Summer Fun

June is over halfway over.  How did that happen?  We've been having a wonderful summer, but it already seems to be slipping away.  I think about our bucket list--things we still want to do, friends we want to see, places we want to go--and wonder if we'll have time to fit it all in.  So far our summer has been a perfect combination of unstructured play time and planned activities that has filled our days.

We enjoyed a family trip to Wildlife Prairie Park

We've gotten great enjoyment out of Eureka Rocks, which involves finding and re-hiding painted rocks all over town.  We even added some of our own originals to the hunt.

Adelie and Briggs enjoyed a splash park while Staley was at her summer Stage Kids class.  Briggs was a little hesitant about getting wet, primarily enjoying filling up and dumping out his container in the little fountain. 

Adelie, on the other hand, was soaked from head to toe.

Staley has performed a few times with her Rising Stars show choir group.

(Doesn't she look so tiny??)

We've done lots of playing outside in the driveway, the yard, and the sprinkler.

I won 2 free horse-riding lessons at a silent auction, and Staley LOVED her lesson.  Adelie gets to have her lesson sometime next month.

We enjoyed the Farm Park with a few friends.

We also found our way to the Washington pool for toddler time while Staley went to a day camp at State Farm Park. 

Staley loved her day of swimming, doing crafts, playing games, and meeting new friends.  Briggs and Adelie loved their day of swimming, eating at McDonalds, and joining me at a baby shower at my work.  (I'm not sure how much they loved the shower itself, but they got to have dessert, so I didn't hear any complaints.)

We've found time to go to parks with our friends, enjoy the library summer programs, eat ice cream, and relax at home.

Hooray for summer!!!

Here's hoping the last half is just as fun as the first.

Happy Father's Day

I am so thankful that my life is filled with wonderful fathers, and what a wonderful day to celebrate these amazing men.

I am so thankful for my father, the man who has always provided me with love, guidance, wisdom, and support...with just a touch of goofiness on the side.  I am so grateful for my father's constant presence in my life, and in the lives of his grandchildren.

I am so thankful for my father-in-law, a constant and stable foundation for his family.  He taught my husband how to work hard, support his family, and show his love through his actions.  What a great role model for his children and grandchildren to follow.

I am so thankful for my husband and partner in this parenting journey.  He is an incredible father, full of love and patience and fun.  He always puts his family first and works hard to build a wonderful life for us.  Zach is so devoted to his family, and I feel so incredibly lucky that our 3 little ones get to call him "Dad."

I am so blessed by the amazing fathers in my life. 

Happy Father's Day!

Little Victories

Briggs didn't scream tonight when I cut his toenails.

Adelie didn't break any dishes or get hurt when she was standing on the kitchen counter trying to get a cup out of the cabinet.

Staley wore the first outfit she put on this morning.

Sometimes in life, you just have to celebrate the little victories.

Potty Trained

It was super easy.  He mostly did it himself.  I can't even call it training.  But Briggs is officially potty trained.  He's had a full week without any accidents, and had very few the week before that.  He wears his undies all day (except naps) and has done great, even on big outings like State Farm Play Day.  He still doesn't tell me often that he needs to go, generally just holding it until I take him.  He still wears a diaper for naps and bedtime, but is dry about 75% of the time after naps and about 25% of the time when he wakes up in the morning.  I had thought he'd be harder, take longer, and train later than the girls.  It was just the opposite.

So glad this little guy proved me wrong.

Fashion??

Going for the burley train conductor look

All dressed up for preschool prom

Rocking the too-small-fox-stocking-cap-in-summer look

The ever popular is-she-wearing-pants? look

Nothing screams fashionista like a bathing suit and pink cowboy boots

I've always said that a Bat-mask completes any ensemble.

#summerfashions

#atleasttheyaredressed

2 + 1 = 3 tired children

In the course of 3 days, we've had 2 fun water-based cousin birthday parties sandwiched around one awesomely fun State Farm Play Day.  A huge week-end like that is just what summer is all about, but results in 3 very tired children...and 2 worn-out parents.

Friday afternoon started off our fun.  The girls got to enjoy celebrating their cousin, Lila, turning 6 with a cake, ice cream, and a swimming party. 

Hanging out with cousins and friends

Even though my girls didn't know many of Lila's friends at the party, they jumped in, had fun, and made some new friends along the way.  I love the social confidence that my girls have.

Adelie never ceases to entertain.

Staley and Lila enjoying some cousin swimming fun.

Saturday was State Farm Play Day.  It's one of our favorite days of the whole year.  So many fun activities and great experiences packed into one full, fun day.  Although it was a hot day, we didn't let that slow us down.  We stayed from the time it opened to the time it closed.  We were all hot, exhausted, and happy!!

Briggs was SO excited about riding on the school bus from the parking lot to the park.  Always a fun way to start the day.

Rides are always a highlight, so we started off the day with those.  The very first ride the kids wanted to do was the roller coaster.  We put Briggs on the little roller coaster with his sisters, which made him cry.  Oops! (I think we're now 3 for 3 with kids crying on that little roller coaster.  You'd think we'd know better by now.)  After that he was a little apprehensive about rides until we found the train.  He rode the train and the little cars at least 5-6 times each and LOVED them.

On the other side, Staley decided she was too big to ride the train this year.  She did ride a few of the little rides with Briggs and Adelie, being very helpful and attentive with Briggs.  However, she was more interested in riding some of the bigger rides, so she and I did several of the "bigger kid" rides like the Scrambler and the Tornado.  She also wanted to wait in the long line to do the bungee trampoline.  The bumper cars were another new highlight this year.

We played lots of carnival games (and won lots of little prizes), made some crafts, and the girls got their faces painted.  I don't know what it is about face paint, but it's always a top request.

There are always a TON of inflatables.  One of the inflatables this year was this one (pictured above) where you had to leap from one red ball to the next to get from one side to the other.  Staley was SO determined to do this.  She did it about 6 or 7 times in a row and finally mastered it.  I just love her determination.  And not to be outdone, Adelie tried it a few times too and made it all the way across as well.

Unlike his sisters, Briggs was freaked out by the inflatables and didn't want to go in any of them.  He just hung out in the shade, watched his sisters, and played with some of his little prizes.

The hamster balls were another hit.  Briggs was again not interested in joining in, but the girls each went about 4 times.

We enjoyed lots of good food, including some mid-afternoon ice cream to cool off.

All 3 kids loved the pony rides.  Since we saved them for the end of the day, there was no line.  Briggs rode 3 times before being done, but the girls rode them about 7 or 8 times in a row.

While waiting for his sisters to be done riding the ponies, Briggs made some new friends at the petting zoo.

Briggs didn't even make it out of the parking lot before falling asleep.

And Adelie was close behind.  Another successful Play Day in the books!!

And if that wasn't enough, we rounded out our week-end of fun with Caroline's splash park party today.  Since Briggs was still exhausted from Play Day, he stayed home to nap while the girls and I partied some more.

Another perfect summer day for cooling off at the splash park.

The girls had a great time eating lunch, playing with cousins, enjoying cupcakes, and watching Caroline open her presents.

And getting a chance to hit the piñata was a fun highlight...although getting candy once the piñata was open might have been even better.

What a fun day celebrating this big 3 year old.

All I Want for Summer Is...

...my two front teeth!