Favorite Activity, Catching Grasshoppers

One day out back with Jeff, the kids discovered catching grasshoppers (thank goodness for Jeff because I never would have suggested this activity). This quickly turned into their all time favorite past time ever. Even Max loves sticking his hand in the glass jar to pick them up. 

Ryan and I watching the clouds go by. 

Costco trips with Jeff are much more fun. He threw Ryan in the stuffed bears. 

One afternoon nap at Mama Baer's, Max pulled lots of nearby items into the crib with him. 

Our favorite treat, Dunkin' Donuts.

This was so nice, Lily wanted to put lotion all over me. 

Ice Cream treat with Daddy. 

At the farm with Blake Smith. 

Dartanon pulling the kids with his tractor. They had a great time. 

Sweetest pictures ever. 

The kids were so excited to tell me what they found. I about had a heart attack, but Jeff assured me via text that it was a garter snake. I told the kids to stay inside, but Jeff encouraged me to let them go out. So they did and had fun throwing grass in for him to eat. The keep checking to see if he's still there, but he left, thank goodness.

Always fun to interrupt a bike ride to catch grasshoppers. 

Lily got a book on how to draw animals. I thought she did a great job! She then ventured off and created a crazy eyed crab, I love her creativity. 

Max looks pretty cute in his shorts out shopping. 

It's always fun to take the couch cushions off. 

My friend Janna (my roommate in Uganda) and I got together at the zoo. We had such a wonderful time catching up and Diana came too and helped with kids, which was awesome. Janna's son Jack had fun with Lily and Ryan and overall it was really the perfect day. There's nothing better than dear friends with whom you can be completely open with and know they will love you no matter what.

Lily said, "Max has a great idea!" Let's make ice cream out of the pom pom balls! So they got the bag out and put some in their ice cream cones. But then Ryan and Max really let loose and pom moms were everywhere. Ryan even threw a bunch down the stairs and when I came to look I was tempted to get upset. But I remember my parenting class and how we should spend less time in the parent ego and more time in the child ego. There's no need to be correcting and directing all the time. So I said, "wow, look what you did!" He replied, "yeah, I worked really hard on it."

I just had to capture the chaos of this room. Lily and Ryan love filling up Max's crib with lots of stuffed animals and blankets. They always say they're on a boat ride and need to bring a lot of books and toys too. I often take pictures to show Jeff so that when he sees how clean the house is when he comes home, he can fully appreciate the transformation.