Slip n Slide

I had forgotten how fun Slip and Slides are but man, they are entertaining! Pinterest instructed me on how to make a giant Slip and Slide and while we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa, with their hilly yard, we decided to try it out. So, so, so fun! The kids were entertained for hours and so were the adults.

Brooke kept Ari company in the pool.

The cute sliders!!

Grandpa's epic slide!

 Me, Grandpa, and Lori go for a slide together. I love all the faces!

When Uncle Kram said he'd go down the slip and slide after Grandma did, thinking he'd be abstaining from the activity, Grandma happily stopped weeding and went down in her clothes. Uncle Kram was true to his word and went down too.

 

It's already decided Slip and Slide 2.0 will be twice as long!

Miscommunication

This made me laugh out loud today:

I picked Zach up from a birthday party this afternoon. His clothes were soaked through from a water fight. The birthday boy was inside upset because Zach had dumped water on him. Apparently, the birthday boy had said, "Dump it on my hand" and Zach had heard, "Dump it on my head."

Hahahaha....miscommunication stinks!

Halle keeps me smiling

  

[While watching me cut up a pineapple for lunch]

Halle: Mom, you need to cut that brew out.

Me: You mean bruise, sweetheart.

Halle: No, it's a brew because there's only one of them.

One of our summer activities is Pajama Day. The kids have been very excited about it.
Halle: Mom, when can we have Naked Day?

For those concerned, Naked Day will not be appearing on our itinerary.

Summer Bucket List

To be honest, I've been dreading summer coming this year. Zach is no longer content with sidewalk chalk, painting the house with water, or playing at the park.  He wants to be entertained. So... cue the entertainment... I've come up with a Summer Bucket List. I perused Pinterest, did some googling, and thought up some local things I'd like to do. So you don't have to do the same, I thought I'd share my list.

[ ] Fly Kites

[ ] Build Sand Castles
[ ] Go fishing
[ ] Camp in the Backyard
[ ] Play Dodgeball
[ ] Set-up a Lemonade Stand
[ ] Sponge Balls & Splash Tag
[ ] Bury a Time Capsule
[ ] Start a Collection
[ ] Launch a Homemade Hot Air Balloon
[ ] Make Paper Bag Puppets
[ ] Put on a Play
[ ] Movie Night in the Backyard
[ ] Make & Break Ice Fossils
[ ] Feed the Ducks
[ ] Attend a Free Kids Workshop (Home Depot, Lowes)
[ ] Tour a Local Factory
[ ] Go on a Nature Walk
[ ] Compete in Silly Races
[ ] Build Something Enormous
[ ] Create a New Game
[ ] Make a Home Movie
[ ] Draw a Mini-Me on Poster Board
[ ] Sword Fight with Pool Noodles
[ ] Climb a Tree
[ ] Write/Illustrate a Book
[ ] Go Bird Watching
[ ] Create Wind Chimes out of Cans
[ ] Build a Bird Feeder
[ ] Have a Squirt Bottle Fight
[ ] Build a Fort
[ ] Have a Pajama Day
[ ] Have a Watermelon Eating Contest
[ ] Trace Shadows
[ ] Write a Letter to a Friend
[ ] Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirts
[ ] Go on a Photo Scavenger Hunt
[ ] Play Balloon Ping-Pong
[ ] Start a Summer Journal
[ ] Play Flashlight Tag
[ ] Bake Cookies Together
[ ] Make a Marble Run
[ ] Watch a Sunset
[ ] Make Giant Bubbles
[ ] Make Homemade Ice Cream
[ ] Run Through Sprinklers
[ ] Giant Slip n Slide
[ ] Go to the Zoo
[ ] Go for a Hike
[ ] Go Miniature Golfing
[ ] Ride Bikes Along Legacy Parkway
[ ] Go Star Gazing
[ ] Go to a Free Concert
[ ] Wash and Detail the Car
[ ] Go to Salt Lake Bees Game
[ ] Visit Discovery Gateway
[ ] Play in Gateway Fountains
[ ] Visit Tracy Aviary
[ ] Visit Living Planet Aquarium
[ ] Go to the Foxboro Splash Pad
[ ] Go to the Kaysville Splash Pad
[ ] Go to Lagoon
[ ] Make a Campfire
[ ] Swim in the Pirate Pool
[ ] Play on the Slip n Slide in Backyard
[ ] Put the Sprinkler under the Tramp
[ ] Play in the Backyard Pool
[ ] Shoot Marshmallow Guns
[ ] Go to a Drive-in Movie
[ ] Go to Bear Lake
[ ] Go Camping
[ ] Bleach T-Shirts
[ ] Have a Water Balloon Fight
[ ] Visit This is the Place Heritage Park
[ ] Go to Kangaroo Zoo
[ ] Jump at the Trampoline Park
[ ] Play at the Castle Park
[ ] Visit the Train Park (1^st Saturday of Every Month)
[ ] Attend the County Fair (Aug 14-17)
[ ] Go to a Parade
[ ] Attend a Demolition Derby
[ ] Go to the Rodeo
[ ] Attend the Gateway Chalk Festival (June 14-15)
[ ] Go to the Bountiful Concerts in the Park (June 28 – Kurt Bestor)
[ ] Walk through Scheels
[ ] Watch a Real Soccer Game
[ ] Make a DIY Water Blob
[ ] Run Through the Deluxe Kid Wash
[ ] Build a Lego City

I Am One

Ari is 1 today. I can hardly believe it. I love this girl to death. She is quick to smile, quick to laugh, and such a joy!

If Ari could talk, I think she'd describe herself like this:

• I love the stairs. Anytime Mom has her back turned, I run (or hurriedly waddle) to the stairs. When Mom catches me, I give her my guilty smile and shake my head "no, no, no".
• I love to suck on apple cores. Then when I'm done with them, I hide them for my friends to find later. Halle wasn't too happy to find an old apple core in her soccer cleat. I thought she'd like the surprise better.
• Music with a good beat is my favorite. The opening music to Modern Family makes me dance happily. I like to bounce, clap, and turn around to the music.
• I love water! Dumping things in water is the best. When Zach and Halle are taking baths, I like to find things to throw in their bath water - clean clothes, toys, and even TV remotes if Dad isn't watching.
• I am a good eater and like most foods. However, if Mom puts broccoli or peas on my plate, I will immediately throw them on the floor. Not good!
• I like giving open-mouth kisses, drinking out of cups, reading books, waving, jumping on the tramp, dogs, being outside, and eating rocks.

Playing Ball

Look at this stud! He looks like a real baseball player!

We've been busy the last couple months with evening soccer and baseball games. I've loved it! Nothing makes me happier than watching my kids play sports. I try really hard to be like the other moms and keep quiet, but I've got too much of my dad in me for that. I'm that loud mom that likes to cheer and shout pointers out throughout the game. Zach's a good sport and mostly ignores me.

Zach's a great little baseball player and has enjoyed playing Coach Pitch this season. His favorite position to play is pitcher because he gets the ball so often. He is good at that position because he is always aware of where the ball should be thrown. When he makes a good play, he always looks for me on the sidelines and either gives me a nod of the head or a thumbs up.

Zach surprised me this season with how fast he is. In Tee Ball, he would jog to the bases because nobody gets out in Tee Ball and he didn't want to waste the energy - smart kid. But in Coach Pitch, he sprints to the bases.

This last picture cracks me up. I was taking pictures and yelled to him, "Act like your ready to play baseball!" This is the pose that he gave me.

I Wanna Grow Up

Ari watching the big kids play out the window.