camping

Just when we started craving some nature and planning a camping trip, my sister called and she said they were heading up camping the same weekend. Thankfully, she insisted we tag along. My sister and her family (and her inlaws) have all the fun toys, know all the great spots, and are pretty much camping professionals, so it was an easy choice for us. We drove up just past Strawberry and met them up there. We got there in time for set up and dinner around the fire, and then we hit the tent. I was surprised at how well I slept there. We were in bed by 9:30 and I slept like a rock. It felt so good to be out in the fresh air, under the stars with our little family all cuddled up in a tent. One night is always good enough for me though, so we enjoyed the next day quading, exploring, eating, swinging, playing with the dogs, catching frogs, finding snakes, spooking the cows away from the lake, playing catch, and having one last smore around the fire just before we packed up to sleep in our own beds and get back in time for church. One night campers, that's us. 

dream come true

Watermelon is one of the ultimate highlights of summer for me. And it nearly kills me that my own child won't have anything to do with it (kosty). My sister grew watermelons (in her front yard!) a couple years ago and we were all so surprised that they actually grew, and grew a ton. So this spring, when we planted our first veggie garden, she gave me the seeds and told me to plant them far away from the garden because the vine grows crazy huge. So we did, and it was slow at first. But then that vine grew like crazy and we were picking 2 watermelons a week all summer long. The vine took up the entire side yard and would've grew for miles if it weren't for fencing. It broke my heart this week (in december!) that we are having to throw the leftover watermelons away now. They are tricky to pick but not to grow. And the ones on the vine that were left after peak season, never fully ripened or else they probably suffered from the freeze and they were out of season. We will end up throwing away 10 or so, but we picked (and ate) more than that so I guess that will have to console me till next summer. Oh, and they were the best tasting watermelons I've ever had! I tell everyone now to grow them, knowing how easy and hearty the vine grows. Just a little water every day and that's it. Till next summer! 

first job

don't mind the grease stains, he came home and set it on the dirty kitchen counter

Brayden came home one day and started going on about how he had to type up a resume and interview for the classroom job he wanted: class photographer. He took it very seriously and worked hard on the resume itself. Then he dressed up in a white shirt and tie/church pants to school and interviewed for it. The teacher said dressing up was optional but not to him. I got a text from his teacher later that day that said, "I just had to let you know that Brayden's job interview was over the top fabulous today. He is such a fun kid!" (he got the job)

first day of school.

reality started to hit when I got this list from Brayden. He is a healthy one. 

then the night before school and they got their Father's blessings. 

Kosty wanted to be prepared so he wore his clothes and socks and shoes to bed. I had to take off the shoes at least, it was killing me. (Little did I know this would become his nightly routine-no more pjs, only school clothes to bed! :/)

he searched long and hard for his perfect backpack. 

HA. Only close up I could get. I still love it.

"NO MORE PICTURES!"

Brayden woke up that morning and said he felt like he was going to throw up. Then he started crying about missing the first day. I couldn't believe it either, out of all days!? Such a bummer! So I took Kosty outside and it was too bright hence the squinty eye pics, which are cute anyway so I had to put them up. I took Kosty to school and when I came home Brayden was looking alive again. He ended up being totally fine and started jumping up and down to 'prove' he wasn't nauseous anymore. That proved it for me, cause non nauseous person would ever jump up and down. So I took him to school late. What a weird morning. First day of school is always bittersweet! Brayden got the teacher he always wanted to have for 5th grade, but all but one of his friends are in the other class. Kosty got a lot of friends in his class, so he was happy about that. Kosty noticed backpacks when we were in CA and decided he had to have one with "real leather." He is more picky than any kid in the ever. So he asked me to google this particular backpack he wanted and then when he realized they were pricey, he said, "Ok, will you type in Herschel backpack clearance?" Little does he know I would have paid anything at that point hearing after hearing that. Love this picky bargain shopper. 

summer wrapped up.

coming back to laundry and unpacking is always a harsh reality

Kosty hand selected my outfit and in order to hurry me up,
it didn't take us long to take our woes to Sweeties for some candy to take the edge off. 

He's always wanted this giant gummy bear but turns out only one bite was all he needed before it hit the trash. 

just being cute at grandmas

my favorite easy dinner. four fit quite comfortably. 

shower/bedtime shenanigans. Kosty trying not to smile. 

I'd always wanted to try Pizzeria Bianco in Phx but never made the trip, and the one month waiting list it once had might have deterred me a little bit. To my surprise its right next door to the Science Center so my sister talked me into splurging for a fancy lunch before we went in.  Kosty picked all the cheese off his pizza, and Brayden said he preferred Little Casears. Ouch. My sister and I really liked it but really wish we had ditched the kids.

Nie Nie posted all about Smeeks a few years ago and it looked like the most adorable little picture taking/candy/trinket store you've ever seen. After noticing that it was close to where we were, we decided to make one more stop. After quite some time of searching, we discovered they had closed down their original shop and we were now standing in their "new location" inside a strip mall and it was nothing like I had envisioned. At least we were able to scratch it off the list it made its way to for the last few summers. 

Our last Tuesday at Big Surf. It was well worth the season passes. The boys would play all day with friends, I got to talk with my friends, and we would pull into the garage just in time for dinner/shower/bed. 

My favorite part of summer is the lazy mornings. Pajamas and nothing to rush around to do until we felt like it. 

our annual list 

cause when a little blonde boy comes and sits in the laundry basket and starts a conversation with you and you alone, you take a picture.