June Happenings

June was another busy month. But it wouldn't be summer if I wasn't dragging the kids to every event I heard about, would it? Major Events: Vash's birthday, Taylor Swift Concert, Strawberry Festival, Children's Museum, and probably more that I'm spacing. Good thing there's pictures to remind me!

Daddy and his living barbell. 

Rhyla schooling Daddy in flexibility. 

A walk around Twin Lakes.

The kids love nothing better than casting their fishing lines and reeling them back in over and over again. 

Fischer loved these ducks, but they hissed anytime we got anywhere near them, because they had their ducklings in tow. He was pretty heartbroken that we didn't end up taking one home.

Fischer trying to get into Vash's shinguard before soccer.  

Vash finished up another soccer season. He's actually getting really good, scoring most of the points for his team. I might have said this before, but it got to the point that the coaches would just start yelling, "Get the ball to Vash!"

Craig and I splurged and went to see T-Swift up in Pittsburgh. Can you believe these seats?!?!?!?! I thought they were perfect. Close enough to see everything but not so close as to be deafened. 

I didn't get a picture of Shawn Mendez, but I HAD to get one of Vance Joy. Riptide is basically one of my favorite songs. And I had no idea that he was the one who sang it! He seems to have a great personality too because when he screwed up his song, he just started laughing and was like, "You guys are great. I just have no idea what I'm doing," or something like that. 

And of course, Taylor!!!!!! 

She's just fabulous in concert. We both had a really good time and can't wait until she's back in town. She's also really funny. At one point, she was playing the piano and trying to talk and she just stopped, and says, "Sorry but I'm like choking up here," because they were blowing so much fog at her. (Maybe you had to be there but it was a hoot.)

Brother selfie.

Vash's birthday!

All he wanted for his special dinner was hot dogs, chips, and cherry cheesecake. I felt sort of bad, because his birthday fell on a Sunday and we just had Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner. He asked me when his guests were coming and I about broke down sobbing. But when I explained that we were going to the water park for his party, he perked right up and was like, "Ok, that sounds much more fun!" 

The big six! ( I just can't even...)

As far as gifts go, he was given a watch by Abuelita, a gift card by Grandma and Grandma, which he used to buy a Lego set and a dart gun, a few origami books with loads of paper from Daddy, and I made him a new tuku.  

He named it Green Grape. It has a few middle names too, but I can't keep track of them.

I made Rhyla a ladybug dress for summer, because, you know, I don't have enough to do. (Can you say overzealous?)

And here we are getting ready to head out to the water park!

Rhyla loved that I let her borrow my swim suit cover. 

Birthday boy eating a banana while we wait for Grandma and Grandpa to join us.

So excited to finally get there! I didn't take many pictures inside because I didn't dare get my phone wet. Basically, we took several trips around the lazy river, splashed our hearts out in two different kid pools, ate corn dogs and fries for lunch, hit up the non-scary water slides, ate some ice cream and called it a day. 

Still beautiful after 6 hours in the sun.

The only photo opt spot in the park. I can't wait to take the kids again sometime when Craig can be there.

When you're so tired that you pass out anywhere.

I bought new boxes and shelves to reorganize the playroom and Mr. Unmaker just likes to dump everything out and play in the boxes.

Mid-June is apparently Strawberry Month. So I hauled the kids to a town about an hour away for a strawberry festival. My mom was kind enough to join us and lend me her hands. Vash was the only one who didn't want in the butterfly house.

He has a thing about bugs, lol. 

Rhyla got to feed one.

I helped Fischer feed his. They're really tame!

I guess when they're bred around people they don't mind being handled. 

You can even wear them! Rhyla was disappointed that she wasn't allowed to bring this one home. 

The petting zoo wasn't a hit because of the smell. 

But that didn't stop Fischer from trying to love on some animals.

Resting before venturing out for more fun.

Like face painting.

And being worried about said face painting.

And loving your face paint until it gets itchy and you rub it all off within a hour of getting it. (We have a new policy now. No all over face painting. He sure looked cute though.)

They painted bird houses.

And jumped in a bounce house.

Vash made a Frisbee spin art. 

Fischer waved at me every time he came out of the play area.

The kids even rode ponies! I think one was named Tonka and the other Spanky. Can't remember which was which, but one was having a lazy day.

Rhyla just adored her horse. Kept telling him what a good job he was doing.

This was by far Fischer's favorite part of the day.

He cried so hard when his turn was done and kept reaching back for the ponies!

Then we took a hayride out to the strawberry fields. 

Rhyla was worried that the boys were going to fall off because they wouldn't sit down.

Say, "Strawberry!"

He wasn't sure what side to look through.

Hunting for the big red ones.

Stopping around like he owned the place.

She wanted the very smallest red berries, but they took some searching for.

Turns out it was cherry season too, so we grabbed a few.

Counting her berries. 

Nothing like finishing up the day with ice cream! Although it turns out Fischer isn't much of a fan of ice cream. We think it's the cold that gets him.

And a final ride before calling it quits for the day.

Happy girl.

Vash wonders if he's getting too big for such trivial things. 

Meanwhile at church, Fischer has decided that his hats must come along. (Like how he's wearing a hat but missing a shoe?)

My ribbon dancer.

And my mini me!

On a rainy day we trekked out to the Children's Museum. 

I didn't even have extra hands!

A board that lit up tubes when you plugged them into each other.

Working on our sewing.

Building a fan.

Adding to someone else's house.

Playing in the color maze.

Controlling puppets with some kind of sensor system.

The engineering room.

The Eric Carle exhibit.

When you touched the objects on this wall, they made sounds! 

Getting lost in the tall grass.

Fischer scaling a rock hill.

They even had a water area on the top floor. We went here last so we wouldn't walk around the place drenched.

"Painting" with water.

Happy about sharpened pencils.

Put those strawberries to use and made a tart from scratch! (Can I just say that I've never scalded milk before?)

Porch art. It's a good looking whale!

Happened to end up at Barnes and Noble during story time.

He just wanted to love all the stuffies.

Another hat. 

Happy boy while we wait for brother's turn to take birthday pictures. 

The only theme he would agree to this year was architect. Going to be fun trying to come up with something for the next few years! 

Finally made my bird table runner and put out the table mats Abuelita and I made. It only took me five years!

Took in a concert at the park when Craig was home one night.

Wearing sister's fairy wings.

And after a month full of fun, this is what we all felt like doing.

I'm grateful for extra hands that help make it possible for my kids' summer to be extra special, and grateful for good weather and an abundance of activities to choose from. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and to have such wonderful children. I look forward to many more fun filled months with my munchkins, where we learn and grow and enjoy life together.