Summer!

Winter seemed very long.  It's the first cold winter we've experienced since we left Utah in 2009.  We were just talking about summer the other day and I was asking when summer was going to start.  After a few minutes and Jimmy looking at me a little sideways I realized that it was summer.  We haven't had a summer like this in almost 5 years!  The summers in the last 3 places we've lived were all about the same- hot and humid!!  I didn't even realized that I was waiting for hot and humid to official kick off the summer.  Well, it's not going to happen!  Can I get a hallelujah?!!  (I would still pay the price of the humidity to live in Boston, just sayin'.)  So I guess we're in the thick of summer.  Glad that clicked in my head before the snow starts again!  Here are just a few photos from the past few weeks.  Just us, relaxing at home and enjoying being together.

 A couple things about Ali:

When she really thinks something is cute she'll say, "Oh my!"  

If James gets frustrated because we tell him no or something Ali will come up to us and say, "Don't make James sad."

If I do something to frustrate Ali she'll say, "Mommy, you made me sad."  This girl is a tender little sweetheart.  And I love that she not only looks out and sticks up for her brother but she can express her feelings.

It doesn't matter how often I bring out the tea cups, her eyes light up every time.  Love her!

 A couple things about James:
He can say (or tries to say) just about any word you throw at him.  His "I love you" is surprisingly clear!  I love to hear him say it.  He is pretty good at saying blue, cat, car, dog, ball and roaring when he sees something that he's pretty sure would roar.
He is such a great sleeper and never puts up a fight when it's bed time.  And if he wakes up in the morning and we bring him downstairs, he'll go back to sleep if Ali isn't awake yet.  It's awesome!
He is very sweet to Ali and will hand over anything she asks for.  He loves her so much and would do anything for her.
Something that I didn't record is the fact that James is conditioned to cry when he hears the song, "I Am a Child of God".  We used to sing it every night before bed but then we were sitting in nursery one day and they sang it during singing time, clearly not bedtime, and he started crying uncontrollably.  We decided to switch the bedtime song to, "I Love to See the Temple", but it soon made him cry too.  It has been a pretty funny couple months and they don't sing either of those in his (Ali's) nursery class anymore.  I try to play them on the piano as often as possible and it has helped him not break out in tears as much.

 Bananas on the stairs.  I love it when the kids are being really quiet and I find them doing things like eating bananas together.  These two are angels.  

 Swimming in the sink!

 Wheat pancakes and berries.  Heaven!

Father's Day

We are making a very bad habit of getting the flu on holidays.  We were all sick for Ali's birthday, Mother's Day and now, the night before Father's Day I woke up to Ali screaming in her bed at 1 am.  When I went into her room I saw that she had thrown up.  Jimmy was out of town and I have a phobia of the stomach flu.  I cleaned her up and then took her downstairs, made a bed for her on the couch and got out the trusted throw up bowl.  I slept on the couch next to her and told her to wake me up if she needed to throw up.  A couple minutes later she called out to me so I ran over and she threw up again.  I must commend her on throwing up in the bowl every time.  She is growing up!  In past sicknesses she would freak out and push the bowl away.  Anyway, she finally fell back to sleep a little before 4.  I had texted Jimmy to see if he would pick up some flu necessities on the way home.  This picture is of the kids drinking their Gatorade with Daddy.  They were SO excited to see him and both had to sit on his lap!  James just kept saying, "Dada!  Dada!"  Boys love their daddies!

 And so do girls!

 Here we are ready to eat Jimmy's Father's Day dinner.

 Opening presents.  Ali had been waiting all day!

 Mustaches are a must on Father's Day!  Ali was scared of the mustaches this year.  Maybe next time.

(Years ago I never would have posted a picture of me after being up all night, tired, no make up, etc.  But life's too short to worry.  Stop worrying, start living and make and record memories. Huzzah!)

 We thought she might put it on... nope, didn't happen.

 But James loves them all!  This is similar to the one he wore last year.

Here is a comparison to last year's Father's Day mustache photo.

He still has the mafia/ don't mess with me look.  Way to be tough, James.... who happens to be the sweetest boy on the planet!

Jimmy is a great dad who is always willing to help with the kids!  He travels a lot so he doesn't get to see the kids as much as he or they would like, but we make the most of every day we are together.  The kids love their dad and they will understand more and more how lucky they are to have such an awesome dad.  Thanks for all you do Sweetie!  You are the best!