Homemade Puffy Paint

Yesterday I could tell that Lucy needed to do something special with me. Sometimes I think she just needs a little more attention. It is hard when I can tell that she needs me but so does Garrett. I hate to feel torn between the 2. So I made a point to do this fun project with her. Garrett ate a little snack while we made homemade puffy paint. We painted with q-tips, which was kinda fun to use something different. Lucy had fun discovering how to mix the colors together to make another one.

After you are done you put them in the microwave and they dry and puff up. Lucy thought that was pretty cool. Here she is with her finished painting.

You can see it got bumpy--mostly in the spots where there is a lot of paint.

Here is my pretty house drawing It was another fun little thing to do with Lucy. She loved it and I could tell it is just what she needed. Something special to do with me. I am glad I was able to see that and be able to do it. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what the child wants and it is rewarding as a parent when you can figure it out. Something else that Lucy has loved lately that has made her feel extra special is special one on one time with either Mom or Dad. When we think she needs a little one on one time she will get to choose a small activity to do with just one of us. Some of her favorites are going to Sonic for some ice cream and going on a bike ride.

Random Update

Garrett is such a climber, we have to turn the picnic table outside upside down so he wont climb up on top of it. We now have to turn the little kids table upstairs on the side so he wont climb up there. He loves to empty this toy and get inside of it. As soon as he does it he is so proud of himself, I then take him out and turn the toy upside down. He just wants to explore!

Lucy loves to play games on PBS kids. I love a certain child development book and it talks about the importance of children learning to use a computer while they are young. The importance of learning the skill for one and also the hand eye coordination. I am sure they will be using computers in elementary school and I am glad she is learning to use the mouse now. When it is so hot to play outside it is sure fun to play these games together on the computer. She know so much about dinosaurs and now I am learning a lot too!
Garrett likes to watch her play and listen to the music.
This morning I made 3 batches of yummy blueberry muffins. I used our fresh blueberries and they are so yummy. I sprinkled cinnamon on some and sugar on some. I love to bake and I love to have a reason to bake--fresh blueberries sounded like a good reason to me.

Sunday we grilled our first rack of ribs! We have lived down here for 2 years and we finally did it. They weren't the best we ever had but they did have really good flavor. We ran out of propane 1/2 way through, which we knew was coming any time since we have never replaced our tank in the year we have had it. So we had to finish them off in the oven, we have a couple of recipes we want to try so we will for sure do them again.

Garrett is my laundry helper--he loves to take the clean clothes out of the dryer. If I give him a basket he will actually put them all in the basket and that really is helping! But then if I don't come get the basket he will put them all back in the dryer and be so proud. He is such a happy kid, I love his big smile.

Garrett hasn't been my only laundry helper, Here is Lucy May of 2007. I really don't think they look all that much alike, but definitely related.

Lake Sardis With Friends

Yesterday after blueberry picking we came home, worked in the yard, exercised, did our Saturday cleaning, took naps and then packed up the car to head down to the lake. This time we brought our sand toys, dinner and friends. We could have requested a little better weather but it worked out fine. We kept thinking the dark clouds would blow over, but it was kind of nice to not have to worry about sunscreen. We had a lot of fun playing in the water and the sand with everyone. We will have to do it again and make sure to go down on a day with some sun.

Picking Blueberries

Early this morning we went down to Nesbit, Mississippi with some friends to pick some blueberries. We got there at 7 to hopefully beat the heat and humidity, which was definitely a good idea! It was pretty to look out and see all the blueberry bushes.

Lucy was a good helper picking the blueberries and she really enjoyed it.

We picked a gallon of blueberries, that should last us for a while. I am already planning what I can make/bake and mix with blueberries. Good thing we loved blueberries at out house!

