Outside We Dine, Rain or Shine

Mealtime is not my favorite time of day. It has not always been this way. But now meal time means thinking of a meal, cooking that meal, refilling my freshly emptied sink with dirty dishes, messing up the entire kitchen that I just finished cleaning from the last meal, and tripping over three children who suddenly remembered they are starving. But the WORST part of mealtime is the eating of the meal. Experienced moms, when do children learn how to eat without splattering their entire meal on anything within a ten foot radius??

 During the summer we eat every meal possible on the deck, or out on the grass. The grass makes a great no clean up drop cloth. So unless a tornado is in sight, we eat outside. Yesterday, I had just gotten the kids settled on the deck with their lunch, when it started to drizzle. I didn't move a muscle (hoping the kids wouldn't notice?) Yeah right. Sophia quickly gathered her plate and headed for the door. Jazlyn screamed, ran to my side and shrieked in my ear in horror, "Mom! It's RAINING! We need to go inside! Ahhhh!"

I calmly assured her that it is ok to eat in the rain. This nearly sent her into hysterics. She begged and pleaded me to go inside. She just wanted to save her mom from the killer rain drizzle. I asked her if she thought I would melt? No. What then? You will get WET. Horror of horrors. That's about the time that the rain stopped, and we finished our lunch on the deck. Win.

**Note: They did NOT have butter sandwiches for lunch.

For the Love of Garage Sales

Today, on the way home from Walmart, I made an impulsive decision to follow the neon pink sign that screamed "GARAGE SALE -->"

Now, when you become a mother, particularly a mother of four children in five years, you tend to lose some reasoning capabilities... and common sense. All four of my angels had turned into demons in transit from home to Walmart. They perfected their whiiiiiine the entire way around Walmart, and when that wasn't enough to break me, they turned it up a notch to full fledged whining mixed with perfectly placed sobs of despair on the way home. So this was the state of my brood when the neon sign screamed at me. We were almost home, and both of my girls were teetering on the brink of dehydration, but being the good mother that I am, I ignored their near-death-state-of-being, because... well, because all common sense is lost on me at this point. My eldest immediately noticed that I did not make the turn to go home, and leaned forward as far as possible in her car seat, demanding to know where we were going. The minute "garage sale" left my lips, the demons were cast out, the heavens parted and my angels returned. In a peal of resounding excitement, Sophia yelled gleefully into her sister's face, "JAZLYN!! We are going to a GARAGE SALE! Oh Mama, you are just SO NICE! I just LOVE you Mama! We are going to a garage sale!"
So we did.

I got this cool pedometer, so now I know how many steps I take. Totally necessary.

 I better go walk some more...
Maybe I'll walk in circles aroumd the kitchen island.
Or maybe I'll just shake my arm around.

Then we went home and did this.

BEEEEEEACH

Yesterday was blazin hot, so I brought the kids on an impulsive trip to the beach (as in, they were already strapped in the car to go to Wal-Mart, and I decided the beach was a better idea. Luckily I always keep our beach bag packed, so I just had to grab it and go.)

Their reaction to being at the beach

Literally the second we plopped our stuff down and laid out the towel, the lifeguards called everyone out of the water for a 15 minute "safety break." So we played in the sand.

Though she can't say it yet, I know she meant "You are the best mom, ever."

Diggin

Into the water!!!

They had soooooooo much fun splashing, running, falling, scooping, digging, pouring, screaming, and laughing.

This is what makes it all worth while...

(cuz believe me, 3 babies and 1 mama at the beach on a busy day is not loads of fun for the Mama)
Even Brodes kicked back and relaxed on the beach

Family Picnic

May Daze

Since it has been almost a MONTH since I posted, I guess I'll fill you in on our May.

Mr. Brodes is getting very big and strong. He LOVES tummy time, and sleeps like a baby at night!

Oh! Look what else he learned this month! (He's not supposed to learn this yet!) But he is an old pro at it now.

Cheeeeze

BIG CHEEEEEZE

Popcicles are a special summer treat that the girls rarely get.

No, I can't stop to smile at you Mom. I have a popcicle.

Fountain tail! This is how my mom did my hair in every childhood picture I have ever seen :) I can see why.

It's adorable!

Sophia soaking up the sun. You can pretty much find us out in the front yard any time of the day. We all adore the sunshine. And the kiddie pool.

Family walk! Brody's first time in the stroller!

Last Days of Summer

Daddy's Little Helpers

It's a wonder he actually cooked the meat to perfection with no hands...

Hanging in the Hammock

Summer Days

Swimming with Daddy

Having fun in the pool.

My big girl swimming all by herself!

Chillaxin

Hanging poolside with Daddy

Chapeau Fam Photo + an extra

Fam Photo

Parade

The Moritzs live on the Oakdale Days parade route, so we sat in their driveway with them!

We had some time to kill... What better way than on a four-wheeler!
Sophie scanning the empty streets waiting for the parade to start

It's coming!

Throw ME some candy!

Buffalo Princess chillin with King Wing

We got matching tatts

Buffalo Princess riding in style