Summer with the Sells

I'm not one to make new friends easily or often. But it happened anyway. Evonne and I met through our blogs (and later figured out that she used to work with Dan's sister...small world). I'm a homebody but Evonne is one to get out and about and do fun stuff with her kids. This summer she dragged me along kicking and screaming in an effort to get me out of my lazy comfort zone and expose my kids to the world of a fun mom. 

Ok, not really kicking and screaming. She invited us on lots of fun play dates and I gladly accepted. She even got me to drive on the big scary road (you might know it as the freeway) to far away lands (more like 30 minutes away but that's as far away as I've ever gone for a play date). 

Here's a few pictures of some of the fun stuff we did this summer with Evonne and her cute little kidlets. You'll notice that Danny is missing from all of these. Playing with an 8-year-old girl and her 3-year-old little brother and baby sister is not his idea of fun. Weirdo. He stayed home with Dad instead.

These pictures are not in chronological order, mind you. I don't have the brain power to remember back to June and figure that stuff out. Enjoy anyway!

We played at a park. Cate dressed herself that day in case you wondered.

This picture is the best. Don't you love their zooming down the slide and landing expressions? The best.

Of course I couldn't resist capturing a picture of Evonne and her precious baby being present and living in the moment. That's what parenting is all about.

It was fun to have them join us at the splash pad for Cate's birthday party.

They came over one day and just played at the house and even helped us feed the lambies at our neighbor's house. I love that Cate has a big girl to play with. She's surrounded by boys usually. It's good for her to feel what having a big sister is like.

We wandered around the farm together one afternoon. Feeding the duckies is always fun. Cute shoes, Evonne.

Splash pad another day. I like the splash pad because the kids can get wet and I don't have to wear a swim suit.

We took a "hike" up to Bridal Veil Falls. It was a beautiful cloudy day. I did a much better job than last time not freaking the heck out about the water and the slippery rocks that Cate wanted to walk all over.

We had a grand time eating snow cones the size of our heads too. Those things are divine. It's like eating tropical flavored freshly fallen snow. And even better with a blob of sweet coconut ice cream hidden inside.

We got to tag along and help out with the fabulous Non-lemonade stand that Evonne and her darling daughter dreamed up. Look at those adorable signs! That lady's got talent.

Somewhere in June (I think) Cate and I were invited by Evonne and Vanessa to a cupcake wars play date at Vanessa's house. I forgot to bring our matching mommy/daughter aprons but otherwise, it was a success. I'm not usually one to brag but our cupcakes won in the taste category. It's no surprise though since Cate is a master baker. She really knows her stuff.

(Those last two pictures are courtesy of Evonne and her fancy schmancy camera.)

So here's the bottom line.

I do not like summer. I have diagnosed myself with summertime SAD. It's a real thing. I googled it. I'd rather just stay in my nice air conditioned house all day long and suffer until September. Obviously that isn't really an option (before we had kids it was and I remember those days with fondness...not because we didn't have kids though...that was the crappy part...I just enjoyed not waking up until 10 and staying inside doing nothing all day).

BUT I have to say that I am thankful to Evonne for being my friend and getting me out doing stuff, no matter how much I thought I was going to shrivel up and die from the heat. It was good for me and it was good for Cate. It might have been good for Danny but he seems to have summertime SAD too.

So three cheers for Evonne. She's been a good friend. I'm sure there's other stuff we did but I didn't take pictures so it's pretty much gone from my memory. Oh, that one time we did meet at the movies to see Epic but that movie was horrendous. That's probably why I forgot to take pictures. Whatever.

Thanks for some good summer memories, Evonne. You're the best.

Scheels

We made a little visit to the new Scheels store a few weeks ago.

Dan bought the tokens to ride the Ferris wheel. Then he roamed the store while I waited in line with the kids. He was worried the ride would make him sick. The kids were happy. I was happy. The line moved slowly but that's to be expected right? 

We had a grand time going around and around and around. Who doesn't love a Ferris wheel? (Well, besides Dan of course.)

After the ride we strolled around the store, stopping for several photo ops.

We bought nothing so now I'm pretty sure my kids think Scheels is an amusement park. 

Fine with me. Cheapest amusement park I've ever been to. 

p.s. Can you spot Dan on the bridge? And that lone guy walking up the stairs with the lovely bald spot cracks me up. Not because he's bald though. It's not nice to laugh at bald people.

ten-eleven-twelve

I forgot to take a picture at 10:11:12 this morning.

I really wanted to remember since today's a cool date.

I wish I could've had a baby today. 10/11/12 would be an awesome birthday.

Instead of having a baby we went to the zoo with the cousins and Aunt Judy.

It's a good alternative I guess.

Cate was exceedingly grouchy the entire time so it just solidified my dislike for that place.

It was pretty amazing seeing a rhino, a tiger, an elephant and a polar bear up close though.

Cate was scared on the carousel. I asked her what she wanted me to do to help her and she said, "Just stop talking." Oh, hello little teenager of mine.

Good thing she's so cute.

nature belongs to everybody!

Our little family went hiking this morning. It was Danny's idea. He reminded us of this fact several times. He figured that since it was his idea then he was the boss. Ha.

His plan was to bring along a pick ax so he could look for crystals and gold. I told him we're not allowed to do that. He figured a shovel would work just as well. I told him that's not allowed either because we don't dig holes on the mountains in nature. It doesn't belong to us. Know what he said to that?

"Nature belongs to everybody!"

It was a good little hike for two old fogies and their two small children. I think I did a pretty good job of not freaking completely out of my mind with worry that someone would tumble over the edge to their doom. I'm quite proud of myself. 

