Summer Fun

After what felt like 926 days of rain in a row, it has been great to get outside and have some fun. The twins have had a ball playing in the sprinklers. . .

And the irrigation. . .

And throwing rocks in the ditch. . .

And of course, no summer day would be complete without a snack from Grandpa's garden. Here they are enjoying some fresh peas right out of the pod.

Round and Round They Go!

My Dad decided he wanted to build the grandkids a merry-go-round. So he got himself some scrap metal, pulled out the welder, and went to work. A few coats of paint and it was almost ready to go. He recruited my brother to help him put it together.

Since the other grandkids live in Texas, Brayden and Makenzie were the first to try it out. They gave two enthusiastic smiles and four thumbs up. I'm sure that they will have fun on this for years to come. Thanks, Dad!!!

2 Year Pics

Just a few more weeks and our "babies" will turn two! I can't believe how fast they grow up.

Brotherly Love

Makenzie isn't feeling well today. After she ate breakfast and watched Dora, she laid down on the couch and fell asleep. I put a blanket over her and Brayden & I went in another room to play. We came back when it was time for lunch. As I was preparing things, I realized that Brayden was being uncharacteristically quiet. This usually means he is getting into some sort of trouble. I peeked around the corner to see what he was doing and saw this:

He put Makenzies sippy cup on the couch next to her and started rubbing her back. Aaaaawww! A few minutes later I went to use the bathroom and heard Kenzie crying. Brayden had yanked the blanket off of his sis and done something to wake her up. (Sigh.) Apparently, his tender moment had passed.

Horsies, Horsies, Everywhere!

Last week I returned home from jogging to find a few horses in my yard. Five to be exact. Two in the front yard and three in the back. The kids thought it was great that the horsies we visit almost every day had come to visit us. I did not share their enthusiasm, however, as I watched the two in the front yard fertilizing and aerating our lawn. I knew I couldn't coral them, so I went to the owner's house and knocked on the door. (Funny aside: he had a sign on the front door that said "Please Use Rear End." Hmmmm.....perhaps he meant "entrance?") I called the Sheriff, but he was taking his sweet time to arrive. So I called my brother to help and another neighbor. Somewhere in the midst of everything the horses in front made their way through the gate into the back.

As my brother and the neighbor were trying get the horses out, a couple of sheriffs finally showed up. One of them said, "I'm just going to tell you right now, I don't know anything about horses. I don't know why they sent me on this call." Helpful. Very helpful. He mostly stood around talking to my brothers girlfriend while the others rounded up the horses. Those are my tax dollars at work right there. Anyway, it took almost an hour, but the other sheriff finally came up with an idea and they managed to get all of the horses out of there. Hooray!

The owner came over later that night and apologized. He told me that he actually rescued the horses from people who weren't feeding them and was just trying to find a good home for them. So, if any of you want a horse, he is GIVING them away. Please. . . take them far, far away!!!

Spitting Image?

We have this poster hanging in our theater room in our basement.

It is backlit, and whenever I turn it on Makenzie points to it and yells, "Daddeeee!!" Hugh Jackman---People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive---the father of my children?!? If only! Personally, I don't really see the resemblence (no offense, honey). But I'll let you be the judge. Other people (who are actually over the age of 2) have told Andy that he looks like Tom Cruise or John Stockton. I tend to agree with the John Stockton comparison a bit more. But what do I know? You tell me: Who do you think Andy more closely resembles? Wolverine, Tommy Boy, John-John or none of the above? I want EVERYBODY leave a comment casting their vote. I'm also curious: What celebrities have you been told you look like?

Twinspirational

Sometimes they fight,

like all brothers and sisters do.

Kicking and hitting,

even when I tell them not to.

Then there are moments like this:

When they give each other a hug and a kiss.

I quickly forget

All the trouble they've been in,

My heart swells,

and I can't stop grinnin'!