A Walk, A Ride, A Swim

Today was the first day in what feels like forever that the kids and I went out for a walk. The weather was pleasantly cooler.  We have a new road on which Ryan can ride his bike.  The birds were singing. The sun was shining.  It was just an all-around perfect morning for a walk.

After our walk/ride we took Ryan's bike back home and walked down to the lake.  Unfortunately with the extreme drought conditions in our area the lake's water level is significantly low.  Fortunately, however, our lake is really low so it was way more fun for the boys to walk out on the slightly squishy lake bed. 

With the rich soil of the lake bed comes some beautifully green grasses. 

What happened next was purely an innocent turn of events.  It started with a simple touch.  A "feel". 

It escalated to shoes off.  Enjoying the squishy, sliminess of the water and sand.

And he got a little wetter.

And before long he was in the middle of the lake.

And finally...

A swim in the lake. 

Puddle Jumpin'

This time last year we were puddle jumping. Wish were doing that today!

Independence Day Celebrations

Our Independence Day celebrations started the evening before with a few "kid safe" fire crackers

Like poppers and snakes...

And smokeballs!  Ryan has reached the age where he can take a more active part in the fun.  He loved lighting the few fire crackers he could.

And, yes, he decided to light his fireworks in his tighty-whiteys.  Both the boys enjoyed the fireworks.  Evan was scared at first but his fears were short lived.

The morning of the fourth we went to the parade.

And then to the park.

And then to Uncle Paul's for lunch and four-wheeler rides

And some pretend play on his lawn mower.

Evan lost all his get-up-and-go in the midst of it all and stopped for an afternoon siesta by the pool.

We went to Uncle David's for some swimming.

And friends.

Our evening started with another swim party at Lane and Joy's and ended with the big fireworks display at the city park. 

Happy Independence Day!

Lessons On Owies

Ryan gave me a lesson on owies the other day.  It went something like this:

#1 -- Don't kiss owies. (You know because I always offer)
#6 -- Owies hurt *this* bad (while waving his arms all over from head to toe...his new way of demonstrating THE MOST)
#7 -- No kissing owies!  (obviously this is serious)
#9 -- No rubbing owies.
#6 -- No spraying water on kids with owies.
#9 -- DON'T GO AWAY!
#67 -- Don't do anything bad.

Sniff! Sniff!

Mowie!

In The Pool!

Color Creativity

And THAT, my friends, is a sneak peak of a project in the works!

Terrifically Two!

Two terrific years ago I finally held in my arms this sweet little boy.  Born at 8 something in the morning on the 26th of June weighing 7 pounds 0 ounces he graced our family with joy and blessings.  Evan Alexander Stanfill.

A cutie at one.

And now he's two!  Terrifically two!

He's cute as can be.
He's a pleaser.
Happy.
Feisty.
Adventurous. 
Strong.
Independent.
He loves to make you smile.
Funny.
My little clown.
Curious.
And cautious.
"If looks could kill."  And he's got plenty of them!
Sweet.
Gentle.
An attitude!  Whew!
Competitive.
He loves Mickey Mouse,
tractors,
and macaroni and cheese.
He loves Mom and Dad.
But his favorite person is "Ryn" (Ryan)
He runs, jumps, plays and climbs.  Oh how he climbs.
He's talking up a storm and his voice is oh so innocently sweet.
Totally and terrifically two...
and I love him to pieces!

Sunflower Sweetness

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Lily in the Front Yard

Sunflowers

Butternut Squash and Pumpkin

Brandywine Raspberries

Tomatoes

Yellow Straight-Neck Squash

Sunflowers

Sunflower

Lily

Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Pumpkin