God grant me patience.

If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing about my parenting skills, I would wish for more patience.

Patience is not my thing. It never has been but I work on it constantly. I know that I need to work on my patience because sometimes when I'm in the car with both of the kids on a family trip to the oregon coast and their pushing each others' buttons, I really want to start screaming. But in the end, when I'm just about ready to pull out all my hair, I capture a moment like this. A beautiful moment with 3 of my favorite people in the whole wide world playing on the beach and having a great time.

And swimming around in a hot tub with daddy... makes the times I feel like screaming all worth it.

So Very Happy.

 

I'm so very happy it's summer.  No setting the alarm for 6am for a few months and just loving that.  Loving that the kids can wake up on their own and just hang out on the couch and watch a few cartoons before we start our day.  McKenzie had a play date for a few hours yesterday, so I took Callie to this spot I had been wanting to do a photo shoot at and just loved the way the photos turned out hence the Human Bean cup (that contained a strawberry smoothie with whip cream), but it was the only way I could get Callie to let me take some photos.  I'm sure I'll look back one day and love that the cup is part of the photograph because it's part of our day on Tuesday's or Wednesday's and definitely something that needs to be documented as part of our lives.

Schools Out.

 

Schools out for summer vacation.  To tired to really write anything, so I'll leave you with a couple photos of her wonderful third grade teacher and McKenzie's two very best friends.

Guinea Pig Show-N-Tell.

 

McKenzie's been bugging me all year to bring her guinea pigs to school for show-n-tell.  Her teacher gave her permission many months ago that it was ok but I've been procrastinating on this one.  Tomorrows the last day of school and her teacher said it was ok to bring them in today.  They spent a good part of the day in the office because I had to take Callie to swim lessons.  I don't think the little critters would have appreciated waiting in a scortching hot car while Callie finished her swim lesson and to be honest with you, I don't think they really appreciated waiting in the schools office in the confined comfort of a small laundry basket that I had provided for them during their transport.

 

McKenzie did a great presentation and all the kids enjoyed getting a turn at holding one of them.  I had provided some lettuce and each child had the opportunity to feed one.  It was a huge hit.  What child doesn't enjoy feeding a cute little critter?

 

They arrived safe-n-sound and are resting peacfully in their home now.  I rewarded them a bowl full of fresh lettuce for doing such a great job.

 

 

Swim Lesson.

 

I took Callie to her second swim lesson today and she loved it.  She got herself completely submerged accidentally and she wasn't really cool with that.  She climbed out of the pool crying and walking towards me.  I scooped her up and told her she was doing such a great job and that I was so very proud of her and wanted her to get back in the water.  She did just that surprisingly. 

 

Afterwards, I let her eat the cheese sandwich, cookie and juice I packed for her snack in the YMCA lounge area.

Helping Hands.

The girls wanted to help Daddy in the green house this afternoon, but by the looks of these photos they had other plans.

McKenzie said she was trying to make a fossil by burying a stick in the mud and then stomping on it.

Callie just enjoyed making mud mounds and playing with the water spout.

Happiness.

 

Happiness is when your great-grandparents arrive at your house and set up their trailor for the summer.

 

Happiness is looking forward to the both of you spending lots of summer fun with your great-grandparents.

 

Happiness is when your great-grandmother makes you pancakes for breakfast at 8am.

 

Happiness is looking forward to your last soccer game of the season.  (lost the game but had lots of fun.)