Wednesday, July 25, 2012

This Summer...

We bought a new vehicle:


I am loving it.  The kids and I use it the most and it's been a lot of fun to drive.  I've never had a brand new vehicle before.  Of course, when you have a brand new vehicle it is more heartbreaking when someone bumps into it in a parking lot and gouges the paint. The one thing I am not fond of is the leather interior.  First of all, I'm not convinced that it cleans up better than cloth, and secondly, it gets pretty hot in the summer sun.

We said goodbye to the "Army school car" as Kellyn refers to it:


Kellyn was quite attached to that car.  She occasionally asks where it is and tells me she doesn't like the new car.  Oddly enough, Ryan and I saw the car a few weeks ago in the mall parking lot.  It was strange seeing it after we sold it.

We had fun at swim lessons:


Neither kid is swimming on their own, but they are both braver in the water.  We have been to the pool quite often and they both put their faces in the water and practice kicking around the pool.  They also like to "canon ball" into the kiddie pool.

We visited a "stompasaurus":


The kids saw him outside of a fireworks tent (or circus tent as they referred to it) and begged to stop and see him.  The whole time we were near him Kellyn refused to take her eyes off of him.  I think she was afraid he might use those sharp teeth on her if she turned her back on him.

We went on a trip to Minnesota to visit my aunt and uncle:


We had a wonderful time.  My aunt entertained the kids with play forts, butcher paper drawings, a wading pool, "talking" toys, squirt bottles and lavished them with her attention.  Ryan and I snuck away for a trip to the Mall of the Americas and Ikea.  We might pick a different time of the year for future visits to avoid the high heat and mosquitoes.

We found a full grown praying mantis in our garden:


We wondered if he was one of many who hatched in our kitchen.

Aric potty trained overnight:


It is nice to have him completely potty trained.  He is holding his "bananainator".  It shoots bananas everywhere (in case you didn't know).  It also means he has watched too much Phineas and Ferb.

Kellyn potty trained during the day:



I enjoy not having to buy and change diapers anymore.  It makes me sad that my kids are growing up and have left the baby stage far behind, but I REALLY don't miss the diapers.

I  am back seeking treatment for my knee.  About a month ago it started giving me problems.  Last week it became really bad and interfered with my daily activities.  I had an MRI yesterday and in a few weeks I go back to my surgeon to see what can be done.

I have been changing things around a bit in our house:



My sewing area was long overdo for an uplift.  I like the way it turned out and enjoy sewing in my newly decorated space.  And in case you forgot how bland it was here is a before photo:



...And that is what we have done, so far, this summer.

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