late snack

how could I say no to popcorn in a hotel bed with my girl?,Elise and I sharing some popcorn in bed that her Auntie made.  She saved it to share with mommy.  Even though I brushed my teeth

So corny

What is it about corn that taste so good off the cob?  For these three its about the corn holders.  There's a danger element to the sharp two prog ends that spear into each side of the cob.  They giggle with the first bite into the cob as it makes the biggest crunch noise and squirts juice onto their cheeks.  I'm a big fan of interacting with each meal.  Our meals are crafted around that concept.  What can we wrap up, dip into, choose for condiments and stab with skewers and corn picks.  It's all apart of meal play, like when they were babies.  But luckily, they eat what they actually play with:) 

Mini

I've picked up on calling Elise "Mini". 

 It sounds just as endearing as her own name to me.  

Also because she is so little and a derivative of me.  

But by all means I see and respect her for all the ways that she is different. 

It is fun to see how Elise gravitates towards things so intently. 

 The same things as intently as I do. Like when she gets dressed she brushes her hand over the embroidery of her dresses.  Or her need to not only pick flowers but bring the to her own room.  

She does walk by and notice them in the middle of play and smell them.  

This past spring  will probly be the last time where the tulips are taller than Elise.  I love watching her flutter like a butterfly in the row of tulips that grow in the front of our house at every house every spring. 

Bikers on Buttercup Boulevard

Its time to pass down the like-a-bike to sister.  

The bike has been long loved by the boys who both rode it to pieces.  

The original green seat cover was torn on one side and barely hanging on.  

In an effort to get exactly what I was looking for, I spent an evening recovering the bike seat. 

 Then one thing leads to the next as many of my ideas do, and the princesses that covered the grey portion of the helmet was painted over and new electrical tape was assembled for a modern simple look.  

 In the evenings we like to ride to the school's playground and monkey around.  

The boys are a big fans of the show American Ninja Warriors.  

Kyle designs little obstacle courses for the boys to do on the playground which requires them to climb all over it, jumping between the bars and hanging on the outside of various play structures.  

Don't think is a mom approved activity. 

 I watch cringing with white knuckles.