The cram

The kids got a handful of new books from family & friends - and Jack loves this new little blue truck book. (must say, it's becoming a fast fave of ours too, to read to him!) :) Here he is with Grandma Sue


Maggie loves reciting the "no more monkeys jumping on the bed" book with gestures n' all... :) (showing off to Auntie Carla)


Maggie with her great-Gommie (my grandmother) at the lake on the 4th


Some of the crazies in the fam actually took the plunge!!


Ken & Jack were busy throwing paper airplanes off the upper deck


Love that Logan is so captured by my sweet cousin Leah :)


Lil' speedracer loves riding his bike - I think he's outgrown this one, don't you? ;) ... and training wheels for that matter


We have a pic almost just like this of Ken with Jack & boy are there ever similarities in our boys at this age


Logan on the 4th (Carly, we love this sleeper you gave him!) :)


Mags couldn't wait to try out her birthday present


My parents the night of Maggie's 3rd bday celebration


Maggie gets to drive Auntie Em's boat! :) (Emmy was so sweet to take our kids on a boat ride... that's all they talked about for days! She let both of them drive, and lemme' tell ya, was that ever a huge hit!) :)


Love this one of these two together...


This is where I found Jack the other morning just hanging out finishing his apple. Some mornings the kids & I walk down to the Rocket market & get a treat they'll chomp on for the walk home


Maggie thinks she's nursing - nice try on the placement my dear girl! ;)


...and of course Jack thinks he can nurse too. HA! :)


my amazing Mom & aunt worked hard decorating for the festivities at the lake on the 4th


Love summer dinners as a fam on our patio

There are too many pics from too many fun celebrations to try and do individual posts... I'd be spreading these out for weeks just trying to play catch up - and, if you haven't noticed my blogging updates happening fewer n' farther between, it's probably best if I just pick a handful to post & mention some of the happenings over here. ;) Things we've been keeping busy with: celebrating birthdays in the family (my Dad's on the 2nd, Maggie's on the 5th, and my brother's is tomorrow - the 10th.) We kept it low-key again this year for Maggie's 3rd birthday... made her choice of dinner & dessert (she chose wild salmon with mango salsa - because it's pink of course! haha - & a strawberry pie for dessert) and had both sets of grandparents join us. She has been asking for a "pink bike" for MONTHS - like, maybe since January??! We kept telling her with a twinkle in our eye that she might get one for her birthday. ;) Anytime you'd ask her what she wanted, that was her response, so how could we go with anything but? ;) BTW: I didn't realize just how much time we'd be spending outside every day since, practicing riding it. It's the first thing she & Jack want to do when they wake up - go outside, jammies n' all, and ride bikes. :) Oh the joys of parenthood!! We've also celebrated birthdays this month with close friends, enjoyed 4th of July fun at the lake with my extended family, and been working hard at home on our yard and -- well, truthfully, just trying to get in a groove with the new pace of life. 3 is a bit of a challenge for us. I find myself praying for patience (and an AC unit) much these hot days. We've been having fun outside with squirt guns & sprinklers, eating dinners on the back patio, and enjoying time with friends n' family. Ken has 3 weeks left of work. Hurray! Is it even necessary to mention he has short-timer's, or is that a given? ;) And Lord willing, grad school for him starts mid August. Here are some recent pics... hope you all are enjoying your summer days and making fun memories. :)