Random Picture Post

Man we have been so busy lately and to try and catch up some on the blog, I am just going to pile a lot of what we have been up to in one big random picture post. This doesn't even cover it all though. I have more pictures and more outings to post about.

We have a frozen yogurt place (Yogurt Isle) close by our house that just opened not too long ago. Scooter begged us to try it out so we did the Friday before Father's day. It is SO GOOD! It is one of those popular frozen yogurt self serve bars where you choose what flavor and toppings (and how much) you want. Not only was it incredible frozen yogurt but the shop is decorated very modern and they have great christian music playing all the time. We are regular customers now ;).

Tim was out of town for a week and the boys spent the night with their Granny and Paw one night so Baby A and I had a mommy daughter date to where else??? Yogurt Isle :) Told you we were regulars.

We braved the heat one day a few weeks ago and headed to the big Shelby Farms park. The boys love the tree house playground there but it isn't made for little kids Baby A's size. She begged to swing so her brothers agreed to leave their favorite playground and head over to the swing area and play with her there. As you can see though, it was in the sun with no shade at all!

To cool off we headed to get snow cones. It's funny smart how they place that snow cone trailer right by the entrance/ exit to the playground. I bet they get tons of business from hot children begging their tired parents for a snow cone as they leave the playground. It worked for us!

It was a fun happy treat and the kids really enjoyed it. Baby A had a white shirt on but it wasn't white anymore after she finished her snow cone :).

To beat the heat and save us from being stuck indoors all day every day, I broke down and got the kids one of these blow up pools. It takes FOREVER to blow up but it is worth it to see the kids have so much fun playing in it.

Our garden has been so good to us! Just look at about 50% of what we have picked from it so far (above and below). The dark (almost purple) tomatoes are called black tomatoes. They are so yummy and SO juicy. We have picked roughly about 30 tomatoes, 3 bell peppers, around 5 squash and I venture to say around 50 jalapenos. We have jalapenos on everything right now. We have had fresh salsa at least once a week, I have made homemade spaghetti sauce and I made some squash casserole and some roasted squash. It's such a great feeling, when I need an ingredient and I can tell Scooter hey go pick this out of the garden for me. The boys have tried more things now too. They HATE onions........ HATE THEM......but since I have mixed them in with our jalapenos and tomatoes for fresh salsa, that they helped grow, they are eating onions a lot right now. Scooter who has always hated spicy foods, is eating the jalapenos we grew and both boys are loving the squash. 

Every night after dinner we leave the kitchen a mess and head outside to just spend time as a family. We typically have dessert outside and the kids run around the yard chasing each other or riding their bikes. Rascal (who drops everything to do whatever Baby A asks him to do) has started riding Baby A around on his bike or setting her in his lap as they race down the drive way on the skateboard. He told me right before I took this picture "mom, I am teaching her how to ride a bike !" how sweet!

Yesterday was our first day to just be able to be at home with nothing going on.  I had planned to get some laundry done and grab a short nap during Baby A's nap. Imagine my surprise when I walk into her room and see this.

She didn't nap yesterday and that sweet smile went away around dinner time when she could barely keep her eyes open and eat her dinner. Oh the whining, needless to say she had an early bedtime that night.

Due to the 100+ degree days we have had, playtime outside is limited to the early EARLY morning or after the sun goes down behind our trees on our lot (around 6:00 ish). Sunday it was 3:00 and the kids were getting into one fight after another, so to maintain what sanity we all had left, we loaded up the van and took a joy ride. The boys opted to read in the van and Baby A enjoyed pointing out every farm animal we passed. This may be something we do quite often during the HOT HOT days ahead.

Oh and would you take a look at those beautiful blue eyes above. Such gorgeous children and yes I may be a tad partial!