outside and inside

 I stuck a card table out on the front porch this saturday in effort to bring the kids outside to do crafts, eat, play games, etc.  It's working so far. 

 
 

Angel Rock 
 

homemade iced coffee.  So good!
 

The boy who won't let me take his photo. i have to sneak them these days.
 
 

making a dream catcher from a thin aspen branch, yarn, twine, and feathers. 
 
 

Outside of the kids' bedrooms, i put a framed photo of them and mini cork boards so they could hang art, signs, etc (in hopes to get them to not ruin the doors). i thought it was cute that he made a frame out of foam sheets and put a family photo up :) 
 
 
 

these next ones made me laugh...i was just snapping away at her, and didn't realize til i uploaded them that the whole time, she was making a strange face in like, 8 of them. haha. It looks like she's...what? feeling some weird bump in her mouth? a new tooth? making a strange face for fun? not sure.

lol. how did i not notice this?  

now looking at herself in the mirror doing it..

 

wild daisies 
 

Ruby, our landlord's dog. She likes to come over to be pet.

Ben decided to wash my car for me 

and then didn't want to put the hose down.   
 

"Sorry" this morning 
 
 
 
"Life" this afternoon.

 
 

Snuggling in my lap was pretty popular with the boys around here this weekend. 

  
 
and i put this up on facebook earlier this week.  i needed a growth chart for the kids and didn't want to mark up the wall again. Plus, i wanted one i can take with me when we move again (not that we are planning to anytime soon!!) .  I went onto Pinterest and search for growth charts, and one i really liked came up.  With more searching, i found the blog tutorial, and realized it was cheap, simple, and unisex to boot. Perfect.

 
 

 We went to the YMCA pool yesterday, and adam spent time with the kids trying to teach them swimming basics.  There is something quite attractive in watching your husband patiently teach your kids, smile, laugh, and have fun with them.  Sigh.  Anyway, Benjamin finally got the courage to put his head under (and then wouldn't stop), he is starting to learn to dog paddle, and even swam a few feet underwater. It's a start! Ashlyn is still quite nervous, and so frustrated that she can't do it.  Once the fear subsides, and she gets more comfortable, i think she'll get it.  Adam is going to take her for "date night" and maybe the one on one will be successful. It's harder the older you get, for sure.  Not to mention, if you can't swim, they only allow you in the shallow area.  Not all that great for learning if you can just put your feet down :-/

that's all for now!

Comments

[Chloe]

The photo of Ben & Ruby is sweet. And I love the photos of Ben washing your car :) Summer looks blissful at the Vega household.

[anna]

i LOVE the picture of ben pointing the hose straight up! and it's really sweet that the kids still enjoy each other's company.

[Mom]

I love these little snapshots into your lives there in the great Northwest. I laughed when I noticed the change in tablecloth from the pretty floral print that Ben wasn't happy with to the solid that I'm sure he likes much better:)

[Shannon]

You are such a creative mom!! Tell Ashlyn I love her room!! :) If I were her age I'd think it was so cool too!! I love her shelf and mirror! The whole room is cute! looks like a quiet summer out there on the farm!! :)

[Mandy]

There is so much about this post that made me smile: the craftiness of your beautiful daughter (and especially the fact that she uses what she made - I noticed her dream catcher hanging over her bed in her room), your love for the simple things in life such as your coffee and wild flowers, the thoughtfulness in your son washing your car for you (and watering the flowers- and himself),the board games (around here it's all video games until I insist someone play with me and use my video game ignorance to get them to sit at the table for a board game!) - I too noticed the change in tablecloth -still laughing about that one, I love the vunerablility shown by the men in your life as they snuggle up on your lap (how lovely), saw the growth chart on FB and loved it (thanks for making it easier for us to find the tutorial), and last - the story of the YMCA and Adam teaching your kids to swim. I can't imagine trying to teach them at an older age! Mine pretty much just taught themselves as I'd put the appropriate floatations on them until one day they didn't want/need them anymore! But I know exactly what you mean about how attractive ones husband can be when they show such patience & love toward their children as they teach them something new, so sweet!

[MJ]

I love your version of my Ruler Growth chart! It turned out awesome! :)

[amy j]

I have that table cloth! ; )

[Asmita]

Beautiful pictures!