Hot!

We've been spoiled up here in the Midwest. The summer has started out cooler than most. We got our first real taste of summer yesterday and today with temps in the mid to upper 90's! I have thought a lot about my sister down in TX and wondered, oh- about a zillion times- how on earth they tolerate this weather for 6 months a year!

Since we're wimpy up here- and anything past 85 degrees is TOO HOT- we've done a lot of staying inside the last couple days. I even got a nap out of my 4 year old. I bribed him and allowed him to lay down in my bed just to rest his eyes... 15 minutes later I peeked in on him and saw this glorious site...



My girls, on the other hand, were busy downstairs reading, reading, reading...


And, last but not least- my crazy husband insisted on doing his deck staining project... ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR! Thankfully, he doesn't read my blog- otherwise I know he'd insist I take down this lovely picture. But, hey- at least there is no plumbers butt- just a little of his back showing. I still think he looks hot. Then again- anytime I see him doing something around the house, my attraction level goes way up ;) BUT- it was way too hot outside and I begged and begged (and nagged) him to come inside. Finally, at about 4:30 PM, just before he was about to keel over from heat stroke (literally! you should have seen him!) I finally convinced him to come inside. He did, indeed finish the deck... today. on the SECOND hottest day of the year.



Now, if we could only get some RAIN out of this hot, humid weather! I figure, the clouds gotta give at some point... right??

Sisters

I have not fallen off the face of this earth. I know it seems like maybe I have- but we've been around. Actually, I take that back. That's part of the problem... we've been so busy, we haven't been around. Between recitals, and events and lessons, we also managed to take a mini-vacation "up North," as we like to say. We enjoyed 4 days of hiking and biking and the refreshing pure air. At some point- I hope I get around to posting pictures!

But, until then, I wanted to post a few pictures I snapped of my little girls the other morning.

After my first daughter was born, I always hoped that God would bless us with another girl someday. I grew up with a sister, and my heart hoped for a sister for my own little daughter. Well, when I delivered child number 2, we heard, "It's a BOY!" and though I was delighted to have a son, I still held out hope that one day I'd give my daughter her sister.

Sure enough, 2 years later, along came child number 3. And, sure enough, a sisterhood was born.

Though they are 4 years apart in age, and- truth be told- my oldest daughter and son are BEST friends (truly inseparable) there are still moments where my girls do things that I always had imagined little sisters would do.

When I rounded the corner in my kitchen, and saw the following scene- my heart just melted and I prayed that I would see many more moments just like this one throughout the coming years...



Big sister, painting little sisters fingernails (and toenails, too!)



My little girls...

My little guy is growing up!

My second born- my only son- has always been a bit of a shy one. He's been a bit more sensitive and a bit more cautious than my girls. It always takes a bit of encouragement to get him to join a group of kids. When we asked him if he wanted to start soccer this year - the first year he's old enough- he said "No Way!" Because we knew that he loved soccer, but perhaps feared the unknown of joining a group of new kids, we assured him that Dad would be his coach and it would be fun. He decided he did, after all, want to join.

And after that first night- he was hooked!!

We were actually quite surprised to see what a talent he was on the field. He absolutely loved it- and, frankly, it was fun watching him because he's quite good!

Here's my little guy in action...





Soccer, for 4 year olds, doesn't last terribly long- so it has already come and gone. His last game was last week. So we snapped a photo of his team and I definitely plan to use this some day at his "graduation party photo montage..."

My little man in his first sport.