Of Boxes...

I am certain my parents told me the following little parenting nugget somewhere along our nearly five year parenthood journey...

"They'll care more about the boxes their presents come in than the actual presents themselves."

Hand over another medallion to those parents of mine, because, once again, they were so right.

I present to you, the DeWalt drill box.  Also known as the "bad robot" costume going on two weeks now.  It's a hardy little number.  And just today it experienced a metamorphosis when it was requested that I cut arm holes so Kael and his broad shoulders could play along more effectively.  

Poor Guy.  :)

I obliged since they actually asked and didn't wield steak knife themselves.

Plus, I'm kinda scared of Dax.

Dude takes the bad robot game seriously. 

I freakin' love little boys.

Top Guns...

Blogosphere - meet the new cast of Top Gun.

I give you, Goose, Maverick, Ice Man & Hollywood.

They're young, they're wild and they're hot.  Literally and figuratively in this picture.

Because... we finally got the boat out.  It was the trip that almost didn't happen for one reason or another that morning; but I kept chanting my mantra, 

"It's always worth it, It's always worth it."

 Sista should keep listening to herself.

It was soooo worth it.

I watched all three of my little amigos ride the waves with their Daddy-o.

And documented it with shotty pictures, but pictures nonetheless.

Kaelster gave the training skis the old college try.  We're not quite ready yet and I'm convinced it's because his feet kept slipping out.  Perhaps the manufacturers are trying to tell us to give it another year?  Either way, you gotta love that boy's attitude... "These skis are really holdin' me down!"  He hollered after his third failed attempt.  "I think I'm just ready for the 'boot ski' now.  It's way better for me."  When in doubt, blame the equipment, friends.  :) 

I got some time on the old slalom ski, the wakeboard and even pulled out the dusty old kneeboard.  So cheers to me for being such a versatile playa.  :)  Pretty sure the members of my little cheer squad carried me.  That plus the flag boy was cute so I really pulled out my A-Game.

 Cousin Zane took home the medal for best boat hair.

{Clearly}

 And everyone seemed to be all smiles with minimal to no sunburn.

Which is really saying something for the inaugural boating trip of the season.

'Til next time little water hawgs. 

IPhoneography: Life Lately

Life in the summer is insane.  And I know you all know that, but still... it's worth mentioning what a circus it is on a regular basis.  I mostly love the mach speed merry-go-round because it makes me feel like I'm in the throws of motherhood with toddlers.  It's physical and awesome and strenuous.  But every so often, when they crash in a heap like this... I celebrate the fact that there are moments of pause.

We are in the middle of swim lessons.  Week one down.  They totally nailed it.  And week two forthcoming.  How rad do they look in this picture?  Ace Face threw a whopper of a twonager fit and refused to participate in swim lessons???  That was a first and I didn't want to fight so I pulled him. Sometimes I have to remind myself he is younger than they are, and also, he doesn't have the luxury of a built in brotherly companion in every class scenario like they do.  Poor babe.

 And then, just like magic, we went to the car wash after swim lessons and there was Dale Murphy giving fives to my boys and signing autographs and talking to them about being good boys and staying strong.  It was epic.  They didn't fully comprehend, but they knew it was rad.

 Also on the rad list:

Little boys that dress up as Superheroes and remain in character for the bulk of a day.

Gardening with the Gardner Guys.  They LOVE it.

And Friday Fun Nights

{dubbed by the gents}

Wherein we watch a movie and have a special treat. 

RyGar has been taking one little man cub at a time out to the greens to use their new clubs.  This happened to be Dax's day and he asked on every single hole.... "Dad, do we get to 'puttle' on this hole?" When he got home I asked him what his favorite part was and he said, "I love puttling and driving the cart."  And I smiled all night long. 

 Next up... we're prepping for a party for someone special who is turning FIVE!

I can't even believe it.

XO, Summer.

Camp Out...

The second half of the Epic Fourth of July weekend of 2014 landed us right smack at the top of Monroe Mountain for a camp out.  Our kiddos wanted nothing more than to sleep in a tent and have a fire.  Wishes granted, gents.

That's one of the coolest parts of being a parent.  You can make these little itty bitty dreams come true with the slightest of effort, all the while doing something that you know they'll remember forever, and you wanted to expose them to anyway.  Win-win-win.

So, with a couple of cousins we headed to the mountain tops.  We enjoyed the wildflowers, a summer hail storm and lots of wildlife.

We carved our names into the family trees.  Don't panic, y'all - this is private property.  The big man, Grandpa Hooky, is totally fine with our etches.

We climbed to the peak and watched as our little men exclaimed with wonder... "We are bigger than ALL the mountains!" and "We are up in the sky with the clouds!"  And we watched the sun set lower on the horizon as we pointed out parts of the beloved valley stretching below us like a patchwork quilt.

Enter my kids personalities coming through in photos:

Dramatic

Intense

Ready to Move...

We dished up dutch oven taters and ate s'mores all of which ended up on their little faces as clues to the makings of the evening's killer menu to anyone that might have missed the feast.

And we played horseshoes.

{It's worth noting that the Gardner's were the tournament champs. Did you have any doubts?}

It's gross - camping.  I'll be amongst the first to admit.

But holy moly did these little men of ours seem to be in Heaven.

 And I won't lie to you.  It felt a little bit like Heaven on Earth to me too.

Home of the Brave...

Fourth of July makes me feel like I'm winning at life.  I just can't wipe that stupid grin off my face.

 

It helps that we do the Fourth in Richfield... which is basically the updated town featured in "Sandlot" during the famous dog chase.  It also helps that red and blue are my favorite colors, and that stripes are a current obsession.  I'm just sayin' it all seems to fit me like a glove.  Especially the part where I get to be with my people.  Man I love them.

Like a lot.
And America's Holiday has a way of reminding me of that.
This year was no exception.

Maybe it was the addition of the bubble guns which added iridescence to my view.  Maybe it was the way our little crew of parade-goers have mastered the art of the quick candy pick up, or the "look at us, we're cute throw us more candy" wave.

(As a group they may have lugged out more taffy than I have ever seen in one place.)

 

It could have been the fish grab where our little fishermen quickly nabbed their Rainbow Trout and then jumped in to grab a fish for the two-year-old crowd.  Or the fireworks each and every night of the weekend.  OB-SessED.

 

More than likely it was all of it... collectively.  Begging to have it's picture taken to be etched in pixels forever.  We ooze patriotism and family and sweet summer relaxation during America's Birthday weekend and it is so, so good... Tipping on the verge of magical.

Hence the overload of pictures.  And you know what?  I feel good about that too.  :) 

I am so grateful for my life.  Grateful to live in the U.S.A.  Grateful for my freedom.  And eternally grateful for this little family who spends their summer holiday at my home turf.