Is it REALLY summer time?

All the rain we've had this week is making me really doubt.
So what do we do when it's too wet to play outside during summer vacation?
We make indoor forts.

They are great for reading and drinking coffee in!

Speaking of reading.  When it's too wet to play outside we also make another trip to the library.  Levi decided to get signed up for the summer reading program at the library and is excited about the prizes!

When it's raining during summer vacation it's also a good idea to go bowling with friends.

We've also baked some yummy corn apricot orange muffins!

If all that fails, and it's still raining, which it is...we just decide to be thankful we're leaving to go to Southern California in the morning.  (Although the forecast for the weekend is looking awesome!  Guess that means we'll come home to a happy garden and long grass in our lawn!)

Summer Vacation-week #1

Levi and I started summer vacation off with a little bit of everything.

Monday we ran errands (groceries!) and picked up a few extra things.  Like this little Red Barron kite.  It wasn't very windy on Monday but Levi couldn't wait to try it out.  So, we gave it a try.  And then quickly decided it might have to wait for a beach trip!

Tuesday we met friends at the zoo!
Levi and Weston really wanted to spy on the elephants.  But couldn't quite figure out how...

Wednesday we went to the library to get some new reading material.
We also did some yoga before nap time.
Here's Levi showing me the yoga moves he's learned in school.  (His yoga lasted about 5 minutes!)

Thursday Levi picked out our adventure for the morning.
It was no surprise he picked the Children's Museum.  We've only been there once.  He was about 14 months old and every time we go to the zoo now he says he really wants to go back.  Since it was drizzly on Thursday, it was a great time.

I know Levi doesn't look thrilled in this picture!  But I swear he had a good time.  The face paint and pottery were probably his favorite!  We were there for a few hours and I guess we weren't the only ones who thought it would be a great place to play.  BUSY!  So, we decided we better go home and have some lunch.  I think this grouchy face is because we both needed some lunch and a nap.  Plus, he really didn't want to pose for a picture.

Yesterday we met Tricia, Travis and Elijah at the duck pond.  While Levi and I waited for them to arrive, he did the whole loop around the "lake" on his bike.  He still has trouble remembering not to pedal backwards/break.  And he hasn't mastered starting on his own.  But he has great balance!

We also played, ate lunch, saw baby ducks

and got to see this sweet little guy!

Levi has also had his first (short) round of swimming lessons.  His teacher said he's doing great!  He's a good listener.  He can back float with very little support.  He can blow bubbles.  She said he just needs to be able to comfortably put his whole face in the water to move to the next level!  Hopefully 2 more weeks of lessons when we get back from vacation will be what he needs to get there.  It's awesome to see how confident and proud he is when he tries something new in the pool!  (I'll take pictures and video when he has his longer lessons next month!)

This weekend we've got a list of things to do both inside and out.
I'm hosting my friend Jen's baby shower (identical twin boys expected in August) here on Sunday afternoon and there are always so many things to get cleaned and ready.  Especially when the house has been neglected for 9 months!  It's a good thing we had lots of time to play this week because now we've got work to do...and then I scramble to get everything ready for our vacation.
California, here we come (soon).

Happy Summer!

Father's Day Miracle

Today, Gabe was ready to start the engine to this bad boy he's been working on FOREVER!
He was nervous...but here's the result!



It really wasn't a miracle.  We knew he could do it!
Hopefully lots of time in the garage to work was what Gabe really wanted for Father's Day weekend!
(Along with his special baked french toast breakfast, stove top griddle, beer, and dinner at his favorite joint in town.)
I know we're proud of him.  We are so blessed to have such a smart and talented man in our lives.
Even if this kid doesn't always show his enthusiasm!

The car still needs some work...and not having the exhaust on yet means Levi didn't enjoy the smells!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Summer is here!

And we're ready!
Here is the list Levi and I made of things we want to do this summer:

We're excited to get started on our summer fun soon!

Just Levi and Mom

Gabe left for Denver on Saturday morning.  He'll be back on Tuesday.
So, Levi and Mommy got to do whatever we wanted to this weekend.
Saturday morning started with what Mommy needed to do.  We hit up Joann's quick to look at a few things. Didn't find much inspiration but Levi got to pick out a craft.  It's his new game called: Hippo Smash
(Obviously, his title.)

Since it was warm and sunny, we pretty much spent the day playing in the backyard.  Plus, Levi wasn't feeling too great.  He had a little vomit episode before Gabe took off.  Never really figured out what was going on because he seemed totally fine.

Today we went to the strawberry patch.  We picked for an hour and a half.  I think Levi picks like his Mom.  "Look, there's one more really big red one we have to pick."

Here's Levi pretending to eat one of the big berries he found.

We spent most of the day making things with our bountiful harvest.
Strawberry frozen yogurt:

Strawberry freezer jam (while talking to Daddy on Skype):

And Levi's all ready for his first swimming lessons next week.  We picked up a pair of goggles (which he's asked for at least a dozen times!) at Freddie's today.  He had to try them out in the bath tub tonight.

I'm in the home stretch!  Only 4 more days till summer.  We might have to celebrate my first day of summer on Friday with more strawberry picking!

Weekend Warriors

We got some projects done around here this weekend!

We have a freshly painted wall in our living room:

I tolerated the red wall for almost 4 years.  I'm so happy to see it gone.  I love my new brown wall!
Gabe finally found a way to finish the bamboo flooring in the dining room.  It's not perfect but at least there's no longer a gap between bamboo and oak...
Levi enjoyed our first ripe strawberry.  The only one that hasn't been eaten off our plants by birds.

So we had to get a net around the berries to keep the critters away.  Or we were going to have one very unhappy little boy at our house.
I mowed the jungle that was our yard 3 times!
Weeds were pulled.
We got the deck and outside table cleaned off just in time to enjoy meals out there in the sunshine.

It was a busy (and productive) weekend.  But I want another day so we can have some fun!
Guess I'll have to wait 9 more...Levi and I have been working on our summer to-do list.

Fortunately, we were able to squeeze in a visit with this wonderful little guy!

Elijah (about 2 & 1/2 weeks old) is sweet and sleepy!