As you can see from her pants, Cate decided the best way back down the mountain was to scoot on her bum. On the dusty, dirty rocks. She's funny.

Danny decided that it was a good hike to see all the "colors of autumn."

I couldn't agree more.

*  *  *

p.s. The picture of Dan holding hands with Danny reminded me of this picture of my dad hiking with his own dad. 

And I'm thankful again that my grandma took so many pictures. This is one of my favorites.

a dino date

Danny and I went on a little date this afternoon.

He's been wanting to see the 3D movie at the dino museum for months.

Today was finally the day.

The movie was ok.

It was kind of a documentary mixed with computer animated dinosaur stuff.

I was a little worried Danny would be bored but he just stared at the screen the whole time.

And he didn't get scared until the very end.

I got a little scared at that part too though.

Of course we had to do a run through of the museum after the movie.

I think Danny was thrilled to not have his little sister along with us.

He got to dig for as long as he wanted.

That was probably his favorite part.

I had a good time.

He's a cute kid and fun to be around.

As we got into the car to go home he said,

"Thanks for coming with me, Mommy."

Just like that.

Without me saying it first.

I love that kid.

red, white and blue weekend

saturday

putting out flags at the veterans cemetery

visiting Grandma Mary and others at another

(cemeteries make Dan feel pensive)

eating lunch at Cocolito's

(Cate looks so grown up to me in this picture) 

ginormous gummy butterflies from WinCo

(Cate's choice)

sunday

cupcakes with appropriately colored sprinkles
(and the best frosting in the entire world)

monday

photo shoot in our flag shirts (thanks, Grandma!)

loving this picture
(even though Cate's face isn't all there)

I almost always wear my hair up.
When I wear it down, Danny can't keep his hands out of it.
Very cute.

ice cream in tiny containters for portion control
(promised to Cate so she wouldn't feel sad about not going to Grandma's with Dan and Danny)

hornet control
(destroyed their nest with Danny's red light saber...eek)

Cate's yard sale find
(in the appropriate colors for the day)

red paint
(finished painting finally!!)

a very late afternoon nap
(woke up grouch grouch grouchy)

loaded up the grouch in the blue bike trailer
(no way I was going to be stuck in the house with her foul mood)

off we go
(not quite a workout without the other kid but it'll do)

new snow on the mountain
(I love snow in the spring...especially when it stays on the mountain)

bad mood dissipates on the slides
(it usually does)

riding off into the sunset
(the BIG end)

what a day this has been

You know what I like? Having a good day.

Today was a good day.

Our across the street neighbors had a yard sale this morning.

Cate used her own money to buy a birdhouse and some glow sticks.

Danny bought 2 stuffed animals and a birthday present for Dan.

I bought a ladder. I'm not a yard sale kind of girl but the kids sure had fun.

Then Cate suggested we go see Freckles again.

We were just in time to help feed him his bottle.

He's got company now too.

Johnny and Whitey

(but Glenda said they're calling him Blanco today to celebrate the Cinco)

We were also just in time to miss out on seeing Freckles become a wether.

Eeek. I'm glad we missed that.

Our kind neighbors sent us on our way with an armful of rhubarb.

We did a little bit of yard work (a very little bit since it was a tad chilly out)

and then buckled up and headed to lunch.

(I wonder if I'll ever get tired of taking pictures of kids sleeping in the car. I think not.)

We headed to Cocolito's for a proper Cinco de Mayo feast.

Taquitos for me. They're my favorite.

Chimichanga for Dan.

Cate at my olives.

After our lovely lunch we zoomed down to the Bean Museum for a little free entertainment.

Cate was super excited. 

She was walking around pointing to the animals and naming them.

She found a puma (which was really a leopard),
a dinosaur (which was actually a rhino)
and a pokey-pine (you can figure out what that was I think).

I told her to go stand on the other side of the glass so I could take her picture with this dik-dik.

The smooshing her face against the glass was all her idea.

Danny found an elephant.

Dan found a bear.

And I found a cape buffalo.

When we'd had our fill of stuffed animals we headed down to campus.

I suggested Dan look around the bookstore for something he'd like for his birthday.

He didn't find anything but I did.

That's for me, not him.

I'm excited for football season to start again.

I think my neighbor will love some Y cookies to snack on.

Maybe I'll even learn how to properly frost them.

The kids got new cups since Danny's other one broke.

This one was 50% off and cheaper than the cheapo plastic ones we found.

Cate got one too. 

We must keep balance in the universe of course.

After all that bookstore fun we headed outside.

It was a beautiful day.

Sunny and a little chilly.

The kids had a blast rolling down hills.

I had a blast watching them.

Especially Cate.

She needs a lot of practice.

Most of the time she just rolled sideways instead of down.

I think some day the kiddos will be big enough to hike up to the big Y.

I've never done it before.

I'm not sure how I managed to graduate without ever hiking up there but I did.

We walked back to the car...

and found more hills to roll down.

Big hills.

Then we plopped down on the grass and attempted a family picture.

Danny didn't like this one.

He saw it on my phone and said he looked crazy.

I think he's right.

I like this one much better.

Dan is super duper sunny but I think I look superb.

From this angle my wrinkles and double chin all but disappear.

We came home.

I made rhubarb bread while the kids played with neighbor friends.

I hope the bread tastes better than it looks.

I made some rings with leftover wire and beads.

I made one that looks like these.

Then I made another one inspired by my bird nest necklace.

Dan gave the kids a bath while I went to the gym

(in an attempt to work off some of that lunch).

According to the internet and my reflection in the mirror,

I'm a pear.

I'm working on bulking up my arms and chesty area.

Just trying to get a little balance.

Balance is good.

Spending time with the family instead of doing yard work and laundry is good too.

I think we should try this more often.