A New Favorite

While driving the other day I saw this sprinkler park from the road. We stopped and I found out this park was free to the public. It is my new favorite place, it also has a really big playground that is in the shade with lots of benches to sit on. Today I went up with some friends and we had a great time! The time flew by and before we knew it we had to go. We packed a lunch and ate in the shade. We had such a blast, we are going to make this a regular thing for sure!!

From Left to Right

Jaxon, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Hudson, Cara, Lucy , Me and Garrett

Lucy brought her new Toy Story bucket and had fun filling it with water.

I love that Lucy has her spirit fingers out when she run through!

Garrett really had fun, he was just a little unsure about the water for some reason. Most of the sprinklers were pretty high and I carried him and we ran through together, which he enjoyed a lot. He had fun and enjoyed the water!

All the kids there were so nice! They were supper friendly and played so well with everyone. There were a lot of people when we got there but by time we left we were pretty much the only ones there.

Garrett did love these little fountains. He would sit there and play in the water until......

They would all of a sudden get really high and he would hurry and get out as fast as he could. The water was a little on the cold side but I loved it! It felt really good actually.

Lucy was sad we didn't have time to play at the playground. We will be back again for sure! I had a great time and so did the kids. What a great park to discover, especially in the summer when we love to stay cool in the water.

Botanical Gardens with Friends

This morning we went out in the heat with some friends to the Botanical Gardens. We both have summer passes there and it is a great place to let the kids play and have fun. They really enjoyed this sand and water area--also nice and shaded to keep cool!

Jaxon was so funny putting sand in the water fountain. Garrett just loved to sit by the water , he did spend some good time in the sand too.

Lucy loved playing in the sand, I know I have said it before but I wish we had a big backyard at our house so we could have a nice sandbox for the kids to play in.

We played at the playground area and then went into the little houses. I think the music house is a lot of fun.

We didn't stay to long--as you can see in our faces it was really hot outside and we were ready to go! We will have to go back again. Plus we didn't get to do the rain area because there was a school field trip there. Thanks for having fun with us Ashley, Kaitlyn and Jaxon!

Pink Palace

Tuesdays are one of JJ's clinic days. Yesterday he went to school to take a test and then called telling me that his clinic was canceled. So he came home and spent the day with us! Yeah, I love when things like that happen. I took the kids to the park early in the morning while it was still cool and then he came home and we headed to the pink palace. We got a free membership for the summer and since it was literally 100 degrees yesterday it seemed like a good thing to do. They have a body exhibit right now. I am sure there are a lot of interesting things there to read but we spent the time glancing at a few things and running after the kids.

Garrett is such a mover, we brought our double stroller and no one rode in it the whole time. They both just wanted to walk around and see everything.

Garrett is looking and acting more and more like a toddler, I love it! He is so cute just walking around and checking everything out.

Happy Fathers Day!

Here we are before heading off to church. I was so glad that JJ's flight was changed so he was able to be back for Fathers Day (originally they were coming home Sunday evening). It would have been weird to have him gone on Fathers Day.

After lunch JJ had some presents for us, just some small things from his Florida trip. He brought home some alligator and manatee soaps for Lucy and Garrett. He got me a candle in a coconut shell. I love candles and it was so sweet of JJ to think of us and bring us something back.

Lucy worked very hard all by herself to make this fathers day card for JJ.

JJ got a couple of small presents, we will need to take him shopping this week so he can pick out some things he wants. I didn't want to just get him a tie.

We had a yummy dinner, Spicy Chicken Pitas on the grill with corn on the cob. It was delicious and perfect for such a hot day. I then made this yummy frozen treat. One I have been wanting to try for a while--it was so good.

After it cooled down a tiny bit we went outside to play for a while. It is always nice to get out some wiggles before bed.

It is so hard to go outside and not want to play in the pool , especially for Garrett. It is torture to be out there and not let him get in! Lucy has been taking swimming lessons this summer and it is so hard for him to sit and watch and not be able to get in.

Happy Fathers Day JJ, Hopefully you had a nice day back at home. We missed you while you were gone and are glad to have you back!