One week into summer

days in the sun

Farmer's Market....CHECK!

This is one of my favorite things on our summer list. I love our Friday routine at the Webb City Farmer's Market. It feels a little like you have traveled back in time, are in a big city, and a small town all at the same time. Try that one on for size. We always pack a lunch and start at this amazing gazebo{picture #1} looked on by stadium seating {picture #2&3}, drive down to the praying hands to do a bit of climbing {picture #4&5}, and then end at the market where we buy a loaf of organic asiago bread from a friend and drink our ice cold cooler water. The kids love to listen to the musicians {who are taking a break behind the kids in picture #6} dance and people watch. We are bound to run into at least one person we know. The kids fell fast asleep on the way home, but woke up with no looking back ready for the next adventure. So, as I type they are hollering, "can I get up?" in their respective rooms. I will post about what that next adventure becomes, but it may have to involve something low key.......for this Mommy is worn out!!!

Our First Check Mark

On Tuesday we went to Wildcat Glades, just the three of us. 

This is not a new adventure for us, but a favorite indeed.

We take a packed lunch and have several stops along the trail to eat a "course" of our meal. 

A lot of rock throwing, stick hunting, creepy crawly studying, and dirt digging over a long hike. 

We always end back at the car by the start of the trail and I let the kids sit in the front seat next to me while we drive up the 100 yard dirt road to the little "museum" and have the final course and take a restroom break.

{take wet wipes and do a tick check at bath time}

It was our first opportunity to scribble a check mark on our summer list.

When we made the list, the kids were pretty quick to turn away, and considering that I was doing all the writing and they can't read yet, I understood that.

But, when we returned home from our hike {which went from 8 to 11:30am}

I grabbed the black marker and drew a check in the box next to the adventure of the day.

And so began the questions...

E-"What you doin Mommy? Can I wite on dat?"

B-"Mommy, can we still go to WG again? Or now that there is a check mark there are we done with WG?"

"Where are we going tomorrow Mommy? What does that say? Does it say this/that on our list somewhere?"

E-"Mommy, if I'm a dood dirl, can we go egain?

I think they are catching on.....

one of those days

sometimes i have days that i feel like i do not know these two littles,

days where everything i say passes through their brains and does not register AT ALL,

days i question all the hard work {Dad-o and} i have done, 

wondering if they have heard any of our life lessons, 

sometimes i have days that feel like the witching hour every hour, 

fits that feel like they have been possessed,

days i feel like i have failed as a mother,

 and work is where i would be better off,

i want to go in the corner and cry, 

i don't want to try to discipline them with love, 

or forget about the disrespect they have shown,

i feel unloved, unappreciated and insignificant,

days i want to just QUIT!!!

today has been one of those days......

A few captured moments of the party

Birthday Morning Traditions

We have a few simple and memorable traditions for birthdays in our family. 

A donut cake for breakfast with a happy birthday song from the family and the first candle extinguishing.

And waking up to a room filled with balloons. {in E's case, pink balloons}

So simple, yet so special to them,

 isn't that the way most traditions are....or should be?

{note to self: pull your baby girl's long locks into a ponytail before she tries to blow out the candles! The second picture in the collage above where Dad-O is doing something to Emme's hair was our close call of the day. The candles were not the only thing that had to be extinguished.}