Splash Park Celebration

We were joined at the splash park this week by my friends, Krista, Gayle, and Molly, and all of their respective children. Aidan had a great time playing with FIVE friends while listening to music and running around in the water. Key word in that sentence was "running". There is no more sitting and visiting with adult friends when the kids are around. It's constant vigilance, since the oldest (Charlotte) is only 3 1/2 and the youngest is Aubrey at 4 months. (for a little while, anyway. Krista is due with a baby boy in December)

We celebrated summer birthdays with a delicious ice cream cake, courtesy of Krista. YUM! Sunday will see me turning 29 years old. Honestly, it feels like 28...just with 30 looming on the horizon. I plan to spend the day by myself going to the farmer's market, doing a little shopping, and enjoying a cry-free environment for a few hours!

Aubrey, in her car seat, again
She has discovered her toes, and she loves them!

Aidan "sifting" the water

Grace, splashing like a wild woman

Jackson, practicing some dance moves

Charlotte (and her cousin, Sam, in the background)

Maggie, treading carefully

"The Gang"
L-R: Aidan, Grace, Jackson, Aubrey, Charlotte, Sam, Maggie

Mad Town

Aidan and Eli tooling around in their "cars"

Enjoying the pool on a hot, hot, hot day

Being entertained by Kali, while I try to snap a picture

Aunt Kali and the kids

Strike a pose

The kids and I took a road trip down to Madison this past weekend to visit Kali and Kyle. I hoped and prayed that Aubrey would be a good little traveler like Aidan...unfortunately, that is not the case. She does NOT like riding in her car seat. Period. She cried the whole way down and the whole way back, interrupted by short bouts of fitful sleep. Needless to say, the car ride was stress-inducing. However, our time with Kali and Kyle (and Nana and Poppa on Sunday) was tons of fun.

Aidan absolutely adores his Uncle Kyle, probably because Uncle Kyle is always willing to play with him. This weekend the favorite game was basketball. Luckily, Kali and Kyle have a screened in walkway, so Aidan could play out there with all of their sports balls even after the adults were worn out and wanted to sit in the air conditioning. I swear, that kid never slows down. I have no idea where he gets all that energy from.

Kali and I took the kids to the Madison Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Within minutes of arriving, both Kali and I were drenched in sweat. It was a hot, humid morning, but fun people watching. Aidan was happy because he got a cookie, Aubrey was happy because she got a bottle, and Kali was happy because she found some gorgeous flowers and tasty raspberries. A good time had by all. We cooled off that afternoon with a visit to the swimming pool where my friend Nikki and her two boys met us. Her son, Weston, is three months older than Aubrey, and he just couldn't get enough of her. He was laughing and waving his arms at her. I was holding him, and could barely hang on as he tried to lunge and grab Aubrey. I think we'll have to watch those two as they get a little older. Maybe a budding romance??? :)

On Sunday, Nana and Poppa came up to see us. The last time we were together was Memorial Day weekend, so Aubrey has grown quite a bit since then. Aidan was delighted to see them, and he was even more excited when we all went to the park together. We grilled out for lunch, then packed up the car with plants that Nana donated to my "ugly garden" cause. (they were planted this morning...let's see if I can keep them alive)

A short, busy, fun-filled trip. Poor Kali is going to need to go to bed early every night this week to regain some of her energy! She's due in two weeks, so the next time we see her I'll be an aunt and Aidan and Aubrey will have a cousin to play with. We can't wait to meet little Baby Montgomery!

Potty Time

Potty training started this weekend and it's actually going pretty well. Almost every time Aidan has sat down on the potty he has managed to go, much to his delight! We started a "sticker page" and he gets a sticker if he goes pee in the potty. He L.O.V.E.S. stickers and tattoos, and so far they have been very rewarding for him. Meltdowns ensue if he doesn't go pee because then he doesn't get a sticker. I tried to explain that we don't always have to go potty, even when we try to go. He's not quite getting that part yet. There's also no way he's going poop in the potty (according to him). He very adamantly told me "no" over and over this morning when I asked him if he wanted to poop in the potty (as he was going in his diaper). That part may take a little longer.

Is it weird that I feel like an awesome mom when he goes pee in the potty? It's not like I'm doing anything. It's just so rewarding to have something go how it's supposed to, especially when I thought this whole potty training thing would be an awful experience.

*side note: I did wake up to Aidan, his pj's, and his bed covered in pee because he took off his diaper some time during the night. Point taken. Time to wear training pants day AND night*

Holy Hotness!

Pre-fireworks funnel cake

Stars and Stripes torte that Aidan could not wait to dig into

Aubrey showing her patriotism
(Aidan called her hat a hockey helmet!)

Fun in the pool

A rare moment when Aidan was actually keeping the hose IN the pool

We did our best this weekend to not melt into a puddle of sweat. The weatherman says we have one more day of this oppressive humidity, then by Thursday it should cool down a little bit. The heat couldn't keep us from having fun, though. We played in Aidan's pool, went out to dinner for our anniversary, grilled out with Grandpa and Grandma Finn, and watched fireworks that Aidan is still talking about two days later. Yes, I ignored my brain and went with my gut. My brain told me that 10pm was too late to keep Aidan up, and that I was just asking for a whiny, cranky, perhaps scene-causing toddler at the fireworks. I followed my gut, which was saying that Aidan would really enjoy the fireworks and whining be damned. There was no whining, he DID enjoy the fireworks, and he had his first carousel ride. (which he is calling a pony ride) A fantastic holiday weekend!

Happy Anniversary

Taken 5 years ago, on our honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Five years ago, Kyle and I were married on a gorgeous Saturday. Oh, how life has changed! A dog, two kids, different jobs, not to mention the changes in our social life. (what's a social life?) As I was thinking back over the past five years, I realized how fast life is passing by. Next year we will both be 30. Yikes! We discussed taking a trip to celebrate, but we're not sure when that will happen. Hopefully early next summer. We also had the big "we need to save money" talk. So depressing and adult-like to be discussing buying a new house, saving for retirement and college for the kids, and,*deep breath*, sticking to a budget. Not my forte. :) Yes, I realize I just said we wanted to take a trip, and in the next sentence I said we need to save money. Life doesn't need to completely be devoid of fun in order to save money. We'll just plan for it and search for a good deal.

To celebrate five years of marriage, Kyle and I are going out to dinner at Osteria I Nonni while Grandpa and Grandma Finn watch the kids. Delicious Italian food and the best calamari I have ever tasted. I'm looking forward to having a reason to get dressed up and real, adult conversation with my husband! Happy Anniversary, Kyle!