Summer Recap

I can't believe summer is officially over in two days. Even though it happens every year, I still get a knot in my stomach. I wait so long {9 months to be exact} for summer and then it's over in a blink {3 months to be exact}. It's like saying goodbye to a dear friend you know you'll see again, just not soon enough. Gah.

Sooo, might as well take a look back at how awesome summer was before it disappears for the next 9 months.

We went to the zoo on half-price night!

Went to a few weddings

(Carsen was a flower girl in one!)

Celebrated a few birthdays

Did some crafty things like make our own sidewalk chalk

Did just the right amount of snuggling

Tried some new recipes

Met a new cousin

Went to story time

Hung out at the park

and hung out at Oriole Park

Spent time with Great-Grandparents (Reagan met them for the first time)

Went on an amazing vacation

And Carsen started ballet!

AND since there's one more day of summer, I will add that my family's annual reunion picnic is tomorrow. I can't think of a better way to officially end my summer than a day spent outside eating awesome food and hanging out with my whole family :D

Fun Before the Storm

Today was gorgeous and we spent it splashing around at Nana's house.

Everyone was sufficiently exhausted from our fun in the sun. Good thing, because tomorrow we're supposed to have crazy super-cell storms so we'll probably be stuck in the house... hopefully not stuck in the basement.

Last Official Summer Weekend :(

Our air conditioner decided that we should savor the last official summer weekend with stifling temperatures... indoors. Even the dog is standing in front of the fan to keep cool. I love summer and all, but 85 in the house at bed time = a big sad face from this girl :(

Library Day

It was around 100 degrees today and C-baby was recovering from a 36-hour fever (no other symptoms)  so we decided to make it a library day. We picked up some new music to listen to and spent some time running around and reading lots of new books. I love free entertainment :)

Friday Night Os Game

Oriole Park is practically a second home to our 2-year old. She recognizes it in pictures as well as when we pass it on the freeway. She knows the warehouse, the crab game, the "charge" music, and screams "Let's Go Os!" so loudly that it draws the attention and giggles of our entire section. All of this makes her daddy, a life-long diehard fan, very very proud :)

We bought cheap tickets and went to the game last night for Matt Wieters jersey night. Despite the nasty loss to Detroit, a night at Oriole Park never disappoints.

National Anthem

Sike!

One of the best parts of summer :)

Let Freedom Ring

This year we celebrated 236 years of freedom and independence. Two hundred thirty-six years since so many gave their lives in the name of limited government and limited taxation. Two hundred thirty-six years since our Founding Fathers signed the document that officially made the British Colonies into the United States of America. The birth of a nation is a pretty big deal. And even as we celebrate with family, friends, and fellow Americans 236 years after the fact, I can't help but reflect on just how blessed I feel to have been born here. I'm a strong adamant believer that the United States is the greatest nation to ever rise up on the face of this planet. The Founders had it right without a doubt. They were geniuses born of an oppressive, intrusive, over-controlling monarchy. Thank God they had the courage to do what they did. Thank God they put it on paper and made it official. Thank God that 236 years later we are still adhering (for the most part) to their genius ideas. Thank God that countless men and women over the past 236 years have believed those ideas are worth giving their lives to defend. And thank God that the rest of us simply get to enjoy the benefits of it all by living here in the United States.

That's how I feel about the 4th of July anyway. Here's how we celebrated...

Friends of ours got married on Tuesday night, so we kicked off the holiday at their wedding. C might have stolen the show a little by pairing her irresistible cuteness with some hot dance moves. We literally had to drag her off the dance floor at 11pm to go home.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYmyFNctJUc]

On the 4th we cooked out at my mom's house with my sister and her kids. My brother, SIL, and their little one were away at the beach with friends. Usually we all head up to my sister's area (about 45 minutes north of us and a bit more country) to watch fireworks and let the kids run around and play together. The threat of storms and the long drive convinced us to head back home and try to catch fireworks near our house. Luckily although it was late, we did find a good spot on the roof of a parking garage at the mall. Fireworks were being set off across the street from the mall so we were a little distance away but still had a great view. C was a little tired by 9:30 when the show started, but she enjoyed them still. For me, 4th of July is just not complete without fireworks. It's like a birthday party with no cake or presents or singing.

I hope you also got to spend the 4th doing whatever it is you do to celebrate and reflect on how blessed we are to be here, safe and free, in this amazing country!

Welcome to Summer

So yesterday was the Solstice while today was the first full day of summer. Summer is my favorite, don't get me wrong, but temperatures both days in our area were flirting with 100. In fact, I caught a photo of the thermostat in my car indicating it was 100 degrees. It only lasted for a moment and dropped down to a brisk 96 shortly thereafter, but you get the idea. It's toasty out there! So we went from being able to play at the play ground anytime we wanted for most of the spring, to playgrounds jam packed with school-aged children who are literally bussed in from their day camps since school let out 2 weeks ago, to it being positively too hot to play outside. This is not a big deal to me, I live for this weather 9 months out of the year. For my 2 year old it's a different story though. I have her health and comfort to keep in mind. She adores playing outside and wouldn't ever let the weather stand in her way, but I have to draw the line when the slides and hand rails at the playground are hot enough to give you blisters and the UV index is "very high." So instead we try to come up with inventive ways to amuse ourselves indoors.

Today's activity- playing with the Photo Booth application on my computer.

A good laugh for us, and for you as well! These photos are only made funnier by the fact that she had taken the rubber band out of her hair (as she loves to do) so it was doing its own thing. That and our dog walking around amongst the coral and the fishes in the last one- LOL!

Tomorrow's forecast- 92 / thunderstorms. Can't wait to see what we get into!